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Q: Can I install new kitchen cabinets on top of a floating floor? It seems like it would be easier to lay the flooring first and not have to cut it to fit against the toekick or to cover up the gap with shoe moldings.—Thomas Bourquin, Spring Valley, Ohio Tom Silva replies: It might be easier, but it wouldn’t be better. A floating wood floor has to be free to expand and contract with seasonal changes in humidity, and it can’t do that with heavy cabinets resting on top of it....

Before Homeowner’s blog: Sypsie Designs When you have square footage to spare, clutter just spreads unless there’s an organizational system in place. When Jodie and Matt Itami moved into their 1979 home in Rochester Hills, MI, they found they rarely used the small desk they shared in their office, an extra bedroom that quickly became a messy catchall. To lend the room some much-needed function, Jodie began by clearing it out and giving it a fresh coat of paint, using what she had on hand....

This article appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. About This House This handsome Victorian-era house was built for Frank Morse, a prominent banker, and his wife, Florence, circa 1885. Morse, a Union Army commander during the Civil War, later worked his way up from cashier to vice president at the First National Bank of Wabash. The Morses owned the house until 1919; about a year later it was converted into rental apartments....

Top 5 Bath Towels Best Sheets: Utopia Towels Luxurious Jumbo Bath Sheets Unlike standard bath towels that have a length of around 50 inches, these bath sheets have a 70-inch length for full-body coverage after showering. The sheets are also made from thick terry cloth, making them highly absorbent and plush. Key Features Two 35-by-70-inch bath sheets Several color and quantity options Made from 100% cotton 600 grams per square meter (GSM) rating What Customers Are Saying Satisfied customers praised these bath sheets for being absorbent and fast-drying....

In this video, Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to control humidity throughout the house all year round. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How to Install a Whole-House Dehumidifier In the attic, attach four steel hanging bars and the metal pan from the collar ties. Position the pan very close to the air-conditioning unit. Set the whole-house dehumidifier in the metal pan. Cut a square hole in the hallway ceiling and install a new return-air grille....

Sprucing up a facade is just the start of the window box’s talents. Its potted plantings also bring garden scenes up close and invite flowery perfumes indoors. And because window boxes are so prominently placed—and generally on public view—they claim more attention than patio pots without requiring any additional effort or expense. They’re amazingly versatile, especially if you push past a mere gathering of geraniums, as pretty as those can be, for a layered mix with nuance and dimension....

No matter what time of year it is, it’s smart to implement energy-efficient improvements throughout your home. Not only will you save money on your energy bills, you’ll also make your home more comfortable all year round. Check out these seven ideas, both big and small, that work together to make a truly energy-efficient home. 7 Tips for an Energy-Efficient Home Step 1: Upgrade Your Windows The right windows come with the ability to trap in cool air during the summer and hot air in the winter....

Renovations almost always take longer than expected. But for Wendy and Tom Braun, it wasn’t bad weather, building permits, or back orders that held up their home’s remodel for more than a decade. It was getting unstuck. They had found their dream house in the Los Angeles suburb of Yorba Linda in 2005. Like much of Orange County, Yorba Linda is crammed with ranches and Spanish-style homes. So when Wendy—who had grown up in Tennessee, and is drawn to more traditional architecture—saw the only Cape around for miles, she was sold....

Cool and Contemporary In the master bath, floor-to-ceiling large-format porcelain tile gives the appearance of Carrara marble, with textured and smooth lines staggered laterally to create interest and suggest depth. Sleek aluminum edging at the top and around the windows defines the space. Sleek Sanctuary The marble look continues inside the spacious steam shower, where the smooth version of the bathroom tile is used to create a built-in, heated bench for relaxing....

Either you’ve installed a new door or decided to change the door’s trim for aesthetic reasons. Either way, to trim a door, you need to bridge the gap between the door jamb (the frame from on which the door is hinged and where the latch engages) and the wall. This is done with molding called casing. A miter joint is where the ends of two pieces of molding are cut at equal angles—45 degrees for a square corner....

