#2525 – Step Up Your Staircase Style | Privacy Screen Landscaping | Benefits of Metal Roofs

[Producer Jim]

The Money Pit is presented by Daich Coatings and the Metal Roofing Alliance. Now, here’s Leslie Segrete.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Coast to coast and floorboards to shingles, this is The Money Pit. I’m Leslie Segrete and joining me as always is my buddy, Jim Kenzie. Happy first weekend of June, everybody.

 

How do you feel about June, Jimmy?

 

[Producer Jim]

Oh, it’s my birthday. It’s my father’s birthday.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

How do I not know this for all these years?

 

[Producer Jim]

Oh, yeah. Well, I’ve hidden it from you, Leslie. I know you’re the chronic gift buyer and surpriser.

 

I was trying to avoid you all these years.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

When is your birthday?

 

[Producer Jim]

June 7th.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Oh, my God. Okay. So now it’s mentally burned in there forever.

 

[Producer Jim]

Yeah, and lots of family and lots of anniversaries and it’s graduation season, et cetera. So it’s a cool time for me.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Yeah. I mean, it’s definitely a busy month. It’s kind of that last rush to get everything done, school, sports, father’s day, Jim’s birthday, Jim’s family is visiting.

 

[Producer Jim]

Yeah.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Well, all right. How can we make your June easier, everybody? What can we help check off of your to-do list?

 

So give us a call at 888-MONEY-PIT so we can lend a hand. We’ve got a great show this hour. If you’ve got a pool or practically any other space that you want to keep out of the public eye, privacy screenings can definitely help.

 

It can be a landscaped privacy screen and that can provide a beautiful natural option over fencing. So we’re going to share the best natural ways that you can do that. And summer, it’s rough on the roofs and that’s one reason that now is a really popular season for replacing your home’s roof.

 

And if your roof is ready for a redo, metal roofing offers many benefits that you’re not going to find in other materials. So we’ve got Renee Ramey joining us from the Metal Roofing Alliance to share all the benefits of installing a metal roof. And are you looking for a fun fix up for a rainy summer afternoon?

 

Because those days are coming too. Well, stepping up your stairs is an easy DIY project that can have a positive impact on your home’s interior. We’re going to tell you how.

 

But first, we want to help you create your best home ever. If it’s a bathroom or a basement, or if you’re doing a demolition project or redecorating or your coach, your counselor, heck, I’ll be your cheerleader, you guys, if you want for all of those projects, big and small. Actually, Jim’s going to be the cheerleader.

 

[Producer Jim]

Now there’s a visual.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

He looks great with the pom-poms, you guys. Ah, birthday list. Now I know.

 

Note to self, pom-poms. Well, whatever you guys are working on, let’s lend a hand. Jim, who’s up first?

 

[Producer Jim]

Have you been to Alaska, Leslie? I have not. Let’s do a remote out there.

 

It’s gorgeous. I would love to. Let’s go there.

 

But in the meantime, we could talk to Mary, who’s from Alaska.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

But you know, Jim, you and I would have very different goals for an Alaska trip, I imagine.

 

[Producer Jim]

Why is that?

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Mine would be skiing and Northern Lights. Yours would be…

 

[Producer Jim]

Definitely for the scenery and the fishing.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right. So yours is a summer trip. We’ll just have to go twice.

 

[Producer Jim]

Okay.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

So where’s Mary? We’re going to go visit her as well.

 

[Producer Jim]

It sounds like she has a problem with her hot water at her place. What’s up, Mary?

 

[Mary in Alaska]

I have hot water heaters downstairs, and I’m considering going to a tankless.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right. Well, Mary, if you don’t mind two vagabond visitors, Jim and I will happily come and help you with this project. But we have to come twice because we have very different Alaska dreams.

 

All right. So Mary, what kind of fuel do you have in the house? Is it gas or electric?

 

 

 

[Mary in Alaska]

Electric.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right. Well, with electric, you can’t really go with an electric tankless water heater because the tankless water heater technology is really designed for those gas water heaters.

 

But what you can do is switch to something called a heat pump water heater. And a heat pump is high-efficiency electric water heating. So it’s going to save you some money, and it also typically will qualify you for a variety of different types of energy rebates.

