Kurt
May 10, 2010
11:11 a.m.
Tom,
A year ago we finsihed building a 2200 sqf 3 stories townhome very close to downtown. When we built the house we made it such that a water softn
...er could easily be installed and know I have decided that we need a water softner but I am a bit lost as to how to start my reasearch. I prefer to talk to people then reading about it and thought that surely you could give me a good contact to whom I can talk and find out about my options.
Answered by Tom
Rick
May 10, 2010
11:09 a.m.
Roof quetion: we are about to buy a house in Katy. We did our own inspection in the middle of the day during bright sun shine. In a second floor at
...tic, we could see light coming in between the siding on the side of the attic and the roof. The roof is under warranty. The sellers contacted the roofing contractor who said the roof was within specs.
It seems to me that there should be flashing along the edge of the roof so there would be no way for water, wind, or pest / bugs to penitrate.
Answered by Tom
Denise
May 10, 2010
11:08 a.m.
We are debating solar screens verses window tinting to reduce the heat and glare in our home. Which do you prefer?
Answered by Tom
Sandra
May 10, 2010
11:06 a.m.
Hi Tom, we recently had granite countertops installed in our kitchen. I heard something about Ridon - what is this and is it harmful?
Answered by Tom
Sharon
May 10, 2010
11:05 a.m.
The grout in spots in our kitchen tiled floor is getting wet. One spot is near the sink, but the other is across the kitchen and not near any water so
...urce; further, the grout in the center of the kitchen remains dry. The wet is only intermittent--noticed it for the first time in January; it dried and then nothing, then now and again--always drying between occurrences, which tend to manifest at night. House is about 10 years old; we did have foundation work done last fall. Who do we call?
Answered by Tom
Alex
May 10, 2010
11:04 a.m.
I have a dual garage doors each with a opener. I installed the Genie Universal remote the same way on both of them, but one of them is causing an issu
...e that I can't figure out. It will always open/ close when I use the remote, but sometimes the wall button will not work. I noticed that when come home and open with the remote and close with the wall button, the wall button flickers. In the morning when I go to work, the wall button is not illuminated and will not work, but remote works.
Answered by Tom
Ric
May 10, 2010
11:02 a.m.
The overhead attic door access is sagging and letting heat into our home (the overhead access is inside the house). I don't want to try to adjust thos
...e springs. That seems really dangerous. Can we get someone to adjust the door/springs or possible instal a new access that latches?
Answered by Tom
frank
May 10, 2010
11:01 a.m.
Hye Tom, after 3 years of burning wood and cleaning up the yard and house from the wood, I am looking to replace/retrofit my inset wood fireplace with
... a gas unit. What do I need to worry about? I have a 30 y/o home and it has a nice fireplace inserted into a chimney in the family room with a built in damper with a inbox handle. I plan on buying a large tank for the gas as I am also planning a new grill out back and would like to split the gas line to feed both the fireplace and grill. thank
Answered by Tom
Lendon
May 10, 2010
10:59 a.m.
An Avery Air technician recommended that we replace our (A/C) evaporator coil because it is rusted and needs to be replaced!
*Should we just repl
...ace the coil or should we replace the entire system (the outdoor part is only 9 years old)?
Avery Air quoted us these prices: $2900(just the coil Installed) and $6500(entire system 3.5 ton 14 Seer heat and cool electric powered, Installed with some insulation)
*Are those good prices?
Answered by Tom
Linda
May 4, 2010
10:15 a.m.
Can the plywood that we put over the windows of the house for Hurricane Ike be used again even though it got wet etc.....???
Answered by Tom
Heath
May 4, 2010
10:14 a.m.
When it comes to radiant barrier, can a home owner go the DIY route? I take it personally when a contractor does work on my house that I could do mys
...elf.
Answered by Tom
Mike
May 4, 2010
10:12 a.m.
We are going to be building a new home. By default, the builder places water heaters in the attic. They told us that under green building requirements
..., the water heater has to be within 30' of all the faucets. They told us that if we chose to install the water heater in the garage, we would have to sign a form acknowledging that our home did not meet the green building requirements. The rationale sounds somewhat sound? What do you think?
Answered by Tom
sam
May 4, 2010
10:00 a.m.
Hi Tom...my home in sugarland is 16 years old and has a island kitchen with GI gas pipe running through slab for 10 ft or so. Recently due to corrosio
...n gas has leaked and gas company came out to cap it. Now what are the options available to me...1. Instal flex ss pipe through original GI pipe 2. break slab to instal pipe 3. anything else? Thanks in advance for your help.
Answered by Tom
Dominic
May 4, 2010
9:57 a.m.
I have a 1 piece fiberglass inground pool that the sidewalls buckled in and 3 major cracks in sidewalls. It is 30 yrs old and was repaired once before
.... I can't afford to maintain it in normal operations. If I decide to fill in back in with dirt, can I cut the the fiberglass up and deposit it in the deep end and cover it up with dirt. It is a large pool 43,000 gls. How many cubic ft of dirt will I need. Do I have to worry about EPA? My son lives there, he is a layed off school teacher.Ineedhelp.
Answered by Tom
Leti
May 4, 2010
9:55 a.m.
We have a 12X20 patio deck and it's 5 years old; it has cracks and is very slippery when wet. Is there something we can place over the deck (without
...completely replacing it) to prevent slips & falls and especially splinters?
Answered by Tom
Mark
May 4, 2010
9:54 a.m.
