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One of the most important living areas at the Narragansett Idea House in Narragansett, RI, is in the backyard, where a sizable courtyard is taking shape. Tradesmen are installing Unilock concrete pavers according to the landscape design plan by Jon Zeyl, of Landscape Creations of Rhode Island. The plan calls for a circular fire-pit area in a herringbone pattern, surrounded by square and rectangular areas for outdoor seating near the screened porch and dining between the outdoor kitchen and plunge pool....

If you’re worried that a locked gate and a barking dog aren’t enough to deter burglars from your home, you might consider investing in a home security system. These systems keep your house under 24/7 surveillance to ensure that your house is always safe regardless of if you’re home or not. There are a wide variety of home security systems available in Boston, but they differ widely in terms of packages, equipment, cost, and more....

Did you know that Ohio is home to nearly 300 species of insects and spiders? That’s not to mention the rats and mice, gophers, moles, and voles. Columbus, in particular, is known for having issues with stinging insects like yellow jackets and issues with ticks. A pest control treatment plan is an effective way for owners of both homes and businesses to make sure their loved ones are safe from potential dangers from pests in the region....

Steps for Choosing a Bathroom Exhaust Fan: Bath fans help move air out of the bathroom to the outdoors, in the process removing both odors and more importantly humidity. The fan should be on anytime somebody takes a bath or shower because when you have humidity building up in a bathroom, you invite mold and mildew to form. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Heath prefers using a 4-inch insulated flexible venting both to cut down on noise and to prevent condensation....

A home fire extinguisher can be a lifesaver. Placed near an exit, in an easy-to-grab spot, it can put out a small fire before the firefighters arrive, or at least suppress the flames while you escape. All household extinguishers are classified A, B, or C (or a combination of these) on the label to indicate which types of fires—ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, or electrical—you can use them on. Many of the ones sold at home stores are classified A:B:C and fight all three types of fires....

Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada and carpenter Nathan Gilbert head to a local school to help them with a composting project. After meeting with the children, Nathan and Jenn build a large compost bin from cedar, allowing the children to fill their garden with rich, nutritious soil. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How to Build a Classroom Compost Bin A compost bin can help break organic waste into healthy, nutritious soil for growing plants and food....

For this installation, alignment is key. A deadbolt kit will usually come with a paper template to help you mark the door before you start drilling. In the video above, This Old House general contractor, Tom Silva is adds a deadbolt to a door that is an inch and 3⁄4 in thickness. You’ll need to be comfortable using a drill to install a deadbolt yourself. To ensure proper placement use a speed square to check the drill is square in all directions as you use it, as shown in the video....

In this video, Ask This Old House Plumbing and Heating Expert Richard Trethewey installs a house hydrant to replace a leaky outdoor spigot. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Installing a House Hydrant Turn off the water supply to the outdoor spigot. Clean the cut point downstream of the water supply valve with an emery cloth. Cut the pipe with a pipe cutter. Some excess water may drain out....

At some point, it probably happens to everyone who has a basement. Too much water. Sometimes an old water pipe gives up the ghost and ruptures, or occasionally, nature asserts itself and redirects the nearby river into your basement. Even worse, a flooded septic system could back up into the basement. So now what? What to Do If Your Basement Floods First, water conducts electricity, so do not take even one step into a flooded basement unless the electricity is turned off at its source....

Previous episode: Idea House Build: The House Gets a Rose and a Test | Cottage on the Cape (E4) | Next episode: Gutters, Floors, and Doors | Cottage on the Cape (E6) The goal is for the Cottage on the Cape to be comfortable year-round, so a heated floor system is being installed in the master bathrooms for some added warmth during cold New England winters. Cape Associates’ lead tile setter, Billy, gives a few tips for a proper install, from preparing the floor for the membrane to setting the heating cables into place....

All air-conditioning uses the same outdoor components to produce the cold refrigerant that cools the air inside a home. The difference with a ductless AC system (see illustration) is where that air is cooled and how it’s distributed. Central-air systems send refrigerant to a bulky central air handler that then blows cool air into the house through a network of ducts. Ductless systems pump refrigerant to compact indoor units within individual rooms....