 

But it’s going to be more expensive than your traditional just tanked electric heater because with an electric water heater, you know, it’s running 24-7. It’s pretty expensive. With a heat pump, it basically kind of uses the refrigeration concept that you use with a heat pump air conditioner to try to provide some of that warmth of the water.

 

So it’s less expensive to operate, and I think it really comes down to how much you want to spend for the unit. Are you going to be in your house a long time? Because it’s not like you pack that thing up with you when you leave.

 

You want to make sure you’re investing something that you’re going to spend time to enjoy. Or if you’re selling, you know you’re going to see a big return on investment of it right away because you wouldn’t have stayed there long enough after just installing it to see that return. What I would suggest you do as well is add a timer to it.

 

There’s a device that’s not too expensive. It’s a heavy-duty timer designed for a 240-volt appliance. And you basically set that water heater to come on maybe around dinner time, stay on through all the evening showers and baths, and then come on again in the morning for the morning routine of getting ready to start your day.

 

That water is still going to remain warm throughout the day, but instead of running it 24-7, maybe it’s only on 8 to 10 hours. And that’s definitely going to save you some money. Does that make sense?

 

[Mary in Alaska]

Yeah, it does. I was just trying to get rid of the tanks of water. It bust on me one time.

 

I don’t want that to ever happen again. And I was really hoping I could get rid of all that water sitting down there in one place.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Well, I tell you what. Chances are that if you have experienced a busted water tank that flooded, I’m going to say it’s never going to happen again because it’s just not that common. And, I mean, that would be the most awful luck in the world if it happened to you twice.

 

I mean, that would just be bad. So another thing you can do is if you’ve got Wi-Fi in the home, there’s lots of smart home products that are out there, including some that are leak detectors that basically get mounted to your basement floor. And if you ever get a flood again, it will alert you.

 

And maybe you can send a neighbor over immediately to check on the house and turn off the water main.

 

[Mary in Alaska]

Yeah, yeah. I know they have shut-off valves and all that kind of stuff now, too. But I just wanted to get rid of all of it.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Yeah, they have them, but they’re really expensive, and you’re not going to see any energy savings. Is there anything like propane that you could use for fuel?

 

[Mary in Alaska]

No, we heat with fuel oil.

 

 

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right, yeah. So I think the best thing that you can do is either put a timer on your standard water pump heater or get a heat pump water heater. Anyway, I think those are probably the best options for you.

 

And maybe down the road, the electric technology will improve with those tankless options.

 

[Mary in Alaska]

Okay, thank you so much.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Oh, you’re welcome.

 

Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEYPIT. Thank you. Bye-bye.

 

[Producer Jim]

Out in Pennsylvania, we have Vinny, Leslie. He needs some help leveling out his yard. Tell us what you’re working on, Vinny

 

[Vinny in Pennsylvania]

We recently purchased our first home, and the backyard has somewhat of a swale effect, kind of like between two crests of a wave. And we’re thinking about bringing in, I don’t know, 9, 10 dump trucks worth of dirt to flatten it. And we’re not sure if, first of all, that’s a good idea, and second of all, what implications may come of that with effects of rain and, you know, things I’ll have to worry about with the neighbors next to me.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right. When you say these waves, Vinnie, it makes me think of, like, when they’ve been blowing snow at the ski mountain and you get these, like, whales’ tails. Like, I can see this.

 

What’s going on?

 

[Vinny in Pennsylvania]

Yeah, sure. Like, the back of the house is level, but then the yard will slowly, gradually crest like a hill and then go downwards. And then as it nears the back of the property in the alleyway, the property comes back up like a low u-shape.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right. So from the foundation outward, does the property slope away from the house?

 

[Vinny in Pennsylvania]

It does.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right. So when the water is running, it goes away from the house, normal drainage, nothing’s coming towards the house. We don’t have to worry about that.

 

[Vinny in Pennsylvania]

Yeah, water can normally drain away from the house.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right. So it’s just that you’re dealing with these sort of rolly hills. Again, I’m thinking of, like, dirt bikes now, and the kids would love to go on these things.

 

Seriously. But we don’t want them, Vinny. We’ve got to get rid of it.

 

So we need to make sure that we’re just leveling it out, but keeping everything still moving away from the house, right?

