#2536 – Turn Your Home into a Perfect Staycation Spot | Water-Saving Tips | Summer Home Maintenance

SHOW NOTES: Hello, home improvement enthusiasts! We're so glad you're with us, especially as July is almost over and the year is just flying by. Life changes, but The Money Pit is here to be your constant guide through all your home improvement adventures. Coming up, we've got tips to keep your home thriving all summer long! - Staycation Tips: We share easy, affordable ways to turn your home into an ultimate staycation spot, from creating spa vibes in your bathroom to resort-worthy backyard spaces. - Saving Water: Water usage often spikes in the summer, so we’ll dive into irrigation checks, sump pump tests, searching out those slow leaks, and even some water-saving tips to keep everything in tip-top shape and save you some money. - Summer Home Maintenance: Now that we're halfway through summer, we've got your midsummer home maintenance checklist. These quick, proactive projects will help you avoid breakdowns, catch hidden issues, and keep your home running smoothly all season long without the panic of a mid-August surprise repair.   Q & A: We're also going to hear from some of our listeners about their burning home improvement questions, including: - Darlene from West Virginia asked about putting a metal roof on her home. We advised that it's generally best to take the roof down to the sheathing for a durable, long-lasting investment like a metal roof, which can last 50+ years. - Jules called in about dealing with cracked plaster walls in an old home, wondering whether to rip it out or patch it. We discussed how to determine if the plaster is repairable or if it’s time to put in some drywall. - Sharon from Ohio has an issue with her furnace pulling sewer gas from her sump pump. This is likely due to a missing or dried-out P-trap in the drain line, which prevents sewer gases from entering the home. - Bill in Illinois had a question about cracks in his 28-year-old shower tub after a fall. While a fiberglass repair kit can offer a temporary, emergency fix, a more permanent and economical solution might be a bath fitter-type shower insert that covers the existing tub. - Buck from New England wrote in about adding vinyl siding to his summer home. We recommended he remove the old siding, add a new weather barrier like Tyvek paper, and then install the vinyl siding for a better look around windows and doors. Plus, we'll touch on other quick tips like how to maintain your fridge to keep it cool in the summer heat by vacuuming condenser coils and checking door seals.   ASK A QUESTION: Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices