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Money Pit Blogs

How to Keep Your Home Safe While You're Away

Fri, 06/13/2008 - 10:15 - Money Pit Team

Our family has a few long trips planned this summer, and though our neighbors will be keeping an eye on things while we're gone, I want to make sure our place is safe. Got a checklist of pre-vacation to-dos? DCarlson 05-09-08 7:32 a.m. Good question, especially as we approach a hot season for...

Solving Peeling Paint Problems

Fri, 06/06/2008 - 13:09 - Money Pit Team

I painted my daughter's bedroom using primer and then paint. Now it has become my son's room, and there are spots where the paint just pulls off in long strips and looks like rubber. I want to repaint the room, but have no idea how to handle these areas. What can I do?Laura It's pointless to...

Kitchen Remodel: Where to start?

Fri, 05/30/2008 - 06:11 - Money Pit Team

We are planning a kitchen remodel but not sure where to start after the kitchen is gutted out. Do we start with the cabinets or do we do the flooring first?fiveangelgirls Way before you ever wield a sledgehammer, the best place to start is with a thorough, clear-eyed assessment of your kitchen's...

Preventing Deck Collapse

Tue, 05/20/2008 - 10:05 - Money Pit Team

Decks that are not properely built or maintained can be unsafe and now is a good time get outside and inspect your deck for signs of failure that could lead to a collapse.  According to experts at the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA), the American Society of Home Inspectors...

Disposing of Old AC Equipment

Fri, 05/16/2008 - 14:32 - Money Pit Team

I have an AC condenser on the roof of my townhouse that I want to demolish to prepare for a new HVAC system. Can I simply disconnect the existing refrigerant lines and let the refrigerant dissipate into the air? The existing system was installed in the early '90s, before we owned the house, so...

Recycling Rechargeable Batteries

Fri, 05/09/2008 - 13:39 - Money Pit Team

I'm cleaning out my workshop and have come across several orphaned rechargeable batteries. Are these recyclable like standard batteries? DamonC 04-01-08 3:42 p.m. Yes, they are, and there's probably a drop-off location just minutes from your home. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation...

What Qualifies as Sustainable Wood?

Fri, 05/02/2008 - 09:33 - Money Pit Team

How do I know if I'm getting truly green, sustainable wood flooring products?1965daughtry 03-31-08 12:24 p.m. The clearest signal is a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification right on the packaging of the flooring in question. The FSC is a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging...

Finding an Energy Efficient Room Air Conditioner

Thu, 04/24/2008 - 21:30 - Money Pit Team

I'm in the market for a new room air conditioner. Got any tips on what to look for?shelaghE 04-02-08 8:11 a.m. The main thing to look for is the Energy Star label, which tells you a unit uses at least 10 percent less energy than conventional models. Energy Star qualified room air conditioners...

Meet Florida's Showcase Green Envirohome

Fri, 04/18/2008 - 16:39 - Money Pit Team

I'm interested in building a super environmentally friendly home.  I've seen and read about homes that claim to have energy efficient and earth friendly features, but have not seen one total example of a home that delivers both.  Are you aware of any such homes?Todd 04-02-08 10:00...

Lighting up a Kitchen

Sat, 04/12/2008 - 10:17 - Money Pit Team

We're gearing up for a kitchen remodel, and feel pretty confident about every aspect except lighting. What should we be prepared to discuss with a kitchen lighting designer?PaulZ 03-01-08 7:18 a.m. Before you even get to the point of choosing fixture styles (and there are a lot of them), you and...