Mr. Tynan,
Enjoy your show. Last week you mentioned lead paint removal. This is something that I have been hearing about; but you were the first
...person to provide a date. I am an independent insurance appraiser. When I provide my assessment of the damages, my estimating software does not provide allowances for the lead paint testing or removal. Do you know what the average service call/testing will cost? Also, in the event lead is detected, will the room have to be sealed off similar to
Answered by Tom
Mike
May 4, 2010
9:53 a.m.
Your article on recirculating hot water from the water heater using a "manifold" at the heater didn't make sense. At the furthest fixture, you razzle-
...dazzled some piping, but indicated no reecirculting line be installed. Can you explain this again? Thanks. M. Montz
Answered by Tom
Trey
April 26, 2010
1:06 p.m.
Hi Tom,
I recently bought an older home (built in 1977) - our shower is 3' by 3' tiled, all enclosed - on the bottom around the corners - mildew keep
...s showing up. Why does it keep coming back after we clorox to remove it ? Could no exhaust fan be causing this ?
Answered by Tom
ernest
April 26, 2010
1:03 p.m.
We are planning to buy a 10X24 size Tuff Shed to place towards the back of the yard. The ground where we want to locate the shed is not even and when
...it rains heavily water pools. How should we prepare the ground for the shed. We will be using wooden beams on concrete blocks. Thanks
Answered by Tom
Kosta
April 26, 2010
1:01 p.m.
I have a ranch style house built in 1955, less than 1200 sq ft, 3 bedrooms & 1.5 baths with the appraisal price at a relatively high price per sq ft r
...ate for the neighborhood. My wife and I were thinking of converting the master half bath to a full. We did not know if it would be worth the investment, especially since we would have to eliminate a walk-in closet in the remodel and we do not want to price ourselves out of the neighborhood.
Thoughts?
Answered by Tom
Sheryl
April 26, 2010
1:00 p.m.
I had the icemaker in my fridg replaced last Nov. My old one had been making totally unusable ice for a long time. But my new one is still making wh
...at I call "dirty" ice. I can't use it either!! Is the solution an under the sink filter? I am so disappointed that my brand new icemaker makes beautiful cubes, but if you let them melt in a glass, you see a lot of stuff you would not want to drink!
Answered by Tom
Suzanne
April 26, 2010
12:59 p.m.
Do you need insulation underneath a wood shingle roof in Houston? We have the insulation on the attic walls, etc., but our roofer said we needed to l
...et the wood shingles breathe. Is this correct?
Answered by Tom
Gary
April 26, 2010
12:56 p.m.
Tom, when we built our home in Katy in 1997, we built a detached garage, to cars wide, two cars deep. The back half was studded to make a large room
...which I use as my office (self-employed). I finished three walls with lap and gap rough cedar, the rest with sheetrock. The ceilings are beaded board, and, and I have to use a window a/c unit. My problem is extreme DUST. The room is insulated, so why is this room so dusty? And is there an alternative to the A/C window unit?
Answered by Tom
Gil
April 26, 2010
12:55 p.m.
What is the best way to insulate the garage walls, that is sheet rocked ? The exterior of the garage is brick.
Answered by Tom
Bruce
April 26, 2010
12:54 p.m.
Tom,
I was planning on having radiant barrier (not the paint) installed in my attic. You mentioned this should be installed on the ceiling and not t
...he floor, but did not explain why. The company recommends a floor installation as it provides heat and cold protection for the home as well as a residual fire proofing in the case of an attic fire. Why would ceiling installation be more beneficial?
thanks
bwm
Answered by Tom
Greg
April 26, 2010
12:52 p.m.
My elderly parents need a water softener. They can't lift the heavy salt bags to refill an Aquatex system. Will an "EasyWater" system soften water l
...ike the Aquatex?
Answered by Tom
Richard
April 26, 2010
12:50 p.m.
There is a liquid that they pour on uneven floors It self levels and hardens and you can lay carpet, tile, wood, etc. over it level. It is used a lot
...in very old houses in Europe. do you know what it is called and can one buy it in Houston area. Thanks so very much. Best regards
Answered by Tom
Raymond
March 22, 2010
2:57 p.m.
Is there any difference between the brands of water softeners on the market. I know you used to push Culligan and now push Aquatex. I go to the home s
...hows and see many different brands. Is there any difference or is it just the same stuff in a different wrapper?
Answered by Tom
Larry
March 22, 2010
2:57 p.m.
Do Electricy Controlers work to save on energy costs? The claims they make, sound to good to be true.
In your opinion what are the advantages and
...disadvantages.
Thank you.
Answered by Tom
Bill
March 22, 2010
2:56 p.m.
Tom,
Because of insurance wouldn't pay for all hurricane damage, we're just now facing extensive repairs. We found leaking pipes under the house whi
...ch must be repaired first along with foundation work before we start on the interior of the home and replace flooring. Do we get a foundation company that can do the plumbing work to do everything at once or get it done separately? Also, how long do we wait for work on interior wall cracks to allow the house to settle?
Answered by Tom
Chris
March 22, 2010
2:41 p.m.
I live in the middle unit of a row of townhomes. There are firewalls separating the units. I want to install radiant barrier in my attic. Would it
...even be worth it to install the radiant barrier if the neighboring units do not have radiant barrier in theirs, or would the firewall help insulate me enough from the other units that I would notice the difference?
Answered by Tom
Richard
March 22, 2010
2:39 p.m.
I have let a planting of Asiatic Jasmine get away from me. I decided to go ahead and get rid of it. I tried Roundup and I think it thought it was fert
...ilizer. What can I use to kill it, or how can I get rid of it?
Answered by Tom
Ryan
March 22, 2010
2:38 p.m.
