The last book I wrote was 4 years ago. I said to my wife, “Well this is definitely the last book”! She laughed. I laughed. I wrote another book. If fact it is hot off the presses, as they say. I really think it is the best book ever. It’s bigger than the last one and it has current pictures of all my family. We even took the picture in front of the new hardware store. It has brand new ideas that will help you around the house. I go to 4 shows a year to get the latest products and then try them out before I ever tell you about them. So they are tried and true. There are 266 questions, over 60 topics, 300 valuable tips and answers to your most common household questions. It’s the help for your home improvement questions, What’s the best product for…I need help with …How do I …? The book makes a great gift for newly weds and their first house. It makes a great gift for people that have old houses so they can keep up the maintenance. Real estate agents give them to new home owners. And they make great stocking stuffers. You can buy them online www.acmelumber.com or come by the new store in San Antonio and pick them up. They are $8.95 plus 1.50 for freight if we ship.

Now to the e-mail….

Question: On your show three or four weeks ago a guest or one of your workers talked about a product that you pour on areas that leak on the roof. One area was the place where your garage ties into the house. I looked on the website, it that product called “Through the Roof”?

Answer: Through the Roof is the greatest product to seal leaks in the roof and bird baths. The gallons and quarts are the ones that you use a brush on. And it also comes in a caulking tube that can be used on small holes. The best part is that it is clear, and last for 10 years.

Question: I live in Seabrook. We have been battling microscopic black flying bugs for 6 months. They are on our front window sill facing east and I do not know how they get in. They are not any other place that I can see. We have called our pest control service to make extra trips out and many over the counter products and nothing works. They are dead on the window sill but what can we do to keep them from entering the house? When it’s hot they have infested – but with this cooler weather, they are less, but still there. Help!

Answer: I think that you should try Shoo Fly Ant and Roach Killer. It lasts for 6 weeks and is not harmful to animals or children. It is the best for ants, roaches and scorpions.

Question: We have an issue of an must-moldy smell from our upstairs window. We are having trouble finding someone to fix this and also what is causing the smell. We even cut away the sheetrock, but no mold. Why don’t we see mold. What can we do?

Answer: The moisture is probably coming from around the outside windows. Clean out the caulking from around the windows and recaulk with a caulking called Big Stretch and if the area moves a little the caulking will move with it. That way the seal will not break between the window and the siding on the house. Big Stretch is also paintable. Don’t put back the sheetrock until the area is completely dry. Sometimes leaks are sneaky. They seem like they are coming from one place, but actually they are coming from another. Check the roof and if you might have a pipe that might have a leak around it. In that case, use the product that I talked about in question 1. Through the Roof. You can paint it on and cover a lot of area. A good handyman (check with the local lumberyard) should be able to do this for you.

Question: I want to clean the soot and creosote build up out of my chimney. Is this a do it yourself job?

Answer: Yes it is. The product to use is Kwik Shot by Rutland. Just toss the Kwik Shot into the fire and it not only cleans chimneys it creates beautiful flames.

Got a question for Johnnie? Tune in to Johnnie's radio show Saturday mornings on KKYX from 11-12 or call (21) 341-1573. Reach him on the web at www.AcmeLumber.com.