SHOW NOTES:

Welcome back to The Money Pit! Happy Thanksgiving weekend, everyone! We are here to help you tackle your home improvement challenges – from safety tips to planning projects to finding the best deals this busy holiday season. Check out these hot topics, plus listeners’ calls and solutions:

- Safe and Stress-Free Babyproofing: We offer smart, stress-free tips to quickly baby-proof your space before hosting family and friends with little ones this holiday season.

- Smart Shopping Secrets: We share secrets for smart holiday shopping, noting that the best deals for tools and DIY gear appear around Black Friday and into early December, while appliances see deep discounts in November and January before new models arrive.

- Planning Ahead for Home Projects: Learn why winter is actually the best time to plan your spring home improvements, as starting early helps secure quality contractors who get booked months in advance.

- Cleaning Range Hood Filters: We discuss a simple 10-minute maintenance job: cleaning your kitchen range hood filter by soaking a metal filter in hot soapy water mixed with baking soda.

Q & A:

- Lynn in New Hampshire needed advice on protecting her old cedar siding. Since natural cedar is resistant to insects but not UV light, we proposed two options: applying boiled linseed oil for natural protection without changing the color or applying a solid color stain over an oil-based primer for maximum longevity.

- Carol in Maine was replacing older outlets and was unsure how to connect them to the new receptacle. Due to the serious risks involved with electrical work, we strongly advised her to hire a professional electrician.

- Bill in Michigan has an unlevel floor in his attached garage, causing water from his car to pool in low spots and run toward the house wall. The recommended solution was to apply a self-leveling compound just over the areas of unevenness to correct the runoff.

- Doug in Rhode Island was installing frost-free hose bibs and wanted our opinion on using SharkBite push-to-connect fasteners. We affirmed that SharkBite connectors are the perfect product for this application, as they create a permanent, watertight, solder-free connection, which is ideal for tight spots.

- Heather in Tennessee had a 6x8-inch area of hardwood floor that buckled after a water filter leaked, and she sought a repair method that avoided the hassle of sanding and refinishing the entire floor. The solution was to hire a professional carpenter to discreetly cut out matching floor boards from a less visible area, such as a closet or pantry, and use them to replace the damaged section.

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.

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