We have a 1936 home that is well maintained but largely in original condition (except it does have central air) that we are considering adding an addi
...tion onto. At the same time we might look into upgrading the efficiency of the existing house in some ways. What are the typical pitfalls for either of these activities that we should look out for through proactive investigation, and what do you think would be my best bang for the buck on efficiency upgrades?
Answered by Tom
mark
March 22, 2010
2:36 p.m.
i am remodeling a 1964 house and was wondering should i put plastic on ceiling and walls then sheetrock like i keep seeing them do diy shows on cable
...or is this not a good idea for us in houston ?
Answered by Tom
Steve
March 22, 2010
2:34 p.m.
We have a water feature in our backyard, a waterfall which runs into a small pond. After the winter freeze, we found the water level was dropping when
... the waterfall feature was running, but not when it was off. Presumably we have a leak somewhere in the pump lines. We've called a number of pool companies and can't find someone that does repairs to a water feature. Can you recommend someone for us to call?
Answered by Tom
Harold
March 16, 2010
9:14 a.m.
Tom,
I have an L shaped bathroom downstairs. It consists of my wifes sink a bath tub, my wifes other sink that I am allowed to brush my teeth in and
...a shower. The water pressure in her 1st sink and the bathtub are great, but the pressure in the other sink and shower are terrible, especially the hot water. Any suggestions on how to improve that pressure. Thanks
Answered by Tom
Reba
March 16, 2010
9:12 a.m.
We’re thinking about putting lights along our drive and walk way. The idea of solar powered ones is appealing, but every time I see them they look pre
...tty dim. Is there an alternative that won’t run up our electric bill and still look nice?
Reba
Answered by Tom
Don
March 16, 2010
9:12 a.m.
I have a balcony that has a slate/tile floor. The slate is deteriating due to water getting under the slate tiles. It looks like water is getting th
...ere due to a bad flashing job around one of the pilars. Fine Line Construction recomended resufacing the balcony with a product called Mer-Co Shur Deck. Looks good on their web site. Now I can't get Fine Line get back with me. Do you think this is a good option and who else can I contact. Thanks.
Answered by Tom
Lynn
March 16, 2010
9:10 a.m.
After only one month of routine use, a new shower floor showed excessive mildew/other dark discoloration. I learned that the grout was not sealed. We
...have had it cleaned, and plan to reseal it. The question: Would the mildew buildup be coming from the water from the showers over that short time period or is it indicative of a problem beneath the floor tile, that is from, the underlying shower pan etc. requiring a bigger repair?
Answered by Tom
Keiko
March 16, 2010
9:10 a.m.
How does one decide when a house is definitely in need of foundation repair? Where does one get an unbiased opinion - from a structural engineer?
...
We would like to renovate the interior of our house & we were wondering if we should have the foundation repaired before going ahead with the interior renovation.
Thank you.
Answered by Tom
Carolyn
March 16, 2010
9:09 a.m.
We planning to replace our carpet. We are looking at wood, laminate and cork. We have neighbors who have had problems with mold and buckling when th
...ey used the wood or the laminate. We like the feel of cork and heard it is good for humid climates. What do you think about cork for Spring, TX?
Answered by Tom
Fred
March 16, 2010
9:03 a.m.
How do you remove ceramic tile from bathroom floor? What precautions to take? Want to put down a different tile.
Answered by Tom
Howard
March 16, 2010
9:02 a.m.
I want to staple radiant barrier in my attic to the rafters. How close to the eaves should I go? Any other tips or advice before I start?
Love the sh
...ow.
Answered by Tom
Steve
March 16, 2010
9:01 a.m.
The upper portion of our home's flat roof needs replacment. I am tired of gravel and bituminous cloth. I have seen what looks like a rubber roof wit
...h no seams. Is there any higher teck roof system suitable for our weather in Houston that will really work for a long time?
Answered by Tom
ken
March 16, 2010
8:50 a.m.
Tom, I have two questions.
1. I have a problem with an engineered wood floor. The top veneer is splitting and it looks like the finish is wearing t
...hrough after only 18 months. The manufacturer and the Houston company that installed are arguing over whether or not a moisture barrier should have been applied to the slab before the flooring was installed directly on the slap. Please give me your opinion.
2. I am confused about moisture barriers in attic insulation on Gulf Coast homes. Can you
Answered by Tom
Linda
March 8, 2010
1:50 p.m.
We are getting ready to reroof our house but do not have eaves for soffet venting. Will the eave vents (the ones that are installed near the edge of
...the roof) cause problems during high winds? Are the vents worth the expense?
Thanks
Linda
Answered by Tom
Mike
March 8, 2010
1:47 p.m.
Is it possible to build a home on a slope with a walk out basement in SE Texas? Brenham area to be specific. Are there any water table/moisture issu
...es or soil issues that make it less than ideal?
Thanks
Answered by Tom
Rick
March 8, 2010
1:36 p.m.
Time for a new A/C and furnace. But this is my last houise and hope to be here 25-30 years. Expense not particulary an issue.
* Are you sold on
... 2-stage A/C and furnace systems? worth the added expense?
* 22 year old ductwork? Replace?
* Lennox, Trane, American Standard? Any pref?
* SEER? 15-16 adequate?
* Should I have a filtration system included?
* 1938 square feet. 4-ton has been recommended. OK?
Thanks!
Answered by Tom
Regi
March 8, 2010
1:33 p.m.
I am building a new home, 3000 sf. 3 showers and 5 bath sinks 1 kitchen sink, dishwasher and washing machine. I wanted 2 tankless, but am being told
... will not handle load. I am given the option of 1 water heater, 3 tankless, (plumber suggests 3), or the Eternal Hybrid water sytem. Is the Eternal the way to go? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated?
