>> HI AND WELCOME TO ASK THE SPECIALIST.

TONIGHT WE ASK THE BUILDERS ON WCMU PUBLIC TELEVISION.

HI, WELCOME TO ASK THE SPECIALISTS.

TONIGHT WE ARE ASKING THE BUILDERS HERE ON WCMU PUBLIC TELEVISION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE MILLS, I AM JOINED BY LOCAL BUILDERS JOSH WITH LAKESHORE CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION AND TONY BROWN WITH A.E.

BROWN CONSTRUCTION.

THANK YOU, GUYS, BOTH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> I KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY BUSY TIME FOR YOU RIGHT NOW, SO WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE AND ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS FOR VIEWERS TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THOSE QUESTIONS AND I'M SURE YOU AT HOME HAVE A LOT OF THOSE TONIGHT.

CAN YOU EACH TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELVES AND YOUR AREA OF SPECIALTIES, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE.

JOSH.

>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MOUNT PLEASANT, GRADUATED MOUNT PLEASANT HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT TO SCHOOL AT MICHIGAN STATE FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND AFTER A SHORT STINT IN CHICAGO ON HIGH RISE CONSTRUCTION, I MOVED HOME AND STARTED MY OWN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

THAT WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO GO EVERY DAY.

>> AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

TONY.

>> YES, GRADUATED FROM FULTON HIGH SCHOOL MIDDLETON AND AMONGST RAISING A FAMILY I DECIDED IN 2000 TO BECOME A BUILDER, AND AS I WENT ON INTO THAT BUILDING CAREER, IT'S BEEN NOTHING BUT ENJOYMENT.

WE DO A LOT OF REMODELING, KITCHEN AND BAT, WINDOWS, DOORS, ROOFING, SIDING, AND IT'S KEPT US REAL BUSY FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

>> SURE.

PROBABLY ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST YEAR.

SO WHILE WE WAIT FOR THEM TO GET TO US.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR GUESTS, THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS FOR YOU TO GET IT TO US.

YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN.

844-975-3343.

WE ARE ALSO STREAMING THIS SHOW ON FACEBOOK TONIGHT WHERE YOU CAN ALSO POST YOUR QUESTION, SO THERE ARE AGAIN, MANY DIFFERENT WAYS FOR YOU TO BE A PART OF TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION.

THIS SHOW AND THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY FUELED BY YOUR CALLS, YOUR QUESTIONS, EVERYTHING IS ANONYMOUS.

DON'T HESITATE TO PICK UP THE PHONE.

JOSH AND TONY, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WOE HEARING A LOT ABOUT, AND THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A LOT ABOUT BEFORE THE SHOW, WHICH OF COURSE IS THE PRICE OF LUMBER RIGHT NOW.

THEY'VE BEEN GOING UP FOR A YEAR NOW.

CAN YOU PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE WHERE THOSE PRICES WERE A YEAR AGO AND WHERE THEY ARE NOW?

>> WELL, WHAT I'VE NOTICED FROM OUR BUILDS THAT STARTED AT THE BEGINNING OF COVID, IS THEY WERE GOOD AND STABLE UP THROUGH PROBABLY JUNE AND JULY OF LAST YEAR AND THEN AS THE SUMMER WENT ON, THE PRICES STARTED TO GO UP AND AS WE HIT FALL AND WINTER, WE HAVE MOST OF OUR LUMBER PRICES HAVE COME CLOSE TO DOUBLE FROM WHAT THEY WERE IN THE START OF THE BUILDING SEASON LAST YEAR, AND AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AS A BUILDER, WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO HOLD PRICES ON A WEEK TO WEEK BASIS, BECAUSE PRICES ARE CHANGING CONSTANTLY.

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING AS A BUILD THEIR WE CAN DO TO CHANGE THIS OTHER THAN TRY TO BE PROACTIVE AND LET YOU KNOW AHEAD OF TIME THAT THERE IS COST INCREASES AS THE JOB GOES, MOST OF OUR BIDS WERE TRYING TO REPRICE AT THE START OF THE JOB AND HOLD IT IF WE CAN THROUGH THAT TIME OF THE JOB.

