On the Wire - After the Storm
A good, soaking rain can be just as damaging to your home as strong wind or hail. Heavy accumulations of water can cause house foundations to become weak and fail. Check yours carefully by looking along both outdoor and indoor walls for any areas that may be cracked or bulging. If things look good for now, check again over the next several weeks. Water can wash out soil under the footings that hold up the house and not show up as a problem until months after the storm. Watch out for interior walls that crack or doors that get stuck. This could mean the foundation has been damaged and the house is shifting. If you see anything out of the ordinary, don't make any repairs yourself. Call in an expert, like a professional home inspector, for advice before any work is begun. And check the following areas of your home:
Flooded Fixtures - Any electrical component, like an outlet, appliance or furnace that has been below flood waters should be replaced. Contaminants in the water can cause serious damage to sensitive electrical components. Besides malfunctioning, they could even result in electrical fires. If your heating system has been flooded out, have it checked by an expert heating and cooling contractor or home inspector. In many cases, individual parts can be changed without it becoming necessary to replace the entire unit.
Basement Blues - If your basement has flooded from the storm, don't panic. Severe weather can cause even the driest basement to turn into an indoor swimming pool. Remove damaged belongings and dry the basement with fans. Then, avoid future problems by checking outside for any loose or disconnected gutters and fix any that you find. Look for washed out soil along the foundation walls. If this has happened, regrade the area by adding clean fill dirt and slope it away from the house.
Windward Woes - Winter winds can rip through the outer skin of your house and cause damage in many areas. Examine every side of your house from the ground. Check for loose siding, metal trim and loose soffits. If these parts are loose or missing - leaks can develop. Look for cracked, loose or broken window panes and fix any you find. Check the closers and safety chains on storm binoculars. Wind can cause shingles to blow off and roof antennas to collapse. Even the best roofs can leak under extreme conditions. Driving rain can "push up" under the roof shingles and result in major leaks. If this has happened, repairs may not be necessary unless the shingles have been damaged. These leaks are not likely to reoccur with normal rainfall. Also, look for loose flashing around the chimney and plumbing vents. Wind can loosen the flashing and cause leaks if it is not tight.
Cleaning Up - When the cleaning up after the storm, be sure to use a good quality disinfectant on all floor and wall surfaces. Flood waters can be contaminated with all sorts of bacteria that can be an unwelcome guest in your home. When using commercial disinfectants, make sure you ventilate the house or use an environmentally safe mix of one cup of Borax in a bucket of hot water.
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Ask Tom & Leslie - All Decked Out
This week's question comes to us from Candace in Fargo, North Dakota. Candace asks, "What is a good and inexpensive deck stripper to refinish my wood deck?¨
Candace, you've picked a perfect time for this project. The autumn's low humidity will make this job much easier. That said, the product you use really depends on what is currently on your deck. If you have a solid or semi-transparent stain we would recommend Stainstrip Exterior Stain Stripper from Flood. It's available at the Home Depot. It will remove dirt, any existing wood stain finish and graying. If your deck is painted, or if you¡¦re not sure what kind of finish you have, you should try the CWF-UltraLast Premium Finish Stripper, also from Flood and at the Home Depot. The CWF-UltraLast will remove any finish including Latex.
Which ever you choose, be sure to work earlier in the day so the sun will not evaporate the product off. Apply with a roller or spray applicator. Then rinse off the stripper with a pressure washer. Make sure the pressure not too heavy and keep a good 18" off the surface to avoid damaging the wood. You can use a stiff bristle brush to get any stubborn spots. Allow the deck to completely dry before applying your new finish. Good Luck!
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Got A Question About Your Money Pit?
You can do-it-yourself but you don't have to do-it-alone. Getting in touch with us is as easy as 1 - 2 or 3!
- 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.
- 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!
- 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.
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On the Air - Grilling and Chilling
The party's almost over. After a summer of grilling and chilling, it will soon be time to put that grill away. This week on the program, learn what you need to do BEFORE you store your gas grill for the winter. We¡¦ll have everything from cleaning tips to how to store unused fuel. That¡¦s this week on The Money Pit. Click here to find out where we are broadcast in your area, or how to download our FREE Podcast.
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EXTRA, EXTRA! - The Home Depot presents HOME SHOW '06
The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, is launching its first-ever national home show in more than 1,000 stores across the country. The show will feature the newest, best and most innovative products available at The Home Depot through live demonstrations, in-store celebrity clinics, a virtual home tour and virtual clinics online. This unique event kicks off on September 7th and runs until September 24th.
Imagine a carpet that resists pet odors, a dishwasher that dispenses detergent automatically, or light bulbs that last 10 times longer. These are just a few of the new products that will be featured during Home Show 06 that help consumers save time and money. Homeowners can also hone their do-it-yourself skills by attending clinics at The Home Depot stores and online.
As part of the event, The Money Pit will broadcast an upcoming show from the flagship Home Depot store in Atlanta, Georgia. So visit your local Home Depot for great ideas, tips, product demos and more this month or visit www.homedepot.com/homeshow .
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Fun Fact - Fall Project Checklist
As temperatures drop to more comfortable levels across the country, the fall is the optimal time to revisit any outdoor projects you've been postponing:
- Exterior Wood - Wood finishes are best applied when the ambient temperature is between 50 and 80 degrees F. It is important to remember that the UV rays of winter can be just as damaging to unprotected wood as the summer sun, and winter moisture can cause unprotected wood to crack, blister, flake and peel.
- Lawn - Continue to mow and water so your lawn isn't stressed/damaged going into the fall. Give it one more dose of weed and feed fertilizer to give it an extra boost. Fall is also a good time to aerate your lawn, try wearing your golf shoes next time you mow.
- Outdoor Furniture - If you have vinyl furniture, give it a good washing and make sure you have a place to store it indoors during the winter. With wood furniture, you'll want to inspect it for damage and do any necessary repairs before you store it for the winter.
- House Exterior - Patch any cracks in the foundation and touch up any peeling or cracking outdoor paint. Clean your gutters one last time so melting snow and ice won't get trapped this winter.
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Short Cuts - Bug Off!
Products containing DEET work great at keeping mosquitoes away. But too much of a good thing can be dangerous. The EPA recommends applying DEET products only to exposed skin, use the products sparingly and washing up after coming inside. Here are some non-chemical alternatives to keeping biting bugs at bay for your last few evenings of the summer season:
Basil: This herb will repel many summer pests, including flies and mosquitoes. Use fresh basil and keep it in a cloth bag, such as muslin or cheesecloth. Hang a few bags around the house or yard.
Catnip: This works well WITH the basil, especially to control flies and mosquitoes. But don't try this if you have a cat!
Dryer sheets: Use a fabric softener dryer sheet and rub on your skin. You can also keep this in your pocket or under your hat. This will deter mosquitoes and flies.
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Copyright 2006 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.
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