 

[Vinny in Pennsylvania]

Yeah. And all the way at the back end of the property where the property meets the road in the back, that’s also below the level of the back of the house. If we were to level it, it would be a nice, slowly grading property.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Okay. So if you want to add that much soil, and I mean, it seems like you’re talking about an awful lot of soil, and if you add too much of it, it’s generally just going to wash away. So typically, if you need to raise the soil level, you would have to use something to retain it, like a retaining wall, which could either be a stone wall or wood, and then adding soil to the top of it that you’re sort of able to build up upon.

 

It’s probably not the best strategy because it’s not going to have any root growth in there, and it’s going to be, you know, not really get compacted. You’d have to get the grass to really knit, and maybe you’re going to get a lot of erosion, especially if you have heavy rain. Do you notice when it is a heavy rain, do you see ponding anywhere?

 

Is that part of the issue? Is something getting stuck and not draining properly?

 

[Vinny in Pennsylvania]

Well, it doesn’t pond, but because it’s a low effect, it’s definitely more wet and soupier.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right. So maybe there’s a different solution to the water or the wet sort of soil that you’re seeing, and that could be a curtain drain. Now, a curtain drain is a drain that sits just below the top of the soil, and it kind of sits in a trench.

 

It’s a perforated pipe, so the water runs into it, and it fills that pipe, and then that pipe runs away further downhill out to daylight somewhere, and that can help drain that swampy area, so you’ll get a lot more drier soil. And a curtain drain, you might also have heard it called a French drain, can do just that. I mean, sometimes we see properties that slope away from the building, but then the water kind of gets stuck somewhere in the middle of the backyard, and the curtain drain really is the best way to do that.

 

And once it’s installed, you really never see it again because it’s below the surface, but basically it’s a trench that’s roughly 12 by 12. You have some stone in the bottom of it, and then the curtain drain is covered by more stone, a filter cloth, and then you can put soil and seed and sod, and the whole thing becomes invisible. But as the water drains through the ground, it falls into the trench and goes out somewhere.

 

Does that make sense?

 

[Vinny in Pennsylvania]

Yeah, so you don’t think that bringing in that dirt and even putting a retaining wall…

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Yeah, but I mean, if you put a retaining wall and you could do it, it’s just going to be a really big job, and it doesn’t sound like it’s that traumatic to you, but I tell you, if you want to take some pictures of the yard and post them in the Money Pit community section, we can take a look. I’m sure Jim and I can come up with something that might help you out a little better, but I think really the drainage is going to be the best way for you to handle this.

 

[Vinny in Pennsylvania]

Okay, sure, I’ve heard of a trench drain. People have been telling me about that, but I think I’ll look into that. Thank you.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right, you’re so welcome. Good luck with the project, and thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.

 

[Producer Jim]

Yeah, I’d love to see those pictures, Leslie, because based on what he’s saying with those hills, he wants to bring in a lot of dirt.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

It would be a lot of dirt to fill that in.

 

[Producer Jim]

Yeah, being the Midwest DIY guy, I would consider renting a Bobcat and just taking the high spots down.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right, MacGyver.

 

[Producer Jim]

You know, you take the high spots down. You don’t need to bring in any dirt.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

You just push the high spots into the low spots.

 

[Producer Jim]

Correct.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Plus, then you get to ride a pretty cool tool for the day.

 

[Producer Jim]

They are cool. All right.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Hey, Money Pit podcast fans, you want to help us out? Well, go ahead and leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and we’re going to give you a virtual high five. Plus, you’ll be helping us spread the word about our show.

 

Just go to moneypit.com slash review. Making good homes better. This is The Money Pit.

 

I’m Leslie Segrete. Hey, are you looking for a project that you can tackle in a weekend? Well, look no further, because this is the last weekend that you can enter the ultimate porch and patio makeover sweepstakes from our friends over at Daich Coatings.

 

Right now, through June 9th, you can enter to win amazing, easy-to-use DIY products from Daich that are going to transform your patio, your porch, or any concrete surface into an attractive surface that’s going to last for years. Just visit moneypit.com slash sweepstakes right now through June 9th. We’re going to pick two grand prize winners who will each receive about $1,000 in Daich Coatings products.

 

You can choose a decorative surface of spreadrock granite stone coating, a track-safe anti-slip color coat, or roller rock stone coating. And then you’re also going to get a final coating of track-safe anti-slip sealer. And together, these will create a gorgeous new space for your home.