>> SURE.

DO WE KNOW WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THE INCREASE?

>> IT BRINGS YOU BACK TO BASIC ECONOMICS, SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

YOU KNOW, OUR DEMAND IS STILL HIGH.

PEOPLE SEEM TO BE DOING QUITE WELL, OUR STIMULUS MONEYS HELP PEOPLE THAT WANT TO PUT MONEY IN THEIR HOUSE DO SO, SO EVEN THOUGH COVID, THERE'S BEEN A LACK OF DEMAND IN OTHER INDUSTRIES, OUR INDUSTRY, THE DEMAND'S GONE UP.

ALONG WITH THAT SUPPLY, THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF SUPPLY.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE WORKING IN THE FACTORY SAYS, WORKING IN THE MILLS THAT PRODUCE THE LUMBER, SO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW THE EXACT ANSWER, BUT I THINK BASIC ECONOMICS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND WITH DEMAND HIGH AND SUPPLY LOW ARE GOING TO DRIVE THE PRICE UP.

>> IT'S NOT JUST LUMBER THAT YOU'RE SEEING A PRICE INCREASE.

IT'S EVERYTHING, FROM.

>> OUR ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS HAVE ALMOST DOUBLED IN PRICE, SURFACE EVEN LIKE ELECTRICAL BOXES, ELECTRICAL WIRE.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF CHANGES THERE.

WE'RE SEEING CHANGES THROUGH ALL THE APPLIANCE LINES PRETTY MUCH RIGHT ACROSS THE BOARD, PLUMING PRODUCTS ARE HARD TO GET AND THEY'RE GOING UP IN PRICE, AS WELL.

ANYTHING THAT CONTROLS PLASTICS OR METALS, WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING THAT AT A SUPPLY AND AS WE DO GET THEM, THEY ARE GOING UP.

>> SO WITH THE PRICES GOING UP ON JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING, ARE YOU SEEING MORE PEOPLE HOLD OFF ON MAYBE BUILDING OR DOING ADDITIONS OR ARE YOU SEEING A BIGGER DEMAND FOR SNIT.

>> I HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN A CHANGE IN DEMAND, THE PHONE STILL RINGS EVERY DAY.

PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HAVE THEIR PROJECTS DONE AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE READY TO GO, READY TO DO THEM.

FROM OUR END, YOU KNOW, DEMAND'S HIGH, AND THERE REALLY HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I MEAN THERE'S A LOT OF HARD CONVERSATION WITNESS YOUR CUSTOMERS ABOUT THOSE INCREASES IN PRICES AND WE TRY TO HEAD THEM OFF AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE AND SET THE EXPECTATION, BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN THE DEMAND BACK DOWN.

>> SO WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR SOMEBODY THAT IS LOOKING TO DO A REMODEL OR BUILD A HOUSE, WHAT ARE YOU TELLING PEOPLE RIGHT NOW?

IS IT TAKING LONGER?

WHAT'S THE TURNAROUND.

>> OUR BIGGEST THING IS JUST THE BUILD TIME IS STILL THE SAME AS FAR AS US AND OUR CREW, BUT THE PREPLANNING IS WAY LONGER.

WHERE WE USED TO JUST PLAN A DATE, SET IT, GO BUY THE MATERIALS AND DO IT, NOW WE HAVE TO PLAN MANY DAYS SOMETIMES MONTHS AHEAD TO TRY TO GET ALL THE PRODUCT AVAILABLE THAT WE NEED.

I DON'T LIKE TO START ANY JOB UNTIL WE HAVE ALL THE PRODUCT, SO THAT KEEPS US IN CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOUR JOB NEGOTIATION AS QUICKLY AS WHAT WE CAN, BUT THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO TRY TO BE PROACTIVE IN PURCHASING AND HAVE EVERYTHING THERE BEFORE YOU START, BECAUSE IF YOU GO AT IT, YOU'RE GOING TO END UP WAITING.

