Choosing a grout for your tile project can be intimidating—the choices only seem to multiply. To suss out a grout’s type, look for its A118 standard on the package label or online data sheet. Premixed grouts don’t have this standard—yet. Cement-based Grouts These traditional, tried-and-true grouts come in powder form; they’re mixed with water or a water-based polymer, and harden as the cement reacts with it. Where to Use It:...
Today I’m sharing an easy technique that uses a router to create a perfect circle cut. It can be very difficult to create a perfectly circular cut with a jigsaw. Luckily, there’s another easy way to cut a circle using a router and a simple DIY circle jig. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time By replacing the footplate of the router with a board, and inserting a pivot point (I used a nail) a router can cut almost any size circular cut....
If the goal of most interior paint jobs is an even, uninterrupted backdrop devoid of bumps and brushstrokes, the idea here is something else again. Like an Abstract Expressionist painting, this wall has movement and visual texture. “The idea was inspired by old chateau walls with layers of paint and plaster, and by lime-washed walls and Venetian plaster,” says Annie Sloan, the British decorative painter and entrepreneur who details this project in her most recent book, Annie Sloan Paints Everything (CICO Books)....
Getting Started This 1890s wooden-frame home on Bogard Street is a mesh of house styles: not-quite-a-shotgun meets not-quite-a-single-house, the signature Charleston home style that the TOH crew worked on during the Spring 2018 season of the show on PBS. (The crew worked on two houses this season; read more about the other featured home here.) Homeowner Judith spent her childhood visiting her grandparents in the home shown here and is now working on the remodel with her wife, Julia....
This article appeared in the Fall 2022 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. From the moment we stepped into this house, I was redesigning everything,” says architect Derek Rubinoff, who, along with his wife, Robyn Marder, loved their home’s Victorian character but knew the house needed an overhaul. Its history as a two-family home had left behind some significant layout dysfunctions, including a bare-bones kitchen with its sink in the pantry and unattached lower and upper cabinets sitting on the floor....
The advantages of metal roofs are tough to ignore. They’re strong, able to survive hurricanes, hail, and wildfires. They’re durable, enjoying a life span of up to 50 years or more. They can save energy, thanks to their ability to reflect the sun’s heat. And properly installed, they need virtually no upkeep. In America, copper and lead roofs appeared on important public buildings beginning in the 18th century, including New York’s City Hall in 1764....
CONCORD, Mass., MAY 6, 2022 — The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the nominees for the 49th Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards, and This Old House scored two nominations – including “Outstanding Instructional and How-To Program,” and a nomination for “Outstanding Daytime Program Host” for Kevin O’Connor. All time, This Old House, along with its sister show, Ask This Old House, has received 119 Emmy nominations and won 20 Emmys overall....
Textured Neutral If you want to stick with a neutral color scheme but are afraid of the room feeling bland, add texture. This peel-and-stick wallpaper is actually smooth to the touch, but appears to be textured strands of blue, gray, and cream tones. RoomMates RMK11078WP Peel and Stick Wallpaper Exposed Brick Exposed brick can be a pain: to find in a home or apartment, to maintain, and to decorate. This smooth vinyl wallpaper allows you to add that look wherever you’d like....
For almost a decade, Cara and Michaela Hardy shared the attic of their family’s 1925 Colonial near Boston. At one end of the room sat their beds, tucked under the sloping ceiling. At the other stood their desks and a table with two American Girl armoires, which held the sisters’ collections of doll accessories. “They really did get along,” recalls their mother, Ann Hardy. But by this past summer, with Cara 13 and Michaela 10, a different routines had set in, it was time to give them their own spaces....
Heath starts by explaining the purpose of a ground wire To complete an electric circuit, power must be sent from the panel, through the hot wire, and back through the neutral wire. Under normal operating circumstances, the electric devices in a home should work without issue. If a device faults, meaning that the current in the circuit strays from the path for a variety of circumstances (water near exposed wires, two wires touching, etc....
Summer is the season for backyard barbecues, days at the beach and family vacations. Unfortunately, your toilet sweating is another sign of the season. In fact, every summer millions of homeowners have to deal with toilets that perspire puddles of water onto the floor. This problem is much more than just a mild annoyance: Condensation running down the toilet can seep under the flooring, rot the plywood subfloor and soak into the floor joists....
