Rotting wood near basement

The number of problems that can go wrong with your home seems endless. Don’t you wish homes came with instructions so you could immediately solve those issues?

That’s not going to happen, but we can help fix some common problems along the way. For instance, what can you do when exterior wood trim rots? Or caulk between a bathroom floor and wall develops mold?

What are your options when you have to replace Hardie Board siding, and — this is a very popular question — how can you unclog a heating and cooling system’s condensate drain?

We’ll answer those questions, and many more, on this week’s Today’s Homeowner Radio Show.

  • [skipto time= 16:25][16:25][/skipto] Tips for cleaning, degreasing and staining cabinets
  • [skipto time= 28:25][28:25][/skipto] Best New Product: Dyson V8 Animal, Cord-Free Vacuum
  • [skipto time= 30:18][30:18][/skipto] Questions and Answers about SimpleMat, sponsored by Custom Building Products
  • [skipto time= 32:05][32:05][/skipto] How to repair small cracks in a stucco wall
  • [skipto time= 42:28][42:28][/skipto] ‘What is the best product for re-piping a home’s water supply?’
  • [skipto time= 50:09][50:09][/skipto] Simple Solution: Maintaining your outside A/C unit with a condenser fin comb
  • [skipto time= 55:29][55:29][/skipto] The multitasking dad: He works at his law office in the morning and in the afternoon he’s building a shed with his teenage son!
  • [skipto time= 57:46][57:46][/skipto] ‘The caulk between the floor and the wall of our tile shower has bad mold. Help!’
  • [skipto time= 1:09:43][1:09:43][/skipto] ‘How difficult is, and what is involved, with replacing Hardie Board?’
  • [skipto time= 1:14:30][1:14:30][/skipto] ‘Help! I have a clogged A/C condensation drain…how can I unclog it — and keep it unclogged?’
  • [skipto time= 1:22:43][1:22:43][/skipto] How to repair rotten wood trim on a basement window
  • [skipto time= 1:33:15][1:33:15][/skipto] ‘Help! Water is accumulating in the double-pane windows’
  • [skipto time= 1:36:11][1:36:11][/skipto] ‘We want to replace our wood deck with composite materials. What are our options?’
  • [skipto time= 1:38:06][1:38:06][/skipto] Marble, or porcelain tile floor that looks like marble: that is the question
  • [skipto time= 1:43:19][1:43:19][/skipto] Simple Solution: how to catch dust when drilling into a drywall or plaster ceiling

Q&A

Q: Kara from Kansas writes, “I see all these great ideas for kitchen backsplashes, and I have a space behind my stove that I want to cover but I’ve never done tile work before.

“I’ve had professionals install tile, but I don’t have all of those tools or even know how to use them. How do I get started?”

A: Well, Kara, I have good news for you. For the project you want to do, there’s an easier way to set the tile than you may have seen.

Usually, you mix up what’s called thin-set mortar and apply it to the wall with a notched trowel before you apply the tiles. But the folks at Custom Building Products have simplified that with a product called Simple Mat.

It’s the quickest, easiest, cleanest way to install tile I’ve ever seen. There’s no mortar, no mixing, no mess. The Simple Mat has adhesive on both sides: one bonds to the wall and the other bonds to the tile. All you do is cut it to size, stick it in place and install the tile.

The cool thing is that you don’t have to wait overnight for mortar to dry, so you can apply the grout right away and finish the project in one day. It’s great for backsplashes, shower walls and even countertops.


Best New Product

Dyson Animal Vacuum Cleaner, available at The Home DepotIf your home has pets, the Dyson V8 Animal cord-free vacuum is a useful tool to have on hand. Learn more>>


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    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.

    Learn More