In the first hour of the radio show, we took a call from Larry in Texas. He needed some advice about the patio on the second story of his home: “It’s made of 2×10 wood beams covered in concrete board, wooded deck plywood and then slate tiles. In several places the tiles have come loose, and all is rotten or rotting, including the beams. It also leaks down to the lower level.” Listen to hour 1 to hear our solution.

Larry's two-story home
Larry’s two-story home

We welcomed Nick Slavik of Nick Slavik Painting and Restoration Co., in Minnesota, for our Straight from the Pros segment. Ed in Texas asked: “I have knotty pine walls that are varnished and I want to paint them white. What’s the best way to do this?” Listen to Nick’s answer in hour 2.

Tip of the Week

If your water bill has suddenly increased, or even if it hasn’t, take some time to check the water meter for unseen leaks in your plumbing. Even a small leak can add up to thousands of gallons of wasted water, which not only hurts your wallet but also wastes precious, clean water. If your water meter indicates you have a leak, the next job is finding it. Here’s how to find the source of the leak.

Here’s what else we tackled in this week’s show:

Hour 1

Sandy in AL
My entire house is tile flooring. I’d like to re-do the kitchen flooring and take the tile out but I was curious if you could paint it OR can you lay something over it without chipping it out?

Jerry in AR
I have soil erosion issues. There are slopes in the front and back of house that cause the water to come towards it. Interestingly though, even though there are low spots in the yard, we don’t see water pooling when there’s heavy rain. It all seems to go down and then pool by the street. We have thick hard clay soil and when I pound re-bar into it, it’s very difficult for the first 12-14 inches but then it goes in very easily and when I pull it out I can see muddy soil on the end. Our house sits on concrete blocks and I’m worried that there’s deep erosion going on that can cause a sinkhole or affect our foundation. What do I do?

Jake in TX
The crawlspace under my house has a damp smell to it when the a/c is on. The plumber says there’s no water under there but I still get that musty smell when the a/c is on. Is there anything we can do to get rid of the smell and make sure it doesn’t come back?

Daniel in CO
What do you recommend to use to fill a crack in a cement porch? The crack is about 10 feet long and about an inch at its widest.

Hour 2

Gertrude in MN
We just replaced our pressure tank downstairs and now it seems like there’s always air in the line. Sometimes no water comes out and when the pump kicks in we have water again. There’s a lapse in it and we don’t know how to fix it. Can you help?

Benito in IA
I took carpet out of our house and put tongue-and-groove flooring in. and I’ve got some bubbles. Like when I step on it, it’s got a bubble in it. It will go down but then it comes right back up. How can I fix that?

Becky in SC
I’m having a problem with what I think is armadillos tearing up my front yard. Do you have any suggestion on how I can get rid of them?

John in AL
Is there a sealant for stucco? I have been told I need to re-stucco, but that’s very expensive

Delores in GA
Can I cover my wooden novelty siding with cement siding? If so, what should I do first?

RJ in MO
Do you put shutters completely around house or just curb side?

Rod in AL
Our fiberglass front door has been finished to look like wood, faces east. What is best material and method to re-finish the door?

Marion in VA
I purchased five 8-foot picket sections from a friend. I previously had a wood picket fence and want to replace with the vinyl sections; however, I would like to keep the 4 x 4 wood post and paint them white and add a post cap. How do I attach the fence to the wooden post?

Daryl in HI
I have a vaulted living room ceiling. How do I insulate it? The other rooms have an attic space above.

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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