1. On the Wire - Roof Re-do
2. Ask Tom & Leslie - A "Charming" Problem
3. Got A Question About Your Money Pit?
4. On the Air - Where in the World
5. Dot Common Sense - Love Your Place
6. Fun Fact - Wet Basement Woes
7. Short Cuts- Protect Your Identity
8. Share This Information With A Friend!

ON THE WIRE

Does your roof leak? Have you ever had to replace a roof? What if there was a roof that you could install that might never need replacement? There is: it's called metal roofing. Metal roofs are often called "Investment Grade Roofs" because they can last a really, really long time, save you a bundle and add value to your home. Plus, they are almost maintenance-free and fully worry free! It's built to endure for decades-with low maintenance and no worries. What's more, a metal roof stands up to rain, snow, high winds, hail and wildfires. And if you're thinking of a corrugated tin barn roof, thin again. Metal roofing is also very attractive and comes in lots of styles and colors. To learn more about Investment Grade Roofing-or to find a Metal Roofing Alliance Contractor - visit www.MetalRoofing.com.

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ASK TOM & LESLIE

This week's question comes to us from Pat who listens to The Money Pit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pat says, "My mother's house is small, and very level with no humps or slants. However, the floors are squeaking so badly, it is driving me nuts! This home was built about 50-60 years ago, and does not have a sub-floor. I'm not even sure if the hardwood is tongue and groove. Can we stop this squeaking? It is getting progressively worse. Thank you!"

Pat, the technical term for this phenomenon is called "charm"! Seriously, of the hundreds of calls and emails we get each week, floors is the most asked about topic. While they are annoying, a squeak seldom means you have an underlying structural problem. The actual sound stems from one or a combination of two sources. Either loose floor boards are rubbing together or the nails that hold down the floor are squeaking as they move in and out of their holes. Fixing squeaking hardwood floors can be tricky, but it can be done.

Locate the area of the squeak and then use a stud-finder to locate the joists. Note that since the joists will be 1 to 1 ½" under the hardwood floor, you'll need to use a stud finder than has a "Deep Scan" feature to be sure you are in the right spot. Once you've identified the location, you can either screw down the loose area or re-nail it. In either case, you'll need to pre-drill the floor. For screws, purchase a bit from your local home center or hardware store that includes a counter bore. This will leave a hole that is exactly 3/8" in diameter and the perfect size to fill with an easily available oak plug. If you are nailing the floor, use a drill bit that is slightly smaller in diameter than the finish nails you are using. This way, the nails will pass easily though the floor without bending or splitting floorboards.

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GOT A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR MONEY PIT?

1. The toll-free studio hot line is 1-888-MONEY PIT. Find out when we broadcast in your area by checking out our website at www.moneypit.com. Each week we take dozens of calls, give great advice and offer callers a chance to win a terrific prize awarded to one random caller to every show.
2. Call when it's convenient for you, 24 hours a day, same number: 1-888-MONEY PIT. A live person takes your call 24/7! So -- WHENEVER you have a home improvement question -- phone it in. Simply tell our phone screener your first name, and where you're calling from...and ask your question. We’ll get back to you with the answer – or even call you back during the show!
3. Click here to email your question to us. We may read your email on the air and we also respond personally to many of the email questions we get.

ON THE AIR

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DOT COMMON SENSE

Americans aren't the only ones to love to fix-up their home sweet home. The time is right for Love Your Place (LYP), Canada's first consumer oriented, female-friendly online resource for news, information and tips about home ownership, renovation and design. Women now make up to 80% of household decisions about improvement, maintenance and décor purchases for the home, and are increasingly active in Canada's $36-billion renovation market. LYP is talking directly to these women every month through LYP's online presence and monthly e-newsletter. A stellar line-up of monthly columnists provide expert advice on various aspects of home ownership. There's fun stuff too - with giveaways and contests every month. Visit www.LoveYourPlace.com.

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FUN FACT

Ask 10 people how to fix a wet basement and you're likely to get answers that include use of jackhammers to break up basement floors, backhoes to dig out dirt from foundation walls, sump pumps that have to be wired and plumbed, and other such drastic and expensive measures. While these solutions may seem to make sense, they all attempt the impossible: to seal a foundation so tightly, that it will somehow hold off water like a boat. Well, unless you live in a houseboat - it won't float!

Most people blame a wet basement on a high water table, the natural level of water in the soil under the building site. This is another myth that could not be further from the truth. Homes are not built below water tables. Builders attempting such a feat would find themselves constructing a foundation in a muddy mess. Likewise, basements that flood after a storm are also never caused by rising water tables. A water table moves slowly and seasonally. If your leaks show up after a heavy rainfall or snowmelt, the cause of your problem is far easier to spot and to fix. Most basement leaks can be traced to trouble with the drainage conditions around the outside of the house. If too much water is allowed to collect in the soil around the foundation, it will naturally leak into the basement through the walls, or even up through the center of the floor.

The solution lies in improving these drainage conditions. Something that is easy, cheap and highly effective. Make sure your gutters are clean, clear and have at least one downspout for every 600 - 800 square feet of roof surface. It's also important to make sure the ends of the downspouts are extended to discharge at least 4 - 6 feet from the foundation. Soil should slope away from the house to keep rainfall from collecting against foundation walls. If grading needs improvement, use clean fill dirt (not top soil) to build up the soil around your house. It is also important to avoid landscape treatments that hold soil to the house. A brick, stone or landscape timber edging around flower beds adjacent to foundation walls may look attractive, but these edges can prevent water from draining away from the foundation and increase your risk of flooding. Following these simple guidelines will solve 99% of wet basement blues. Finally, ff you've ever thought about hiring a so-called "Water Proofing Contractor" to fix your wet basement - don't. Water proofing contractors often attempt to "scare" homeowners into an expensive drainage system when most are not needed. back to the top

SHORT CUTS

Identity theft is America's fastest growing crime. If you think your identity has been stolen, do not waste time contacting the proper authorities. Here's what you should do:

Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three consumer reporting companies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. The fraud alert tells creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too. Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you're entitled to order free copies of your credit reports, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports.

Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Get a copy of the report or at the very least, the number of the report, to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.

File your complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps us learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that we can better assist you.

And there's good news if you are worried about losses associated with ID theft. Many homeowners' insurance policies now cover certain financial losses due to identity theft when you purchase a specific rider for the problem. Riders can be as low as $30 a year. Covered items include the costs related to restoring your name and financial standing. Check with your insurer about such a rider, any deductible and what's covered.

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SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH A FRIEND!

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Copyright 2006 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.