Answered by Tom
Judye
March 8, 2010
1:31 p.m.
Do you have to remove a porcelin tub to have it refinished?
Answered by Tom
Grace
March 8, 2010
1:30 p.m.
Dear Tom,
We are preparing to sell our fifty-year old home. The garage floor needs a facelift! Should we paint it or what? If so, which paint shou
...ld be used? Thanks.
Answered by Tom
Robert
March 8, 2010
1:26 p.m.
What is your opinion of High Performance fiberglass insulation and is it worth the additional cost?
Answered by Tom
Tim
March 8, 2010
1:24 p.m.
I recently replaced my 23 year old kitchen faucet. The new faucet is similar to the old one but has a lower rate of flow. Has there been a mandated
...reduction in flow? I am reminded of the restriction placed on commodes a few years back and wonder if the same has been applied to kitchen faucets.
Answered by Tom
kelley
March 8, 2010
1:22 p.m.
how can you reduce the outside noise you hear in your home
Answered by Tom
Rusty
March 8, 2010
1:21 p.m.
I am wanting to build a 16 x 30 hunting cabin for our family to use. I have looked online to find a free program that would help me determine to cost
... of materials to build it but have not found anything. I have a brother-in-law that is in construction but his attitude is start buying material and start building. I would like to know what it is going to cost before I start. I am also debating on what material to use for the siding and the roof. What is the cost of hardi plank compared to oth
Answered by Tom
Stephen
February 22, 2010
4:20 p.m.
We have creamic tile kitchen counters and backsplash. We are replacing with granite and ceramic tile backsplash. What is the best way to remove the
...old thinset from the drywall in order to have a smoothe surface for the re-tile of the backsplash. I have researched 3 possibilities. Cutting out old drywall and replacing it. using a sander to smoothe it. or scraping and peeling it away with part or all of the drywall sheathing. Any othe suggestions. Which is best/easiest.
Answered by Tom
Karl
February 22, 2010
4:16 p.m.
We have had to move twice within the last month due to work, and while moving there were a couple of bumps and bruises. My question is this we have
...all wood furniture and while carrying some of the really big pieces upstairs they touched the walls just a bit and left a couple of paint marks on the wood furniture, especially on the corners and edges, so on my dark stained wood there is a white mark hwo can I get this off with out having to re stain everything. I know there has to be a trick
Answered by Tom
Doug
February 22, 2010
4:14 p.m.
I've got a client that is about to put their house on the market and they are in need of some improvements and touch-ups, and of course they're on a b
...udget so I'm trying to save them some money.
They have a nice mahogany entry door that hasn't been maintained. There is no warpage the door works perfectly. It looks a little grainy, but overall not too bad. Instead of replacing what type of prep and finish would you recommend.
Thanks for the time, love your show!!
Answered by Tom
Jim
February 22, 2010
4:13 p.m.
How do I insulate the bottom of my 3000 Ft house on blocks?
Note: It has an open crawl space and is built over dirt with no moisture barrier!
I have
... been in this house for two monthes and have refilled my propane tank 3 times, help or I will go broke!
Answered by Tom
Mary
February 22, 2010
4:12 p.m.
Hi, Tom...my two story split system (A/C) 1977 town home's downstairs is a freezer. What do you think of radiant heating? Is it possible to install
...radiant heating in an existing slab?
Answered by Tom
John
February 22, 2010
4:11 p.m.
Tom,
Are you aware of any local courses (community college or otherwise) where I can learn about home building?
Answered by Tom
Debbie
February 22, 2010
4:10 p.m.
Tom, I purchased a steam washer and each time the washer starts and blasts of steam hit the washer there is a noise in my refrigerator (think it's the
... ice machine) and I can also hear that same noise in the lines to the water heater. I am worried that this could be causing damage to my pipes and other appliances. Is there something I should do to correct this problem?
Answered by Tom
Sue
February 22, 2010
4:08 p.m.
We live in Houston and recently installed a new wood shingle roof. The contractor did not put any insulation underneath the roof - only on the walls
..., etc. in the attic because he said the wood shingles needed to breathe. The roofer said the same thing. Is this correct?
Answered by Tom
Stuart
February 15, 2010
11:21 a.m.
We built a deck about a year ago out of the synthetic deck material from Lowe's, think it is Choice deck. It was more grey than we wanted so we stain
...ed it. Stain is wearing off. Can it be painted? Would you prime with Kilz or something like it first. Give me your thoughts. Great show. We are same age and kids are same age. Ditto all your experiences. Stu
Answered by Tom
Jeff
February 15, 2010
11:20 a.m.
Where can I get a fresh air intake system to balance the air flow ???
We replaced our old windows , and now the air filters get dirty very quickly.
Answered by Tom
Jim
February 15, 2010
11:19 a.m.
Tom,
Is the life expectancy of a Gas Furnace longer in Houston, because of our short heating season.....
thanks....
Answered by Tom
Steve
February 15, 2010
11:18 a.m.
Tom - my mom had her house leveled recently and shortly after that (a couple of weeks) she noticed her roof was "sagging". Upon inspection, it was de
...termined that some of the boards bracing the roof were broken. Could the house leveling have caused the roof issue?
Answered by Tom
Greg
February 15, 2010
11:17 a.m.
I just had a new roof put on my home by a master roofer and I had a new leak in the same spot that leaked before. It is about a foot away from where t
...he brick chimney meets the roof . When the roofers put on the new roof and cut into the mortor to flash around the brick chimney, they said water came out. I had a brick restoration company come out and say they could seal the brick around the chimney and that may work. Any suggestions or cures for this issue?