>> SURE.

ARE THERE ANY KIND OF LIKE BACK TO THE PRICE OF LUMBER, ALTERNATIVES THAT COULD BE USED OR IS THAT PRETTY MUCH IT?

>> I'VE EXPLORED ONE AVENUE, THERE'S A PRODUCT CALLED CONCRETE MADE LOCALLY WITH STONE AND SAND AND CEMENT, WHICH IS PRODUCED IN ALPENA.

I DON'T THINK OUR MARKET IS THERE TO BUILD CONCRETE HOMES AND STRUCTURES AND STUFF ALONG THOSE LINES.

ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE WAS METAL, STEEL PRICES HAVEN'T INCREASED AS QUICKLY AS LUMBER BUT THOSE ARE SOON FOLLOWING SUIT.

I MEAN UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WE'RE SEEING EVERYTHING ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASING.

>> DO YOU THINK SOME OF THOSE PRICES MIGHT COME BACK DOWN EVENTUALLY?

>> WE HOPE SO.

WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> DO YOU THINK THEY'LL EVER GO BACK DOWN TO WHERE THEY WERE?

>> EVER'S A LONG TIME.

WE'VE SEEN PRICE INCREASES IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, UP AND DOWN SEVERAL TIMES AND WE RAN INTO FUEL SHORTAGES, YOU KNOW, REAL HIGH PRICED FUEL BACK EIGHT, 10 YEARS AGO, AND THE PRICE OF SHINGLES WENT QUITE A BIT HIGHER AND BECAUSE THEY WERE PETROLEUM BASED AND THEY DID COME BACK DOWN.

THEY WERE AT A NOT MAYBE AS LOW AS WHAT THEY WERE, BUT THEY DID CONTINUE TO CLIMB WHERE TODAY, WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BACK DRIVE OF THE WHOLE THING IS, YOU KNOW.

>> SURE.

SURE.

VERY UNIQUE TIMES.

WE HAVE A FACEBOOK QUESTION.

MY SON HAS AN INTERESTING LEARNING A TRADE PARTICULARLY CONCRETE AND MASONRY.

IS IT A LEARN ON THE JOB OR IS SCHOOLING RECOMMENDED?

>> I THINK IT SEGUES INTO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOR, IN NOT JUST OUR AREA BUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PRICES, THAT'S ANOTHER CHALLENGE, THERE'S LESS PEOPLE THAT WANT TO WORK IN THE TRADES.

I THINK THERE'S A BIG DRIVE WITH THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION TO TRY TO GET YOUNGER PEOPLE INTO CONSTRUCTION.

SCHOOLING'S NOT REQUIRED.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO A UNIVERSITY TO LEARN A TRADE.

YOU CAN LEARN LOCALLY WITH A BUILDER, YOU CAN GO THROUGH A LOCAL TRADE PROGRAM AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

THERE'S A LOT OF AVENUES TO LEARN A SKILL TRADE AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.

PEOPLE CAN MAKE A VERY GOOD LIVING WORKING IN THE SKILLED TRADES AND, YOU KNOW, PERFORMING A CRAFT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE HAVE A CALLER FROM MIDLAND.

THEY HAVE A 1980'S BAY WINDOW WITH PLYWOOD.

ANYTHING I CAN PUT OVER THEM SO I DON'T HAVE TO REPAINT?

>> 1980'S BAY WINDOW?

>> UH-HUH.

>> GOSH, ALL RIGHT OWED WINDOWS THERE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WILL HOLD UP TO HELP.

IT'S TIME FOR NEW WINDOWS, 40 SOME YEARS.

>> MIGHT BE TIME.

OK. ANOTHER QUESTION.

THEY HAVE A 1970'S MODULAR HOME.

CAN'T BLOW INSULATION IN BECAUSE OF EXISTING INSULATION.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?

