Smart Homes Made Easy | Improved Insulation | Optimizing Small Home Office Space | Ep #2237

SHOW NOTES: Smart Home Devices: How hard is it to create a smart home? We’ll look at popular new devices to make your home smarter, safer, more convenient, more energy-efficient, and more fun! Improved Insulation: Installing fiberglass insulation is now easier and less itchy with a new product that’s strong, yet soft as cotton. Find out what it is, just in time to insulate your home for fall and winter. Home Office Space: Working from home in a small space can be a challenge. We’ve got ideas on how to organize and optimize any area for a home office.  Plus, answers to your home improvement questions. Wet Basement: Beverly’s wet basement doesn’t need a French drain; it just requires an easy fix with improved outside drainage to keep the water away. We’ll tell her what to try to keep the basement dry. Insect Stains: The swarm of flies outside Mike’s house is leaving stains all over the siding that are hard to clean off. We’ve got suggestions on a treatment to apply to help clean the siding and how to keep on top of the fly problem. Flooring Options: Finding bedroom flooring to match the flooring in other rooms of Char’s home is a challenging design issue. Comparing floor samples might help her decide. Water Heater Problem: Is one water heater enough to direct hot water to the far side of a large home? Stewart may want to decide between installing a second water heater or a hot water recirculating system. Painting Over a Stain: After Sarah’s roof leak was fixed, it left a ceiling stain that paint won’t cover. Priming it first will help her get the yellow ceiling white again. Brick Wall Cracks: What’s causing the long, wide vertical crack in a brick wall behind Jim’s garage? He’ll need a structural engineer to see if it’s an active or inactive crack and a contractor to make the right repairs. Popcorn Ceiling: Dirty popcorn ceilings can’t really be cleaned; they must be repainted or removed instead. We’ve got step-by-step advice for Margaret on how to update her old ceiling.   Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices