The 5 Best Blackout Curtains 2023 Review

Most Customizable: NICETOWN Blackout Window Curtain Panels These window curtain panels have a noise- and light-reducing design, so you can sleep soundly without outside disruption from cars or street lights. If you want every family member to have this protection, you can purchase these curtains in various sizes and colors to match their bedroom decorations and windows. Key Features Comes with two panels Made from polyester Has a machine-washable construction Available in numerous colors and sizes What Customers Are Saying Customers felt that these curtains were thoughtfully constructed, stating that they were durable and effective at light and sound blocking....

July 8, 2022 · 7 min · 1295 words · Scott Nieto

The House That Norm Built Premiere Sweepstakes

Hi, Norm fans! To celebrate the upcoming The House That Norm Built Premiere on October 3rd (with early access to Insiders on September 29th), one lucky winner will receive the ultimate Norm fan bundle, including limited edition This Old House collectibles, a signed headshot, signed merchandise, and more! Check your local TV listings and enter below. The grand prize winner will receive: One (1) The House That Norm Built Hat One (1) signed framed Norm headshot One (1) signed This Old House mug One (1) TOH engraved notebook One (1) TOH carpenters pencil One (1) Norm book Official Rules...

July 8, 2022 · 1 min · 186 words · Frances Alexander

What To Do If Your Range Vent Hood Leaks Cold Air

The vent hood over our kitchen range lets in lots of cold air in the winter, and gets pretty cold itself. I have to block the vent’s intake with boards, and then remove them when I turn on the fan. Have you got a better solution? —Dave Henseler, Maplewood, MN Kevin O’Conner replies: That sounds very annoying, not to mention uncomfortable. I got in touch with Brian Wellnitz, senior global category manager for kitchen ventilation at Broan....

July 8, 2022 · 3 min · 453 words · Harry Jamal

28 Easy Summer Weekend Projects

What’s the use of balmy weather and long summer days if you can’t hang out in your yard and have some fun? But if there’s nowhere good to sit and nothing fun to do at your house, don’t fret. DIY Summer Projects These 28 fun summer projects, culled from the TOH archives of great weekend upgrades, will enhance your yard, beautify your exterior, and give everyone in the family something exciting to do....

July 7, 2022 · 9 min · 1759 words · Yvonne Rogers

How To Install Kitchen Cabinets

Installing your own kitchen cabinets may seem like a complicated task, but the process is actually quite simple. It basically involves screwing the cabinets to the wall in the right order and making sure everything is level. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Taking on this project yourself can save you money on installation charges, but it will require the help of another person or a cabinet jack to lift and position the upper cabinets....

July 7, 2022 · 6 min · 1216 words · Scott Meek

Ring Security System Review

What is a Ring Home Security Kit? The Ring Home Security Kit provides you with an alarm system that can be tailored to your home’s security needs. The system comes in a 5, 8, 10, or 14-piece kit that is compatible with a variety of Ring products and is self-installed. Alongside the prepackaged kits, Ring offers users the ability to customize their security system and purchase additional add-ons such as a Smoke & CO Listener or Spotlight Cam....

July 7, 2022 · 12 min · 2449 words · Henry Kinder

S20 E28 Garage Door Plumbing Fixes

Previous episode: S20 E27 | Next episode: S20 E29 In this episode: Home technology expert Ross Trethewey tells us about how he became an engineer. While growing up under the wings of his grandfather and father, Ross learned what the plumbing trade entailed. But, he was always more interested in the future of plumbing and heating, leading him to a degree in mechanical engineering and a role on the This Old House team....

July 7, 2022 · 3 min · 589 words · Yong Harland

S20 E34 Light Fixture Finish Nailers

Previous episode: S20 E33 | Next episode: S20 E35 In this episode: Kevin O’Connor explains how he became the host of ASK and This Old House. With a bright future in finance, Kevin and his wife followed their love for old homes and purchased a fixer-upper. During the process, the two sent in a letter to This Old House about their home at the same time Ask This Old House was starting....

July 7, 2022 · 4 min · 771 words · Paul Brooks

S43 E18 Pruning 101

Previous episode: S43 E17 | Next episode: S43 E19 In this episode: An open floor plan is a significant change on the first level of the 1890s Victorian. Now that the inside has been demo’d, Tom Silva and Kevin O’Connor give builder Deliandro a hand as he installs several beams to replace a load-bearing wall between the kitchen and dining room. Outside, several shrubs have opportunities to be rearranged and pruned back to make better use of the space....

July 7, 2022 · 2 min · 260 words · Jean Woodbury

Save The Flagpole The Westerly Project

Previous episode: S41 E10 | Next episode: S41 E12 In this episode: The Westerly project is almost wrapped. Chris Stump is installing the televisions. In the playroom, he mounts a 55” tv on standard wall brackets. He and Kevin install the network connection and hang the tv on the bracket. In the basement, the new electric hybrid water heater has arrived. Richard checks it out with Jeff who likes it because it dehumidifies the basement....