>> A BLOWN IN INSULATION APPLICATION HAS TO DO WITH ACCESS TO YOUR AT PARTICULAR.

IF YOU CAN GET ACCESS, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO BLOW IT IN.

SOME OTHER ALTERNATIVES COULD BE COMING THROUGH THE TOP SIDE OF THE ROOF BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A PERFECT SOLUTION.

>> WE'VE HAD TIMES THEY TOOK MODULAR HOME ROOF AND ADDED FOAM OVER THE SHEETING OR DECKING AND THEN REDECKED AGAIN AND THEN TO GIVE THEM A COUPLE INCHES OF FOAM ON THE ROOF PART.

IF THEY HAVE CEILINGS THAT AREN'T ADEQUATE FOR BLOWN INSULATION AND THE SAME THING ON THE WALLS.

IF THEY STRIP SIDING, THEY'RE ABLE TO INSULATE WITH FOAM BOARD OR OTHER PRODUCTS AND BUILD THAT OUT TO ADD INSULATION IN THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NEXT QUESTION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

MY DRIVEWAY IS HALF POURED CONCRETE, HALF CRUSHED STONE.

IS IT BEST TO REPLACE THE WHOLE THING AT ONCE.

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

>> I MEAN IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE SITUATION IS WITH THE DRIVEWAY AND WHAT'S CAUSING THE IMPERFECTIONS AND CRACKS WHETHER IT'S AN UPGRADE ISSUE OR CONCRETE ISSUE AND A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH YOUR BUDGET, WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT ARE SOME OPTIONS.

I FEEL LIKE WE GET THIS OPTION QUITE OFTEN ON THIS SHOW, OPTIONS TO HELP WITH LEAKY SKY LIGHTS?

>> MY THEORY ON A SKY LIGHT IS WINDOWS DON'T BELONG IN ROOFS, BUT AS FAR AS THE LEAKING OF THEM, IF THEY'RE A GOOD QUALITY SKY LIGHT THERE'S WAYS TO REFLASH THEM BUT IF IT'S THE OLDER BUBBLE STYLE WINDOWS THAT COME IN SOME OF OUR MODULAR HOMES, THERE'S REPLACEMENTS THAT YOU CAN PUT IN, BUT MOST TIMES, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LAST REAL LONG AND THEY'RE JUST GOING TO LEAK AGAIN BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T MEANT TO HANDLE OUR WINTERS AND FREEZE AND THAW AND THEY DON'T DO WELL IN MICHIGAN.

>> DO YOU HAVE -- WHAT IS KIND OF THE AVERAGE LIFE SPAN OF A SKY LIGHT WINDOW?

>> OH, GOODNESS.

>> I MEAN, A SKY LIGHT, REALLY, THE LONGEVITY OF A SKY LIGHT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE INSTALLATION METHODS AND WITH THE FLASHING AND COPING AROUND THE WINDOW, IF GOOD, SHOULD LAST A LONG TIME BUT IF THEY'RE POOR AND YOU GET A LOT OF WATER AGAINST THAT WINDOW, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE IT'S GOING TO DETERIORATE MUCH QUICKER.

>> CALLER, IS A METAL ROOF CHEAPER THAN A SINGLE ROOF?

>> TRADITIONALLY, NO.

TRADITIONALLY, A TEAL ROOF IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN A SHINGLE ROOF.

WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF YOUR MORE BASIC STEEL ROOF GET CLOSE TO YOUR SHINGLE ROOFS, BUT TRADITIONALLY NO.

>> ANOTHER QUESTION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

CAN YOU RECOMMEND THE BEST WAY TO PRESERVE MY DECK.

IT WAS GOING TO GET REPLACED BUT NOW WE ARE JUST TRYING TO SAVE IT FOR THE NEXT FEW SUMMERS, SO ANY IDEAS THERE?

>> A LOT OF THAT DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY'VE DONE PRIOR TO NOW.