 

Now, don’t worry, guys. We’ve got 20 runner-up winners as well who will each receive their track-safe anti-slip color kit valued at $150. You can enter today at moneypit.com slash sweepstakes. Good luck, everybody! Well, enjoying a relaxing afternoon in your own backyard is one of the true joys of homeownership. Do you sometimes feel, though, that your neighbors are getting an eyeful every time you’re out there?

 

Well, if you do, it might be a good idea to create a more private area. And there are lots of very natural ways that you can do that. Typically, when you think privacy screening, you’re going to think it’s going to take a fence to accomplish that.

 

But there are some natural ways that you can do just as great of a job. And here are some great ideas. Now, a line of evergreen trees like a Leland cypress or an arborvitae, and sometimes you see them out like a Costco or BJ’s under the name Green Giant.

 

I mean, anything called a Green Giant, I think, is going to grow very large and give you a lot of privacy. And it’s great because when you’re planting these sort of landscaping solutions over a fence, there’s generally no municipal restrictions on how they can grow. And I tell you, they can grow crazy tall and quickly.

 

We planted some when we first moved into the house. I mean, I’ve been in my house 25 years. So I planted them like little baby four-footers.

 

And all these years later, they have reached the entire height of my home. And I’ve had to cut them down several times. And I’m always amazed at how strong they are because when the guys come in to do it, they’re literally walking along the top of the little shrubs as they’re trimming everything down.

 

And it’s awesome. And, you know, I hate the way it looks when it’s first trimmed, like because it’s so square. But then it grows back super quick and you forget.

 

And then all of a sudden, it’s time to do it again. And the best part about Leland Cypress arborvitae is that from the part you can get to, it doesn’t really require a lot of pruning to keep that shape. It will adapt to a lot of ranges and growing conditions.

 

And if deer are a problem in your area, that green giant arborvitae, for some reason, they seem to hate. Now, when you’re planting, you want to be sure to pay attention to their width at maturity. So the rule there is that the spacing between trunks when you plant should equal the mature width.

 

And while the ideal growing conditions do vary by species, one thing all of these evergreens have in common is that they love the sunshine. So you want to give them at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. And their foliage will remain full and definitely keep that privacy intact.

 

Now, to help you get that sense of privacy right away, look at specimens that are at about six feet tall. And then you want ones with green foliage and a moist root ball. And they could reach 15 feet or more.

 

I’m telling you, more when they mature. I mean, literally, mine have been 30 feet tall. Like it’s bananas how big they get.

 

And truly, a lot of people in my neighborhood use them to sort of create that division on property lines. When there’s no trees or power lines or phone lines or anything above them, they, I swear, some of them are 30, 40 feet tall. And I don’t know how people are keeping them so beautifully trimmed and shaped.

 

I like mine a little on the wilder side, but I also don’t really love doing yard work. So six of one, half a dozen of the other. But do as we do, not as I do.

 

Do as we say, not as you know what I mean. Do something. Just do something.

 

Just do something. Plant a tree. Have some privacy.

 

[Producer Jim]

There you go.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right. It’s a great project and definitely doable. And you can find really good deals this time of year on those plants.

 

All right, Jim, enough of me chatting. Who’s up next?

 

[Producer Jim]

Out in Arizona, we’ve got Jenna, and she’s gardening. How can we help you in your gardening project, Jenna?

 

[Jenna in Arizona]

I live in Sedona, Arizona, and I live kind of up in a canyon area headed up towards Flagstaff here. And I have a really hard time getting any plants to grow around the very shady sides of my house in kind of border boxes and things like that. And I’ve tried a few different things, and just with not much luck.

 

So I’m just wondering if you guys have any suggestions. All right. Well, what have you tried?

 

Coleuses, pansies. Right now, I do actually have something called a stillbee that’s kind of working there.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Have you tried hostas?

 

 

 

[Jenna in Arizona]

Hostas? I don’t think I’ve tried hostas.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right. Well, what about a copper plant? Have you ever seen a copper plant?

 

They’re beautiful. They’re sort of greenish, like kind of a green, red, orange plant with big leaves.

 

[Jenna in Arizona]

That would be great.

 

 

 

[Leslie Segrete]

I mean, that could be a great option. Have you tried begonias? They’re gorgeous as well.

 

And I think they’re pretty good in sun and shade.

 

[Jenna in Arizona]

I think I’ve tried those in my hanging baskets. They don’t do well either.

