Previous episode: S20 E22 | Next episode: S20 E23 In this episode: General contractor Tom Silva takes us back through time and tells us how he became a general contractor. Growing up in a house full of people who worked with their hands, his role as chief on a construction site seems pre-determined. Tom tells the whole story from being a little kid breaking things with his dad’s hammer to how he got his start on This Old House....
Think about it: The way most households in this country heat water is absurdly wasteful. We fill up big 40- to 50-gallon storage tanks, then pour energy into them 24/7, year in and year out, to make sure we have hot water at the ready whenever we want it. But often it doesn’t work out that way. If a teenager takes a long shower, or a spouse settles in for a tub soak, there can be a long wait for that emptied tank to reheat....
Largest Charcoal Smoker: Dyna-Glo Charcoal Smoker This smoker has 1,176 square inches of cooking space if you want to stuff it full with all of the meats and vegetables you need for your meal. You can orient the cooking space to your preference using the six adjustable grates. Its porcelain-enameled steel chamber keeps the charcoal stacked tightly, and its analog thermometer keeps track of the cooking temperature. Key Features 34.52 by 20....
Mudrooms present an opportunity to add some extra fun to comings and goings. So when Toronto interior designer Sarah Richardson chose colors for this entry at her country house, she went for something refreshing—Glidden’s Lakefront Blue—as an unexpected accent. “Giving doors a bold color extends a warm welcome, and adds visual impact in a room that does not allow for a lot of furniture and soft elements,” says Richardson, who also likes painted surfaces, such as the white shiplap here, for their wipeability....
Getting a home appraisal is one of the most important steps in selling or refinancing your home. The analysis performed by a qualified appraiser determines the fair market value for the residence, taking into consideration the quality of construction, current condition of the home, and even the recent selling prices of nearby properties. When a home appraisal comes back lower than anticipated, it can throw a wrench into your plans. However, there are a few tricks you can use to offset the impact of a low home appraisal....
In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and host Kevin O’Connor explain how to clean up mold. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for cleaning up mold: 1 When mold is present on drywall and other hard-to-clean surfaces, hire an environmental expert to replace the moldy areas.2 If mold is found on house framing, use a vacuum fitted with a HEPA filter to remove the excessive gross mold....
In this video, Kevin O’Connor meets master electrician Heath Eastman at the shop to discuss the different types of voltages testers and their uses. Heath has four types of testers to show Kevin, including a non-contact pen tester, a full-size multimeter, a miniature multimeter, and a plug-in tester. Heath explains how each tester works, which scenarios they’re best for, and how he uses them in his work line. Types of Electric Voltage Testers Contactless Voltage Tester A contactless voltage tester is shaped like a pen or marker, and it can indicate whether a wire or outlet has voltage feeding it....
OFFICIAL RULES NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN Sponsor: This Old House New Yankee Workshop Insider Giveaway (“Giveaway”) is sponsored by This Old House Ventures, LLC, 262 Harbor Drive, Stamford, CT 06902 (“Sponsor”). Giveaway Entry Period: The Giveaway starts at 12:00:01 AM Eastern Time (ET) on Monday, April 1, 2019 and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on Sunday, April 21, 2019 (“Giveaway Entry Period”). A Day starts at 12:00:01 AM ET and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET each calendar day of the Giveaway Entry Period....
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 9 Best Hotel Pillows Supportive. The right height. Makes you feel good. No, we aren’t talking about the most desirable qualities in a life partner. Rather, the perfect hotel pillow. After all, a bad pillow can easily stifle what would be a night’s restful sleep....
Bigger isn’t always better but creating the illusion of a more open space might help. Galley kitchens have a U-shaped layout that offer supreme style and functionality for small spaces. We share 9 ways you can design your small kitchen to brighten up the space. Galley Kitchen Ideas and Layout Considerations 1. Balance Aisle Space, Light, and Storage For maximum efficiency when short on space, this layout excels. Its two parallel counters make all points of the work triangle equally accessible....