IF THEY'VE PUT PRODUCTS ON IT THAT ARE LIKE PAINT PRODUCTS, OR SOLID COLOR PRODUCTS, A LOT OF TIMES THAT WILL HOLD THE WATER INTO THE DECK AND NOTHING WILL STICK, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH TRYING TO SEAL OR CLEAN OR TAKE CARE OF PRESSURE TREATED WOOD THAT'S OLD.

ONCE IT GETS WATER INTO THAT WOOD, IT DOESN'T HOLD EVEN THE BEST OF PRODUCTS THAT ARE MADE TO PUT ON IT FOR MORE THAN A COUPLE YEARS.

>> SURE.

OK. GOT IT.

NEXT QUESTION.

ACTUALLY, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE METAL ROOF QUESTION.

WHAT ARE SOME ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE OF A METAL ROOF?

>> THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE IF YOU'RE IN HIGH WIND AREA OR HEAVY SNOW AREAS OR IF YOU HAVE LOW PITCH, THOSE ARE ALL REASONS THAT YOU WOULD PUT ONE ON.

THE DISADVANTAGE IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A FIREFIGHTER, IT'S A TOTAL LOSS IF THERE'S A STEEL ROOF.

THEY CAN VERY SELDOM PUT THEM OUT, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET THE WATER IN.

THAT'S THE DISADVANTAGE OF A STEEL ROOF ON A HOME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> BUT MOST OF IT IS THAT IT REPELS THE WEATHER QUITE A WHILE.

>> NEXT QUESTION, WHAT ARE SIGNS TO LOOK FOR TO SEE IF MY ROOF NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

>> YOU KNOW, SO SOME OF THE SIMPLE ONES ARE SHINGLES THAT ARE COMING LOOSE ON YOUR ROOF, EDGES THAT ARE WEATHERED AND DETERIORATED, YOU KNOW, JUST A LOT OF PIECES OF SHINGLES NIP YARD.

>> SOMETIMES SHINGLES START CURLING.

AS THEY GET OLDER THEY WILL CURL ON THE EDGES AND THAT'S A GOOD INDICATION IT'S TIME TO GET IT REPLACED.

>> GOT IT.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT QUESTION, HOW DO YOU WORK UP AN ESTIMATE FOR FRAMING AND CEMENT WORK, DO YOU CHARGE -- DO THEY CHARGE BY THE HOUR?

THE DIFFERENCE MAYBE KIND OF VARIES?

>> THE WAY I TAKE CARE OF ALL MY ESTIMATES, WE START OFF WITH A GOOD SOLID MATERIAL LIST AND EVERYTHING IS FIGURED OFF THE MATERIAL LINE.

AS FAR AS ADDING CONCRETE INTO IT, I THINK MAYBE JOSH WOULD ANSWER THAT A LITTLE BETTER, BUT A LOT OF THAT'S DONE BY SQUARE FOOTAGE IS THE WAY WE FIGURE IT FOR OUR BIDS.

>> CORRECT, THERE'S A LOT OF TRADES THAT ARE FIGURED ON SQUARE FOOTAGES, YOUR CONCRETE IS A SQUARE FOOT, YOUR FOUNDATION WALL, WHETHER CONCRETE OR MASONRY IS A LINEAR FOOT PRICE, DRIVEWAYS ARE SQUARE FOOT PRICE, THOSE GUYS TELL YOU I HAVE X AMOUNT AT THIS TIME AND IT COSTS SO MUCH PER SQUARE FOOT THAT'S ON A NEW BUILD.

RENOVATION ONE HAVE CABINETS AND COUNTERTOPS AND THE BUILDER DOESN'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY'RE GOING TO BE THERE, THOSE ARE TYPICALLY MATERIAL LISTS AND LABOR HOURS THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO DO THE JOB.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE ABOUT 10 MINUTES LEFT.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR BUILDERS TONIGHT, THERE'S STILL TIME TO GET YOUR QUESTION INTO IT.

YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT THERE, AND YOU CAN AGAIN ALSO POST THAT QUESTION TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

MOVING ON, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE DOING A REAL HOME RENOVATION.

WHAT'S SOME ADVICE THERE?

>> I USUALLY THE VERY FIRST QUESTION THAT I TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT IS ARE THEY FINANCIALLY ABLE TO DO THE PROJECT OR ARE THEY GOING TO GO AND BORROW MONEY FOR IT.

IF THEY'RE GOING TO GO BORROW MONEY, THE FIRST THING THEY NEED TO DO IS FIND OUT WHAT THEIR LENDING AGENCY IS GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE.

SO THEY HAVE A BUDGET LINE THEY'RE SHOOTING FOR AND SOMETIMES THAT BREAKS DOWN TO HOWEVER THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO WITH THEIR PROJECT OR WHAT GOES ON WITH IT.

AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE THAT FORTUNATE FAMILY THAT'S ABLE TO SAY LET'S GET IT DONE AND THEY'LL TAKE CARE OF IT AND DO IT FOR YOU.

>> ANOTHER THING IS TO PREPARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS THAT NOTHING HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, OVERNIGHT AND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE LIVING IN CONSTRUCTION AND WITH CONSTRUCTION AND WITH CONTRACTORS AND TO THINK THROUGH AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT, YOU'RE PREPARED TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR A LITTLE BIT WHILE WE GET IN AND DO THE WORK IN YOUR HOUSE AND GET OUT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE FINANCES IN PLACE AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO HAVE -- THAT YOUR HOUSE IS NOT YOUR OWN FOR A WHILE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT, SOUNDS GOOD.

WHAT HIS THE BEST WAY TO INSULATE A CRAWL SPACE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ON A NEW BUILD SITE WHEN WE BUILT A NEW HOUSE, WE PREFER TO SPRAY FOAM THE FOUNDATION WALL.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S PROBABLY YOUR BEST CHOICE OF PRODUCT ON A NEW BUILD OR RENOVATION, IF YOU CAN GET DOWN THERE, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONALLY THREE INCHES OF FOAM BOARD ADHERED TO THE FOUNDATION IS QUITE COMMON, AS WELL.

>> THEN I DO A LOT OF WOOD FOUNDATION BUILD AND WOOD BASEMENT BUILD, SO WE INSULATE THAT JUST THE WAY YOU WOULD THE EXTERIOR WALL, WITH FIBERGLASS BAT INSULATION IN THE WALLS AND A LOT OF TIMES IF IT'S AT LEAST SIX INCHES IN THE FOUNDATION OR LARGER ON THE EXTERIOR BALLS R. WALLS.

>> OK.

CALL, I HAVE CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE OF MY WINDOWS, DO I NEED NEW ONES?

THAT KIND OF DEPENDENCY, RIGHT?

>> YOU DON'T NEED NEW WINDOWS, REALLY, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO GET BETTER.

THE SEAL IS BROKE BETWEEN THE GLASS ALLOWING MOISTURE TO GET IN.

IF THEY HAVE A GOODWIN DOUGH WARRANTY, IT MIGHT BE UP TO WARRANTITY FOR UP TO 20 YEARS, OTHER WINDOW COMPANIES NOT SO GOOD ON WARRANTIES, SO THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING I WOULD LOOK AT IS HOW LONG HAVE THE WINDOWS BEEN IN AND WHO, YOU KNOW, WHO INSTALLED THEM FOR WHERE DID THEY COME FROM, SO YOU HAVE HIS THAT CHANCE TO CHECK IN AND SEE IF THEY'RE STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

>> OK. NEXT QUESTION.

WHAT CAN I DO TO GET MOSS OFF MY ROOF WITHOUT DAMAGING IT?

>> I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME CLEANERS, BUT WE'D HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU WITH THE BEST ANSWER ON THAT, UNLESS YOU'VE GOT ONE.