 

 

 

[Leslie Segrete]

The people that work at the local garden center, I always find, are sort of experts in that area, and they know exactly what works in your region, in your zone. And you can be like, hey, I’ve got this shady area. What do I need to do?

 

Because, I mean, you live in a desert location. We don’t. We live in the north.

 

Well, I live in the northeast. Jim, as you know, is in Michigan. Tells us a lot.

 

[Producer Jim]

I’m not in Michigan, Leslie. I wish I was in Michigan, but no, no, no. Okay, anyway.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Anyway. So if you head on over to the pros at the local home center and the local garden centers, they can help you. Now, I have a very shady spot in the yard.

 

Hostas work awesome there, and they seem to work well all across the country where there are shady spots. And they’re hardy. They’re a perennial, so they come back season after season.

 

And there’s a lot of different varieties of hosta, so you can find them in a variegated leaf that could be like a yellowy green or a green and white or just different tones of green. And I bet you you’re going to find a hosta that you like. There’s even different leaf shapes.

 

So that could be a good way to start. But I would just go definitely to the local home and garden center and kind of pick their brains and see what could work well. And sometimes those local home centers even come with like a warranty.

 

And if something just doesn’t work out right.

 

[Jenna in Arizona]

Yeah, I think that that’s a great suggestion. Thank you very much.

 

 

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right. Good luck with that. I know you’re going to make a beautiful garden.

 

[Producer Jim]

And Jenna, if you decide you need something shady.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Don’t offer those services, Jim.

 

[Producer Jim]

Oh, oh, oh. That’s right, right, right.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Well, weather has been getting wilder every year here in the United States from severe storms to wildfires. And it’s all leading us on the search for better weather resistant materials and more durable building materials for our homes. Our roofs tend to make up one of the largest surface areas of the home.

 

So joining us to discuss innovations in roofing materials is Renee Ramey, the executive director of the Metal Roofing Alliance, to share with us how a metal roof can help our homes stand up to Mother Nature. Renee, welcome to the Money Pit. So Renee, what makes a metal roof a better choice for a residential installation?

 

[Renee Ramey (Metal Roofing Alliance)]

There’s a number of reasons, but I think it comes down for most areas and most people to the durability and the longevity of a metal roof.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

I mean, when you say longevity, we’re really talking about a super extended lifespan compared to other roofing materials.

 

[Renee Ramey (Metal Roofing Alliance)]

What we typically have found in our research is that a quality metal roof will last at least two to three times longer than an asphalt roof. There are other roofing materials out there that are as long-lasting, but metal roofing definitely brings the other benefits beyond just the longevity.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Now, how about reliability when it comes to severe weather? What causes a metal roof to really just withstand those situations better?

 

[Renee Ramey (Metal Roofing Alliance)]

A lot of it is the system itself, the metal roofing system, which includes, you know, the metal panels as much as the way it’s applied to the home’s roof. So it’s that quality system made of quality product that really helps the metal roof withstand high winds and become wildfire resistant and all those wonderful benefits that metal brings.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

I mean, it’s crazy. We’ve seen wildfires in parts of the United States in the past year where we never thought they were even possible. So I think people are really trying to rethink what goes into their home’s envelope and how they can preserve their homes best.

 

[Renee Ramey (Metal Roofing Alliance)]

Yes, agreed. And we’re seeing that a lot just in the response from homeowners in the last few years. You know, and one thing I always point out to homeowners as well is, you know, not only is the roof, it’s your first line of protection, right?

 

It’s the thing that not only protects the structure, but it protects your possessions inside and your loved ones. And so it really is a critical piece of your home structure.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Amazing. We’re talking to Renee Ramey, the Executive Director of the Metal Roofing Alliance. Now, when it comes time to talk about installing a metal roof, we’re at a point where we want to go down to the sheathing.

 

We’re starting from scratch here. I mean, this isn’t about installing on top of an existing roofing material, correct?

 

[Renee Ramey (Metal Roofing Alliance)]

It can go on top. That is typically left up to the installer to make the call, but it is not uncommon for a metal roofing system to be applied specifically over an asphalt roof. I think the main criteria is the shape of the roof structure itself.

 

You know, obviously, if there’s sub-roofing, you know, or aspects of the roof that need to be replaced underneath those asphalt shingles, then yeah, it would be a complete down to the substructure.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

That’s great. I really didn’t realize this was an option there. I thought this was sort of an all-in or not at all.

