SHOW NOTES:

Delve into the intricacies of home improvement as we discuss getting the right bang for your buck in lumber purchases, using the best grout cleaning routine, and breaking the ice on frozen garage doors. From measuring mastery to thawing tactics, we've got answers to these and other homeowner questions!

- Measuring Lumber: Does the price you pay for lumber really measure up to what you get?

- Cleaning Grout: Read between the lines on how to choose the right cleaner for your dirty grout.

- De-Icing Garage Doors: Learn how to de-ice a garage door that’s become a frozen fortress.

Q & A:

- Dehumidifier: Kayla’s dehumidifier keeps tripping the 100-amp circuit. The problem is with the breaker, not the dehumidifier, but she can easily add a bigger dedicated circuit.

- House Settling: Cracks, stuck doors, and popping screws all happening at once may indicate house movement. AJ needs a home inspector or structural engineer to determine whether it’s an active problem.

- Rusty Garage Doors: Carolyn gets tips on how to sand, prime, and paint her rusty metal garage doors.

- Gutters: Leslie learns a new word for gutters from Eric, who finds out gutters should always be installed, even on a house with a concrete slab.

- Sink Refinishing: Debra wants to get rid of the black ring around her drain without having to replace the beautiful sink. We have tips for using cleaners or steel wool.

- Insulation: What kind of insulation should be used for the exterior walls of an old home? Blown-in insulation by an experienced installer would be Twan’s best choice.

- Bathroom Flooring: Linoleum floor tiles are curling up in Darlene’s bathroom. Adhesive is a temporary fix, but we suggest installing a floating laminate floor over it.

- Wheelchair Ramp: Sue needs to prevent ice on a wheelchair ramp without damaging the wood. Calcium chloride, mixed with sand, is effective and less corrosive.

- Painting Redwood Siding: David is off to a good start by priming his redwood siding and should use a good quality paint over it as soon as possible.

- Roofing: Catherine’s old barn needs a new roof. If the barnboard is continuous and solid, she can install the underlayment and shingles right over it.

- Salt in Septic System: Giovanni was told the salt from his water softener is deteriorating his concrete septic tank, but we don’t think that’s very likely.

ASK A QUESTION:

Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask.

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