>> I'VE ACTUALLY PRESSURE WASHED THEM.

AS LONG AS YOU GO FROM THE TOP DOWN, YOU CAN PRESSURE WASH A LOT OF THAT OFF, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO GET ON THE ROOF AND DO IT.

>> YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

>> IT'S A WAY TO RELIEVE IT OFF.

>> OK, NEXT QUESTION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, THE PAINT ON MY CELE IS STARTING TO COME OFF JUST IN THE CORNERS.

IS THIS A SIGN OF WATER DAMAGE OR HOUSE SETTLING?

THERE IS NO VISIBLE SIGN OF MOISTURE.

>> POINT'S COMING OFF ON THE CORNER OF THE DRYWALL?

>> MY GUESS IS IT'S NOT A SETTLING ISSUE.

SETTLING ISSUE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE CRACKS AND JOINTS THAT ARE FORMING IN YOUR HOUSE.

BUT IF THERE'S NO SIGN OF MOISTURE, THERE'S NO REAL, I DON'T KNOW A REAL ANSWER TO WHAT COULD BE CAUSING IT WITHOUT SEEING IT.

>> I WOULD SAY MAYBE A GOOD CLEANING OF THAT CORNER AREA AND GET IT LOOSE AND DO A REPAINTING ON IT.

THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST STEP AND PROBABLY THE EASIEST ONE.

>> CALLER FROM FRANKFURT.

YOUR OPINION ON THE USE OF SOLAR ENERGY FOR HEATING HOUSES YOU BUILD TODAY?

DO YOU DO A LOT OF THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, NOT A LOT.

I HAVE ONE CUSTOMER THAT WE BUILT A HOUSE FOR THAT DID TIE A NEW SOLAR PANEL IN, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE HIS FAMILY ALSO DID IT ON ANOTHER HOME AND THEY'RE ELECTRIC BILL IS ALMOST NEXT TO NOTHING, BUT WE DON'T REALLY SEE ATE LOT.

>> OK. >> IT'S NEW IN OUR AREA, BUT I HAVEN'T HAD ONE INSTALLED ON ANYTHING WE BUILD YET.

>> WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET WATER OUT OF YOUR CRAWL SPACE?

>> I MEAN, THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE WATER IS EITHER WITH A PUMP OR A BUCKET, BUT YOU GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE WATER'S COMING FROM AND WHY IT'S DOWN THERE, BECAUSE YOU CAN GET IT OUT, BUT IT MOST LIKELY WILL COME RIGHT BACK.

>> I WOULD SAY ALONG WITH JOSH, THE VERY FIRST THING I LOOK AT WHEN THERE'S WATER UNDER A HOME IS HOW THE LANDSCAPING IS SET UP AROUND THE HOME.

WHETHER THEY'VE GOT GOOD GUTTERS ON THE HOME TO GET THE WATER AWAY, RATHER ALL THE WATER THAT RUNS DOWN THE SIDING RUN DOWN THE CRAWL AREA OR AWAY FROM THE HOME.

I START BY LOOKING AT THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOME TO SEE HOW THE WATER'S GETTING THERE TO START WITH UNLESS THEY'RE IN A TRADITIONAL WET AREA THAT IS JUST GOING TO BE THERE ALL THE TIME.

>> MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THOSE DOWNSPOUTS, RIGHT?

>> YEP.

>> HOW MANY LAYERS ARE SHINGLES ON A ROOF BEFORE YOU NEED TO STRIP AND START OVER?

>> NOT MORE THAN TWO.

>> NOT MORE THAN TWO LAYERS OF SHINGLES.

>> NOT MORE THAN TWO.

I'M NOT SURE THIS QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENED TO TWO BY SIX WALL CONSTRUCTION?

>> WE STILL USE IT.

>> STILL USE IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> DO YOU THINK MAYBE IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S NOT EASY TO FIND IN STORES?

>> NO.

WE -- ALL MY NEW BUILDS ARE TWO BY SIX EXTERIOR WALL TO GET THE R. VALUE WE NEED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOME.