 

Now, what about maintenance? Like, what do we have to do annually to make sure that our metal roof is performing efficiently?

 

[Renee Ramey (Metal Roofing Alliance)]

Very little. That’s one of the other benefits of metal roofing is there’s literally on our website a cleaning solution that is simple dish soap, some hot water, and you get it up on your roof and hose it down. A lot of times, even just hosing your roof down on a regular basis with just your garden hose is more than enough to clean off the roof.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

I mean, that’s awesome. What about helping homeowners with their energy costs? Do we see energy-saving benefits because of the nature of metal?

 

Absolutely.

 

[Renee Ramey (Metal Roofing Alliance)]

Again, if you’ve got a quality metal roofing system on your home, it is very likely that you will see benefits from your heating and cooling bills. And a lot of that has to just do with the coatings that are on the roofing material itself, so the paint colors that provide some emissivity and reflectivity benefits that are unique to metal roofing.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

What about when it comes to insurance? I mean, we’re putting on a roof that’s much more efficient. We’re putting on a roof that’s better able to stand up and be protective against severe weather.

 

Do you find that insurance companies are offering a savings or a benefit?

 

[Renee Ramey (Metal Roofing Alliance)]

Yeah, it definitely varies by state and by insurance company, so it’s very hard to give a definitive answer there, but we absolutely come across a lot of areas of the United States and of Canada where insurance rates are impacted by putting a metal roof on for the better, either through rebate or cost savings, yes.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

I mean, that’s really great. I remember when I had my roof replaced, we went with an asphalt shingle probably 20 years ago, so at this point, I could be close to the end of my roof’s lifespan, but I remember the amount of waste there was. It was just so much garbage, and I was thinking, where does this all go to?

 

So with a metal roof, is it more sustainable? Is it recyclable? What does it look like for the environment when that metal roof reaches the end of its use?

 

[Renee Ramey (Metal Roofing Alliance)]

100 percent. That’s the reality of what metal roof brings. So a lot of the metal roofing products that are out there, the metal roofing panels themselves are manufactured using some portion of recycled content, and it’s typically a fairly high percent of recycled content, but any metal roof is able to be recycled at the end of its life as well, and we like to call metal roofing infinite recyclability because you can reuse it, reuse it, reuse it with no negative impact to the resulting product every time it’s used, where a lot of materials, you find kind of a diminishing performance if it’s recycled too often.

 

But metal is infinitely recyclable, and there are a lot of recycling programs that support metal roofing.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

I mean, it’s really hard to see a downside here. Yeah, it is. It very much is.

 

Wow, that’s awesome. Renee Ramey, Executive Director of the Metal Roofing Alliance, thank you so much for stopping by the Money Pit. If folks want to check out metal roofs for themselves and find a qualified installer, they go to metalroofing.com?

 

 

 

[Renee Ramey (Metal Roofing Alliance)]

Yes.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Thanks again for stopping by, Renee. We would happily welcome you back anytime.

 

 

 

[Renee Ramey (Metal Roofing Alliance)]

Oh, thank you for having me.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

There’s only a few days left, so do not forget to enter our porch and patio makeover sweepstakes right now through June 9th. We’re giving away $5,000 in Daich Coatings product, and if you’re a frequent Money Pit listener, you know that dollars and Daich and coatings have been a problem for me through this whole giveaway, but of course, on the last weekend, nailed it.

 

[Producer Jim]

Daich dollars, Daich dollars, Daich dollars, Daich dollars.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right, way to show off, Jim.

 

[Producer Jim]

It’s the entertainer in me, Leslie, yes.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

You can learn more and enter daily while time is still left at moneypit.com slash sweepstakes. Good luck, everybody. Well, some areas of the home might seem easier to update than others, but if you feel stuck with the dated stairway that was built decades ago, this could actually be an easy project that you can do something about.

 

If you’ve got a tape measure, a drill, and a few other common tools, the easy update that you can do is switching those outdated wooden balusters for a more trendy iron baluster, and it’s great because it can be done in an afternoon. It’s super affordable. It really is much less than replacing that entire stair system, and the idea of mixing wood and iron in the home is a very popular design trend that we see a lot of these days, and this is a project where you can keep those wooden handrails and the posts but add this fun sort of mixed modern look, and it can feel modern.

