Each year, thousands of Arizona residents email or call Rosie Romeroโs radio show with questions about everything from preventing fires in their chimneys to getting rid of tree roots invading their sewer system. His goal is to provide answers that suit the specific lifestyle wherever someone lives in Arizona.
QUESTION: I have to redo my roof, and Iโm interested in putting a metal roof on the house this time with some kind of synthetic underlayment. The look will be a little different, and Iโm wondering if it will hurt the resale of my house if I do this?
ANSWER: Iโm a big fan of metal roofs and I think theyโre becoming very popular in Arizona. The underlayment is very important. I like the peel and stick type myself. Itโs sticky on the surface though you also nail it on. But youโd better check with your homeownerโs association first because in some areas HOAs wonโt allow metal roofs.
Q: I have an 8-year-old air conditioner thatโs working great ever since I had it serviced last year. Why should I have it tuned up every year? Is it really worth the money?
A: Having your heating and air conditioner checked out regularly is a little bit like the maintenance you do on your car. Your room temperature may be fine, but itโs hard to tell from that if you have some problem. For example, your compressor could be working harder than before because of problems with the capacitor, and the only sign of trouble might be a big increase in your electrical bill, and even then you canโt be sure.
Q: I want to put down crushed granite in my front yard. Should I lay plastic down first to keep down the weeds?
A: Thatโs something that we used to do in the 1970s or 1980s, but itโs not considered environmentally friendly anymore, and itโs a maintenance nightmare. Instead you can apply pre-emergent to the areas where you want to stop weeds from growing. Do it in the early spring before the weeds begin to sprout.
Q: I had loads of blossoms on my 12-year-old lemon tree, but heavy winds came along and blew them all off. Is there anything I can do about this? Iโm afraid I wonโt get very many lemons this year. Itโs really sad because a few weeks ago it was really covered with blossoms.
A: Thereโs not much that you can do about it. But probably you will be able to get more lemons than you think off the tree. There are probably lots of little lemons getting started right now.
Q: I want to build a simple shed with a dirt floor in my backyard, and I want some installation advice. I donโt need a building permit to do it because very small structures are exempt in my area. What I want to know is: Can I put the wooden poles for the walls directly into the ground?
A: Itโs probably not a good idea to put the poles directly in the ground. You want to build your structure once and not come back to replace it all later. You could put in a number of Sonotube forms first and then put the poles into the tubes surrounded by concrete. Then those wooden poles will last three times longer.
Q: I have silverfish insects in my house; how do I get rid of them?
A: Silverfish are not particularly harmful, but they can be unsightly. You can use a pesticide to get rid of them. You should also seal any cracks in walls or flooring or holes under sinks to keep them from intruding.
