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The Purpose of Grout When grout does its job — locking tiles tight, keeping out water, and giving floors and walls a finished look — nobody pays much attention. It’s only when grout fails, becoming stained, cracked, or falling out altogether, that people take notice. But grout deserves more respect. “Not only does grout fill the voids, it makes the floor, wall, or countertop stronger by bonding the tiles together and preventing the edges of a tile from chipping and cracking,” says David Goodman, the tile contractor for This Old House’s Nantucket project....

A deck adds outdoor living space to a house. Whether it is used to host the social event of the season, to have a family meal, or just to relax and watch the sunrise or sunset, a deck is a valuable part of many houses. Deck Construction Until about fifteen years ago, decks were considered structures that anyone could build, and just about anyone built them. Investigations of deck failures, and research into deck construction practices, have shown that decks are more complicated than people realized....

Vornado Heater with Auto Climate Control If you’d like to compare other heaters on sale, take a look at these options: Vornado Heater with Auto Climate Control $85 $100 16% off Prices taken at time of publishing. If you have rooms that don’t warm up, no matter how high you set your thermostat, this indoor electric space heater can help. It has two heat settings controlled by a digital display and automatic climate control to maintain your desired temperature in any room....

When it comes to privacy, lighting control, and thermal protection, window blinds have you covered. To install blinds correctly, though, you should take care to select the right product and measure accurately. How to Choose the Right Blinds for Your Windows There are many types of blinds on the market, and they speak to various room requirements. Bedrooms, where you need dark, restful conditions, can benefit from light-blocking shades. Windows facing busy streets or areas open to the public may be best served by blinds that can be tilted to admit light but still provide privacy, like basic vinyl mini blinds....

In this video, Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how to permanently patch a decaying porch post. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for repairing a porch post: Unscrew and remove the handrail attached to the rotted porch post. Temporarily support the porch roof on either side of the rotted post with a hydraulic jack and a long 2x4 post. Use a reciprocating saw to cut the top of the post free from the overhead beam....

1. Stainless-Steel Micromesh No-rust 316-grade stainless steel woven into a micromesh with 30 or 50 holes per linear inch will exclude even tiny bits of pine duff and loose roofing granules. Water still passes through quite readily; it can handle a theoretical rainfall of up to 150 inches per hour. Ideally, the mesh is pitched so debris just slides off. 2. Anodized Aluminum Frame Without some underlying support, micromesh can sag over time and collect debris....

Rainwater Collection Systems “The population is growing, but the water supply is not,” says Bill Hoffman, a coordinator for the City of Austin Water Conservation Program, in Texas. That’s why people around the country are turning to the centuries-old practice of collecting rain as an alternative source of water. By collecting rain from a roof during wet months and storing it in a tank or cistern, homeowners can create an alternative supply that won’t tax the groundwater or jack up the water bill....

Are your living room walls lackluster? Is your concrete patio an eyesore? If so, you’re in good company: Even interior designers have style challenges like these­—and budgets that aren’t bottomless. We canvassed some of our favorite pros to see how they overcame problem areas at their own places without breaking the bank. The resulting projects aren’t just handsome, they’re also doable for the average DIYer. “I’m not a handy person, so I had to start from scratch ­figuring out materials, watching YouTubes, and asking for advice at The Home Depot,” says designer Max Humphrey, who gave a blah ranch interior his signature cabin-chic style....

Top 5 Shower Curtains Most Durable: ARICHOMY Shower Curtain Set Best Striped Curtain: Madison Park Spa Waffle Shower Curtain Best Customization: AmazerBath Plastic Shower Curtain Best Storage: MAYTEX Quick-Dry PEVA Shower Curtain or Liner Best Floral Curtain: Lush Decor Darla Ruched Floral Bathroom Shower Curtain Most Durable: ARICHOMY Shower Curtain Set This shower curtain is made of water-resistant and fast-drying polyester. It features rustproof grommets, a reinforced header, a weighted bottom, and other features that make it long-lasting and functional....

