This Old House On The Money Pit

If you’re hoping to sell your home, one of the most nerve-racking parts of that process for sellers is the home inspection. Tom & Leslie share tips to set you up for success in that part of the transaction. Hardwood floors are one of the most desirable floors around for both durability and the value they add to a home. But the finishes do wear and hardwood floors then need to be sanded and refinished. We’ll have tips on how to get that project done. And we’re all about helping you find ways to save money, and that includes your homeowner’s insurance. Well, it turns out some small improvements can help cut insurance costs down to size. We’ll share those tips just ahead. Step-by-step tips for refinishing bedroom using lacquer for a high gloss style. Tips on how to find replacement parts for old doorknobs and locks. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, repairing leaky roofs, fixing drywall pops, installing porch carpet, repairing dips in a driveway, basement leaks. Learn more about your a

If you'd love to have a backyard pool but can't afford it, don't have the time to care for it or you’re just short of backyard space, we have two words for you: Spool Pool! Tom & Leslie share tips on how you can combine the benefits of a pool and spa in one very refreshing backyard feature. Plus… Decorative window shutters are an attractive addition to your home’s exterior, but they won’t do a thing to actually protect your windows. For that job, you’ll need STORM shutters. We’ll share the options. Paint offers one of the easiest and least expensive ways to transform a space. And it seems so easy, right? Well it is, unless you make one very common painting mistake. Get that secret to painting success just ahead. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about a fix for missing return air ducts, getting stains off composite decks, repairing plaster walls, benefits of an energy audit, rebuilding the “guts” of a toilet.… Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY

Do you have kids that are old enough to stay home alone? Just because kids may be at an age to stay home alone, that might not prepare them to handle a home-related emergency. We’ll have a checklist on what they need to know to do, just ahead. Plus In the OLDEN DAYS when you needed to hire a contractor, you use to ask friends or flip through though the phone book. Today it’s a lot easier to find home service pros. We’ll pry open the digital toolbox and share some tips and tricks. Summer is a season when we put a lot of stress on our electrical systems. We’ll share three projects that can help make sure your wiring is safe and up for the job. Are you thinking about updating a room but don’t know where to begin? Interior designers help to facilitate your ideas, making your dream home a reality. We share tips on how to find and hire an interior designer that can really understand what you’re looking for and bring great ideas to the table. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, converting ele

This time of year, limits on outdoor water use and lead to lawns that look like a dry wasteland! Tom & Leslie tell you what you need to know to conserve water and still have a beautiful lawn during a drought, including the one thing to never do if you want That lawn to come back quickly. Plus… If you are lucky enough to have a built-in pool, you may not feel quite as lucky when you have the pay to pay the bills to heat that pool. We’ll tell you how you can use a FREE energy source to heat your pool and extend the swimming season. If you’re thinking about taking on a tile project this, choosing the right look is only a part of the project. We’ll have tips on how to choose the best TYPE of tile for your project. And we settle a bet on which way ceiling fans should be spinning in summer (they’re reversible!) Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, insulating under a house, eliminating thousand leg spiders, determining foundation cracks, venting an attic, when to stain a new deck. Do you have

Are you overflowing with yard tools, pool toys, lawn chairs or kid bikes? Then you might ready to build a Shed! Whether you want to store the overflow or create the perfect man cave or a she shed -- Shed projects are more popular than EVER! We’ll have pro tips to help you do it right. Have you ever noticed that summer rainstorms can be really stir up some damage? Between the blackouts and the lightning, electrical damage, leaks and flood are not all that uncommon. We’ll have tips on what you should be doing to make sure your house is storm ready. And after a couple of months of heavy grilling, your gas grill may need an extreme makeover of its own. We will have tips for a simple mid-season grill cleaning to step up the sizzle! With more time at home, finding activities to keep the kids busy and productive can be a challenge. But that makes now an opportune time to teach them a few home improvement skills with home improvement projects kids love being a part of. We’ll share some ideas. Plus, answers to you

When it comes to home renos, are you a DIY or Go Pro kind of home improver? A new survey reveals how many DIYrs are actually doing home projects vs hiring prosand an interesting trend among the youngest home improvers. Plus… Does your yard double as an all-you-can-eat buffet for deer and wildlife?We’ve got some humane ideas for stopping all the chomping. Motion detector spotlights are a great addition to your home for both convenience and security. Thanks to LED technology, they are easy to install than ever and some don’t even have to be wired. We’ll share the brightest security options All the high-end products in the world can’t undo the effects of hard water on your hair, clothes and dishes.Find out which water softeners can help. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, replacing a flat roof with decking, proper installation of AC window units, eliminating pet odors, installing a pocket door, septic system inspections. Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24

