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Get Ready for Prime Time While paint is responsible for delivering the color, the primer’s job is to best prepare the surface for painting. Priming helps solve a wide range of issues including a very porous surface (like new drywall or masonry), stains, unwanted odors, surfaces of uneven sheen, porosity, and texture, and adhesion problems. And when it comes to painting cabinets, it’s important to keep in mind that kitchens are naturally exposed to high humidity and moisture; these factors can negatively impact your painted surfaces if they’re not properly primed first....

Most homeowners probably wait until spring to do all their deep cleaning—after all, it’s practically a seasonal ritual. But winter cleaning is just as critical as spring cleaning. Here’s why: Closed windows and doors that keep out cold air also seal in germs, viruses, and bacteria that can then live in your home for several months. Beyond combating sickness, it is a good idea to keep your home free of dust and dirt, which will help considerably to improve indoor air quality....

Exposure to radiation can be very harmful to you. It’s been fodder for sci-fi movies for decades, turning tiny tots into mutated henchmen (The Gamma People, 1956) and transforming a cowering homemaker into a giantess with a score to settle (Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman, 1958). The real-world risks of chronic high-level exposure are known to be equally dramatic—and deadly. But you may be surprised to learn that some of the materials and products sitting around your house could be emitting low levels of radiation....

Without a clean air filter, your HVAC unit works harder and is prone to more breakdowns. Compared to other DIY home improvement projects, changing air filters is a quick and painless process that can be done in less than an hour. However, many homeowners are unaware of how often air filters need to be replaced, leaving their system vulnerable to damage. Keep reading to learn when and how to change your air filter....

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how adjusting the thermostat can reduce energy consumption and save you money. Here’s how: What is Thermostat/Temperature Setback? Temperature setback is the act of adjusting the thermostat while you’re asleep or away from the house. Lowering the thermostat in winter keeps the house colder, but the furnace doesn’t kick on as often, so you use—and pay for—less energy....

What’s the secret to preventing weeds from sprouting? A 2-inch-deep topdressing applied once the ground thaws will do the trick. When it comes to mulch, there are many options to choose from. Read on to learn about the types of mulch and the benefits of each. Wood Chips You can’t beat the price of wood chips, which many tree companies and townships give away for free. Chips break down slowly and are best used around shrubs and trees to protect their roots....

Queen Anne Near the Shore Price: $58, 000 Location: Parksley, VA Contact: Nancy James, 757-787-1010 The History: Every Sunday after church, Anne Kilborn, her sister Sue, and their mother would join the girls’ grandmother for a leisurely lunch in this 1906 Queen Anne. “I always liked it because of the stained-glass window on the stair landing,” says Anne, who remembers being 8 or 9 at the time. “It also had one of those great back staircases, which I loved running up and down....

This article appeared in the Summer 2021 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. Try to find a new house with a first-floor bedroom suite in the city of Norwalk, CT, an hour’s ride from Manhattan, and you may search in vain. Despite their popularity, “you won’t find any,” says builder Jerry Effren. That’s a deficiency he and his wife, Sandy, of Greyrock Homes, are looking to correct....

Portland, Oregon experiences various pest problems, such as rats and mice. With so many pest control options available, it can get time-consuming and difficult to figure out which company is best for you and your family. That is why our Reviews Team has researched and ranked some of the best pest control companies on the market. Keep reading this roundup to see how each company compares on its services and cost....

Previous episode: S41 E1 | Next episode: S41 E3 In this episode: At the old Westerly Ranch House, the roof was disassembled to add a new level, but the original chimney is going to be in the way of the open floor plan concept on the first floor. Jeff works with mason Mark McCullough to take down the center chimney brick by brick. A major addition also means new windows and that’s a big investment....

All you need for this project is an embroidery hoop, floral wire, and a few springs of a leafy green or other embellishment. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time You’ll also need a pair of side cutting pliers to trim the floral pieces and wire. Follow the steps below and scroll down for a list of tools and materials needed for this project. Steps for Making a DIY Hoop Wreath 1....