Denver is home to a range of year-round pests that can invade your home, damage your property, and pose a health risk to your family . Whether you’re worried about termites eating the wood in your house’s foundation in the summer or rodents chewing through your walls and wires during the winter, finding a trustworthy pest control company for regular service is an important step to protecting your home. The best pest control companies offer a range of coverage and treatment plans for customers in Denver....

Adding a water feature, like a pool, pond, or fountain, to your outdoor space can take relaxation to a whole new level. Check out these ideas to help create the oasis of your dreams. Backyard Ponds Happily, you don’t need deep pockets or lots of land to enjoy your own water feature. You can install a fully equipped, landscaped, fish-filled pond for around $500, provided that you do your own digging....

Tom has fond memories of learning to build furniture back in high school, and he recently showed up carrying one of his favorite projects: a small mahogany halfround table. Called a demilune—French for “half-moon”—this classic space-saving design can be traced back to the 18th century, when it became popular as an accent piece for narrow halls and entryways. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Building one offers a great opportunity to make a project that incorporates three tapered legs and a laminated, curved apron....

If you’re moving to a new house and want to take your hot tub with you, there are two basic options: hire a moving company (or add the tub to the list for the company that’s moving the rest of your belongings), or move it yourself… And I don’t mean try to move it all by yourself—you’ll need help, at least three or four friends with strong backs. An empty hot tub can weigh between 500 and 1000 pounds....

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey puts the mystery behind toilet seat replacements to rest. Richard shows host Kevin O’Connor how simple toilet seat replacements have become, with standard sizes and bolt patterns. He even explains how corrosion-free plastic hardware is very easy to work with during installation. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Toilet Seat Standards Toilet seats come in two standard varieties: oval and round. All oval toilet seats will fit oval toilets, and all-round seats fit round toilets....

Low flow, or low flush toilets, are high-efficiency toilets that reduce our water consumption per flush. They are worth it because they help you save water, and money, in your home. Low Flow Toilet History Contrary to popular myth, plumber Thomas Crapper did not invent the flush toilet. One of his contemporaries, though, did create the first toilet that prevented sewer gases from entering the home. Englishman Joseph Adamson’s 1853 design—the siphon flush—eventually made obsolete both the chamber pot and the outhouse....

A mere glance at “keep out of reach of children” label on most pesticides and herbicides and you’ll might find yourself worrying about harmful chemicals you’re spraying on your lawn. Instead, you can go organic and chemical-free to get a lush and healthier lawn. Here’s how you can break your lawn’s addiction to synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. How Do I Treat My Lawn Organically? The underlying philosophy behind organic lawn care is this: healthy, chemical-free soil begets robust lawns that can virtually take care of themselves....

If you cherish your privacy and want to ward off noise pollution from your street, planting evergreen privacy trees and shrubs around your yard is a great way to create a barrier between your home and the outside world. A line of evergreen trees or shrubs can provide year-round seclusion even better than a fence, because there are no municipal restrictions on how high they can grow. (Towns usually require permits for a fence over 6 feet tall....

Sponsored by Discover Personal Loans Does a new addition to your family have you thinking of a new addition for your house? Has your home business outgrown your kitchen table? Or maybe you need to open your home to an elderly relative who can’t navigate the stairs of your center-hall colonial. The fact is, our lives change—but our houses don’t, at least not on their own. If you want to stay in your home as your life progresses, you’ll probably consider remodeling....

Previous episode: S20 E35 | Next episode: S20 E37 In this episode: Paint expert Mauro Henrique explains how he became a painter, how he was introduced to the TOH crew, and his journey from Brazil to the United States. He tells us all about how it was never his goal to become a painter, but rather it was to become a carpenter. But, when the painter called in on a job that he was working on, his boss set him to work painting a room....

This article appeared in the Summer 2021 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. About This House Originally built in the Greek Revival style in the 1840s, and attributed to noted local carpenter Jacob Holt, this spacious house was remodeled as a Colonial Revival in the 1920s, when it gained its fine brick cladding and a front porch, now long gone. At that time it became home to Eugene Allen, the prominent owner of a building supply company, and his wife, Florence....