#2374 – Timber Talk: Choose the Best Firewood | Cleaning Indoor Air Pollution | Sealing Floor Drafts

SHOW NOTES:

Join us for a jam-packed episode where we discuss the essential trio for a snug home. Learn the nuances of firewood selection, dive into the secrets of maintaining pristine indoor air quality, and uncover a DIY solution to seal those chilly floor drafts. Your ultimate guide to a comfy abode awaits with answers to these and other home improvement questions!

- Choosing Firewood: Enjoy cool nights by a warm fire by choosing the best firewood to burn cleanly and safely.

- Indoor Air Pollution: Breathe easier by using the right air filters to improve air quality and reduce dust, allergens, and germs.

- Sealing Floor Drafts: If upward drafts are giving you the chills, this DIY product seals and insulates gaps in the floor below.

Q & A:

- Cleaning Carpet: Sue needs to clean algae from the carpet on her concrete front porch. We suggest renting a steam cleaner and using the right chemicals for great results.

- Restoration: Kurt wants to be sure he’s taking the right steps for his restoration project and gets tips on beefing up floor joists.

- Cracked Ceramic Flooring: Ceramic floor tiles in a new house are already cracking. Debra should have an independent engineer examine the cause, which may be the lack of an isolation membrane between the slab and tile.

- Roofing Stains: Tim asks how to remove hard water stains on a painted metal roof. We recommend a good roof cleaning product that he can spray, let sit, and rinse off.

- Old Walls: Cynthia’s not sure if she uncovered a firewall while ripping out old plaster walls. We explain it’s likely rock lath that was used in the 1800s, before sheetrock.

- Cleaning Asbestos Concrete Siding: Lewis’ asbestos concrete siding has a golden glow from iron in the well water used in the garden. He’ll need to clean it with TSP and repaint the asbestos siding.

- Shower Plumbing: An old tile shower on the main floor is leaking into the basement. John should first check the lead shower pan by blocking the drain and filling the pan with water.

- Crawlspace Mold: There’s mold in the crawlspace of Rhonda’s condo from a moisture issue. She should document the problem and have it inspected because the HOA may be responsible for addressing any repairs.

- Wood Paneling: Jim is considering options for covering up old wood paneling. The easiest cosmetic solution would be to clean, prime, and paint the paneling white.

- Weatherstripping: Renea’s apartment is freezing cold in winter! A weatherstripping caulk and shrink film for the windows and sliding doors can keep out the chill but will limit access to open them.

- Wainscoting: Can wood pallets be used for wainscoting? We agree they’d be a good, creative way to upcycle materials for Olin’s living room project.

- Insulation Options: How does traditional attic insulation compare to the newer MILO insulation? It sounds like a cool concept, but we advise LaHonda to stick with more established insulation products for now.

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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