Shown: Bob Vila, Steve Thomas, and Kevin O’Connor recently came together for the first time to talk about their experiences as hosts of This Old House. Bob Vila (Seasons 1–10) This Old House’s first on-air host actually started out as its first homeowner. In the never-aired pilot for what eventually became This Old House, Bob and his wife showed a Boston Globe reporter around the circa-1840 Newton, MA, house the couple had restored....
Long before the crew broke ground on her house in Afton, Minnesota, Amy Matthews was already thinking about the views. “I could tell you what you would see from any window,” she recalls. The former television host and licensed contractor has remodeled dozens of houses in her career. But this 4,090-square-foot “modern barnhouse,” a TOH 2021 Idea House, was Amy’s first opportunity to start from the ground up. Working with architects Colin Oglesbay and Aaron McCauley-Aburto (D/O Architects), she developed a plan that merges her Scandinavian heritage with her love of modern design....
America’s Test Kitchen reviews kitchen equipment and ingredients with the same rigor and curiosity that drive its recipe development process. The full-time editors on its tastings and testings team write only about products they’ve tested themselves. They don’t accept advertising or freebies, and their reviews are 100 percent unbiased in order to bypass the marketing hype and promote the best quality products. 1. Marcato Atlas 150 Wellness Pasta Machine Sure, you can make fresh pasta with a rolling pin and a knife, but pasta machines streamline the process and produce more uniform results....
1. Clean the screen Unplug the sump pump, disconnect it from the discharge pipe, and pull the pump out of the sump. Hose away any debris on the screen at the pump’s base and rinse off its housing. Lubricate the pump bearings, if required. (Consult the owner’s manual if you’re unsure.) 2. Inspect the check valve If its internal flap doesn’t swing freely, flush it out, and if you see mineral deposits, soak it in vinegar....
Some of the best fiberglass entry doors have gotten so good at mimicking the look, feel, and thunk of wood that you could swing one open and close it behind you without ever realizing you weren’t handling solid mahogany, oak, or pine. Because they’re made from the same family of glass-fiber-reinforced polymers used to craft airplanes, surfboards, and Corvettes, these super-durable doors won’t warp, rot, shrink, or swell like wood doors—and they boast superior resistance to insects and fire, too....
“Our backyard slopes down to a swale that floods completely after heavy rains or snow thaws. A sump pump and downspout also discharge water into the swale. What’s the best way to get rid of this excess water, or at least control it?”—JAKE GITTLESON, AURORA, IL Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time It’s good that your backyard slopes away from the house, but all that standing water is not good for your property....
Steps for Planting Foundation Plantings: Start by identifying plants that have died or could use some pruning. Remove the dead plants and clean up the plants to make it easier to see what kind of palette you’re working with. Place the dead plants and cutoffs on the tarp to be easily dragged away later. Choose and stage plants that will be able to tolerate snow piles in the winter. In this case, Jenn chose a dwarf fountain grass for its height and to anchor the rest of the foundation plantings....
Steps for restoring a Colonial-era beehive oven: Start by assessing the best access point to work inside the beehive oven. In Mark’s case, the side hallway granted the best access, but it could also be in the back. Mark suggests avoiding the top of the oven, since that can weaken the integrity of the oven. Cut an access hole at the determined location. Since most houses with beehive ovens were built before 1978, it’s important to take all appropriate lead precautions while cutting, including using dust collection tools and a HEPA vacuum....
Does your naked pillow bear a couple stains? Perhaps even a yellowish ring or two? Yeah, it’s time for a pillow bath. With all the sweat, drool, and bacteria that can be harbored in your cushion, it’s relieving to know that you could keep it fresh with a laundry cycle. Pillow cleaning is a task that is often overlooked, and should be done at least twice a year to remove mold and odors....
Laundry + Potting Room “When I was designing this area, I thought: Why does a laundry room have to look like a laundry room? In Europe you see all these wonderful spaces off gardens that work as mudroom, potting shed, and other things,” says Texas architect Michael G. Imber of this Hill Country multitasker. Here, his ideas for going big with a hardworking small space: BEAUTY FIRST “This is a secondary entrance to the home, and in no way do you feel like you’re walking into a laundry room,” Imber says....
