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Dairy farm roots The St. Croix River Valley property that Amy fell in love with and purchased in 2017 was originally home to a late 1800’s dairy farm. With an eye toward conserving both the site’s old growth trees and historic farmstead buildings, Amy nestled her new-construction home among the classic red barn, a quaint milk house and (not shown here) a workshop. New life for old outbuildings The rustic red barn is now used for storage and will eventually be restored....

Top 4 Fire Pits Most Portable: UCO Flatpack Portable Stainless Steel Grill and Fire Pit Best Glass Pit: Endless Summer Outdoor Glass Top Fire Pit Best Traditional Pit: BALI OUTDOORS Wood-Burning Fire Pit Best Multipurpose Pit: YAHEETECH Outdoor Metal Fire Pit Most Portable: UCO Flatpack Portable Stainless Steel Grill and Fire Pit This fire pit can be set up in just 30 seconds, offering campers an easy-to-use fire for grilling food or providing warmth....

Chickens are friendly animals that can provide eggs, fertilizer, and pest control. If you’re considering purchasing chickens for your backyard, read our review on the best chicken coops to keep them in. Top 5 Chicken Coops Best Features: OverEZ Large Chicken Coop Best Metal Coop: Polar Aurora Large Metal Chicken Coop Best For Small Yards: Petsfit Weatherproof Outdoor Chicken Coop Best Play Area: Aivituvin Walk-In Chicken Coop Most Portable: Best Choice Products Mobile Fir Wood Chicken Coop Best Features: OverEZ Large Chicken Coop Pros and Cons ✔ Includes two screened windows and two vents to allow for air circulation✔ Built by Amish-trained craftsmen✔ Made with non-toxic, eco-friendly paint...

A gas chainsaw is a must-have for serious DIYers who need a powerful and long-lasting tool to cut through wood with ease. Built with a range of special features like automatic oilers and anti-vibration systems, gas chainsaws are heavy-duty tools that can help with a variety of projects. Top 5 Gas Chainsaws Best Features: Remington Two-Cycle 18-Inch Chainsaw Best Accessories: Poulan Pro Two-Cycle 18-Inch Chainsaw Best Design: Craftsman Full Crank Two-Cycle 18-Inch Chainsaw Longest Bar: RUINOPAR 20-Inch Gas-Powered Chainsaw Best Lightweight: Husqvarna 450 E-Series 18-Inch Chainsaw Best Features: Remington Two-Cycle 18-Inch Chainsaw This 18-inch gas chainsaw from Remington is a heavy-duty tool that prioritizes comfort with its five-point anti-vibration system and cushion-wrapped handle....

Framing the Deck After mason Mark McCullough and his crew dug out new footings that meet code, the team gets to work rebuilding the deck using donated lumber from Sterritt Lumber. Host Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, carpenter Nathan Gilbert, finish carpenter Bill Gilbert start by attaching a new ledger board to the house, and installing pressure treated 2x8 for the frame, fastening everything together with framing nails and structural screws....

19A small bathroom must contain all the elements of a large bath in less space. That’s why planning a new one or remodeling the existing room is so challenging. When every inch count, here’s what to consider for your remodel and our favorite small bathroom ideas to draw inspiration from. How Do You Remodel a Small Bathroom? You have to think about the function, appearance, fixtures and storage—along with how much room you have....

There’s plenty of room for everyone at our 2020 Cottage on the Cape, with distinct outdoor spaces for the main house and the ADU occupants to enjoy. Welcoming Entry The core of our Idea House is a simple two-story rectangular box topped with a moderately sloped roof; the addition of a false rake gives it the appearance of a steep-roofed cottage. Gutter guards: All Weather Armour; Walkway pavers: Belgard; Garage door: Clopay; Roof shingles, underlayment: GAF; Box bay siding, soffits: LIFESPAN Solid Select; Factory-finished cedar shingles (Atlantic Blue): SBC Cedar; Triple-pane windows: Sierra Pacific; Porch flooring and ceiling: Aeratis; Lattice windbreak finish: Watco Teak Oil + Stain; Skylights: VELUX; Window boxes: Walpole Outdoors; Sod: Sodco...

DIY Garden-tool Tote Tutorial A wood tote is the perfect way to keep your garden tools organized and close at hand in the field. The sturdy example here is fashioned from oak, but rot-resistant cedar is a good choice too—especially if you leave tools out in the rain. This build will take you about 3 hours, tops. PICK UP THE FULL TUTORIAL HERE Display Coffee Table Tutorial A cardboard box buried in the garage is no home for your grandfather’s hand tools or your own hard-won collectibles....