 

It can feel farmhouse. It can feel sort of any kind of architectural style that works with what your home style is because there’s so many different iron baluster designs out there. Now, what you have to do is carefully remove those wooden balusters, pivot the fasteners that are attaching it to the handrail, and then go ahead and put the iron baluster right in there.

 

It’s inserted. It’s pivoted, and it’s swung into that vertical position. The alignment is completed, and the screws are tightened to really secure that in place, and there’s so many systems available that will help you with this project, or perhaps you could feel more comfortable by hiring somebody.

 

It’s definitely not an expensive upgrade to complete. And, of course, three famous last words here, guys. While you’re at it.

 

And, of course, that’s four. What’s wrong with me today? While you’re at it.

 

Why did I always think that was three words? Well, whatever. This really is a great time for you to freshen up that whole stairway.

 

You can add a fresh coat of paint. You can put in some removable wallpaper. I love in a stairwell, because generally they’re smaller.

 

I know in my house it’s sort of centered on one side, so it’s not seen from every area, so I like having the opportunity to use a bold pattern or a bright color, because you can really make a great statement, and it is a main thoroughfare of your home. Everybody’s going through it. You’re passing through it multiple times a day, so definitely make it a great space that you enjoy.

 

You can change out the light fixture. I mean, there’s so much that you can do to make this area a really special spot in your home. I happen to love my stairwell, and I do have a very crazy bold blue and white wallpaper pattern, and I love it.

 

So think about it. I know not everybody loves wallpaper, but it’s pretty great. All right, Jim, who else can we help tackle their to-do list?

 

[Producer Jim]

Oh, Leslie, I love Arizona. Let’s head there, and we’ll pick up Barb. She’s got something going on with her pool.

 

How can we help you, Barb?

 

[Barb in Arizona]

We have an older pool. We live in Arizona. The pool is used a lot, lots of cracks in it.

 

The tile needs to be replaced. There’s some rebar that has come up from the pool deck. We would like to go over and retile and plaster the pool again.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right, Barb. So what you’re telling us is that when the pool was originally made, there was rebar reinforcing it, kind of embedded into the pool so that the pool itself would be properly supported, and you’re seeing that this rebar is exposed in some areas, which means that some of the surface has come away, and perhaps there’s some rust that’s set in, and you want to know if that means you have to completely replace the pool or whether that’s repairable.

 

Is that right?

 

[Barb in Arizona]

That’s right.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Okay, great.

 

So, yeah, I think it’s totally repairable. I mean, it’s a normal thing for this to happen to an older pool, and there’s going to be a number of products, and I suspect that they’re going to be epoxy-based because they will stick best to those older surfaces of the pool, and they’re suitable for underwater usage. And I don’t see any reason that you couldn’t make a repair to that particular area, but I would just caution you, Barb, to be aware that sometimes you’ll have contractors that always want to kind of show you the worst-case scenario in terms of the work, and I suspect that repairing an area where some rebar has become exposed is not an enormous job, but I would think that it’s almost a normal seasonal job that you might have to do from time to time just to make sure that that surface stays in good shape. So, if everything else seems to be working well, then I think you’re probably just able to make that repair, and that should do the trick.

 

Now, in terms of the pool deck, of course, if it’s tile and it’s chipped or broken, that’s a different story, but there’s a lot of cool products that are out there today that are literally paintable. In fact, there’s a product called Roller Rock, and there’s another one out there that looks like a terrazzo stone coating, and there’s a product called Spreadstone. There’s so many good options that are made by a company called Daich Coatings, and you essentially can clean that pool deck surface, not on top of the tile, mind you, but say if it’s concrete, and then apply one of these beautiful finishes.

 

It’s not a ton of money. It’s definitely a do-it-yourself project. There’s so many options for you to really spruce up that surround, that sort of area around the pool this summer and not really have a lot of work that you have to do, and then you can actually be enjoying that pool, which is why you have it.

 

Now, if you live in a warm area like you do in Arizona, you can get this fixed up very quickly and then start enjoying that pool area again. All right, Barb? I hope that helps you because we want you to relax by the pool and not worry about it falling apart.

 

[Producer Jim]

And for any of you handymen or handygals that think there’s no difference between rebar and re-rod and you use them interchangeably, you might want to look that one up, as I just did. I’ve been wrong for years.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Well, I love it when you admit you’re wrong, Jim.

