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Share ideas and learn about the latest in home improvement and décor from Tom and Leslie.

Money Pit Blogs

Q+A: Updating Home to Help My Parents

Wed, 02/06/2008 - 21:04 - Money Pit Team

I've lived in my 1928 DC Row/Federal Style home for over 30 years.  I would like to add a 2 or 3 story addition to the rear, as well as install Central AC, remodel the Kitchen, create a Master Bedroom, and a few other smaller projects.  I am a caregiver for both my mother and father.  Both...

Best way to store firewood

Sat, 02/02/2008 - 14:52 - Money Pit Team

On your home improvement radio show, I heard you warn that storing wood too close to your house can invite termites.  How should I be storing and maintaining my firewood supply this winter?lak720 2-1-08 12:22pm Circulation and safety are the two main things to keep in mind as you stack up and...

Adding Radiant Heating to a Living Area

Sun, 01/27/2008 - 13:02 - Money Pit Team

I'd really like to add radiant heating to the floors in my home. Is this possible with an existing structure, or is radiant heating technology only doable in a new build?allen343 1-26-08 4:23pm New builds are the best opportunity for installation of a super-customized, whole-house system, but...

Choosing a Hybrid HVAC System

Sat, 01/19/2008 - 18:52 - Money Pit Team

It's about time for me to upgrade my home's HVAC components, and I've been hearing a lot about hybrid systems. Can they really keep my home comfy and cut my utility bills?jrocha 1-18-08 2:33pm Just like hybrid vehicles, hybrid HVAC systems have come a long way in the last few years, and now's a...

Creating More Space in a Tiny Laundry Room

Sun, 01/13/2008 - 20:27 - Money Pit Team

My tight-squeeze laundry area has turned into a disorganized mess I dread, and our family laundry volume shows no sign of letting up. Got any ideas on how I can create the extra space I need to get laundry day back under control? A laundry room often seems like an afterthought in home design,...

California Is The Worst Place to get a Home Inspection

Wed, 01/09/2008 - 13:30 - Money Pit Team

When state legislators in Florida, Pennsylvania and California convene for the next session, they may want to take a close look at the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) state ranking of the best and worst home inspection regulation laws in the United States.  In the last 10 years, 28...

How to Fix a Squeaking Floor

Sun, 12/30/2007 - 13:02 - Money Pit Team

What can I do about squeaky floors?  My house is about 20 years old, built over a crawl space.  The floor covering is vinyl in the kitchen and baths, and carpeting over the sub-flooring in the rest of the house.  The  squeaking occurs in both the vinyl & carpeted areas; e. g., when I installed...

How to Clean Algae from Roof

Sat, 12/15/2007 - 16:35 - Money Pit Team

My 18 year old wood roof shingles have algae here in Northern NJ. I got several quotes and they were all very costly (about $5,000) to clean the roof using diluted bleach.  Should I wait until need a new roof and replace with long life shingles?dsaks 12-9-07 8:31pm Algae and fungus on your roof...

How to Get a Glossy Garage Floor

Tue, 12/04/2007 - 20:37 - Money Pit Team

I recently applied BEHR Premium 2-Part Epoxy Garage Floor Coating in my garage which looks terrific, but I would prefer a glossier finish.  Can I apply Behr Wet Look Sealer as a top coat or will this damage the integrity of the epoxy coating?  Do you have any suggestions?crwines 11-28-07 ...

Cool Video: Instant Home Makeover

Tue, 11/27/2007 - 20:57 - Money Pit Team

With help from AARP, my co-host Leslie Segrete and I completed a home makeover project that delivered both safety and style for house that is home to three generations of a family in Miller Place, NY.  Check out cool before/after video of improvements to the kitchen, bath, foyer and get some...