In this video, This Old House host Kevin O’Connor shows how to fill gaps and make a space cozier and energy efficient. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Installing Fiberglass Insulation Set an unfaced fiberglass batt into the stud bay, tight to the top plate. Press the batt into place, but don’t compress it too tightly. Use a utility knife to trim the lower end of the batt along the bottom plate....
How do you make a simple cat bed for your feline friend? It’s easy—all you need is a woven basket, plywood, and some creativity and you’ve got the perfect place for kitty to rest and relax. Follow these steps: Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time DIY Cat Bed Directions: 1. Mark the Basket Size Place the basket onto the plywood. Using a pencil, mark the outline of the basket on the plywood....
You know that a pop of color on an accent wall is a great way to bring new hues into your palette. It makes a splash without pricey accessories or wall coverings. But why stop at one color when a striped pattern can pull in an entire array of cheerful options? All it takes is a little strategy. Read on to see how This Old House senior technical editor Mark Powers gets away with two rounds of taping to put up this five-stripe pattern....
Removing paint from metal isn’t difficult, but it can be tedious and potentially dangerous. Thankfully, there are many ways to strip paint from metal—including safe and eco-friendly ones—that will have your object looking as good as it did before someone decided to take a paintbrush to it. So, what’s the best paint remover for metal? A lot of it depends on the item. Consider the options below, before tackling your next project....
Steps: Hearing loss affects 30 million US adults and the damage is cumulative. Exposure to sounds over 85 decibels is considered harmful. A good rule of thumb is if you need to shout to talk to someone standing at arm’s length, you should be wearing hearing protection. Ear muffs block out mid-frequency sounds like general shop noise, but they don’t do as well with low-frequency sounds. Foam ear plugs will block both mid- and low-frequency sounds....
Steps: Fill an old pot with water and bring it to a simmer. It doesn’t necessarily need to boil. a. NOTE: Once you use this pot for stripping paint, do not use it for cooking food to prevent the risk of ingesting lead in the paint.2. Add a generous amount of baking soda to the simmering water.3. Drop the hardware into the pot and let it simmer for fifteen or so minutes....
As Home Technology Expert on Ask This Old House, Ross Trethewey is responsible for seeking out some of the coolest stories in home technology and bringing them to a national audience. You could say that Ross has This Old House in his blood. His grandfather Ron served as the plumber on the very first season in 1979, before Ross was even born. His father, Richard, has been known as the face of all things plumbing and HVAC to This Old House fans for four decades....
Most Customizable: Gorilla Grip Cutting Boards These three plastic and rubber boards measure 11.8 by 8 inches, 13.8 by 9.6 inches, and 16 by 11.2 inches. The rubber border and plastic cutting surface come in different color combinations to choose what you prefer and what matches your other kitchen tools. Key Features Three cutting boards: 11.8 by 8 inches, 13.8 by 9.6 inches, and 16 by 11.2 inches Made from plastic and rubber Juice grooves Reversible Dishwasher-safe What Customers Are Saying Customers liked the dishwasher-safe design and non-slip border of these cutting boards....
Top 5 Weed Killers Best For Gravel: RM43 43% Glyphosate Plus Weed Preventer Most Customizable: Spectracide Weed & Grass Killer Best For Multiple Weed Types: Roundup All-in-One Weed Killer For Lawns Best For Flower Beds: Ortho GroundClear Weed & Grass Killer Best Vinegar Weed Killer: Green Gobbler Weed & Grass Killer Best For Gravel: RM43 43% Glyphosate Plus Weed Preventer This weed killer contains 43% glyphosate. This ingredient kills any plants it comes into contact with, so it works best for weeds on pavement or gravel....
Steps: Download the HomeServe app from the App Store, GooglePlay, or via text message through their website. Scan the name plates on appliances in your home. You can usually find the name plate underneath or inside each appliance. The app will automatically download all relevant information, manuals, and warranty information. If an appliance experiences a malfunction, open that appliance in the app to learn some information about it to determine next steps....
In 2016, This Old House launched Generation NEXT—a multimedia campaign designed to help close the skilled labor gap in America by sparking interest in the trades as a rewarding career path and raising money (nearly $700,000 to date) with partners like American Standard to support trade school programs and scholarships for qualified students. As part of our ongoing commitment to the cause, we recruit apprentices to work alongside the TOH TV crew....
Few things are worse than returning home to the unpleasant smell of… dog? Cat litter box? Hamster cage? Do not fret. Here, we have a comprehensive guide to eliminating pet odors from your home. Preventing Pet Odors in Your Carpets and Furniture Nothing holds a doggy smell like fabric. The best way to keep your carpets and furniture from holding onto Fido’s funk is to prevent it from happening in the first place....
There are few things more annoying than a leaky faucet. It’s a constant reminder that you’re wasting water, plus the drip, drip, dripping sound is beyond irritating. Don’t put up with it—fix it! Repairing a leaky faucet is an easy and inexpensive project. The key is in knowing how to fix your particular type of faucet. What Causes a Faucet to Drip? There are four kinds of faucets: cartridge, compression, ceramic disk, and ball type....
If you’ve noticed the cost of new appliances, countertops, and cabinets, it’s no surprise that renovating a kitchen is one of the most expensive remodeling projects. While few homeowners find ways to boost the look of a dated refrigerator or tired granite, transforming a kitchen by freshening the cabinets that make up most of the room’s visual space is entirely within reach. But there’s more to the job than buying a gallon of your favorite color....
Not every home comes with large, expansive rooms, particularly an older one. If you feel like the walls are closing in the small rooms of your old house, try a few designer tricks to help your bedroom make a king-sized impression. From organizing your belongings to using the right colors, these ideas will give you that peaceful, easy feeling you need to fall asleep each night. How to Make a Small Bedroom Look Bigger Ever think that something is much bigger than it really is?...
Previous episode: S43 E23 | Next episode: S43 E25 In this episode: It has been a little bit of everything this week at the 1890s West Roxbury Victorian. The homeowners decided to match the new floors with the old, the interior trim is starting to go in, and the base cabinets and island are installed in the new modern kitchen. Kevin O’Connor gives builder Deliandro a hand installing the two-toned upper cabinets....
Previous episode: S44 E10 | Next episode: S44 E12 In this episode: The old bump is demolished in the back, and work is underway for the new three-story bump out-lots of changes outside and inside. The interior is fully demolished back to the studs in preparation for the new modern floor plan. With the third-floor attic turned into a livable space, a new staircase is needed to replace the old steep and narrow stairs....
TOH Takes D.C. On May 8th, This Old House played a key role in an event put together by senators and congressmen from both parties. Master carpenter Norm Abram, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Roger Cook, and apprentice Nathan Gilbert joined a panel discussion dubbed “Addressing the Skills Gap in America Through Apprenticeships.” Several This Old House Insiders were guests at the event—and got to meet the show guys, too!...
For people who love old houses — and love to work on them — the notion of buying a fixer-upper can be irresistible. Just think: You can snag a rundown place in a good neighborhood for way below market price, invest some time and money renovating it, and end up with a like-new house that’s worth at least twice what you paid for it. Sounds good, right? Often, it is. But buying a fixer-upper can be fraught with peril....
A bar can be the perfect addition to anyone’s basement. Here’s what you should keep in mind when planning your subterranean entertaining oasis. What’s Your Dream Bar Like? When you get past the daydreaming phase of basement bar construction, start making your dreams a reality by making a plan. Begin by formulating your bar element wish list. Do you want a place to just refill beers? Or would you like it to be an entertainment center in its own right, with a mounted TV (or TVs!...
