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Top 5 Backpacks Most Customizable: HotStyle TRENDYMAX Backpack Best Storage Options: LOVEVOOK Backpack Purse Best Small Backpack: Himawari Travel Backpack Best Anti-Theft Features: Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Backpack Best For Cameras: TARION Camera Backpack Most Customizable: HotStyle TRENDYMAX Backpack With over a dozen unique designs ranging from polka dots to eggs to dinosaurs, this eccentric backpack provides a roomy storage option that matches your child’s interests and personality. It has a main compartment with a laptop slot and zippered pocket, a front compartment, a water bottle holder, and a hidden back compartment....

Top 5 Raised Garden Beds Best Tiers: Outland Living Raised Garden Bed Best Metal Bed: FOYUEE Raised Planter Box Best Compartments: Keter Urban Bloomer Raised Garden Bed Best Standard Bed: Best Choice Products Raised Garden Bed Best Mobility: Best Choice Products Raised Garden Bed Best Tiers: Outland Living Raised Garden Bed Pros and Cons ✔ Has numerous color and quantity options Compare Top Raised Garden Beds Outland Living Raised Garden Bed...

Top 5 Thermostats Best Smart Thermostat: Google Nest Learning Thermostat Best Value: Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat Best Sensor: ecobee SmartThermostat Best Non-Programmable Thermostat: Honeywell Pro Non-Programmable Digital Thermostat Best Programmable Thermostat: Orbit Clean Comfort Programmable Thermostat Best Smart Thermostat: Google Nest Learning Thermostat The third generation Google Nest Learning Thermostat has some of the most advanced features available. With automatic temperature adjustments, voice control capability, and energy-saving technology, this thermostat is hard to beat....

If you clean your home regularly, you may be under the impression that it’s spotless. But there are many overlooked places in every house, and chances are you’re making some of the same home cleaning mistakes that most people don’t realize they’re making. Here are a few places to clean that should be added to your weekly, monthly, or seasonal rotation, along with tips on how to tackle these awkward spaces in your home....

Las Vegas, Nevada is the entertainment capital of the world, but it’s also full of everyday homeowners with aging appliances and systems in their homes. Even if you take great care of your home, breakdowns are inevitable, and they can often cost thousands of dollars. A home warranty allows you to pay a monthly premium, plus a small service fee to repair or replace covered items. The Reviews Team at This Old House researched dozens of companies and compiled a list of the five best home warranties that are available in Las Vegas, accounting for factors such as cost, coverage, service, and availability....

Kevin O’Connor meets mason Mark McCullough for a special project: a stone birdbath. Mark shows Kevin how he chooses matching stones for bases and the baths that sit on top before moving on to the heavy lifting. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How To Build a Stone Birdbath Note: This project requires lifting heavy objects and placing them on top of each other. Use safe lifting practices, and be careful as the stones can be unstable at first....

Don’t let those grease and oil stains on your cement or concrete floor just sit there. It’s easy to remove them, according to the folks at the Michigan State University Extension. The extension offers this advice: Steps for Removing Grease Stains Step 1: Sop up any wet areas Apply cornmeal or sawdust (this is especially important immediately after a spill) Leave it on the stain for three hours and sweep up....

Even in a well-lit home, one or two extra accent lights can instantly amp up the style and ambiance. But if you’ve avoided wall sconces because of the intimidating wiring, you can rest easy. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Some walls scream for a classy touch of light. Whether it’s an upward-facing fixture that casts a warm glow on the walls and ceiling or one that aims downward for a bit of extra illumination over a cozy reading nook, wall sconces have a lot to offer....

Historic Tudor-Style Cottage! Price: $70,000Location: Washington, NCContact: Maggie Gregg, Preservation North Carolina, 252-689-6678 The History: Just two blocks from the Pamlico River, this Tudor-style cottage was built in 1930 by Henry Clay Carter III, son of a physician, and his wife, Marjorie Hoyt Carter, daughter of the city’s leading clothier. This seaport’s bustling maritime activity may have been what attracted the Carters, who moved from New York in the early 1900s....

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread across the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising people to be prepared for the possibility of an outbreak where they live. With hundreds of thousands of confirmed cases in the U.S., the CDC recommends that Americans take measures to minimize the chances of contracting and spreading the disease in their homes and communities. While it’s important to remain calm, it is the right time to consider how you can improve cleaning patterns to help protect your home and family....

