Posts

Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a commission. The best memory foam mattresses have played a huge part in the mattress in a box boom, proving to shoppers that affordable, pressure-relieving mattresses can be purchased online. But, there’s a lot to think about when researching the best mattress for your needs—quality, comfort, price, and convenience....

If you want to display the wood on its own, then you’ll need some form of clear finish. Various oils and varnishes have been used to protect the wood for centuries. The most common clear finish is polyurethane, a tough polymer coating that’s durable, long-lasting, and easy to apply. Depending on the formula, it can be used for interior or exterior applications and is available in oil-based, water-based, or water-borne oil formulas....

Host Kevin O’Connor and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey meet at the shop to discuss septic systems. Richard explains how septic systems work, what they look like inside, and what homeowners can do if their septic begins to fail. What Do Septic Systems Consist Of? A septic system consists of piping running from the home’s drain system to a sealed tank, and then out to a series of pipes called leach pipes....

Ready for a cold one? Not so fast. It’ll taste even better after you build this beauty for your deck or patio. We sized our cedar ice chest around an off-the-shelf 50-quart plastic cooler. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Made of cedar, the box features a brass spigot to take the heavy lifting out of draining melted ice, a stainless-steel continuous hinge for the lid, and a classic bottle opener right out front, sparing you that frantic hunt for a way to open your frosty beverage....

Choosing the right pattern to suit the shape of your brick walkway (and your skill level) can drastically reduce your work time. Popular Brick Patterns to Consider Running Bond Pattern Bricks are butted end to end with joints that fall in the middle of the brick on the next row. One of the sturdiest and easiest patterns to install, running bond only requires minimal cutting at each end and will easily follow a gentle curve....

Watch as Roger Cook visits a stone yard that makes stone walls in sections at their facility using a variety of natural field stone from disassembled old walls. Once the sections are built, Roger and Kevin O’Connor watch them get loaded onto the truck and taken to the project. In Newton, the crane lowers the sections right into place. One last stone is added over each seam and it looks like a traditional stone wall....

Steps for installing an antique switch Start by turning off the power to the light switch at the breaker and use the voltage tester to ensure the power is off. Remove the screws holding the cover plate in place using the flathead screwdriver. Remove the light switch by loosening the two screws holding it into the electrical box. These should be able to be removed using the Philips head. Loosen the screws on the side of the switch with the Philips head and unhook the wires wrapped around them....

Garage entry doors, fire doors, and some entrances in residential building complexes are often required to have some sort of automatic closing system to meet code. The idea is that if a car is running in the garage, fumes won’t enter the home. Or, if there is a fire in the room, the door is guaranteed to be shut. While spring-loaded hinges are usually the bare minimum, an automatic door closer is a major upgrade....

Steps for Planting Edible Foundation Choose the right plant for the right location. Check the nursery tags to see the final height and width of each plant and plan accordingly. Consider when plants will be in bloom and when there will be other interest from foliage and plant a garden so that there is always something to command attention. Stage plants before digging holes. Dig holes that are 2-3 times wider than the roots and don’t dig the hole too deep — keep it about 2” shallower than the root ball....

Steps for Installing a Smart Thermostat: Shut the power off and disconnect the old thermostat using the small flathead screwdriver. Ross suggests taking a picture of the wiring configuration to keep track of which wire goes where. Remove the wall screws holding up the thermostat before disconnecting the wiring to prevent the wires from falling into the wall. Mount the baseplate of the smart thermostat to the wall using the provided screws....

Top 5 Peel and Stick Wallpapers Best Striped Design: HaokHome Modern Stripe Peel and Stick Wallpaper Best Wood Design: Abyssaly Wood Self-Adhesive Paper Best Spotted Design: Tempaper Pepper Scout Designer Peel and Stick Wallpaper Simplest Design: NuWallpaper Grass Weave Peel and Stick Wallpaper Most Customizable: Abyssaly Silk Wallpaper Embossed Peel and Stick Wallpaper Best Striped Design: HaokHome Modern Stripe Peel and Stick Wallpaper Perfect for homeowners and renters, this peel and stick wallpaper from HaokHome has a striped chevron design that can fit in any room with modern decor....