Answered by Tom
deedee
February 15, 2010
11:15 a.m.
I have a 60's house in the Memorial area and have been told I have a "hot" slab that needs to be sealed from moisture before installing procelain tile
.... The foundation has had added piers. The concrete under the carpet has a white powdery substance on the surface. Is a moisture sealer on the concrete necessary or advisable?
Answered by Tom
Daniel
February 15, 2010
11:14 a.m.
I just put an offer on a HUD home and won the bidding. The home is sold as is and already had an inspection. Do I need to get another one from an in
...dependent inspector on my own. Or can I trust the one the governtment already did on it? Thanks first time buyer.
Answered by Tom
justin
February 15, 2010
11:12 a.m.
We were about to buy a house when a pipe above the kitchen froze and busted. We stopped by the next day, they had the flooring pulled up and baseboar
...ds removed in the enitre house. There were a bunch of big fans running and several dehumidifiers going. The kitchen ceiling and wall was gutted. The insurance company is going to make all repairs. It seems like they caught it quick, Do i need to worry about mold? Thanks.
Answered by Tom
Marty
February 11, 2010
12:54 p.m.
I would like to put an attic cover on the opening to my attic stairs. I've looked at several options, including building something myself. But I thi
...nk the best option would be an attic tent, that is sold by several people on the internet.
But do you have any other recommendation to prevent a draft, and dust from the attic coming into the house. None of the Box stores provide anything for this. Is there anywhere in Houston I can buy this? To see it before I install.
Answered by Tom
rosh
February 11, 2010
12:52 p.m.
I want to replace the formica countertop in the kitchen. Is there any simple solution like to put tiles. I saw sticking tile sheets in lowes. Do you t
...hink it will be a good idea for countertop and backsplash. Thanks
Answered by Tom
James
February 11, 2010
12:51 p.m.
What are the pro's and con's of rain gutters? I see in my neighborhood that more houses are taking down their rain gutters. I have tried just about ev
...erything to prevent them from clogging up and I am just about at the end of having them on my house. Is there something I should know before taking them down so that I will not be making a mistake?
Answered by Tom
Brett
February 11, 2010
12:50 p.m.
Can you recommend a reverse osmosis water system ? I've heard you speak of them on your show and am looking into having one installed.
Answered by Tom
Ron
February 11, 2010
12:49 p.m.
I have a 2 sty 70's house. The water heater works just fine, but the kitchen, which is at the opposite side of house from the w/h, never gets hot wat
...er. I have to let the h/w run at that faucet for 3 min before I get h/w. The pipes run btwn the floors and attic was insulated last year, but it didn't help the problem. I don't want to put in a mini-heater. I've heard about recirc valves that have a thermostat and recirc the h/w into the cold line until the water's hot again. Does this work?
Answered by Tom
BARNEY
February 11, 2010
12:48 p.m.
My niece is planning to build a house in galveston, and she is considering using a metal frame and stud system. Have you had experience with using me
...tal framing in residential construction, especially Galveston. What is your opinion? It seems to me that I have heard some comments on this idea some time past that this is not as good an idea as it might seem. She thinks metal would make a stronger house with more protection from storms.
Answered by Tom
David
February 11, 2010
12:30 p.m.
I live in an apartment on the third floor. The airconditioner freezes up but the AC repair technician says there is nothing wrong with it and I shoul
...d close the blinds on my window. It is a one bedroom apartment and the ac bill runs $200+. It recently froze up when we had a warm day this month. This doesn't sound correct to me but I am not expert. What do you think?
Answered by Tom
Arthur
February 9, 2010
9:24 p.m.
Do you recommend radiant barriers for existing homes, as an upgrade to reduce energy use? If so, what type radiant barrier do you believe is the best
... system for an existing home in this area. I have seen radiant paints, foils that are laid on top of the attic insulation, and foils that are stapled/nailed to the roof rafters.
Answered by Tom
Randy
February 9, 2010
9:19 p.m.
We are building a new house. We are planning a great room 34' by 26' with a cathedral ceiling on the 34' width. The walls will be 8'. I would like
...to know the optimum pitch for a room this size.
Answered by Tom
Jim
February 9, 2010
9:17 p.m.
Hi Tom
I read the information on the media filter. I had one installed on my downstairs unit when I had my heater replaced. I had been using it wit
...h my return air filter and then learned that was not necessary. Is that correct? Should I just leave that grate open and only use the media filter? How often should I change the large media filter?
Thanks
Jim
Answered by Tom
shane
February 9, 2010
9:15 p.m.
Ijust purchased a home that has had foundation repair,And part ofthe work required a french drain systembe putin.Whaich was done,I have noticed that t
...he drain has two outlets and they seemto always have water coming out of them,I checked my water meter and it is not moving unless there is some water running in the house.
So where is the constant source of the water coming from? I t will stand in front of my curb to where cars coming up on my street even always slow down!
Answered by Tom
Annie
February 1, 2010
4:19 p.m.
Hi Tom ,
What do you use to fill the 1/2'' to 3/4'' gap around the foundation and the patio concret, the wood pieces that separated between them are
... rotten and leave a big gap. Where do you buy it?
Thank you.
Answered by Tom
David
February 1, 2010
4:17 p.m.
Tom, I am buying an older home 76'Theturee car garage has noticable deflection on the bottom of the beam. I think the owners built a room above the g
...arage after construction . The roof is flat but the top of the roof line is also sagging.1-2" Should I redue the beams over the garage doors and put in a middle beam to stablize the floor with a steel beam and pipe. Can a contractor raise the floor to eliminate the dip and then hold up with the new beam? The slab is typical Hou.