 

[Producer Jim]

Yeah, well, unfortunately, I have to do that often, so I’m trying to work on the frequency part now. Yeah, rebar and re-rod, I used to use them interchangeably, but they’re different. I’ve done learned something.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right. Don’t forget the next week is Father’s Day, so let us know how we can help you make the most special day for the dads in your life. We’re here to help.

 

All right, Jim, let’s dig into those emails and see who’s working on what.

 

[Producer Jim]

Sarah has an interesting question, Leslie. She says, we made our painted concrete patio bigger using pavers. Okay, so I guess she had a concrete patio to start with.

 

They put pavers on top of it. Okay, but it also had four by four posts that were removed. My contractor filled the four by four post holes with polymetric sand, and now that doesn’t match.

 

I want to know how can I paint the polymetric sand, or is there even a better option?

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Hmm. Well, I mean, a couple of things could have gone wrong here. I mean, putting the pavers on the concrete, great.

 

Polymeric sand, for those that aren’t familiar with it, is a special sand that’s designed to go between the pavers that will solidify. It’s kind of like a sandy grout that makes them stick together, the pavers. And the problem here is that you can’t really use it to fill the holes that the four by four post was in.

 

So if that’s what they did, it’s kind of a big no-no on the part of the contractor. That four-inch square hole, which is probably bigger, filled with all that sand. I mean, first of all, you must have used a lot of that sand.

 

It’s kind of expensive, and definitely not for that purpose. What they should have done is sort of filled that in with scraps of sand or scraps of paver, and then filled that hole with concrete. So you’re really getting the standard size there for that post and securing it in place, even though you’ve removed that post.

 

You want to kind of fill it in and get rid of it, but fill it in with something that’s sturdy, because you don’t want to kind of step and have things fall in below where that post was. So once you’ve kind of filled it in there, you can either buy a square brick or a rectangular brick that will fit that hole, and then use that polymeric sand around the joint. But you can’t fill that big hole up with the sand.

 

It’s not going to last. It’s not going to be sturdy. And you’re going to end up with some issues where it’s just going to kind of collapse under it.

 

So sorry about that. Not the end of the world, because it’s a problem you can fix, Sarah. And I know you’re going to have a beautiful patio.

 

And I would love to see some of what you created with that painted concrete patio and the pavers. It really sounds lovely. I bet you have a beautiful yard.

 

Thank you so much for reaching out to Team Money Pit.

 

[Producer Jim]

If you have room for it, a play set or a deck is a great addition to your backyard. But if you’re going to build one yourself, you need to make sure you use the right type of wood. Leslie has the details in today’s edition of Leslie’s Last Word.

 

Leslie?

 

[Leslie Segrete]

Well, if you’re thinking about building a deck or a backyard play set this summer, you want to make sure that you use a sturdy wood that’s resistant to decay and to pests, because both can wreak a lot of havoc on anything that you build out of that lumber. But you also want to be cautious, because in the lumber that you choose, there could be chemicals that are treating that wood, and perhaps they’ll leach out. But they definitely change how they treat pressure-treated lumber, so you don’t have to worry as much.

 

But always be aware of what you’re putting into the ground and what your kids are exposed to. So for decks and playground equipment, a great option to consider is reclaimed cedar or redwood, because both options are natural, and they’re naturally resistant to fungus and insects. Now, as for a playground surface, wood chips are also very good, and they’re a natural choice as well.

 

But one product that I would say stay away from is a playground surface that’s made from recycled tires. Because a recycled tire has been out there, it’s been on the road, and that rubber was designed to be in contact with the street, not with your kids. And there’s a lot of concerns about the chemicals it could be releasing, so better safe than sorry.

 

Always, when it comes to the kid in your backyard, you want to make sure you’re doing it right.

 

[Producer Jim]

Absolutely.

 

[Leslie Segrete]

All right, coming up next week, guys, outdoor living spaces have never been more popular, and that includes the creation of outdoor kitchens. But cooking and dining outside definitely require special recipes of their own. So we’re going to have some tips for designing an outdoor kitchen space.

 

Well, we thank you so much for joining Jim and I here on The Money Pit. We hope you’ve had a great time with us, you’ve learned something new, and go out there and tackle your projects with confidence. Remember, guys, you can do it yourself, but you don’t have to do it alone.

 

[Theme Music]

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