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Top 4 Screwdriver Sets Best Case: DEWALT Screwdriver Bit Set Best Basic Set: Craftsman Screwdriver Set Best Comprehensive Set: HORUSDY 101-Piece Magnetic Screwdriver Set Most Customizable: ORIA Precision Screwdriver Kit Best Case: DEWALT Screwdriver Bit Set This screwdriver set comes in a hard plastic carrying case that can be stacked with other DEWALT cases. The case has slots to store each of the 71 pieces and a locking, transparent lid to make viewing and transporting the pieces easy....

The varied technology we have today for mechanically heating and cooling indoor spaces is truly amazing: furnaces that are nearly 100% efficient at extracting heat from fuel, and heat pumps that use the earth as a heat source or heat sink, for example. But there are a few constants that apply to all heating and cooling systems and it’s good to keep these in mind as you evaluate options. The thermostat is the first constant....

After recently upgrading my table saw, I figured it was time to create a brand new workspace for it, as well. In part one of this six-part series, I’ll demonstrate how to create the foundation for the ultimate mobile workbench. Later, in the videos to follow, I’ll show you some of the great additions you can make to complement its functionality. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time At 4x8 feet, this larger work surface will make a great out-feed table....

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook dresses up a block wall with stone-veneer panels. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for applying stone veneer: Use a pressure washer fitted with a paint-stripping tip to blast the concrete wall clean of all stain, paint and dirt. Remove any remaining stain or paint from the wall with a right-angle grinder fitted with wire brush. Thoroughly dry the wall with an electric leaf blower....

Tom Silva and host Kevin O’Connor meet back at the shop to discuss drawing ellipses. After showing Kevin a jig he built, Tom gives him a quick lesson on how to draw perfect ellipses with just two nails, a string, and a pencil. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How To Draw an Ellipse Drawing accurate ellipses can be tricky, as they often come out uneven or slightly lopsided. However, if you need to draw a quick ellipse to make a template or guide, this method will help....

Every toilet tank has only a few components that can fail and cause the toilet to stop operating properly: the flush valve, and the fill valve. If there’s a failure with the flush valve, it’s possible that the attached rubber flapper has worn off or isn’t sitting properly in the opening. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Replacing a Flapper Valve Check the slack on the chain connecting the flapper to the lever....

Setting a strong foundation for your fence starts with the anchoring down the posts. How Deep Should a Fence Post Be? For an average fence post, about 6 to 8 feet tall, prepare to dig a post hole about 2 feet deep. To install a fence post, you’ll need a shovel or post digger, a 6-foot level, soil, and gravel or crushed stone. For gateposts, you’ll need concrete too. How to Install a Fence Post in 5 Steps Begin by digging the post holes with a shovel or posthole digger....

BEFORE | Old, Wood Cabinetry The key to keeping renovation costs low? Being flexible with materials that can be found for a steal. Take it from Sheena Tobin, who set out to update the kitchen of her Mobile, AL, rental home while sticking to a strict $150 budget. Wanting a cheerier space in which to cook for her family of six, she kicked off the project by stripping the dreary striped wallpaper, removing the dated scalloped valance above the sink, and prepping the walls and cabinets for a white-and-green color scheme....

With an array of hammers laid out in front of them, Tom Silva walks Kevin O’Connor through the different types of hammers, what they’re typically used for, and their strengths and weaknesses. Tom even explains how to choose the best handle, when to use a smooth face over a waffled face, and a nifty built-in feature for one-handed nail setting. Handle Materials Matter There are three main types of hammer handles: wood, steel, and fiberglass....

Camila asks general contractor Tom Silva if they can work with her little brother, Jasper, to build another project. Happy to hang around for another job, Tom gets to work with the siblings building a birdhouse from one of the plans in the book. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How To Build a DIY Kids’ Birdhouse This block represents the front of the birdhouse. Measure 6 1/4 inches from the end of a 1x5 and mark the distance....

