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If you’re hosting a holiday meal, a big dining table is as much a necessity as extra silverware and a seating chart that doesn’t cause a family feud. But a solid-wood table can be a four-figure investment, so we scoured the home store looking for materials to help us build one that wouldn’t dry up our gift budget. With the help of This Old House general contractor Tom Silva, we designed a generous trestle table that incorporates some decorative flourishes without breaking the bank....

Previous episode: Let the Light In | Cottage on the Cape (E2) | Next episode: The House Gets a Rose and a Test | Cottage on the Cape (E3) In this episode: Chris meets Matt at the Cape Associates millwork shop to see the process for assembling the Lifespan window and door trim, then takes a deep dive into the strength and efficiency of the pocket hole joinery system. Back on site, he and project manager Josh Piper install a large Sierra Pacific window, and then mount the pre-assembled trim unit....

This week we lost a member of the TOH family January 12, 2018 Austin Wilson, our youngest apprentice and one of the dearest members of our team, passed away in his sleep while traveling with us at The International Builders Show. Austin was just 18 years old. His passing has left our hearts broken. Our love goes out to his family. Austin’s Promise Last April, Austin submitted his application to be an apprentice on our crew and we eagerly accepted him from a pool of hundreds....

Top 5 Potting Soils Best For Indoor Plants: Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix Best For Succulents: Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm, and Citrus Potting Mix Best For Orchids: PERFECT PLANTS Orchid Potting Mix Best Starting Mix: Miracle-Gro Seed-Starting Potting Mix Most Versatile: Burpee Organic Potting Mix Best For Indoor Plants: Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix Meant for indoor plants, this soil works well in herb gardens and other windowsill pots. Because it doesn’t contain compost or bark, it’s less likely to bring gnats into your home....

Houses and condos in the Detroit Metro are generally inexpensive compared with the rest of the country. The median listing price in 2021 is $64,786, according to a Rocket Homes market report. However, that price is rapidly increasing, shooting up 30.7 percent since last year. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell your house, a real estate agent may be necessary to keep you ahead of the competition. In order to save you time on your search for an agent that fits your needs, the This Old House Reviews Team compiled a list of the top buyer’s and seller’s agents to show how they stack up against each other and why they’re worth your consideration....

DIY carpenters are always searching for the latest tool or piece of equipment that can help them complete their woodworking projects. If you’re looking to replace your carpenter’s antiquated toolset or add to their collection, read through this list of 15 gift ideas that are sure to help your woodworker’s job become a little easier. Door Stud Door Installation Hardware Tool Kit Shop Now This specialty tool revolutionizes door installation. Making the process less complicated, it can hang a door in half the time....

Like many places in Florida, Tampa has high levels of humidity, and its subtropical climate can take a toll on homes. The excess water vapor in the air can make the weather feel warmer and the air thicker, and it can wreak havoc on your home’s systems and appliances. For example, the higher the humidity, the harder your fridge has to work to keep your food cold. Moisture in the air can also seep into appliances and electrical systems, leading to corrosion and rust....

In this video, a professional beekeeper shows Roger Cook and a homeowner how to harvest honey from a beehive. He also explains how to keep a hive healthy and ways to maintain and grow your hive. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Harvesting Honey from a Beehive Wear your protective beekeeping suit. Remove the outer and inner tops of the beehive. Use the smoker to add some smoke to the hive to calm the bees....

In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how to install a beautiful wood floor in just less than one day. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Installing Pre-Finished Engineered Flooring: Trim doorjambs and casings to allow new flooring to slip underneath. Place floor plank on subfloor, lay pull saw on top and saw through jambs and casings at all doorways. Cover the subfloor with thin foam-rubber underlayment....

Steps for replacing a picture window When working around broken glass, always wear gloves. Carefully remove the broken pieces of glass. Break the window muntins to access the rest of the glass. Remove the frame for the sash by scoring the paint and pushing it forward. A reciprocating saw may be required. When working from the inside, fillers may be required to get the jamb to the correct dimension. Create rabbeted pieces to act as a shelf for the new sash to sit against....