It’s one of your handiest cleaning helpers—soaking up spills, banishing crumbs, scrubbing sinks, even washing dishes. It’s the common kitchen sponge, and there’s probably one sitting nearby your drain board right now. But before you grab it to make short work of the latest everyday mess, ask yourself when you last swapped it out for a new one. Can’t remember? You’re not alone—after all, sponges are reusable. However, all good things must come to an end, especially when you consider that this study found that a kitchen sponge is better for growing bacteria than a Petri dish....

Steps for Removing Overgrown Shrubs For plantings that have grown too large for the space, removal may be the best option, especially if the inside of the plant is full of deadwood. Before doing any landscape work, call the utility locating service to mark for any underground pipes or wires. When using a chainsaw, wear proper safety equipment including safety glasses, a face shield, a hard hat, hearing protection, and protective chaps....

Previous episode: S43 E8 | Next episode: S43 E10 In this episode: Kevin O’Connor walks into the new modern addition of the 1880’s Cape Style house in Concord, MA, where the walls are starting to go up. He joins Tom Silva who is helping to build an exterior wall with many window openings. They frame it on a level flat surface before standing it up in place. Tom gives Kevin a personal history of framing tools over the years and explains how the new pneumatic and battery-powered nail guns have dramatically increased productivity on the job site....

Previous episode: S44 E1 | Next episode: S44 E3 In this episode: The bright blue house in historic South Atlanta needs attention. So, today the team makes discoveries, and the demo begins to address those areas of concern. On the front porch, the deck boards were installed in the wrong direction and are rotted and cupped. Builder Jerry Davis and General Contractor Tom Silva remove the boards to reorient them and to identify if there are any structural issues present....

Best Value: Hamilton Beach Bread Maker Machine This bread maker has a backlit digital display that summarizes the bread you’re making, including its loaf size, pre-programmed setting, and crust shade. In addition to bread, it can also make cake, jam, and other sweet treats. Key Features 12 pre-programmed settings Two loaf sizes Three crust shades Delay timer One-year warranty What Customers Are Saying Customers liked that this bread maker was easy to clean....

More than 7,000 houses were sold in Chicago in February 2021 alone. That marks a 14.7 percent increase over last year, according to a monthly report from the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs. This booming market opens up the perfect opportunity for buyers and sellers alike to take advantage of the unique skill sets offered by real estate agents. Whether you’re a homeowner looking to sell your house for top dollar, or you’re a first-time buyer searching for your dream home, connecting with a real estate agent is the first step of your journey....

Our Rating Methodology The This Old House Reviews Team is committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. This means earning your trust through transparent reviews and data to back up our ratings and recommendations. Our rating system for solar service providers is on a 100-point scale based on five factors: Payment options (40 points): Options include purchase, loan, lease, and PPAs. Companies receive points for each of those four options it provides....

For every successful kitchen remodel, many more never make it past the dreamy, dog-eared-magazine phase. And for good reason: Renovating a typical kitchen with about 171/2 linear feet of upper and lower cabinets can cost an average of $25,000 or more, with new cabinets accounting for at least a quarter of the budget. It’s no wonder that many homeowners balk at the price and get by with a fresh coat of paint instead....

Projects for Your Remodel Punch List Adding a toe kick and repairing a door are easy items to knock out on your remodel punch list. This Old House General Contractor Tom Silva walks through the steps to get these projects done. Project #1: How to Add a Toe kick To finish the toe kick, Tom Silva opts for PVC boards as they are waterproof, easy to clean, and easier to cut than tile to match uneven floors....

If you’ve always dreamed of building your own deck, but were hesitant to tackle such a large, complicated construction project, we’ve got some good news. We asked This Old House general contractor Tom Silva to demonstrate the proper techniques for building a small, simple on-grade deck. All you need to be successful at DIY deck building are some basic carpentry tools and the desire to invest a little sweat equity....

In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains the differences among choices for the carpenter’s favorite with Kevin O’Connor. Choosing and using a hammer Framing hammers have long handles and heavy heads weighing up to 28 ounces. These ruggedly built tools are intended for framing contractors and homebuilders. Checkered or waffle-faced models help prevent the hammer from slipping off nail heads. A good general-purpose 16-ounce hammer comes in choice of handles made of wood, graphite or steel....

When it comes to relaxing, a hot tub is pretty hard to beat. The jets and cozy temperature soothe aching bodies and create a comforting atmosphere. But, if that hot tub starts leaking, it can be the beginning of a major headache—though not if you know how to fix it. Once you know what to look for, you can locate your leak, seal it, and get back to kicking back. It’s not always an easy job, but it can save your hot tub from a slow, leaky death....