LESLIE: Dolly in Virginia has a question about a porch. How can we help you?
DOLLY: Yes. I have a back porch and it’s been down for maybe eight years and I never sealed it. I washed it maybe once or twice but I like to know if I can turn the wood upside down, wash it again and then seal it. Does that sound OK? Because wood costs so much.
TOM: (overlapping voices) Dolly, why do you want to turn the wood upside down?
DOLLY: I don’t know. I just thought I would. (Tom laughs)
LESLIE: Is it that it’s splintering or blistered?
TOM: Yeah.
LESLIE: Is there wear and tear?
DOLLY: It just looks ugly so I figured if I turn it upside down, wash it and then seal it, that would be OK.
TOM: (overlapping voices) OK. Well, what about sanding it?
DOLLY: Well, maybe that’s what I have to do, too.
TOM: Yeah. Well, you could do that probably with the surface you have right now. I mean, typically, we recommend – on decks, if you have cracked boards, you could turn them upside down and – because the underside is usually in perfectly good condition. On a porch, it’s certainly a lot more complicated, so I would encourage you to really spend some time sanding down that surface and then resealing it or repainting it. I don’t necessarily think you have to take your porch apart.
DOLLY: OK. That’s what I’ve got to (audio gap) then. Thank you for giving me the good answer. (chuckles) And less work. (chuckles) Thanks.
TOM: Alright, Dolly. Thanks so much for calling us at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.
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