Top 5 Shower Cleaners Best Foam Cleaner: Kaboom Foam-Tastic Bathroom Cleaner Best For Daily Maintenance: Scrub Free Daily Shower Cleaner Most Versatile: The Bucko Soap Scum and Grime Cleaner Best For Hard Water: Bioclean Hard Water Stain Remover Best For Glass Doors: Rain-X Shower Door Cleaner Best Foam Cleaner: Kaboom Foam-Tastic Bathroom Cleaner This Kaboom cleaner uses the power of OxiClean to reduce how much scrubbing you have to do. Once the foam turns from blue to white, it’s ready to be wiped away....

Top 5 Yoga Mats Best For Hot Yoga: Iodoo Cork Thick Yoga Mat The Iodoo Cork Yoga mat has a cork surface and a non-toxic rubber underside. The two materials create a non-slip, tear-resistant, sweat-absorbing, quick-drying, and aesthetically pleasing mat. While the mat is great for hot yoga, it also works well for a variety of other yoga and pilates exercises. Key Features 2.87 pounds Cork and rubber material 72 inches long by 32 inches wide by 0....

Regardless of what you’re in the market for, the Prime Early Access Sale runs from October 11–12 and has deals in almost every department. From kitchen products to bathroom essentials, to power tools to cleaning supplies, you can probably find a sale on a product you’ve been searching for or kickstart your holiday shopping early. Air Fryers We expect air fryers, such as the Philips Premium Airfryer to be on sale for the Prime Early Access Sale....

The cordless drill are a useful power tool that can help you perform a wide variety of tasks, from hanging a picture in your home to putting together a piece of furniture. One of the biggest advantages of cordless drills is that they’re powered by a lithium-ion battery, making them more portable than their corded counterparts. To help you decide which cordless drill best fits your needs, the This Old House Reviews team researched and tested five of the best cordless drills on the market, scoring them on metrics from ergonomics to power....

If you’re looking for a convenient cleaning tool, the This Old House Reviews Team is here to help. We researched the best cordless handheld vacuum cleaners and created a buyer’s guide to help you make an educated purchase. Here are our top selections. Top 5 Handheld Cordless Vacuums Best Filtration System: BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum Best Nozzles: BLACK+DECKER Handheld Vacuum Best Heavy-Duty Vacuum: BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum Best For Small Messes: Bissell AeroSlim Cordless Handheld Vacuum Most Lightweight: Eufy Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Best Filtration System: BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum Pros and Cons ✔ Features a large, easy-to-empty dirt bin Compare Top Handheld Cordless Vacuum Cleaners BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum...

Well-Traveled Bedroom A bedroom can cultivate more than sweet dreams. Take this inspiring retreat put together by designer Courtney Barton for her Houston home, and which is featured in the new book Carolyn Westbrook: Vintage French Style. “I don’t believe in going to a big-box retailer and buying a bunch of stuff that has no history just to fill a space,” says designer Westbrook. Illustrating that point, Barton filled the room with eclectic finds from her travels: a colorful patterned rug from India, fabric shades that suggest French ticking, block-print pillows that nod to the Greek isles, and Federal-style beds unearthed at a New York estate sale....

Foundation walls are surprisingly complicated things — they have to hold up the weight of the house, resist the pressure from the ground surrounding them, and keep the basement dry and warm. That’s why building codes are so strict about them, and that’s why they require so much painstaking planning. Even so, not every foundation is a decade in the making. Update: Installation Complete The foundation wall panels were installed on July 1....

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows how to build a brick patio. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for building a brick patio Take up all old bricks and paving stones from the patio, then use a shovel to remove 7 inches of soil from the area. Run a gas-powered plate compactor over the area to tamp down the ground. Spread out 2 inches of graded base, then compact the area....

Last summer, my husband and I renovated our outdoor space and really brought our backyard to life—literally, as we added many more plants. This year, we’re excited to enjoy the big flower heads on the new hydrangeas and the privacy provided by the tall ornamental grasses around our patio. But we’re realizing that we’ll be doing a lot more watering, too. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time To help with that, I built a cedar box with a reel inside that will let me deploy the hose when it’s needed and neatly wind it up—and hide it away—when it’s not....