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In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how to install a utility sink. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for installing a utility sink Turn off water Cut section from existing drain pipe and install a new Wye-fitting Assemble PVC pipe and fittings for new drain/vent system Glue drain/vent system to existing vent stack Rough in the PVC trap assembly Set the sink into position, inserting its chrome tailpiece into the PVC trap Tighten the compression nut on the tailpiece to secure the trap Place plumber’s putty under faucet, and install it to the sink deck; tighten nuts from below Cut into existing hot- and cold-water supply pipes, and solder in tee fittings Install copper wall anchors to hold new piping in place Attach flexible supply lines to the hot- and cold-water pipes, and to the faucet Tools Tools & Materials PVC pipe saw Tubing cutter Propane torch Drill/driver Hammer Adjustable wrench Safety glasses Carbide-tipped masonry bit - ....

John Tomlin is the Senior Producer of This Old House. He joined the show in 2013 as a Director and in 2015 took over the reins as Producer. His career in television started when he was in graduate school at Boston University, working part time for a local television station, WBZ on Evening/PM Magazine. John eventually landed in New York where he ran a television production company and created several successful national shows for broadcast syndication and cable, including Inside Edition for CBS, Dogs 101 for Animal Planet, American Professionals for TBS, and The Judge Mills Lane Show for Paramount....

Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada visits Bruce Vanicek at Rhode Island Nurseries, a 4th generation family-owned nursery, to show how shrubs are planted and grown. The nursery was started by Bruce’s grandmother in 1895 and specializes in growing yews, an adaptable and durable evergreen that’s popular for hedges and borders. Bruce takes Jenn on a farm tour, from the greenhouses where cuttings are propagated to the final check-planted stage, where the plants are harvested, balled and burlapped, and shipped to your local nursery....

You work hard to maintain and improve your home, so it’s only natural to spend time and enjoy your living space. This year’s Prime Day includes a variety of practical products to help you get more out of your home. To find the next gadget, gizmo, or everyday-use product for your house and your family, check out the This Old House Review Team’s top Prime Day picks. Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker Brewing single cups of coffee in less than a minute, you can enjoy a gourmet cup of joe at home using this coffee maker....

Previous episode: S19 E29 | Next episode: S20 E1 In this episode: Kevin O’Connor travels to Minnesota to tour a facility that manufactures quartz countertops. Traditionally, people choose granite or marble that comes out of the Earth in a large slab. But recently, a new option has surged in popularity—quartz countertops. Quartz is extremely hard, so people like it for countertops and other stone surfaces because it doesn’t scratch. It’s non-porous, meaning it doesn’t really stain....

In this video, This Old House mason Mark McCullough explains the best way to build a fire in a fireplace. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Building a Fire in a Fireplace Start by crumpling up some paper or newspaper and place it loosely underneath the grate. Take two of the biggest logs and place them parallel with the back of the fireplace on top of the grate. Leave space between them for the flames to reach up over the logs....

Library/Office The library/office, tucked into the space along the second-floor hallway, features a custom bookcase designed around salvaged glass cabinet doors, finished with deep blue paint and satin brass hardware. BUILT-INS: Sweenor Builders Mill Shop PAINT: Glidden’s Celestial Blue (built-ins) HARDWARE: House of Antique Hardware LIGHTING: Fixtures, Lamp by Circa LIghting CHAIR: O&G Studio RUG: Dash & Albert WINDOWS: Andersen WINDOW SEAT CUSHION: Smith & Noble PILLOWS: Malabar Workable Space The built-in desk and window seat make use of the natural light coming in through large windows....

Whether it is mice and rats or ants and roaches, Raleigh and its surrounding suburbs can experience a variety of household pests. A pest control plan can protect your home from infestation and damage, and there are many options for pest control service in the Raleigh area. The This Old House Reviews Team is here to do the research for you. We have examined and reviewed some of top pest control companies in the country....

Whether you’re working from home or streaming your favorite show, nothing beats the convenience of having a dedicated holder for your laptop that can easily fold away when not in use. Read on to learn how to build your own custom laptop table. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Cut List 1x2 Vertical Legs – 4 @ 9 ¼ inches 1x2 Leg Horizontal Supports – 4 @ 7 ½ inches 1x2 Base Sides – 2 @ 22 ½ inches 1x2 Base Ends – 2 @ 9 inches 1x2 Ledge – 1 @ 16 inches 11 ½” Stair Tread Table Top – 1 @ 8 inches 11 ½” Stair Tread Table Top – 1 @ 16 inches Scroll down for a list of tools and materials needed for this project....

