Paint expert Mauro Henrique heads out on a house call to check out a beautiful kitchen renovation, the homeowner takes Mauro to the issue: an avocado green bathroom tile. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Mauro first explains the options to the homeowner, explaining that he can either tear all of the tiles down and rebuild or paint the tiles. In light of budget and time, the two decide to paint the existing tile....
You probably don’t spend much time thinking about your water heater. And why would you? Maybe you cursed it that time you tried to do a load of laundry and draw a bath simultaneously, but by and large, water heaters lead quiet lives, tucked away in utility closets, basements, or garages. But even though your water heater is out of sight, it’s still doing a number on your electric bill....
Open floor plan design has become a leading architectural trend in houses built since the 1990s, and with good reason—the layout offers a feeling of spaciousness without increasing the home’s overall square footage. An open floor plan is defined as two or more rooms—excluding bathrooms, utility rooms, and bedrooms—that are located within a larger common area. While the open floor plan is prized among homebuyers who like its modern feel, it can be hard to delineate the different spaces and prevent the kitchen, dining, living, and family areas from becoming blurred and feeling disorderly....
A Philadelphia home insurance policy can help give you peace of mind for your home in the City of Brotherly Love. When unexpected incidents occur, from theft and vandalism to fire and hailstorms, you’ll want a homeowners insurance policy so you don’t have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket. In order to find the best home insurance in Philadelphia, you’ll have to do some research. There are many companies that provide coverage in the area, but they aren’t all equal in terms of coverage, reputation, and cost....
Outside of hairline cracks, larger stress cracks occur when a house settles or the ground beneath it shifts. These types of cracks don’t usually pose a threat to the structural integrity of a house, but they do allow for a potential opening for groundwater, insects and radon gas. We’ll show you a simple and effective way to patch cracks with the best concrete crack filler. Fix Concrete Cracks in 8 Steps Step 1: Repair a Foundation Crack With an Epoxy Sealer We repaired a foundation wall, which had an 8-ft....
Fall brings some tough weather for your footwear. It’s a catch-22—the mild weather and plentiful moisture make it a great time to garden, but it can turn tasks into a mucky mess. Now imagine how all that mud clings to a kid’s cleats. And then the snow comes along and packs into every nook and cranny on the soles of your shoes. That’s what makes his boot cleaning and removal station so helpful....
In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva removes an old set of porch stairs and builds a new one. The new stairs are safe, solid, and up to code. One of the key the changes included cutting the stringer on an angle to streamline the steps. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How to Build Porch Steps Pry off the treads from the upper step to gain access to the tops of the stringers....
In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shores up an old deck with new supports. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Replacing a Deck Post Install temporary 2x4 posts beneath the outer deck beam. Cut free any diagonal bracing with a reciprocating saw. Pry out the nails securing the existing vertical posts to the deck frame. Pull out the old deck posts and discard. Set a metal post base on top of the concrete pier, then drill a ½-inch-diameter x 3-inch-deep hole down into the pier with a hammer-drill and carbide-tipped masonry bit....
Previous episode: S44 E8 | Next episode: S44 E10 In this episode: The crew is back in Massachusetts on the Eastern seaboard to start a new project in the town of Newburyport, where shipwrights and sea captains once lived. Tom Silva and Kevin O’Connor meet Jenn Nawada out front. Jenn gives her thoughts on the landscape, hardscape, and plans to update the entryway. Inside, Kevin and Tom meet homeowners Palen and a close friend of This Old House, Melissa, whose desire is to turn their modest 1902 Victorian into their forever home....
This article appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. Buy an older house and you’ll likely find some junk along with the gems. Previous renovations had left this kitchen, located in a 1943 Colonial Revival in Washington, D.C., packed with nondescript Thermofoil cabinets and myriad column and pilaster flourishes that detracted from assets like the lofty ceiling and tall, arch-top windows....
Pool vacuums use powerful suction to pick up dirt and other debris that land in the water. Pool maintenance can be daunting, but with the right vacuum, you can keep your pool clean and swimmable with minimal effort. Explore our top recommendations, comprehensive buyer’s guide, and answers to common questions below. Compare Top Pool Vacuums Top 5 Pool Vacuums In this review, we compare the following models: Best for Leaf Cleanup: Poolmaster Big Sucker Swimming Pool Leaf Vacuum Best Pressure-Side: Polaris In-Ground Pool Cleaner Best Suction-Side: Zodiac G3 Automatic Pool Cleaner Best Handheld: Intex Rechargeable Handheld Pool Vacuum Best Robotic: Hayward Navigator Pro Pool Cleaner Best For Leaf Cleanup: Poolmaster Big Sucker Swimming Pool Leaf Vacuum Pros and Cons ✔ Has a 15-inch diameter with a wide opening to capture large loads of leaves at one time✔ Designed with a built-in adapter that fits standard garden hoses✔ Sold with a reusable leaf collection bag...
