In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how to open up a wall for a large glass slider. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for installing a sliding glass door Use reciprocating saw to cut around the old window. Pull out the lower section of wall. Remove the old door and window from the wall. Use 12-pound sledgehammer to bust out concrete curb at bottom of wall opening....
If you’re looking for an outdoor project that’s a bit off the beaten path, a pebble mosaic will give your yard, garden, or walkway a unique and unexpected focal point. Though the materials to build it are pretty basic—flat pebbles or cobbles from a stone yard (or ordered online); concrete mix, gravel, and stone dust for the base—your design can be anything but. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time This Old House senior technical editor Mark Powers used 2- and 3-inch polished stones from Stone Decorative to create this spiral-pattern mosaic, which can be scaled up or down depending on the size of your site and the stones you select....
The wood in Most solid-wood furniture has been sawn, planed, peeled, and sanded into uniform planks, panels, and boards. That simplifies the building process, but obliterates virtually any sign that the material once came from trees growing in a forest. Not so with this console table. Its top is fashioned from two 2-inch-thick slabs sliced from the trunk of a Norway maple. The tree’s “live edges” are basically untouched—the bark was removed because it would fall off eventually—so they retain the natural undulations and wormholes that give this piece its distinctive character....
The prongs on extension-cord plugs are easily bent—and easily straightened with pliers. But after a few such re-straightenings, the metal can fatigue and snap off. When a plug’s life is over, it doesn’t mean you need to buy a new cord. How do you wire an extension cord plug? For about five bucks, you can attach a replacement plug. So, you don’t have to throw away that old extension cord, even if one of its prongs is broken....
A few years ago, we began to notice two closely related trends. First, each season’s heating bill was significantly higher than the previous season’s. Second, huge pyramid displays of portable space heaters began to appear in home centers, discount stores, appliance stores, and even chain drug stores. Most of us know how good heat from one of these small appliances feels when it’s sitting a few feet away. But portable heaters raise a number of questions as well....
No matter your age, it’s hard to resist going outside and throwing a frisbee when the weather is nice. Though all frisbees ultimately serve the same purpose, subtle differences in design greatly impact user experience. Explore our top frisbee recommendations, compare various key features, and get your burning frisbee questions answered below. Compare the Top Frisbees Top 5 Frisbees Most Versatile: Discraft Sport Disc Best For Nighttime: Nite Ize Light-Up Flying Disc Best Starter Option: Franklin Sports Flying Disc Best For Kids: Activ Life Kid’s Flying Rings Best For Dogs: ChuckIt!...
Back in the day, you had two options if you wanted to upgrade your walls: roll on a couple coats of wet paint or hang messy wallpaper with the hopes it goes on evenly. Neither of those options are easily reversed, and if you rented instead of owned, chances are you didn’t have any choice in home improvement. Fortunately, decorating options have come a long way and you can now dress walls up and down however and whenever you want with peel and stick wallpaper (a win for both homeowners and renters, yay!...
Top 5 Heat Guns Best Starter: BLACK+DECKER Heat Gun Best Accessories: Batavia Heat Gun Best for Crafting: Chandler Tool Heat Gun Most Portable: DEWALT Cordless Heat Gun Most User-Friendly: SEEKONE Heat Gun Best Starter: BLACK+DECKER Heat Gun Key Features Power: 1,350 watts Two temperature settings: 750–1,000 degrees Fahrenheit Power source: corded electric 9.3 x 3 x 9.6 inches What Customers Are Saying Durability, sturdiness, and versatility were among the callouts for this heat gun in its positive customer reviews....
San Diego weather has a reputation for being perfect, but that doesn’t mean southern California homeowners want to go through the summer without an air conditioner. Systems and appliances that get a lot of use, like HVAC systems, don’t last forever, and when they wear out, you can face high repair or replacement costs. However, if you have a home warranty that covers the item, you only need to pay a small service fee to get it fixed....
While homeowners insurance shields you from unexpected events, such as fires or floods, it doesn’t protect your major systems and appliances when they break down due to normal wear and tear. A home warranty is a service contract that protects items such as your refrigerator and air conditioning as they age, covering the costs of repairs and replacements. Having this policy in place helps ensure you’re not on the hook if your water heater suddenly breaks or your electrical system is on the fritz....
Smart thermostats are a growing trend, helping homeowners save on energy costs and become truly strategic with their heating and cooling use. Even in older homes, the installation process is simple and straightforward. Here’s how smart thermostats stack up against traditional ones and how to install one in your own home. How Do Smart Thermostats Work? Smart thermostats are hardwired just as traditional thermostats are, but you’ll also need a Wi-Fi connection to make them work remotely....