Racing against the clock while ensuring workers’ safety in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic, our designers, contractors, and subs pull out all the stops to finish our Cottage on the Cape in record time. Precision Tile Work Matt Daniels of s Tile Designs carefully cuts out a square for a shampoo niche in one of the four 4-by-8-foot porcelain panels that will line the master bath shower. The large-format panels reflect a modern trend in easy-care, seamless shower walls – but their installation requires patience, precision, and a delicate touch....

Top 5 Log Splitters Best Manual Splitter: Kindling Cracker Firewood Splitter Best Gas Model: Landworks Portable Log Splitter Best Splitting Wedge: Estwing Sure Split Wedge Best Manual Hydraulic: Sun Joe LJ10M 10-Ton Hydraulic Log Splitter Best Electric Hydraulic: BILT HARD Electric Log Splitter Best Manual Splitter: Kindling Cracker Firewood Splitter Pros and Cons ✔ Is practically-maintenance free compared to gas- and electric-powered models✔ Built with bolt holes for mounting the splitter✔ Created from high-quality cast iron...

NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Sponsor: The This Old House Insider Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”) is sponsored by This Old House Ventures, LLC, 262 Harbor Drive, Stamford, CT 06902 (“Sponsor”). Sweepstakes Entry Period: The Sweepstakes starts at 12:00:01 AM Eastern Time (ET) September 17, 2017 and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET each Sunday (“Sweepstakes Period”). A Week starts at 12:00:01 AM ET each Monday and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET each Sunday during the Sweepstakes Entry Period....

A long-lasting patio is a lot like a smooth paint job—it’s all about the prep work. Rush to put pavers down on a faulty base, and it might take only a few seasons for the stones to shift and become a tripping hazard. 18 DIY Patio Ideas and Pathway Improvement Projects 1. Build a Fire Pit Patio This fire pit, made from massive salvaged blocks of granite, anchors the patio design and keeps the festivities going after the sun goes down....

A small microwave can offer a full range of cooking functions in a low-profile form factor that requires minimal counter space. However, finding a compact microwave that’s up to the task of larger, more powerful units is easier said than done. To help you find the best small microwave for your home, office, or dorm room, the This Old House Reviews Team thoroughly researched and conducted in-person testing on the most reputable countertop models available today....

In order to burn well, firewood needs to be dry and seasoned. Logs on the ground will rot and deteriorate and wood with too high a moisture content won’t burn efficiently. Wet wood can also cause dangerous buildup in a chimney flue. The good news is these woods shed ideas will protect your firewood and prevent some of these common problems. Wood Shed Ideas From full-blown standalone structures to repurposed existing spaces, there’s a creative wood shed design on this list for any scenario....

If you do any work around the house, you need a workshop. What that workshop looks like depends on several factors, but none is more important than the kind of work you’ll do in it. A mechanic’s shop looks very different from a carpenter’s. Size and Location are Major Factors No one ever complains that their shop is too big. Stake out as much space as you possibly can. Shops can be in the basement (near the door if it’s a walkout), or in the garage, or even in a garden shed....

Back in the 1950s, butterfly roofs and vertical siding made a conspicuous statement about the home of the future. But even as the Modernist movement was radically changing the outward appearance of houses, underneath, many of them were still framed the conventional way, with old-fashioned sawn lumber. That’s the way it was with this season’s TOH TV Cambridge project house. Today, even in traditional-looking homes, the “futuristic” stuff is often the framing itself....

A ceiling fan with wobbling blades is not just a visual distraction. Those blades can also wear down the motor’s bearings and bushings, and cause annoying squeaks and whines. Here are some helpful tips to get your ceiling fan spinning evenly again. Balancing a Ceiling Fan Follow these steps to troubleshoot the issue and get a fan back on an even keel. 1. Turn off the fan. For safety, ensure that the fan is off and completely stopped before working on the blades....

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to control the temperature to every room of the house. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for creating zones in a forced-air HVAC system Use snips to cut a hole in side of furnace duct and fasten a male fitting. Attach to the male fitting a flexible duct, which is connected to an electric suction fan....