Steps for matching a paint color Start by checking the basement or the garage in case the previous homeowners left it behind. If you can locate a can, it should have the color noted on the lid. Try holding paint chips up to the wall to see if you can get a close match, though it’s unlikely you’ll be successful with this method. This is a ton of work and requires a back and forth between the paint store and the room being painted....
Net-Zero One summer Sunday, as they reluctantly prepared to corral their two boys and hit the road at the end of another weekend at the Jamestown, Rhode Island, beach house they shared with their extended family, Don and Dana Powers confronted the question: “Why don’t we live how we really want to live?” Shown: All-new systems will enable the renovated house to use only as much energy as it produces....
Can I Install a Pellet Stove Myself? A pellet stove requires some expertise to install, if you have some carpentry skills to cut holes in the house for venting you’ll be able to do it yourself. Otherwise, it’ll likely be better to get some professional help. In this video we walk you through a pellet stove installation from start to finish so you know what to expect. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Venting a Pellet Stove To vent this pellet stove, you’ll need to cut out a hole either in the wall or roof of your house depending on where you place the stove....
This article appeared in the Summer 2022 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. Check back soon to see the video for this story. Finish Nailers Have Specific Purposes Finish nailers are ideal for trimming windows and doors, hanging crown molding, or fastening delicate woodworking pieces. But the reality is that one nailer can’t handle it all. Large nailers will split small pieces of trim, while small pin nailers won’t have the holding power to keep a molding in place....
Visiting the Las Vegas Convention Center for the National Hardware Show means checking out booth after booth to find the most innovative tools, gadgets, and gear. Since the first event in 1945, the National Hardware Show has been ground zero for manufacturers rolling out new ideas for indoor and outdoor home-improvement products. This year was no exception, with a mix of inventive products from both established and small independent brands. See our top picks for tools and other gadgets from this year’s NHS event....
A home’s foundation is one of the most important components of its functionality. A strong foundation distributes the weight of a house and all its contents, secures the property in place, prevents cracking, keeps groundwater out, and withstands environmental conditions. Atlanta experiences a variety of conditions that lead to foundation problems. For example, the city experiences hot and humid summers with wet winters, which causes red clay soil to expand and contract, causing foundation settlement and cracking in your home’s walls....
Between high winds and flooding, homeowners insurance is a vital purchase in Miami. However, this insurance won’t cover damage to home appliances and systems that happens outside of a natural disaster. If your air conditioner breaks down simply because it’s old and has to work hard, you’ll be on the hook for expensive repair or even replacement bills. This is where a home warranty is most useful. These residential service contracts cover the costs of repairing or replacing covered home systems and appliances....
If you’re looking for a home security system in Denver, the This Old House Reviews Team is here to help. We created a comprehensive review of the best home security systems in Denver based on important factors like connectivity options, pricing, and more. Read on to learn about our top home security recommendations and find a home security system that’s right for your Denver, Colorado, home. Top 5 Best Home Security Systems in Denver ADT: Best Overall Vivint: Best for Smart Home Integration SimpliSafe: Best for Easy Installation Frontpoint: Best for Smartphone Integration Abode: Best for Customization Compare Home Security Companies ADT Home Security ADT combines 24/7 professional monitoring and high-quality security equipment into a variety of packages....
This article appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. Your dog loves that you’re spending more time at home these days. And sometimes a mid-afternoon game of fetch across the living room is a welcome break from work. But there are other times—if you’re out running errands or you just need some space—when it’s better to keep your pet in a trouble-free spot....
Fall means vibrant red, orange, and yellow foliage, lots of pumpkins, and refreshingly cool temps. But, it also means winter isn’t far away. From looking after your exterior to maintaining your heating system, here are a few projects that can help your home brace for the cold and save you some cash. Getting Your Home Ready for Fall Get your entry ready for guests Unfortunately, a door’s weather seals, if it has any at all, can rip, compress, bend, or wear out over time, leaving chilly winter air free to enter (or expensive air-conditioned air to leave)....