Answered by Tom
Greg
February 1, 2010
4:15 p.m.
Can 2" duct wrap be used as a substitute for radiant barrier in an attic?
Answered by Tom
William
February 1, 2010
4:14 p.m.
A few months back tile was installed in the Foyer of our church building. Some of the tiles are now cracked. Is it due to the extremes in temperatures
... since the heat and a/c are turned off when the building is not in use? Or is it due to improper installation or movement of the slab? Or some other cause?
Answered by Tom
john
February 1, 2010
4:13 p.m.
Tom,
We are having plans drawn for a new custom home and we would like your opinion if it is a good idea to for us to directly hire structural engi
...neer to design foundation and supports OR just leave this work to the selected builder?
I would think we would get more accurate and comparable builer quotes if all were bidding to the same specifications?
Answered by Tom
Ben
February 1, 2010
4:11 p.m.
I have 40x40 metal building with radiant barrier on the inside. How do you suggest I insulate the area I am going to finish into living area. Do I nee
...d a vapor barrier between the insulation and the metal?
Answered by Tom
Connie
February 1, 2010
4:09 p.m.
We have a white refrigerator in an outdoor cabana. It is in a covered area, but is still outside. The outside of the doors have an orange/rust color
...ed splotchy stain on them. Most of the stain is on the top freezer portion and the upper half of the refrigerator door. How do I remove this stain? I think it is from condensation. I have tried kitchen cleaners, soap pads, CLR and nothing seems to help. Thank you.
Answered by Tom
Jeff
February 1, 2010
4:08 p.m.
Tom, we want to install engineered hardwoods throughout the first floor of our 48 year old home. There are already hardwoods on screeds in the den an
...d carpet in the rest of the first floor. We've had two differing opinions on what to: 1) float the new floor on top of the existing hardwoods and on top of the concrete in the rest of the house or 2) glue down the new floor over hardwoods and the concrete. There is only one doorway where the current hardwoods meet the concrete. Any ideas?
Answered by Tom
Gary
February 1, 2010
4:07 p.m.
We have a double-wide manufactured home (2300 sq. ft). We want to put a metal roof on home. Can we leave the shingles or do we need to remove before
... we put the metal roof? Will leaving the shingles make the house hotter inside?
Answered by Tom
Truc
February 1, 2010
4:06 p.m.
Hi Tom,
I am in the process of buying a home. The builder is using PVC pipes for plumbing. Can you advise me if PVC is good product or should I req
...uest copper or PEX pipes?
In addition, the builder uses deny board to wrap the house and I want Tyvex. The project manager said that's fine. He will wrap Tyvex on top of their deny board. Is that proper? I hope you answer my questions because this is my dream house and I want the best stuff for it.
Thank you
Truc
Answered by Tom
Steve
January 25, 2010
2:50 p.m.
I have a Victorian style house that needs the siding replaced. Is Hardy plank better/equal/or worse than vinyl? I get different answers from differe
...nt contractors depending on which siding they want to install, and I do not know who to believe. Also, I know the vinyl matches the existing pattern very well, but I am not sure if the Hardy plank comes in that pattern. Do they make Hardy plank that will match the pattern of Victorian homes (my subdivision will complain if I change the house sign
Answered by Tom
Kary
January 25, 2010
2:49 p.m.
My wife and I would like to get a brick or stone look to one of our wall and the fire place. Where do I shop for brick or stone wall panels in Houston
... and who do i contact to get these panels professionally installed. Please do not recommend any one out of the Houston area because we'd like to pick the panel by visiting
a local showroom in town.
Answered by Tom
warren
January 25, 2010
2:47 p.m.
Tom, I've been a home designer and builder for 35 years, and have built in
Austin, Colorado, Fort Bend and Waller counties. Now, my wife and I have
...decided to move to the hill country around Canyon Lake. The land we have is virtually flat (grade drops 12" in 60 ft. or so) So my question to you is what type of slab should I use- I have about 6" of native soil on a piece of bedrock that is about 18" thick or more, that is larger than the home pad. Would a conventional slab be workable here?
Answered by Tom
jeremy
January 25, 2010
2:46 p.m.
trying to replace attic door springs. lowe's and home depot said their only solution is buying complete replacement stairs with springs and all. the
... only thing worn are the springs, where can i go to get replacements other than buying a complete set up?
Answered by Tom
Bill
January 25, 2010
2:45 p.m.
I have an old sprinkler system that still works very well. The riser where the vacuum valve is located is about four feet high and I was wondering if
...I could cut the pipes and reduce the height to about two feet off the ground ??
Love your show & over the years you have saved me much labor & money & I THANK YOU very much.
Keep up the good work. Thanks Bill
Answered by Tom
Arnold
January 25, 2010
2:44 p.m.
My home is approximately 12 years old. Recently, several ceramic tiles in the kitchen buckled. I thought it was a concrete slab problem, but when I
...removed the tiles the slab was smooth and intact. I found what appears to be felt sheeting. 1) Why would the tile buckle? 2) Is felt normally laid under ceramic tile?
thanks
Answered by Tom
Scott
January 25, 2010
2:43 p.m.
After I fertilized, the iron pellets left orange stains on my sidewalk and driveway. I tried scrubbing it with a steel brush and a calcium / rust / l
...ime product, but it didn't work. How can I get it off? Thanks.
Answered by Tom
Linda
January 25, 2010
2:41 p.m.
I live in a small one story home with a fireplace in the corner of the living area.