If you’re feeling like your home could use a boost in its cooling power, adding awindow air conditioner unit may be the solution. We’ve got tips on how to find the right size unit for your house and how to avoid a key installation mistake that can drive up cooling costs. There’s an old saying that good fences make great neighbors – that is if you can get the fence built! We’ll have some fence building tips to make that project a lot easier. Going green can help you save energy, but a new survey shows it can also bring you more green when you sell your home – we’ll share these eco-friendly remodeling tips, just ahead. If you’ve ever bought a custom upholstered headboard you know that they can be pricey but making one on your own doesn’t cost a lot of money and is super easy to tackle in a surprisingly short amount of time. Leslie walks you through the project. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, unclogging a slow tub drain, installing a coy pond, cleaning terrazzo floors, repairing a di

Creating a beautiful living space outdoors doesn’t require walls or a ceiling, just a beautiful floor. We’ve got tips on how to create the perfect patio. Plus… Now that we’re knee deep in the AC season, we’re also knee-deep in high electric bills! We’ve got 5 low-cost and no-cost improvements you can make to lower cooling costs with giving up comfort. Plus, do you know the easiest door to break into for any house? It’s usually the garage door! We’ll tell you why and share the surprisingly simple home securitysteps you can take to secure that entry. Can you ever have too much closet space? If it comes at the expense of a small bedroom – maybe! We work through the numbers and share tips to get the most closet space from tight quarters. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, installing a curtain drain, best composite decking, repairing trim, regulating shower temperature. Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your questi

Remodeling your kitchen is a project that adds value to your home, but it can also get pretty expensive. We’ve got 3 kitchen renos you can get done for under a thousand bucks to add style and convenience without draining your bank account! Plus… Moving into an apartment doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your décor desires. We’ll have simple apartment decorating ideas that will make your apartment feel like home AND still make sure you get that security deposit back at the end of your lease. Saving water becomes more and more important this time of year. But rather than rely on your kids and family to use less water, WaterSense fixtures can actually do the water saving for you! We’ll tell you how to find faucets, toilets, showers and sprinklers that can do the job, without wasting water. Dishwashers make life easier, but could your dishwasher be shortening the life of the dishes it’s cleaning? We share 4 things never to place in that marvelous cleaning machine. Plus, answers to your home improvement quest

Porches are the perfect space to enjoy the outdoors, relax and even visit with neighbors from a socially acceptable distance! This may be why front porches are making a big comeback and we’ve got tips on how you can make the most of yours! Plus… With generally blistering heat across the nation, are you wondering how to avoid having your yard turn into a dead, dry wasteland? We’ll have the tips on how you can conserve water, restore dead patches and still have a beautiful lawn in summer including the ONE thing you should never do! Have you ever found a leak after a major rainstorm but just can’t seem to pinpoint where it’s coming from? We’ll share some tricks of the trade to help you find the sources of roof leaks BEFORE they lead to any serious damage. Dishwashers do a great job of cleaning your dishes but dishwashers can turn stinky quickly if they are not properly maintained. We walk you through that project.  Plus, answers to your home improvement questions, about installing a dedicated electrical outl

Is your to-do list getting longer every day? Get tips for tackling several projects at once and save money at the same time! Plus If you’ve ever installed ceramic tile, you know that one of the hassles is dealing with the adhesive. Now there’s a much simpler way to install tile – and it can be done without glue, and lets you grout immediately. Is this the year you’re ready to replace leaky or drafty windows? With so many competing claims of efficiency, it can be difficult to select windows that work well and save you money. Get tips on the best way to get that project done and be able to enjoy year-round energy savings. if you do a lot of home improving you are likely to have a collection of leftover paint – and with a little imagination and creative flair, we show you uses for leftover paint to give your home extra appeal. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, roof repair, finding the leak, cleaning adhesive off the floor, repairing a tub crack, keeping pesty squirrels out of birdhouses

With all the humidity, it’s that time of year when doors swell and get stuck in their openings. We’ve got the easy fix for sticking doors. Plus. Before you can add the new you have to get rid of the old – and that can often be a costly part of any home renovation. We’ll share tips to help lighten the load and cut demolition costs And we’ll have the how to on a fun garden project – building a raised landscaping wall that useful for creating a ring around a tree or raised garden wall to dress up the front of your home. Ready to step up your home’s first impression? We walk you through how-to fix up your wood floors with a fresh coat of finish. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions, about building a firepit, replacing baseboard heating covers, cleaning jacuzzi jets, leveling floors, how prevent basement flooding by correcting surround of foundation. Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here. Learn more about your

This can be a challenging time for many things and that includes selling your house! If you are planning to do that this summer, Tom and Leslie share the key improvements that need to get done first to nail a quick sale at the highest possible price. Plus… This summer, most of us will be spending more time at home and enjoying our outdoor spaces. And for DIY’rs, there’s more interest than ever in updating and maintaining lawns. We get expert tips to help from the team at Troy-Built, a company that’s has been around since 1927 -- when they invented the first gas powered rototiller (and if you are a gardener you are probably sure glad they did!)  Wet basements are a problem all across the United States, in every climate and every type of home. But while many people think that fixing leaky or damp basement is expensive and complicated – it’s NOT! The easy fix is just ahead. One fun kitchen project that can deliver a big impact AND get done in a single weekend, is a new kitchen backsplash. We share ideas on how