One of the great things about wall-to-wall carpeting is that its surface is completely smooth and wrinkle-free. If you’ve ever watched carpet being installed, you know that it didn’t get flat on its own–the installers had to wrestle it into its state of repose with special stretching tools. Carpet Stretching Tools The two main tools are the aptly named power stretcher and the knee kicker. Both have flat, aluminum heads that are fitted with rows of adjustable steel teeth, angled forward so they can better bite into the carpet....
Adding a jetted tub to a bathroom takes careful planning, followed by installation details that closely follow the instructions provided by the tub manufacturer. Because jetted tubs come in different types and different sizes, take the time to find a model that suits the space you have in the bathroom. When evaluating your choices, be sure to look at the overall dimensions and the finished photos. Jetted tubs are heavier than standard tubs (especially when full of water), so you’ll also need to make sure the floor framing in your bathroom can support this extra weight....
Top 5 Desk Lamps Best Metallic Finishes: LEPOWER Metal Desk Lamp Best Lampshade Colors: Limelights Stick Charging Outlet Table Lamp Most Mobile: iVict Clip-On Desk Lamp Best Value: Simple Designs Basic Flexible-Hose Desk Lamp Best Charging Lamp: AFROG LED Desk Lamp Best Metallic Finishes: LEPOWER Metal Desk Lamp This metal lamp is both functional and stylish, as it comes in several metallic finishes and has an adjustable gooseneck. Furthermore, this lamp’s switch is conveniently located at the front of the base, saving you from having to reach across the top to turn the light on or off....
Top 5 Granite Sealers Best Multipurpose Sealer: Weiman Disinfectant Granite Daily Clean and Shine Best Penetrating Sealer: Aqua Mix Sealer’s Choice Gold Best For Small Surfaces: TriNova Granite Sealer and Protector Best Instructions: Granite Gold Water-Based Sealer Best Quantity: Black Diamond Stoneworks Cleaner and Sealer Best Multipurpose Sealer: Weiman Disinfectant Granite Daily Clean and Shine In addition to killing germs, this 24-ounce spray bottle of granite sealer also cleans spills and prevents future ones from seeping into the surface....
In-ground and above-ground pools are expensive and a hassle to maintain. For an affordable, easy alternative, consider an inflatable pool. It inflates and fills in a short amount of time, giving you a temporary way to cool down on a hot summer afternoon. Top 5 Inflatable Pools Best Baby Pool: Intex Sunset Glow Baby Pool Best Large Pool: AsterOutdoor Inflatable Swimming Pool Best Play Center: Intex Fun ‘n Fruity Inflatable Play Center Best Lounger: Jasonwell Inflatable Tanning Pool Lounger Float Best for Families: Intex Inflatable Family Lounge Pool Best Baby Pool: Intex Sunset Glow Baby Pool Pros and Cons ✔ Features pink, yellow, green, and blue colors✔ Includes a repair patch to quickly address holes✔ Made of a durable and long-lasting vinyl material...
Gambrel Roof Addition Within hours of moving into their renovated house, Scott and Shayla Adams and their two daughters felt right at home. There was food on the table, toys were spread out in the playroom—and even more toys spilled into the living area. But that’s just what Shayla had envisioned. “I knew I wanted the main living area to have an open floor plan. Now I can stand in the kitchen and be part of the action while the girls play,” she says....
The beauty of spring bulbs isn’t just in the flowers that bloom. They’re also about the easiest kind of garden you can grow. Dig a hole, sprinkle in some fertilizer, put them in the ground now (and up until early December in warm Southern climates), add water, and pretty much forget about them. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time They’ll start establishing roots in fall’s cool, moist soil, then lie dormant over the winter until spring’s warmer temperatures and frequent rains prompt them to sprout....
Have a humdrum porch? A basic patio or a neglected deck? Some simple additions—a hanging swing, mood lighting, a vintage find or two—are all it takes to transform an ordinary outdoor space into an open-air living room that adds value and comfort to your home year-round. Outdoor Room Design Ideas 1. Rustic swing Encourage guests and family members to sway on a slatted-wood porch swing. This one is hung with sturdy ropes, rather than chains, for a natural look....
‘Lucifer’ Crocosmia Deer are creatures of habit. Once they’ve claimed your garden as their favorite lunch spot, it’s difficult to persuade them otherwise. And while there are all manner of foul-smelling repellents and deterrent devices out there, perhaps the best solution is simply to landscape with plants that deer don’t like to eat. That’s easier said than done, of course. Many garden stalwarts—including roses, daylilies, tulips, rhododendrons, and hostas—are favorites of deer, too....
