Solutions for Houses That Slope | Ep. 81
Whether you live in a slope house or have unlevel floors due to an improperly built home that unexpectedly slopes, all kinds of problems can arise.
For instance, what do you do if the concrete patio was never properly sloped away from the foundation, or you start to notice condensation in a half-exposed basement due to the slope of the land?
And if you can place a 2-by-4 on your floor and part of it is level but the other part rises inches off the ground, you’ve definitely got a problem!
Listen to the Today’s Homeowner Podcast for these and more home improvement tips!
[1:58] 67-year-old great-grandmother gains confidence to replace a toilet after watching Today’s Homeowner
[4:07] Chelsea talks about the August episode of Checking in with Chelsea — installing and sealing butcher-block countertops
[9:04] Best New Product: Dewalt 3000 Lumen 20-Volt Max Tripod
[11:09] “I need to repair a concrete patio. It was never properly sloped away from the foundation … I am considering using Rapid set Cement All or Rapid set Concrete mix. Your thoughts?”
[17:02] “We have a shaded back patio where we love to have coffee each morning, but it’s always covered in mildew … but when we clean it, it seems to come right back. How can we prevent that?”
[18:32] “Our house was built seven years ago and our basement is half-exposed due to the slope of the land it was built on. We have been noticing condensation behind the plastic and possible mold on the 2-by-4s. Thoughts on next steps?”
[25:06] Simple Solution: How to make a trash can from a collapsible laundry hamper
[26:49] DaiHard 100 Kits from Daich Coatings feature an Industrial Strength Epoxy Floor Coating that hides anything on the surface with just one coat
[29:24] Question of the Week: “I am replacing the carpeted floor on a cement floor with vinyl planks … Since the floor is uneven, what is the best way to transition the floor to accommodate the new flooring?”
Simple Solutions
Pop-Up Trash Can — The next time you need an extra trash can, use a collapsible laundry hamper, which you can buy for as little as $10. This is the type that looks like a giant spring wrapped in fabric.
Line the hamper with a plastic garbage bag and when you’re done, just pull out the bag and collapse the hamper. It takes up almost no space and is ideal for backyard cookouts and parties, or to take on the road while camping or picnicking at the park.
It’s also perfect for collecting used wrapping paper on Christmas morning and at birthday parties and baby showers. (A 15-inch-diameter by 26-inch-tall hamper takes a 30-gallon bag)
Affordable Eraser Cleaners — Magic Erasers are great for safely cleaning all sorts of surfaces around the house, including kitchen cabinets, bath fixtures, painted walls, furniture, and all types of flooring.
However, brand name erasers are pretty expensive, but you can save a significant amount of money by buying generic melamine foam sponges.
A nine-pack of Mr. Clean Erasers costs about $8, which seems reasonable until you consider that you can buy 50 generic-brand erasers for $13. One such brand is On My Clean, or go to: SpongeOulet.com
Question of the Week
Q: “I am replacing the carpeted floor on a cement floor with vinyl planks to an addition on a lower half of a split level. Since the floor is uneven due to an addition, what is the best way to transition the floor to accommodate the new flooring I want to install?”
A: First, remove the carpet, which will leave quite a bit of glue residue. Then get an aggressive grinding wheel from the rental center. That will remove the glue. Then add self-leveling compound to fix the slope so luxury vinyl tile will be easily installed on it.