Serene Master Suite A palette of rich grays and warm wood tones create a serene and sophisticated ambience in the master bedroom. A large circular flush-mount ceiling light and a round area rug offset the room’s angles. STYLING, FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES: Stickley Audi & Co. CEILING LIGHT FIXTURE: Circa Lighting WINDOW SHADES: J Geiger Shading Layered Elegance An ivory upholstered headboard stands out against the ebony-stained character-oak feature wall. Large art niches on either side of the bed are fitted with recessed LED lights to highlight the paintings hung there....
Any pre-Y2K toilet that’s not clearing in one flush is a likely candidate for retirement, says Pete DeMarco of the Alliance for Water Efficiency. Those early low-flows from the ’90s employed narrow trapways (the passage from bowl to drain) in order to empty the bowl and still meet the national 1.6-gallons-per-flush (gpf) mandate instituted in 1994. While the toilets used less water, the trapways were choke points, sparking consumer complaints. It wasn’t until about 2003, DeMarco says, that most makers had fully reengineered their fixtures—and widened the trapways—to achieve both efficient and effective flushing....
Rebuilding Together Boston is a local chapter of a national organization that’s dedicated to repairing homes and revitalizing neighborhoods. Kevin met with Janice Walker, executive director of the local affiliate, to help a homeowner in Dorchester—a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts. Rather than letting homes go into disrepair and subsequently forcing the homeowners to sell them, Rebuilding Together steps in. By focusing on veterans, senior citizens, and people with disabilities in communities that need it most, the company is able to help folks stay in their homes with donated materials and volunteer labor....
America loves a white kitchen. We get it. White’s clean, simple, orderly—and, even devotees have to agree, a bit of a no-brainer. But we’re here to tell you that color can be a kitchen’s best friend, cleverly highlighting architectural details or transforming dated cabinetry. Use Two-Tone Kitchen Cabinet Colors To Brighten Up Your Room It can change the whole feeling of the room. Even brightening up just one area—an island, say—with a refreshing hue can be a real mood-booster....
Levo Tablet Stand DIYers who pull up project plans from their favorite websites and techy chefs who render recipes while they cook will love this handy tablet stand. This completely adjustable stand keeps your device out of harm’s way as you reference instructions while you work. About $189.99 (or $219.99 with 110V AC Power for charging); Levo BONUS! EXCLUSIVE DEAL FOR TOH READERS! Click the Levo link above and enter TOH18 at checkout to save 10% on your gift purchase...
In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how the pros retrofit a compact cooling unit. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How to Install a Mini-Split Air Conditioner Turn off the electricity to the circuit. Hold mounting bracket to the wall, level it, then mark the screw hole locations and where to bore a hole for the refrigeration lines, condensate discharge line and electrical cable....
The first “Fortified…for Safer Living” house was completed in Florida in 2005 and built with an insulated concrete form ECO-Block wall system. A program of the Institute for Business and Home Safety, “Fortified…for Safer Living” specifies construction, design, and landscaping guidelines to increase a new home’s resistance to natural disasters such as hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires. As thousands of Southern Californians contemplate how they’ll rebuild their homes charred by the wildfires ripping through the region, they’ll undoubtedly look for materials that won’t burn....
No matter the type of system you have, don’t wait until it breaks down to do DIY furnace maintenance. A clean, well-adjusted heating system will save you money on fuel and prolong furnace life. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How Often Should Furnace Be Cleaned? Before chilly autumn nights set in, you need to make an appointment for your annual furnace maintenance. Without this yearly cleaning and inspection, a system can wear itself out quickly, pump deadly carbon monoxide into your home, or simply stop working....
Flattening a textured ceiling Start by protecting the entire room with drop cloths. On the floor, use a canvas drop cloth. On the walls, use plastic drop cloths. It isn’t necessary to cover the entire wall, just the top third. Wipe down the ceiling with a damp rag to ensure it’s clean. Mix the joint compound in a bucket using water and the drill with a mixing bit on it until it’s roughly thicker than a cake batter consistency....
