#2579 – Top 5 Remodeling Mistakes | Safe Space Heaters | Live Christmas Trees | How Old Is Your Home?

SHOW NOTES:

Welcome to the Money Pit! With only two weeks left until Christmas, we know this is a busy time of year, but we're here to help you keep your home in tip-top shape and get you through the finish line of the holidays. Whether you are doing or dreaming of projects, we make DIY doable!

- 5 Common Remodeling Mistakes: We share the top five most common remodeling mistakes homeowners make, so you can be prepared for your next project.

- Safe and Efficient Space Heaters: We discuss how to choose a safe and efficient space heater by understanding the difference between radiant heaters and convection heaters.

- Live Christmas Trees: If you’re heading out to buy a live Christmas tree, we provide tips on how to ensure the tree is fresh.

- The Age of Your Home: Leslie's Last Word offers tricks for figuring out the age of your home by checking plumbing fixtures or recognizing old wiring and pipe types.

 

Q & A:

- Linda from Washington wanted to cover her outdated Formica kitchen countertops with a new product. We recommend using a product kit like Lux Rock or Marble Dream from Daich Coatings, noting that she should lightly sand the Formica surface beforehand to ensure the coating adheres well.

- Jeremy from Pennsylvania was dealing with a small leak and musty smell in the corner of his finished basement with a block foundation. We suggest that the problem is caused by exterior drainage, advising him to extend his downspout and fix any grading issues to relieve water pressure.

- Taylor in Michigan reported that her doors were sticking, specifically toward the top, due to swelling. We advise checking the hinges for loose screws and using chalk or dark lipstick on the door edges to identify the exact sticking point before attempting minor adjustments to realign the door in the jam.

- Robin was dealing with mold growth coming out of the jets of her jacuzzi tub. We suggest filling the tub with hot water and either bleach (if not on septic) or an environmentally safe dish soap like Simple Green to sanitize the pipes.

- Carolyn in Pennsylvania had a lingering musty odor in her kitchen's lazy Susan cabinet after mold grew inside. We recommend looking for mold spread behind the kickboard or trim, thoroughly cleaning all affected areas with bleach and water, and painting the interior if the odor persists.

 

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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