July 7, 2022 · 2 min · 306 words · Robert Walsh

The 10 Best American Made Mattresses To Buy In 2023

Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a commission. Affiliate Disclosure Did you know that many of the top bed-in-a-box brands are made here in the U.S.A? From organic mattresses like Saatva and Avocado to family-run businesses like Brooklyn Bedding, the best American-made mattresses are crafted to meet strict standards that protect the environment, our health, and worker safety....

July 7, 2022 · 16 min · 3207 words · Lois Limon

The 5 Best Electric Drills 2023 Review

Corded drills have more power than their cordless counterparts, making them useful for heavy-duty tasks like drilling through sheets of metal or hardwood. While you have to stay close to an outlet because of their cord, electric drills don’t have to recharge before every use. Top 5 Electric Drills Best Case: DEWALT DWD115K VSR Mid-Handle Grip Drill Kit Best Heavy-Duty: DEWALT Electric Drill Best for Occasional Use: BLACK+DECKER Electric Drill Best Grip: Skil 6335-02 Corded Drill Most Lightweight: Metabo HPT Drill Best Case: DEWALT DWD115K VSR Mid-Handle Grip Drill Kit This DEWALT electric drill comes with a hard plastic case so that you can easily transport the drill....

July 7, 2022 · 7 min · 1325 words · Terry Simmons

The Doors The Westerly Project

Previous episode: S41 E6 | Next episode: S41 E8 In this episode Kevin O’Connor begins by looking at the new exterior details of the house—which has turned from a one story ranch into a two story Dutch Colonial. He points out the white cedar shingled bell curved shape between the two stories. Inside, the first floor ceilings are pushed up a foot taller and the living space is opened up by an 18-inch beam that supports the second floor....

July 7, 2022 · 2 min · 385 words · Gregory Hauff

Trugreen Review Charlotte Nc 2022

Instead of spending lots of time and effort caring for your Charlotte lawn, Queen City homeowners can consider hiring a professional lawn care company to handle all the necessary tasks from fertilization to weed control. The This Old House Reviews Team has reviewed many lawn care providers to determine which has the best services, availability, and reputation in Charlotte. Our top recommended lawn care provider, TruGreen, uses scientifically backed solutions to maintain hardy, healthy lawns in Charlotte....

July 7, 2022 · 7 min · 1343 words · Kevin Oles

Bedroom Closet Remodel Planning Guide Redesign Tips Ideas

Whether you are planning a major overhaul or looking for some redesign tips, here are thee steps to take when planning for your upcoming closet remodel. 1. Take Stock of What You’ve Got Sell, donate, and whittle down. Then get out a ruler. Start with what’s hanging. Place clothes flat, on their hangers, in two piles—one for short items, like shirts, and the other for long items, like coats and pants hung full length by their cuffs or waistband....

July 6, 2022 · 8 min · 1689 words · Jason Mundt

How To Cut Multiples On A Miter Saw

Repeating a cut on a miter saw seems easy enough, but measuring and marking rarely yields pieces that are evenly sized. To get better results, This Old House DIY Expert and House One editor Jenn Largesse shares three easy ways to cut multiples. How to Make Multiple Cuts with a Miter Saw 1. Use the First Cut as a Template The first and most obvious way is to use the first cut board to size the next cut....

July 6, 2022 · 2 min · 409 words · Elvira Gary

How To Paint Over Wallpaper

So, you want to change the look and feel of your room, starting with a fresh coat of paint. Standing in your way, though, is a layer or more of wallpaper that was surely the delight of whoever chose it, perhaps many years ago. And that might even be you. But wallpaper trends come and go. Should you paint over the wallpaper? Can it even be done? Let’s start with the wisdom of doing it or not doing it, and then (spoiler alert) launch into the how-to....

July 6, 2022 · 4 min · 781 words · Patricia Nichols

How To Reimagine A Historic Landscape Design

Steps for reimagining a historic landscape design: Wearing gardening gloves, identify weeds and begin clearing the area by pulling out weeds from the roots. Use a rake to clear larger areas of brush. If there are plants which can be transplanted, use a border spade or transplant spade to dig down around the roots. Dig an outline around the root ball, position the blade under the root ball, and remove it from the ground....

July 6, 2022 · 2 min · 345 words · Jeniffer Lowenstein

How To Shovel Snow Safely

Shoveling snow seems pretty basic but doesn’t underestimate how labor-intensive it can be. After all, it’s been known to wipe out even those who are very physically fit. And the weight of snow can be pretty misleading, too: As it’s falling from the sky, it may seem like it will be light, but once it starts to pile up on the ground, it can become packed and heavy, especially if ice is present....

July 6, 2022 · 9 min · 1844 words · Megan Carr

Jenn Largesse

As the daughter of a carpenter and an English teacher, Jenn has been honing her love for woodworking and writing her entire life. In 2001, she moved from Michigan to New York City to combine those interests into a career as a writer and producer for This Old House. Over nearly a decade, Jenn produced and wrote monthly columns like Weekend Remodel, Homecenter Project with Tom Silva, Starter Kit, and Build it or Buy it....

July 6, 2022 · 2 min · 282 words · Betty Seligman