This project is made from ¾-inch plywood and consists of a base, two sides, four walls, and several optional dividers. One 4x8 sheet is enough to create everything except the base, which I created by joining some scrap pieces with pocket holes, screws, and glue. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Cut List & Template ¾” Plywood Base – 1 @ 34 ½” W x 24” D ¾” Plywood Back Wall – 1 @ 34 ½” W x 36 ½” H ¾” Plywood Middle Wall – 1 @ 34 ½” W x 25 3/8” H ¾” Plywood Middle Wall – 1 @ 34 ½” W x 16 5/8” H ¾” Plywood Front Wall – 1 @ 34 ½” W x 8 ¾” H ¾” Plywood Sides – 2 @ 25 ½” W x 36 ½” H ¾” Plywood Dividers – 2 @ 7” D x 1 ½” H Steps for Building DIY Scrap Wood Storage Step 1: Drill Pocket Holes To get started first drill pocket holes along the front and back edges of the base....
Should you drain your water heater? Yes. You should do it once a year, sometimes more if you have hard water, to prevent scaling and sediment from accumulating inside the tank. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Sediment sometimes looks like sand, but it is made up of minerals from your home’s water supply. These minerals don’t dissolve, and subsequently, turn into particles inside your unit. Unfortunately, this build-up can cause significant problems if left unchecked—costing you time and money by shortening the unit’s efficiency and functionality, and potentially causing the water heater to fail prematurely....
Everyone has outdated pieces of furniture floating around in their homes: they’re well-made or they may have sentimental value, but their color or finish is outdated. Updating these pieces of wood furniture with paint is inexpensive and is a very satisfying process. How to Prep and Spray Paint Wood The process listed below for prepping, priming and painting wood furniture is simple, straightforward and will be problem free, given that each step is done thoroughly and completely....
A shiny new sink, along with a new faucet and countertop, will jazz up a kitchen as much as new flooring and appliances, and for considerably less money. These days, it isn’t that difficult to install a new sink and faucet, thanks to fittings that simply screw or glue together—often without solder or torches. How Much Does it Cost to Install a Kitchen Sink? Between $50 to $300 depending on the size and type of the sink....
Historic Vestment Cabinet Restoration! Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) This Old House In this video, pro painter Nick Slavik is working on a vestment that is at least 80 years old. A vestment is a special cabinet where supplies for religious services are held. For this project, Nick has been asked to “tastefully clean and restore it” while keeping the patina. Nick explains that because most shellac finishes are alcohol based, you can “re-wet” the shellac with denatured alcohol, making it easier to get off....
Birth certificates, government IDs, passports, tax forms, and house deeds are some documents that still require physical—rather than digital—storage. The simple file cabinet is a smart addition to a home office, bedroom, basement, or garage that can keep your most important files safe and organized. Compare the Top File Cabinets Most Secure: DEVAISE Vertical File Cabinet Most Stylish: BirdRock Home Rolling File Cabinet Best Lateral Cabinet: Sauder Heritage Hill Lateral File Best Combination Storage: Yaheetech Lateral File Cabinet Most Secure: DEVAISE Vertical File Cabinet Pros and Cons ✔ Features a removable organizing tray for pencils, paper clips, and other office essentials✔ Comes with two keys in case you lose one✔ Includes two locking wheels...
Best For Dandelion Control: Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed If you’re tired of seeing more dandelions and clovers in your yard than green grass, consider this two-in-one fertilizer. It contains a powerful weed and feed solution that supplies your lawn with nutrients while killing existing dandelions and clovers. More so, it keeps these invasive weeds out of your lawn for the entire season. Key Features Comes in a 14.29-pound bag Treats up to 5,000 square feet Fertilizes grass and kills dandelions and clovers What Customers Are Saying Although customers who left positive reviews emphasized that you must carefully follow the instructions to get good results with this fertilizer, they said that their lawn thrived and was free of dandelions and clovers only weeks after the initial application....
Picture this: Your family is expanding, and so are your belongings. You’ve already maxed out your closet space and there’s little room left for your kids’ toys or your own clothes, let alone the memorabilia you’ve been saving all these years. Or maybe you’re downsizing to a smaller home but taking your belongings with you—and you have to find a way to make them all fit. If your house is outfitted with a basement, there are plenty of ways to get creative with DIY basement storage....
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. As you seek the best cooling mattress to help with banishing body heat, there are plenty of factors to consider. Some materials naturally allow more air to circulate to help cool you down. Others offer advanced cooling technologies, like gel beads or mineral infusions to help draw heat away from your body....