When scouting out my current apartment, I was immediately drawn to the oversize bathtub — a real soaker from an era when bathing was savored and showers described rain. But my elation quickly ebbed once I eyed the rusty gully along its bottom, the work of a persistent leak that had eroded the white porcelain tub and exposed the tub’s cast-iron shell. The building’s super promised to fix it — and fix it he did, by slapping on some latex paint that flaked off every time I settled in for a warm bath....

OFFICIAL RULES NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN Sponsor: This Old House JLC New England Live Insider Event Giveaway (“Giveaway”) is sponsored by This Old House Ventures, LLC, 262 Harbor Drive, Stamford, CT 06902 (“Sponsor”). Giveaway Entry Period: The Giveaway starts at 12:00:01 AM Eastern Time (ET) on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on Thursday, March 5, 2020 (“Giveaway Entry Period”). A Day starts at 12:00:01 AM ET and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET each calendar day of the Giveaway Entry Period....

Top 5 Resistance Bands Best Lower-Body Workout: Walito Resistance Bands for Legs and Butt Most Customizable: Bodylastics Resistance Bands Set Most Resistant Loop Bands: SUNPOW Pull-Up Assistance Bands Best For Medium Resistance: TheFitLife Exercise Resistance Bands with Handles Best For Light Workouts: Black Mountain Products Resistance Bands Set Best Lower-Body Workout: Walito Resistance Bands for Legs and Butt These resistance bands have a simplified system of light, medium, and heavy resistance levels that you can identify based on their colors....

Best Frosted Jar: Chesapeake Bay Soy Blend Candle Although this candle jar isn’t designed to be washed and reused, you’ll want to keep it around until its wax has fully burned. The attractive frosted glass jar and wooden lid complement each other nicely to function as a piece of home decor. With a partnership through TerraCycle, not all is lost because you can recycle the jar. Key Features Water lily and pear scent 12....

Below you’ll find our top recommendations, a comprehensive buyer’s guide, and answers to some common questions. Best Canister Vacuum: Miele Bagged Canister Vacuum Best Portable Upright Vacuum: Eureka Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner Best Stick Vacuum: Greenote Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Best Reach: Hoover Upright Vacuum Cleaner Best Handheld Vacuum: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum Best Canister Vacuum: Miele Bagged Canister Vacuum Pros and Cons ✔ Has a head with five height adjustments for low- and medium-pile carpets✔ Can roll or carry the lightweight canister✔ Has six power settings that you can cycle through with the built-in dial...

Restored Italianate You might say that Jeff and Michele Williams’s house is living its third—and perhaps its best—life. From the sidewalk, the stately white-clapboard home with the hipped roof and wraparound porch doesn’t look much different from the other antique houses that survive in the Nichols Farms Historic District in Trumbull, Connecticut. Its tall windows, post-on-pedestal columns, and rectangular cupola all confirm its identity as a mid-19th-century Italianate, the kind of fashionable home favored by merchants who profited from the town’s pre–Civil War carriage and saddle trade....

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. The best memory foam mattresses have played a huge part in the mattress in a box boom, proving to shoppers that affordable, pressure-relieving mattresses can be purchased online. But, there’s a lot to think about when researching the best mattress for your needs—quality, comfort, price, and convenience....

In This Guide: Types of TVs | Key Features | How Much Should You Spend on a TV | The Most Trusted Television Brands | Frequently Asked Questions About TVs These days, no home is complete without an updated TV. With the current options available, even entry-level models blow away the best sets from the 90s and early 2000s. Since the multitude of modern TV options can be confusing, you might feel discouraged to upgrade from your current TV....

Alfresco meals, twinkly lights, verdant gardens—Italians know how to do summer nights right. But living la dolce vita can be yours for less than the cost of a ticket to Rome. Take this patio, which designer and fervent DIYer Heather Chadduck, the style director at Southern Living magazine, put together in back of a house in Birmingham, Alabama. Using an overgrown pergola from the movie Under the Tuscan Sun as muse, she added a simple iron structure and let wisteria grow wild....