Steps for cleaning paintbrushes Don’t over-dip the paintbrush while in use. Dip the brush into the paint only about two fingers wide. Begin cleaning a paintbrush immediately after use. Hold the brush bristles-side-down and run it through a sink with warm water. If there is still paint residue, add a little bit of soap and continue to run the brush through your fingers. If there is still paint residue after that, use a scour pad and gently brush it off the bristles....
Dan Gibbon may have spent the last three and a half decades around Wisconsin’s flat farmlands, but the lapping waters of Lake Superior, where he grew up, were always on his mind. So recently he got out the shovel and started making a pond. His wife, Gloria, had her doubts (“I wasn’t that excited with the idea of digging up the backyard,” she says). But her hesitance melted away when she saw the fruits of Dan’s labor....
It’s bad enough to have to get up in the morning, let alone get up and experience the icy shock of a cold floor. What you need is some warmth underfoot, a little cushion as you pad across the house. Enter cork. Resilient yet durable, stylish yet earthy, a natural cork floor can turn any cool room into a cozy haven. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Does Cork Make Good Flooring?...
There’s no better, or less expensive, way to do get closer to nature than to incorporate houseplants into your home. If your space lacks natural light, though, that can be tricky. But not impossible. To up the green in your life, try growing a few of these low-light houseplants in your home. Best Low-Light Plants Cast-iron plant—aspidistra elatior Native to China and a member of the lily family, the cast-iron plant is as strong as, well, cast iron....
Most Compact: Betty Crocker Countertop Pizza Maker Key Features Meant for indoor use Uses electricity Weighs about six pounds Makes 12-inch pizzas Includes a one-year warranty What Customers Are Saying Customers who left positive reviews for this pizza oven liked that it was versatile and easy to clean. They also appreciated how quickly it preheated and cooked their dishes, taking less time than a standard oven. However, those who left negative reviews claimed that it got so hot that it sometimes burned their food....
Even the most well-manicured lawns and gardens can be susceptible to weeds and pests. A chemical sprayer may be able to help you get the beautiful yard you’ve worked hard on. Chemical sprayers can be used for landscaping, washing, and painting. The This Old House Reviews Team shares more details on the best chemical sprayers below. Top 6 Chemical Sprayers Best Backpack Sprayer: Chapin International 4-Gallon Backpack Sprayer Best Entry-Level: Chapin International 1-Gallon Home Garden Sprayer Best Sprayer Grip: D....
Whether it’s greasy food splatters on the stovetop, grime gathering on shower tile, or kids tracking mud across the floor, it’s easy to figure out the source of most household messes. Dust, in comparison, seems mysterious. It creeps in, somehow, and tends to accumulate virtually anywhere and everywhere. And while the dust you notice as a thin gray film on furniture is one thing, what about those specks forever floating in the air, invisible until a sunbeam puts them in the spotlight?...
An artfully arranged band of bricks handsomely defines the boundary between grass and garden. And if you install the bricks flush with the ground, they also serve as a handy mowing guide: You can run the wheels of a push mower right on top of the border edging and pretty much dispense with the string trimmer. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Some people set the pavers in concrete, but there’s no need if you make a proper dry bed....
In this video, Richard Trethewey demonstrates what you can do to a washing machine to prevent a flooding catastrophe. In the United States, the average insurance claim for water damage due to plumbing failures is ten thousand dollars, and one of the worst culprits is your washing machine. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Washing machine hoses usually last about eight to nine years, and if it bursts, it can be disastrous....
Humans are creatures of comfort. And undoubtedly, the furniture piece that should be the most comfortable in your house is your mattress. The bed is where you recuperate when you’re ill, recover after a long, arduous day, or simply relax when you need a quiet moment. You can slip into the best, deepest rest when sleeping on the most comfortable mattress. Plus, you’ll wake up free of aches and pains that are sometimes guilty of hindering progress on house projects....