Previous episode: S20 E31 | Next episode: S20 E33 In this episode: Master electrician Heath Eastman explains the hand tools every homeowner should have in their DIY electrical kit. Heath shows us the voltage testers, special screwdrivers, pliers, and wire strippers that most homeowners should keep on hand, and even shows us how to use them on a basic home electrical repair. Next, we join home technology expert Ross Trethewey on a house call to help a homeowner figure out their energy loss....
Top 5 Clothes Steamers Best Heavy-Duty Steamer: Jiffy J-2000 Garment Steamer Best Heads: BLACK+DECKER Advanced Handheld Garment/Fabric Steamer Best Multipurpose Attachment: Conair Turbo Extreme Steam Handheld Fabric Steamer Best Hanger: PurSteam Garment Steamer Best For Travel: Jiffy ESTEAM Personal Handheld Steamer Best Heavy-Duty Steamer: Jiffy J-2000 Garment Steamer With a large 0.75-gallon water tank, this steamer can provide up to 90 minutes of steam. It comes with a stand that can be used to mount the head when it’s not in use or to hold the article of clothing you’re steaming....
The Murphy bed has come a long way since it was first designed in the late 19th century, when, as legend has it, the inventor William Murphy sought to quickly convert his studio apartment into a proper sitting room. Murphy wished to have a lady friend in his home but entertaining a woman in his bedroom would’ve been inappropriate, even scandalous—and so the hideaway Murphy bed was born. 5 Creative Murphy Bed Ideas Today, Murphy beds can be stand-alone pieces of furniture, encompass everything from desks to bookshelves, and be the center of many clever storage ideas....
If you live in Phoenix, your pest control needs may be different than much of the country. Arizona is home to typical pests, such as roaches and mosquitoes, but scorpions and termites are more common in Arizona than many other states around the country. To rid your home of invasive pests, calling in professionals will be the most effective method, and it will likely save you time and money in the long run....
Block Plane Holster When you’re not using your prized block plane, store it in the manner that it fully deserves—in this holster made of oiled 10-ounce English bridle leather, wet molded for a perfect fit. Waxed thread saddle-stitching holds the pieces together, and its open-toe design prevents the accumulation of shavings and other debris. About $55 for a large holster and $45 for a small holster, txheritage.net 60-½ Adjustable-mouth Block Plane I learned in shop class that block planes are fine-tuning edges and smoothing end grain....
While caulking is one of the most important steps for creating a finished look, it’s not always the most fun. It can be very messy, and the results can be hit or miss. When it comes to crouching or kneeling to caulk baseboards, the margin for error is that much greater. Steps for Caulking Baseboards: 1. Gather Your Tools To keep things simple, gather everything before you start. Here’s a list of tools and materials you’ll need:...
In this video, Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey offers a few tips to keep water from freezing up in your pipes during the winter months. Keep pipes from bursting with these 6 steps. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How to Prevent Pipes from Bursting To keep water from freezing on an outdoor spigot during the winter, shut off the water valve to the outdoor spigot....
How to Split Firewood By Machine Jenn demonstrates how to use an electric log splitter. While it’s an easy and helpful tool to use, it is also extremely dangerous and needs to be operated carefully: Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Turn on the power for the splitter. Carefully place the log on the track against the wedge. Be sure to grip the log on its sides. Never place your hand near the wedge....
Our nation’s first settlers brought with them the European tradition of stenciling floral and fruit patterns on walls to mimic the look of pricey wallpapers. Today, stenciling is still a cheap way to add charm to a room. If you’ve never worked with stencils before, painting a decorative border around a doorway is a project any novice can tackle. Though you can certainly work with precut stencils, you’ll get a more customized look if you design your own, as we did here....
Most Versatile: Clorox All-Purpose Cleaner This purchase includes one bottle of bleach-free cleaner and one bottle of bleach-based cleaner. Using both together, you can remove soap scum stains and kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria on your bathroom counter, tub, shower, and toilet. The bottles also use Smart Tube technology to ensure that you can get to every drop of the cleaner without tilting or transferring. Key Features Comes with two 30-ounce spray bottles Kills viruses and bacteria Removes soap scum, dirt, and grime Works on most bathroom surfaces What Customers Are Saying Most customers said that this cleaner was powerful, pleasant-smelling, and easy to use....
