Expert Advice on Home Improvement

Mary asks, “ We live in an older home that is raised off the ground with a crawlspace. In the past few years, the hardwood flooring in several rooms has started to warp and cup. What could be the problem?”

It sounds like you may have excessive moisture and humidity in the crawlspace under your home. Read on to find out how to correct the problem. Read in full.

Rod asks, “I recently added an additional layer of faced fiberglass insulation to my attic. Since then I noted you stipulated unfaced insulation for the attic if you already have a layer of insulation. What should I do?”

Since you already had insulation in your attic, the new insulation you added should have been unfaced to prevent moisture from becoming trapped between the layers. But don’t panic, the solution to your problem isn’t that difficult. Read on to find out how. Read in full.

Joseph asks, “Our house has a musty smell, and we recently found mold growing inside some of the closets and cabinets. How can we get rid of it?”

Since mold requires warm, moist conditions to grow, start by eliminating any unwanted sources of water, such as leaks in the roof, dripping pipes, or gaps around tubs or showers. Reduce the relative humidity levels inside your home, and treat any existing mold with a product made for that purpose. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Tony asks, “I’m planning on finishing my basement myself at little at a time. How should I go about it?”

When finishing a basement, it’s important that the work is completed in order. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Jeff asks, “I would like to install an attic vent fan in the gable vent of my house, but to install it on the side away from the prevailing wind will be extremely difficult. Could it be installed instead in the gable vent on the windward side to draw air into the attic?“

If your attic uses soffit vents at the bottom and gable vents at the top for ventilation, having a gable vent fan drawing air into the attic would not be the best solution, since it would tend to create positive pressure in the attic which could reverse the natural air flow that occurs when heat rises up through the soffit vents and out through the gable vents. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Ron asks, “Our contractor installed a ridge vent and a solar powered vent fan on our roof. I noticed you said that these two systems should not be combined. Should we remove the solar vent fan?“

An attic is vented using the natural circulation that occurs when hot air rises. In hot climates, a power vent fan is often mounted behind a gable vent or cut into the roof near the peak to assist this process by forcibly expelling hot air from the attic. Read more to find out why combining a power vent fan and a ridge vent may not be a good idea. Read in full.

Brenda asks, “When it rains, the water runs toward the house and foundation, causing flooding. The cost of professional grading is prohibitive. Any ideas?”

A French drain around the perimeter of your house would be a great, inexpensive way to divert water runoff without having to regrade the entire yard. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Watch this video to find out the importance of proper drainage around the outside of your home to prevent water damage to your foundation, and what you can do to help correct drainage problems around your home. Watch this video.

Installing additional fiberglass insulation in your attic can really reduce energy bills. Watch this video to find out what you need to know in order to install it correctly. Watch this video.

Excess moisture in the crawlspace under your home can make it a breeding ground for mold, rot, and termites. Watch this video to find out what you can do to prevent it. Watch this video.