Popcorn ceilings may be called different names like acoustic ceilings, cottage cheese ceilings, or stucco ceilings, but the telltale textured, bumpy look is the same. To get this “cottage cheese” effect, small particles are mixed with paint and drywall and applied to the ceiling. And while the popcorn ceiling has become less popular over the years, it was a common mid-century feature that’s still seen in many homes. Before Painting a Popcorn Ceiling: Mike Poellinger, President of Poellinger Inc....

If you’ve never removed a kitchen faucet before, don’t let all the hidden hardware throw you for a loop. Sure, the cabinet is dark, and the fixtures might be tough to reach, but this job is definitely something a DIYer can tackle. All you need is a little knowledge and the right tools. Tools Required to Remove a Kitchen Faucet ● Penetrating oil Related Kitchen Faucet Parts: Everything You Need to Know ● Headlamp...

Your tools will last a lifetime if you take care of them, but one of the biggest enemies of metal tools is rust, which can be prevented if the right precautions are taken. What is Rust? Rust is the product of metal corrosion, where a chemical reaction creates an “oxide” that’s expressed as the well-known red- or rust-colored powder. This oxidation process breaks down of the underlying material and should be controlled or eliminated as it will significantly weaken the metal over time....

Anyone with an old (or new) house knows the importance of a good foundation. Within the bedroom, your mattress’s foundation also serves a decisive role toward improving (or hindering) your quality of life. And the tricky thing about shopping for a bed frame is how difficult it can be to find everything you want in one piece of furniture. That’s especially true if your bed frame must wear many hats, like a storage closet, design feature, and of course, a snooze pad....

The type of insurance coverage you’ll need will depend on the scope of the project. A home you’re constructing from the ground up won’t be properly covered by standard homeowners insurance (more on that below), whereas a simple home-improvement project may only require a few tweaks to your existing policy. Insurance for a New Construction Home If you’re in the planning phase for a new-home build, you know there’s a lot more to it than finding the right contractor or kitchen cabinetry: It’s crucial to secure adequate insurance coverage throughout the entire construction phase....

CONCORD, MASS., MAY 6, 2019—No longer the Susan Lucci of daytime television awards shows, Ask This Old House took home its first Emmy this weekend for “Outstanding Lifestyle Program” at the 46th Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards. Beating out a number of competitors including its sister show This Old House, Ask This Old House won for the first time in 11 nominations. This Old House has received 85 Emmy nominations to date, and together the two shows have now won 19 Emmys overall....

This bath stand is compact enough to fit in virtually any bathroom and can be especially handy beside the tub for easy access to shower items. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Be sure to use materials that can withstand the moisture in a bathroom; solid wood, rust-proof fasteners, and a water-resistant finish ensure this unit will last. The stand is not limited to bathroom use only; supplement any space with this extra storage solution....

In this video, Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner install an emergency escape ladder. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for installing a fire escape ladder: Take the template that comes with the fire escape ladder and tape it to the wall centered beneath the window and 6 inches below the window stool. Use a level to ensure the top of the template is perfectly level....

Steps for Replacing a Concrete Walkway: Look for a weak point in the concrete, such as the control joints or a crack in the walkway, and try to pry up the concrete pad using the pickax as leverage. If there are no weak points, hit the pad with a sledgehammer until a crack forms. With the concrete pad loose, smash it with the sledgehammer until it breaks into manageable pieces. Remove the concrete pieces and dispose of them in the disposable dumpster....

“I opted for horizontal stripes because I wanted to create one long path from the front of the house toward the back, lengthening the space.” She also wanted to mask a door with a seamless pattern. Along the way, she created a snazzy, elegant introduction to the rest of the house. While the look is impressive, painting horizontal stripes doesn’t have to be complicated. To get the look, coat the entire wall in Emerald® Interior Acrylic Latex Paint in Alabaster SW 7008 by Sherwin-Williams....

Previous episode: S19 E14 | Next episode: S19 E16 In this episode: In Future House, home technology expert Ross Trethewey explores some of the ways home landscaping can be done automatically. Ross looks at automated products that can help out homeowners with their landscaping. Ross then looks at smart irrigation. Ross meets Joe Jones, who has designed a robot that’s capable of weeding a garden for you. Afterward, Ross talks to Jenn Nawada about the future of landscaping technology....