Among turf care experts, it’s a well-known fact that the best way to ensure a thick, green, and healthy lawn in the spring is to give it some well-timed care in the fall—in other words, right now. But according to Scott Frith, CEO of Lawn Doctor, a lawn care company with more than 200 franchises around the country, many homeowners make the same basic mistakes before grass goes dormant, and then wonder why their grass isn’t doing better the following year....

Whether you have a wood-burning or gas fireplace, it’s important to maintain it by completing some basic tasks year-round and annually getting it checked by a professional. You’ll be extending the life of your fireplace—and more importantly, you’ll be keeping yourself and your family safe. How to Maintain Your Fireplace How you maintain your fireplace will largely depend on the type you have: wood-burning or gas. It takes more effort to maintain a wood-burning fireplace....

Would it be a good idea to insulate the ceiling of our unheated basement? I’m hoping that would make it easier to heat our living quarters. —Frances Stout, Hillsdale, N.J. Tom Silva replies: Any time you insulate, you’re making your home more energy efficient and comfortable, but the gain may not be worth the expense and effort. Here’s what’s involved in this case. First, you’ll have to maneuver batts of insulation around the clutter of wires, pipes, and cross bracing in a typical basement ceiling....

There are times we all need to work with plywood, but the exposed rough edge is typically less than desirable. Watch as This Old House DIY Expert and House One Editor Jenn Largesse shares three easy ways to conceal plywood edges. 1. Apply Wood Filler The first and most obvious way to cover a plywood edge is with wood filler. The key is to create a solid surface that can be sanded to hide the roughness of a typical plywood edge....

While most homeowners will invest in strong locks and advanced security for the exterior doors of their home, it won’t occur to them to provide the same protection for their overhead garage door. Yet, most burglars will simply target the easiest entry point—and for many homes, that’s the garage. If you haven’t already, it’s time to consider beefing up your garage door security. Here are some steps you can take to better protect that area....

Here’s a dirty little secret: Despite your best washday efforts, some of your clothes and linens may not be as clean as they could be. Indeed, the way you wash can contribute to this less-than-fresh condition. That’s where laundry stripping might help. An old-school practice that’s gotten renewed attention lately, laundry stripping refers to a soaking treatment that can banish hidden gunk and grime that regular machine washing may not rinse out entirely....

Previous episode: S43 E39 | Next episode: S44 E2 In this episode: It’s the start of a new project in South Atlanta, GA located in one of the last neighborhoods to go through urban renewal. The 1890s Victorian once belonged to Luther Judson Price, the first black postmaster general in Atlanta and a prominent figure in his community for his work with civil rights. The This Old House team takes in the neighborhood, including a nearby old building that once served as a general store, post office, and home to Mr....

Whether in a home office, bedroom, or living room, bookshelves are handy for storing and displaying books and decorations. But before you grab a saw and begin a DIY bookshelf project, there are a variety of factors to consider. First and foremost, the wood you use for making bookshelves will impact the design as well as the cost of your project. ¾-inch plywood is considered the industry standard, thanks to it being strong yet inexpensive—especially when compared with some solid woods....

At the TOH 2020 Idea House on the Cape, interior designer Denise Enright wanted to create a fresh twist on a traditional Cape Cod cottage. “Given our coastal location, I felt the need to incorporate some sandy neutrals and watery hues. But I really wanted to steer clear of the typical ‘beachy’ palette,” says Enright. Enter the Williamsburg® Paint Color Collection by Benjamin Moore. Together with preservationists at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Benjamin Moore’s chemists and color experts examined 18th-century wallpaper, original paint samples, and historical documents to accurately re-create colors found in early American design, to curate a collection of 144 beautifully nuanced colors—a timeless palette that is both historic and distinctly modern....

Functional but Drab It’s every homeowner’s dream to spend less and get more when remodeling, but it takes an experienced eye to deliver that kind of design magic. John Shumaker liked that the master bath that came with his 1990s home in Brunswick, GA, had a good size and good bones. Two linen closets, a big double vanity, and a separate shower and tub helped the room function to the max....