Previous episode: S42 E12 | Next episode: S42 E14 In this episode: Former apprentice Kevin Barker is now an accomplished trim carpenter. Tom Silva helps him trim the antique bay windows in the kitchen. Richard Trethewey finds electrician Ben Giles installing an up-to-date meter socket outside the house and a special panel for the generator in the garage. Hardscape elements are coming together in the backyard. Mark McCullough shows Tom the stone veneer on the new outdoor kitchen and the limestone for the patio....

Top 5 Drills Best Handle: DEWALT Cordless Drill/Driver Kit Best For Medium Tasks: BLACK+DECKER Cordless Drill/Driver Best Accessories: TECCPO Cordless Drill Best For Heavy-Duty Tasks: DEWALT Brushless Cordless Drill/Driver Kit Best Corded Drill: BLACK+DECKER Corded Drill Best Handle: DEWALT Cordless Drill/Driver Kit The handle on this cordless drill is completely covered in a textured, rubberized material, giving you something comfortable and non-slip to hold onto. This drill comes with a carrying bag for holding the tool and its two batteries and charger....

Mailboxes are something everyone needs, but maybe not something everyone thinks about. Whether your current one is too small or starting to rust, it’s time for an upgrade. Compare Top Mailboxes Top 5 Mailboxes Most Customizable: Mail Boss Mailbox Best Oversized: Architectural Mailboxes Mailbox Most Decorative: Polar Aurora Mailbox Best Accessories: Architectural Mailboxes Parcel Mailbox Best Wall-Mounted: Gibraltar Mailboxes Mailbox Most Customizable: Mail Boss Mailbox Pros and Cons ✔ Includes three keys✔ Contains two storage areas to hold a lot of mail✔ Comes with an outgoing mail clip...

CONCORD, Mass., JUNE 29, 2021 — The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the nominees for the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards, and This Old House and Ask This Old House scored a total of three nominations – including nominations for both shows in the same category, “Outstanding Instructional and How-To Program.” Additionally, This Old House was nominated for: “Outstanding Writing Team For A Daytime Non-Fiction Series.” All-time, the two shows have received 105 Emmy nominations and won 19 Emmys overall....

Barely-there chicken wire gives just the right ethereal look to a ghostly apparition. There’s a lot of trial and error in the process of pinching and cinching the wire hexes to form a life-like shape, but luckily this malleable medium can be easily reshaped as you go. For this project, you’ll work from the top down, starting with the head. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How to Make a Ghost Out of Chicken Wire in 9 Steps 1....

Home technology expert Ross Trethewey goes on a house call to help a homeowner figure out her energy loss. After discussing her energy consumption concerns, Ross suggests a home energy assessment and gets to work. Understanding where a home is losing or consuming that majority of its energy is the first step toward lowering energy bills. Using some measurements and calculations, a home energy assessment can turn a home’s energy usage or loss into a computer model....

What Homeowners Want in a House Vintage houses draw us in with their detailed facades, gracious proportions, and period charm. But let’s be honest: Once inside, we want light and bright living areas with large windows, kitchens with room to gather, bedrooms with big closets, and, ideally, a bath for each member of the family. While we’re at it, we want every modern convenience, too, including mechanical systems that keep us comfortable and, when possible, technology that anticipates our needs....

In the continuously evolving plumbing industry, technological advancements over the past five to ten years have become an integral part of how plumbing professionals do business. Innovations like smart pipes that let consumers know when there’s a leak, tankless water heaters, and even LED lights in toilet bowls have transformed the industry for both consumers and industry professionals. Alongside their pipe cutters, spanners, and drain rods, today’s successful plumbers are using tablets and waterproof cameras to provide services that exceed their customers’ expectations....

Top 5 Dehydrators Best Medium Capacity: COSORI Premium Food Dehydrator Machine Best Accessories: Magic Mill Food Dehydrator Machine Most Customizable: NESCO Snackmaster Pro Dehydrator Most Space: Excalibur 3900B Nine-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator Best Entry-Level: VIVOHOME Food Dehydrator Machine Best Medium Capacity: COSORI Premium Food Dehydrator Machine Pros and Cons ✔ Has a timer that works in 30-minute increments for up to 48 hours✔ Equipped with overheating protection✔ Operates quietly at 48 decibels...