When I use the fireplace, the room fills with smoke. It appears t
...o come from the a/c vents. I have had a fireplace expert out and an a/c expert out. No one can explain why this happens. The a/c return is across the room from the f/p.
However, this has not been a problem in the past. Any ideas on what could be causing the smoke? We cannot use the f/p. Thank you.
Answered by Tom
Lydia
January 25, 2010
2:40 p.m.
Electrical upgrade for 1977 year old home done in july 2009. City inspection did not pass, thus this mean work unsafe & how long can you exist w/o co
...mpletion &/or correcting the inspector's visit & who is responsible-homeowner or electrical complany?
Answered by Tom
Mike
January 25, 2010
2:37 p.m.
In order to protect my house during the cold weather, I cut off the water at the street and drained the hot and cold pipes. Should the hot water heat
...ers get any special treatment?
Answered by Tom
Pat
January 11, 2010
12:36 p.m.
We have a carport that was built in as our den 20 plus years ago. We have french doors and since it was a garage the flppr underneath is cement. we pu
...t the stuff on it before we put wood floors down and everything has been find. It has been raining and the wood at the french doors has had water coming through the place that the wood connects. Everything outside the door is a cement driveway. My question is how is the wetness getting through ? Thank you for anything you may be able to tell me to
Answered by Tom
Cheryl
January 11, 2010
12:35 p.m.
We are installing a standing seam metal roof. One of the contractor's bidding on the roof wants to use a wood lattice on top of a Feltex underlayment
.... Evidently, Feltex has been around for about 6 years and we are unsure whether to use Feltex or 30# Felt. Which do you think is a better product to use and why? Which will last longer? Would it be beneficial to use an underlayment of 30# Felt with Feltex on top of it? Thanks for you help. Cheryl
Answered by Tom
Bob
January 11, 2010
12:34 p.m.
Many of my soffit vents are clogged with paint and I am replacing them. I thought I might add some vents. Is there a point when I have too much attic
...ventilation? My house is about 2100 sq. ft. and I have 3 roof turbine vents.
Thanks ......... Bob
Answered by Tom
Kathy
January 11, 2010
12:33 p.m.
My home was built in 1975. The corners have metal molding under the sheetrock texture which is starting to crack. What can I use to mend the cra
...cks that won't look cheap. I've tried spackling on a window and it didn't turn our very well.
Answered by Tom
Richard
January 11, 2010
12:32 p.m.
I'm in Spring, TX. I recently bought my home and the roof shingles have a discoloration (dark gray black ashy color). I am told it is due to a type
...of mold, mildew or fungi and if left untreated it cause damage to the shingles. The home is 20 years old and it appears the roof is in good shape and perhaps re-shingled 8 - 10 years ago (per my inspection that was done prior to buying the home). My home is a 2-story and about 4000 Sq Ft, with high pitches and lots of angles. It will needs new g
Answered by Tom
Eunice
January 11, 2010
12:31 p.m.
We need advise on buying a home, what are the advantages and disadvantages of buying a 1980's home in an established neighborhood such as Huntwick, Ch
...ampions area versus buying a new home in a new neighborhood for example Cypress Creek Lakes. The price range is comparable $250K. Please advise at your earliest convenience.
Answered by Tom
Bill
January 11, 2010
12:30 p.m.
My house does not have soffitts. How do I vent the attic? It has a 2x4's nailed between the rafters. The rafters extend about 1 foot from the house
.... Do I drill holes in the 2x4's and put a screen on the holes? I don't want to add soffits.
Tell 610 to put your phone number on the website.
Great show and Thanks, Bill
Answered by Tom
joey
January 11, 2010
12:26 p.m.
i just re-grouted my shower....do i need to seal the grout??
Answered by Tom
Mike
January 11, 2010
12:24 p.m.
In the Houston climate, do you recommend a vapor barrier for fiberglass batt insulation in the attic floor, that is, do you recommend faced or unfaced
... insulation for an attic floor? If faced, which side should the facing be on?
(The water heater in my attic leaked and I discarded several square feet of wet insulation from the attic floor. I'm putting new fiberglass batt insulation where that wet insulation was. The attic has gable and ridge vents.)
Answered by Tom
Carolyn
January 11, 2010
12:22 p.m.
We are trying to decide to replace our single pane windows with double panes or add 3M window film to our single panes. We are looking for efficiency
.... Which do you recommend. Our home was built around 1984.
Answered by Tom
G
December 15, 2009
8:52 a.m.
14 foot high sheetrocked cathedral ceiling in a large (17 x 32 ft.) room has developed dark areas between the rafters (the rafters show through the da
...rk areas) that look like mildew - What causes this and how to fix this problem?
Answered by Tom
Clark
December 15, 2009
8:49 a.m.
I would like to get a Home Energy Audit, is there a company you can recommended.
Answered by Tom
paul
December 15, 2009
8:47 a.m.
HI TOM
OUR HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1979,IT'S A STORY AND 1/2, 60% BRICK THE REST IS A FINISH CALLED DRIVET,IT'S A FOAMED BACKED FINISH.ABOUT 60% OF TH
...E 1/2 STORY HAS COME LOOSE,SHOULD I REMOVE AND REPLACE WITH SAME,OR REPLACE ALL OF IT WITH ANOTHER SIDING MAT.LIKE HARDIE SIDING? IF I REPLACE ALL WOULD A FOAM BOARD UNDER THE NEW SIDING BE WORTH INSTALLING FOR THE INSULATION VALUE?THANKS PAUL
Answered by Tom
peter
December 15, 2009
8:46 a.m.
Hello Tom,
Our house seems to accumulate lots of dust eventhough I changed all the filters every 3 months. We also have the Guardian plus HEPA filt
...er that I also changed the filter once/yr & the pre-filter twice/yr.