Renting your first apartment is a big step that’s both exciting and terrifying all at the same time! Tom & Leslie share expert tips on what to look for before signing a lease to make sure you get all your security deposits back. Plus.. If you love gardening and landscaping, you might not think there’s much new to know about one of the most common landscaping tools – the shovel. Well, all shovels are not created equal, we’ll explain how they’re made and how to spot a good shovel from a piece of junk. If your concrete sidewalks, steps or patio are showing signs of cracks – now would be a great time to get those sealed up while the weather is warm. We’ll have tips on how to what products really stick meaning you won’t have to make the repair again and again, and which won’t – just ahead. When it comes to choosing materials for home improvements, building materials that need little to ZERO maintenance is definitely the preferred way to go! We share tips for products that virtually take care of themselves. Plu

With summer thunderstorms, blackouts are becoming more common – which is why now is a good time to think about adding a whole house generator. The costs have come down and the convenience can’t be beat. We’ll share the options and how to find the right size unit for your home just ahead If you’re looking for an easy and inexpensive way to transform the look of your kitchen, applying a decorative stone surface to your countertop can do just that. We talk with an expert that’s spent decades developing these DIY finishes for countertops, floors and even pool decks. Childproof or tamper resistant outlets have come a long way, and they can help keep kids safe in the home – but even adults from a dangerous accident, we’ll explain the updates. Make the most of our outdoor living space by really turning it into a spare room. We walk you through some really easy and fun ways to do just that! Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, painting porch posts, basement floor options, getting rid of squirre

Summer marks the riskiest time of year for pool drownings, which is actually the leading cause of death to young children! In this episode, expert hosts Tom & Leslie explain the best way to backup parental supervision and keep kids safe. It’s a pool safety approach called layers of protection. Plus… Replacing your front door is a project that can increase your home’s value and increase its curb appeal. We’ll share tips on how to get that project done. If you’re ready for an easy indoor décor project, adding new blinds can be just that. But when you measure your windows to order, there are two mounting options to consider; inside vs outside mount. Both look great but one may be a better choice for you. We’ll tell you how to decide. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, things to consider before purchasing a house, preparing a small garden in your backyard, best flooring for a garage, installing dimmer switches, toilet replacement. Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the

Building codes exist to keep your family safe, but only if you or your contractor follow them! Tom & Leslie have tips on how to avoid the THREE most commonly violated codes. Plus, if you’ve noticed that your walks, porches or patios look a bit worn – we’ll tell you how to resurface those at a fraction of the cost of replacement. Do you have a small backyard and looking to make the most of your minimal outdoor living space? One trendy addition can make a huge difference. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, cutting down a tree, installing a handicapped ramp, repairing a shower pan, whether or not to get a home inspection before purchasing a home. Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you ready to buy a bigger and better air conditioner to keep cool this summer? Well, you may be surprised to learn that bigger is not always better for your comfort. We’ll have tips on how to pick the best one for your home. Plus… Smelly water is a common complaint among homeowners, for good reason: No one wants to drink, cook or clean with water that smells like rotten eggs. We highlight the causes and cure. Summer gives us lots of opportunities to display the red, white and blue. Memorial Day just passed, July 4th is ahead and this weekend we celebrate Flag Day! We’ve got some tips to help you hang and display your flag. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about how to install brick pavers, repairing a linoleum floor, getting rid of termites, dryer venting options, is solar energy worth it? Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The right deck design can make your home appear larger than it is – which is why adding a backyard deck can actually increase your home’s value. Tom & Leslie have tips on how to choose a deck design that works for you. Plus… Squeaks, creaks, drips, bangs and hisses – are all noises your house makes, but have you ever wondered what’s behind them? We’ll tell you how to sniff out and silence the most common house noises and whether those noises might signal a bigger problem needing a fix. Do you want to contribute to a sustainable environment and maybe even save a few bucks along the way? If your answer to those questions is “Yes,” then reclaimed lumber may be the perfect fit for your next home improvement project! Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, installing molding, which plants are good for shady areas, cleaning rust stains off a patio, shifting foundation, installing a whole house dehumidifier. Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (88

It’s a great time of year for outdoor living and if you want to step up your space, we’ve got tips on how you can build your very own fire pit!  Want a garden that not only looks good, but also serves an important purpose? Bees, hummingbirds and butterflies are all pollinators and play a big role in plant reproduction. Tom & Leslie have tips on how you can create a pollinator garden to give these creatures a place to carry out their good work! Are you ready to fire up your AC to keep cool and comfortable this summer? Well, there are three things you should do FIRST to make sure your system is good to go for the warm season ahead. When summer heat sets in, your lawn may suffer. We have tips on how to keep lawns healthy through summer drought. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, whether or not to replace plumbing supply lines, preparing your roof for a metal roof installation, repair cracking grout, refinishing bar stools, getting rid of feral cats Do you have a home improvement or decor