>> THE CODE, WE CAN'T BUILD -- MY ONLY THOUGHT HIS QUESTION MEANT TO POSE WHAT HAPPENED TO TWO BY FOUR CALL CONSTRUCTION.

THEY USED TO BUILD TWO BY FOUR EXTERIOR WALLS BUT THE ENERGY CODE, WE CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE AND THE STANDARD IS PRETTY MUCH TWO BY SIX WALLS.

>> GOT IT.

NEXT QUESTION, WOULD YOU RECOMMEND APPLYING A LAYER OF LEAD PAINT TO OLD SPECKLED CEILINGS.

>> IN TODAY'S LEAD LAWS, I WOULD SAY NO.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'D FIND LEAD.

>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU CAN BUY IT ANYMORE.

>> I'M TRYING TO SEE IF THAT WAS A TYPO OR MEANT SOMETHING ELSE.

WHAT'S THE AVERAGE SQUARE FOOT PRICE FOR REMODELING A HOUSE RIGHT NOW?

VARIES, PROBABLY.

>> ALL OVER.

DEPENDS ON WHAT THE REMODEL JOB IS, BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND IT DEPENDS ON HOW OLD THE HOME IS, WHETHER YOU'RE TAKING OFF PLASTER OR DRYWALL, HOWEVER DOES THE REMODEL GO, THERE IS NO AVERAGE TO IT.

>> CALLER, DOES LAMINATE FLOORING REQUIRE A PAD OR CAN I PUT IT DIRECTLY ON PLYWOOD?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE PRODUCT.

I'D FIRST TELL TO YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDS FOR THAT SPECIFIC PRODUCT BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF PRODUCT THAT IS CAN BE APPLIED.

>> SEVERAL TODAY ACTUALLY HAVE A PAD ATTACHED RIGHT TO THE BACK OF THE PRODUCTS, A LOT OF OUR LAMINATES ARE FULL VINYL, PUT IN WITH A PAD RIGHT ON THE BACK OF THE PIECE ALREADY, SO IT CAN BE LAID RIGHT OVER PLYWOOD.

>> OH, OK. THAT'S INTERESTING.

WHY DO CEILINGS CRACK?

THIS PERSON LIVES ON A CRAWL SPACE IN A SANDY AREA.

PROBABLY HARD TO KNOW WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT.

>> IT'S USUALLY FOOTING.

>>> .

STARTS RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM IS WHY YOU GET MOVEMENT ON ANY HOME IS BECAUSE THE FOOTING ISN'T PUT IN PROPERLY, NOT IN DEEP ENOUGH OR NOT SOLID ENOUGH AND IF THERE'S MOVEMENT, A LOT OF HOMES ARE BUILT ON SAND OR SANDY AREAS AND IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW THE FOOTINGS ARE PUT IN TO START WITH.

>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

THIS MIGHT BE OUR LAST QUESTION OF THE NIGHT OR NOT.

DO YOU NEED A PERMIT TO BUILD A NEW DECK AND ENCLOSE IT?

>> YES.

>> ONE MORE QUESTION.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO KNOW IF YOUR HOUSE IS UP TO CODE AND THAT EVERYTHING IS UP TO PAR?

>> DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IN CODE, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMPANIES OUT THERE THAT DO HOME INSPECTIONS, AND YOU CAN HIRE SOMEONE TO COME IN AND DO A HOME INSPECTION FOR THE AREAS THAT ARE IN CONCERN.

>> OK. ALL RIGHT.

SOUNDS GOOD.

WELL, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU AT HOME FOR WATCHING THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, FOR YOUR CALLS AND QUESTIONS.

WE ARE ON BREAK NEXT WEEK BUT WE'LL BE BACK WITH ANOTHER LIVE EPISODE THURSDAY APRIL 29 WITH OUR FINAL EPISODE OF THE SEASON WHEN WE ASK THE DOCTORS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.