The house was built by Emerald homes in 2004 & it has return air vent in every room. Both vents in each room are sealed/glued to the ceiling.
Can you recommend a reputable company whom I may call to come out & clean our air ducts or do you have any suggestions?. Thank you
Answered by Tom
Tanyka
December 15, 2009
8:45 a.m.
I have a new home(3081 square feet) that I have lived in for 2 years now. I have a 5 ton unit with a damper system. The problem that I am having is
...that it's hotter/colder in some rooms than others. The AC company that installed the unit has been to my house 5 times to work on this issue. They have replaced the 2 thermostats and it's still now working. When it gets really cold outside(34 deg.) I will set my downstair thermostat to 80 in which it will only reach 75. Is this the correct unit?
Answered by Tom
Bryan
December 15, 2009
8:43 a.m.
I have a one lane driveway and a 2 car Garage. (There is a short widening to 2 car at the Garage end.) I would like to expand the driveway and was con
...sidering paving stones vs concrete slab. What are pro's & cons and where do I find a good contractor. (Friendswood)
Answered by Tom
Sherrie
December 15, 2009
8:41 a.m.
Bed/Bath above garage is very cold. My father thinks the garage is probably not insulated or not enough. I'm thinking of having someone come out and
...pull out all the drywall and install a spray foam insulation. I just had the a/c system reworked, I had the system zoned for upstairs/downstairs which has greatly improved the heating capabilities for downstairs. I am able to get the master to(73-74), but then the rest of upstairs is too warm. Room faces West with dbl patio door and two windows.
Answered by Tom
Bob
December 15, 2009
8:39 a.m.
What is best way to add more insulation in attic over fiberglass insulation. Years ago you recommended 3 in. unfaced insulation over the old. Is this
... a "do it yourself job" or are there companies who will tackle this?
Answered by Tom
Stephen
December 15, 2009
8:38 a.m.
Our 14 yr old gas water heater isn't heating. Saturday you mentioned that you should check a couple of things on the water heater. One being the pilot
... light, but I can't remember the second thing you mention.
Answered by Tom
grace
December 15, 2009
8:36 a.m.
We took your advice about sticking with propane for our home when remodeling and now we are faced with once again replacing hot water heater after onl
...y 5-1/2 yrs. We are considering tankless propane for replacement. It is just my husband and myself, but we don't want to go through with this again in another 5-6 years. What are your feelings about Sky Tankless propane unit?
Answered by Tom
Andrew
December 8, 2009
8:22 a.m.
Hi Tom, Question about setting my a/c thermostat on auto or fan. I'm not from Texas or the south for that matter. My father, who lives up north, wa
...s told that during periods of high heat and humidity he should set his unit on "fan" the entire time. He has an air-to-air exchange system (via a vent to the outside). I have a new home built in 2009 in Woodlands. What should I do? And what is the rationale for doing what you recommend? Thanks.
Answered by Tom
Philip
December 8, 2009
8:21 a.m.
Our master-shower has slate tile flooring. Every time I shower little bits of the slate flake off. I'm sure eventually this will be bad thing. What pr
...oducts or processes do you recommend to seal & protect these types of tiles?
Thanks
Phill
Answered by Tom
Linda
December 8, 2009
8:20 a.m.
I live in a single story home and just had new porcelain tile floors installed in my kitchen, laundry room and 2.5 bathrooms. I have heard to make su
...re the grout is sealed and I have heard not to seal the grout. The person stating not to seal the grout said "concrete always has moisture and if you seal the grout your floor can't breathe and can cause problems down the road". What should I do?
Answered by Tom
Don
December 8, 2009
8:18 a.m.
i have removed carpet from our stair way and replaced the treads so i can put down oak treads and raisers i would like to know how to secure new oak t
...reads to it this way they with 2x10 i have installed. i was going to use liquid nail and shoot with finish nails my concern is i don't want them to squeak. do you think by doing it this way it will be ok??? love the show listen while i do my honey do's on saturday and sunday
Answered by Tom
kenny
December 8, 2009
8:17 a.m.
Hi Tom,
I would like to know your thought on polyester electrostatic filters.
Thanks.
Answered by Tom
Bruce
December 8, 2009
8:12 a.m.
What is the formula used for refurbishing cabinets? As I recall it is a combination of linseed oil and paint thinner. I have been a subscriber of yo
...ur magazine for several years and could not find the formula in my saved editions.
Thank you
Bruce
Answered by Tom
beverly
December 8, 2009
8:05 a.m.
The plumber is baffled. Please help. Every couple of weeks we wake up to find brown water turning on the faucet (cold side) gives us brown water, as
...well as brown water in the toilets. It clears if we let the water run several minutes. Where is this coming from, and whom do we call?
Answered by Tom
Becky
December 8, 2009
8:03 a.m.
Can you put stone over Hardie plank? I love the look of stone and our house is cottage style.
Do you think we have a problem with our foundation?
...Our house is on piers and beams. The wall of the perimeter is six ft. under ground and the above ground is 4 ft. I have not noticed any problems with the doors or windows, but some of the baseboards are not flush against the walls any more and some cracks in the joints where some of the walls meet. The house is 7 yrs old.
Answered by Tom
Daniel
December 8, 2009
7:57 a.m.
A plumber said that roots are getting into my sewer line at the tap. The repair estimate is expensive.
I have heard of some companies using pipe line
...rs, that are suppose to be less expensive and last 50 years.
What is your opinion of pipe liners, and if you like them can you suggest a company?
Answered by Tom