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This story originally appeared in the Winter 2021 Issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. Often the best way to honor an old house is simply to highlight its good bones. That principle guided the renovation of this 1925 house, where prized original features remained in place. “It felt like an old-soul house with lots of potential, and I had always wanted a renovation project,” says Scott Moren about why he purchased the place, located in Washington, D....

Who knew that getting rid of family photos and clearing off countertops could help you snag top dollar for your house? These are just two secrets from Debra Gould, founder of Staging Diva. Gould, a professional home stager, has helped scores of homeowners clean up, rearrange, and style their homes to command top price. That can mean anything from putting extra books in storage to getting rid of moldy caulk in bathrooms to renting furniture to fill up too-bare spaces....

In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains how to install a waterproof window. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps on How to Waterproof Your Window: Staple 15-pound builder’s felt along bottom of window opening. Apply adhesive-backed waterproof membrane over the felt; cut the corners and fold the excess membrane over the rough sill. Cut small pieces of waterproof membrane and cover voids in corners of opening....

Nothing speaks fall more than colorful mums, pumpkins, and corn shocks. To add a touch of the season to your home, spruce up your curb appeal, and welcome your friends with the warmth of the season, consider a few of these fall porch ideas for your home. 7 Festive Fall Porch Decorating Ideas 1. Natural Arrangements Just because the flowers of spring and summer have quit blooming doesn’t mean you can’t have stunning displays flanking your front door....

Here are our top recommendations. Top 9 Snow Removal Equipment Snow Joe Telescoping Snow Broom and Ice Scraper The Snowcaster Bi-Directional Wheeled Snow Pusher Bully Tools Heavy-Duty Ice Scraper Harris Pet-Friendly Snow and Ice Melt PowerSmart Two-Stage Snow Blower Greenworks 12-Inch Corded Snow Shovel Goplus Sleigh Shovel SNOWPEELER Roof Rake Spot Spreader Hand Ice Spreader Snow Joe Telescoping Snow Broom and Ice Scraper The Snowcaster Bi-Directional Wheeled Snow Pusher Bully Tools Heavy-Duty Ice Scraper Harris Pet-Friendly Snow and Ice Melt PowerSmart Two-Stage Snow Blower Greenworks 12-Inch Corded Snow Shovel Goplus Sleigh Shovel SNOWPEELER Roof Rake Spot Spreader Hand Ice Spreader Types of Snow Removal Equipment While all snow removal equipment is designed to clear snow, not all tools work the same way....

Previous episode: S18 E11 | Next episode: S18 E13 In this episode: Nathan demonstrates a sanding kit with different profiles on it to make hand sanding easier; Heath clarifies the temperature rating system for ceiling lights and then installs one for a homeowner; Mark explains the purposes and uses for different types of trowels; Tom and Kevin build a tool storage shelf out of leftover lumber from other Build It projects....

There are several times during the life of a pool where it might need a fresh start. Whether you need to drain it because of repairs or maintenance that can’t be done underwater or because the water quality has diminished beyond resolution, as pool draining is often necessary roughly every five years. And while draining a pool may seem like a simple concept, some pools — like fiberglass and vinyl — aren’t meant to be drained, so they require special consideration....

Whether it’s a newly tiled bathroom or an existing one, having to put holes in tiled walls is a common task. Almost anything that mounts to the wall—from installing hardware for toilet paper rolls and soap dishes to a new medicine cabinet—is going to require drilling through tile. In most cases, these bath accouterments will be mounted using wall anchors, so getting through the tile is only part of the job....

How is Quartz Made? Quartz is a mineral, which is mined out of the ground and crushed into different sizes. The quartz is then mixed with a binder and poured into a form. The form is compacted, vibrated, and baked at 200 degrees for 30-60 minutes, which turns it into a hard, stone slab. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Installing Quartz Countertop: To have a quartz countertop installed, the existing cabinets need to be templated by a stone fabricator....