If you like to spread out while you work or you have a lot of office accessories, consider an L-shaped desk. This type of desk gives you more workspace than a traditional desk. Compare Top L-Shaped Desks Best For Multiple Monitors: Mr IRONSTONE L-Shaped Desk Best Add-Ons: Cubiker Modern L-Shaped Office Desk Best For Small Spaces: Bestier L-Shaped Computer Desk Best Wooden Desk: SHW L-Shaped Home Office Wood Corner Desk Best Electric Desk: FEZIBO L-Shaped Electric Standing Desk Best For Monitors: Mr IRONSTONE L-Shaped Desk Pros and Cons ✔ Features textured, durable surface ✔ Offers ample storage space ✔ Adjustable foot pads level the desk on uneven flooring...

San Diego homeowners will likely deal with pests like termites, roaches, and ants. While many cities have drywood termite issues in the spring and fall, San Diego experiences these pests almost all year long because of the warm weather. Hiring a professional pest control company might be the answer. Some of the best pest control companies in San Diego are Terminix, Orkin, Aptive, and Rentokil. Each of these companies has the equipment, products, and expertise to protect homes from common household pests....

From cross-cutting 2x4s to ripping plywood, circular saws use high-powered blades to make a variety of cuts. Although circular saws are often thought of as woodworking tools, many models can be outfitted with specialized blades to cut masonry, metal, and laminate flooring. Top 9 Circular Saws Makita 5007 Magnesium Circular Saw DEWALT 20-Volt Circular Saw SKILSAW SPT77WML-01 15-Amp Worm-Drive Circular Saw CRAFTSMAN 15-Amp Circular Saw Milwaukee 2830-20 Circular Saw SKILSAW 5280-01 Circular Saw With Laser Guide Makita SH02R1 12-Volt Max CXT Cordless Circular Saw Kit SKILSAW 15-Amp SAWSQUATCH Worm-Drive Circular Saw Ryobi One P505 18-Volt Circular Saw Makita 5007 Magnesium Circular Saw This circular saw is built with magnesium components that create the tool’s lightweight and durable frame....

Home insurance policies are designed to give homeowners peace of mind. Knowing that you will be protected in the case of an unexpected event like fire, theft, or vandalism can help you sleep well at night. Unfortunately, choosing the best home insurance company for you can be challenging. There are many insurers that service San Diego, but they differ in terms of coverage, cost, quality of customer service, and more. The This Old House Reviews Team has evaluated many homeowners insurance companies in San Diego to help you find the best fit for you....

This may be the year to go for a home theater upgrade. TV makers have been pushing 3-D and curved-screen gimmicks for years, but TV tech just went through a meaningful growth spurt. The Benchmark For $650 you can now get a better 55-inch picture than could be had for $5,000 five years ago. And despite some lingering rivalries among competing video standards, most popular current movies are now conveniently available in the latest formats that show off bigger, brighter colors and more-detailed shadows in the latest 4K resolution (also known as “Ultra HD,” compared with 720p and 1080p “HD”)....

Host Kevin O’Connor and general contractor Tom Silva at the shop as the two get busy building a beehive. Starting with the bottom board (the hive version of a basement), the two build the main hive body, the racks (also known as frames), and the top covers. With all the individual pieces necessary, the pair make use of a variety of materials and power tools to assemble the entire hive....

30 in. Fossill Limestone Fire Pit Kit This fire pit features a wide fire bowl and strong, stable concrete construction. Wood burning outdoor fire pit offers an all-natural heating option. Kit includes 16 wedge shaped blocks and 8 top caps that are pre-cut for your convenience. About $480. Buy Now RumbleStone 38.5 in. x 14 in. Square Concrete Fire Pit Kit No. 1 in Greystone This Fire Pit Kit by Pavestone is easy to assemble and includes everything you need to create a bold addition to any outdoor entertainment area....

Steps: Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Tools & Materials Transfer shovel Start by assembling the planter following the instructions that come with the kit. Add soil to the base of all the pots. Plant/transplant desired plants and herbs, keeping the taller, heavier plants in the bottom pots and smaller, lighter herbs toward the top. Give everything a good watering and be sure the planter remains in a location with plenty of sunlight....

Q: Is there any way to increase the water pressure in my house? I’d like the upstairs shower to be more forceful. We’re on city water. —Andy Stefik, Loveland, OH Check Water Pressure in the Whole House Before we get to the shower, how’s the water pressure in the rest of the house? To find out, buy a water-pressure gauge—they cost about nine bucks at home centers—and screw it to a hose bib, like the one on an outdoor faucet....

For homes in most regions of the country, rain gutters and downspouts are necessary to collect and carry away rainwater. Without them, water would erode the soil around the foundation, splash dirt onto the siding, and likely leak into the basement or crawlspace. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Gutters are most often installed by professionals, but there’s no reason you can’t do it yourself. All the materials and accessories are readily available at home centers, lumberyards, and roofing-supply firms....