Heavy rain and melted snow runoff can come in through cracks or leaks in the foundation, where it can warp floorboards, rust appliances, and turn finished rooms into mildewed messes. Fortunately, regrading or rerouting can correct most drainage problems. How to Waterproof Your Basement Exterior basement waterproofing To prevent water from leaking through your foundation, gutters are your first line of defense. While gutter-and-downspout systems protect your house from precipitation, they can also compound drainage problems by concentrating roof runoff at a house’s corners, close to the foundation....
Tips for Planning an Outdoor Party 1. Notify the neighbors Write a note letting them know you’ll be expecting guests. Include your phone number for them to use in case the noise becomes a bother. 2. Beat the heat Put out misters and fill a basket with accordion or paddle fans to help guests stay cool. 3. Ward off bugs Set up fans if mosquitoes are a problem—they can’t stand the breeze....
If you’re shopping for a DIYer in your life, or just are seeking to find great deals to improve your home, Black Friday is a great time to shop and find discounts on home improvement supplies. To help you find the best home improvement products for you, we’ve gathered up the best Black Friday deals on tools, electronics, and other home improvement items. American Standard Aqua Wash Bidet Seat If you missed out on this deal, here are our top three alternatives:...
Why don’t builders use 5/8-inch fire-code drywall throughout the entire house? I’d certainly pay a premium over standard drywall to have a more fire-resistant structure. —Steve Miller, Sylvan Lake, MI. Using Fire-Rated Drywall The 5/8-inch, “fire-code” drywall (called Type X) increases a wall’s fire rating to a minimum of 1 hour, from the 30-minute rating for standard ½-inch drywall. And it’s not just thickness that makes the difference. Type X has a denser core and contains glass fibers that keep it from crumbling in the heat....
Steps: Start by removing the old stair railing. If it’s a more traditional wooden railing, this will probably require removing screws and cutting some of the railing away with a reciprocating saw. For structure, it might be possible and helpful to keep the newel post in place. Place the newel post cover over the existing post. Measure to determine its height. Cut the newel post to size using the miter saw....
Before you paint aluminum siding, clean the surface thoroughly and prime the siding with one coat of acrylic primer. Then, paint with two coats of acrylic paint. In this video, TOH expert shares his tips and demonstrates how you clean and prepare the surface for painting. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Painting Aluminum Siding 1. Inspect the Siding for Mildew, Powdery Paint Pigment, and Mildew Rub siding with cloth to check for powdery paint pigment and mildew....
There are many ways that paint might end up on a concrete surface. Kids can spill while fingerpainting. A DIY spray paint project might produce overspray. Nail painting during an at-home spa day on the patio might involve a few drips. Whatever the case, these stains can’t stay, and this guide on removing paint from concrete will help. How to Remove Paint from Concrete using Acetone One way to remove paint from concrete is to use acetone, which works well for oil-based, acrylic, and enamel paints....
In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva fixes a fractured foundation. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Repairing a crack in a concrete foundation Fill the void inside the concrete block with triple-expanding foam insulation. Wait 10 minutes for the foam to cure. Use hammer and cold chisel to widen crack in wall. Then move outdoors and repeat, widening the crack on the exterior of the wall. Use a drill and mixing paddle to mix mortar and water in a 5-gallon bucket....
Procrastination can be more than just a bad habit; it can be downright dangerous if it means you’re stalling radon testing for your home. Radon is a tasteless, odorless invisible gas—which comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water—that can seep into homes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon contamination causes nearly 20,000 deaths a year. Thing is, you can test for and “fix” this very serious problem quite easily....
For the second half of our 40th television season, This Old House is returning to Brookline, Massachusetts, to renovate a mid-century modern home for a family of three. New apprentices Erick Ellison and Carly Comitino were selected in our third Generation NEXT search to find aspiring apprentices to learn alongside the TOH crew. Learn more about our new apprentices below. Erick Ellison Erick Ellison is a 27-year-old from Plains, Montana, who wants to transform his basic understanding of carpentry into the know-how he needs to one day become the business owner of a community workshop and tool rental company....