In this video, repairman Richie Isaacson shows host Kevin O’Connor how to maintain kitchen appliances. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for maintaining appliances Be sure that the pull-out racks on a dishwasher don’t interfere with the spinning spray arms. Before starting the dishwasher, check to make sure that there isn’t any silverware blocking the spray arms. Don’t lay large pots or pans flat against the lower rack; they’ll block the water spray and prevent other items from getting washed....

March 15, 2018 We opened our second Generation NEXT casting call earlier this February in search of two apprentices for our next This Old House project in Jamestown, Rhode Island. And the search is over! Kevin Barker, local to Jamestown, will be joining Mary McGuire Smith of Tupelo, Mississippi, to work with the TOH master crew. Through our Generation NEXT program, we want to encourage young people to become masters in the vocational trades....

Previous episode: S43 E22 | Next episode: S43 E24 In this episode: Even with everything new in the 1890s Victorian, plenty is still original and needs to be examined. Mark McCullough inspects the original Roxbury rock foundation and finds signs of water problems—punky mortar and water on the ground. The necessary repairs are made. Kevin O’Connor is back in Dracut, MA, at the 124-year-old Dracut Centre School for the installation of windows previously restored by Alison Hardy....

In addition to being only expensive-looking, microfiber is a favorite due to it’s stain-resistance (perfect for parents of both children or pets). This material is delicate though, and needs to be cleansed carefully. Most (not all) microfiber furniture cannot be washed with water, as this could lead to staining. How to Clean Microfiber To find out the best conditions for your chair or loveseat, look up its cleaning code on an attached tag or online....

When building your home improvement workshop, the cost of buying new tools can add up pretty quickly. If you want to get going on your DIY projects, but the thought of buying used tools scares you, don’t despair. Arm yourself with knowledge of how tools are supposed to perform, what to look for in used tools, and the best places to buy them. Then, you’ll be ready to shop for secondhand tools and save on your tool budget....

Drilling a hole in glass is tricky business. Not only do you risk breaking the glass, but you also risk personal injury. But certain DIY projects and crafts call for this skill, and whether you’re hanging a frameless mirror or creating a custom light shade, you’ll be glad you’ve mastered it. Follow these step-by-step instructions to get a hole where you want it, without breaking the glass. What to Know Before You Begin Drilling Through Glass Read these tips before picking up that drill....

The natural aroma of cedar has kept garments hole-free and smelling fresh for centuries. And not only does it repel pests like moths and roaches, it also resists mildew that can ruin fabrics. Do Cedar Closets Repel Moths? While there are many types of cedar, Eastern red cedar, aka aromatic red cedar, is the only type that gives off the familiar scent that deters moths and insects. Eastern red cedar is sold in both large pressboard panels and tongue-and-groove boards....

No, it’s not your imagination—it definitely is getting hotter. The eight warmest years on record occurred over the past decade. But staying cool this summer doesn’t necessarily mean you have to pay a fortune to keep the air-conditioning running day and night. Here are 10 tips—most costing less than $25—that will keep you comfortable and cut the typical $1,000 cooling bill by as much as half. What’s needed to get the temperature to drop?...

A home’s foundation is one of its most important features. Without a properly maintained foundation, all other parts of the home would fall apart. A foundation works to distribute the weight of a house and all its contents and secures the entire property in place. It must also prevent walls from cracking, keep groundwater out, and stand up against even the most extreme environmental conditions. Despite Houston’s environment appearing mild, Texas experiences the most foundation problems in the entire United States....

Some homeowners know the struggle of trying to achieve home temperature homeostasis, which is a made-up term to perfectly describe the whole home being the same temperature. When the system isn’t running correctly, it’s common to have that one room that never seems to warm up or the upstairs getting uncomfortably hot every time the first floor reaches the ideal temperature. For folks with forced hot air and central AC systems, there’s a good chance that they have air balancing problems....

What Is Asbestos? Asbestos. The name has its origin in the Greek word for inextinguishable. A highly-effective and inexpensive fire-retardant material and thermal and acoustic insulator, asbestos was used extensively in home construction from the early 1940s through the 1970s. Is Asbestos Harmful to My Health? Yes. We now know that prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to lung disease. When disturbed, tiny abrasive asbestos fibers are easily inhaled, which damages lung tissue and can cause cancer....