Previous episode: S19 E26 | Next episode: S19 E28 In this episode: It’s Summertime on Ask This Old House and the team is here to help with some fun outdoor projects! First, general contractor Tom Silva travels to Colorado to help a family build a DIY swing set for their young son, Charlie. The boy has outgrown his plastic playset and his birthday is coming up so his parents were hoping to give him a much-needed upgrade....

Best Scent: Puracy Multi-Surface Cleaner Key Features Comes in two 25-ounce spray bottles Has a lemongrass scent Uses a plant-based formula Works on ovens, counters, toilets, floors, and more What Customers Are Saying Customers said that the spray was easy to use. They also liked that it came in a two-pack that costed the same as most one-packs of other cleaners. While many reviewers agreed that the scent was pleasant, some found it to be overwhelming....

Snow rakes have a long pole and a wide head to make clearing snow easy. They’re most commonly used to remove snow on roofs, but some snow rakes are small enough to work on cars or sidewalks. Top 5 Snow Rakes Most Durable: Garant GPRR24 Yukon 24-Inch Poly Blade Snow Roof Rake Best Grip: TUFFIOM Extendable Aluminum Snow Rake Best Non-Abrasive Head: Donkey Auto Products Professional Heavy Duty Snow Rake Best Slide: SNOWPEELER Aluminum Roof Shovel Best Wheels: Extreme Max 5600....

Like many cities across the country, Houston’s current housing market is performing exceptionally well for sellers in 2021. According to a February 2021 report by the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), the average sales prices for single-family houses increased 16.2% from last year, and the number of listings decreased. It is critical to hire a real estate agent to help you find a home for a great deal or to help you sell over the asking price to eager buyers in the area....

Bungalow in Front Remember that popular musical with the catchy title I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change? That conundrum turns out to apply to not only many couples but also more than a few homeowners. Like Jason and Tera Starr. “After having toured about a half-dozen homes over the course of several months, we came upon our current property,” says Jason, referring to the 1,392-square-foot rescue house he and his wife, Tera, discovered while scouting one of Houston’s coveted neighborhoods....

Repair bills for major systems and appliances can cost Detroit homeowners thousands of dollars every year, particularly for those who live in older homes. One way to reduce repair costs is to invest in a home warranty, which helps pay for repairs on essential home systems and appliances, such as your heating system and dishwasher, that break down due to normal wear and tear. Keep reading for the best home warranty services in the Detroit area....

With a growing population and tourists pouring into San Antonio each year to experience the River Walk and remember the Alamo, pest problems are sure to follow. Bedbugs, cockroaches and mosquitoes all make a home in this historic city, but having a routine pest management plan can help you avoid these nuisances. There are many options for pest control companies in the area. That is why our Reviews Team has worked to rank and research some of the best pest control companies in the country....

Why do some five-year-old paint jobs peel and flake while others done some time during the Reagan era look as if they were laid on last week? The answer is deceptively simple: Quality exterior paint — when it’s properly applied over a well-prepped surface — lasts longer than the cheap stuff. But trying to find the good stuff at the store can be an experience in sensory overload. Besides pondering the oil-vs....

The garage door is the first thing most of us see when we arrive home, so it better be a sight worthy of admiration. Impossible? Not at all: Perching a pergola upon shapely brackets adds architectural dimension and intriguing shadow lines to this otherwise utilitarian entry point. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Our approach calls for mounting ready-made brackets to the door’s casing—and the framing behind it—then attaching an assembly of rafters and purlins shaped to complement your home’s existing trim....

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey explains how to clear a clogged drain. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How to clear a clogged drain Clear toilet clogs with a plunger; press plunger down tight against bottom of bowl, then yank up sharply to pull clog free. For stubborn toilet clogs, use a closet auger; feed flexible cable into toilet bowl and crank handle to cut through clog....