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If you want hours of quiet entertainment, build a bird feeder, fill it with seeds, then watch the feathery fliers swarm. Hang it outside your kitchen or living room window, and enjoy your chirping friends all year long. Especially as the cold months approach, your backyard visitors will be happy to have the free buffer. It’s a great way to learn about birds too. In this video and step by step guide, we share how you can make a DIY bird feeder with your kids....

“We have a large extended family, and everyone loves to be a part of the action,” says TOH Idea House designer and homeowner Sandy Effren. “So we set out to build in ample spaces for guests to gather, and to prepare and enjoy meals together.” The showcase kitchen you see is just the beginning; out of sight from the dining and living areas are a hardworking butler’s pantry with its own sink, dishwasher, and full-size refrigerator, along with a handy beverage bar for quick refreshments....

Top 5 Flashlights Best Kit: GearLight LED Tactical Flashlights Largest Flashlight: GearLight High-Powered LED Flashlight Best Value: EverBrite LED Flashlights Best Water-Resistant Design: outlite S1000 Flashlights Best Rechargeable Battery: Hoxida LED Tactical Flashlights Best Kit: GearLight LED Tactical Flashlights This kit from GearLight comes with two flashlights, two lanyards, and two holsters, allowing you to store your flashlights when they’re not in use. In addition, the GearLight LED Tactical Flashlights have zooming and mode-changing functions and weather and drop resistance....

Top 5 Zero-Gravity Chairs Key Features Two chairs and a side table Steel frame Mesh seat Built-in table What Customers Are Saying Many positive reviews noted that these chairs were an excellent value for the money, especially considering their comfort and their included side table. Negative reviews said that these chairs didn’t lock in place well and that they weren’t durable. Most Comfortable: PHI VILLA Oversized Zero-Gravity Lounge Chair With padding stuffed inside of an oversized fabric seat, this zero-gravity chair from PHI VILLA is a comfortable piece of furniture that’s suited for any setting....

Unless you live in the middle of a golf course, your lawn is likely to be somewhat sun deprived—indeed, as much as 25 percent of it is no doubt shaded to some degree, according to The Lawn Institute. Trying—and failing—to grow grass in these areas is a common frustration for homeowners, since after all, sunlight is key to photosynthesis, the process that triggers plant growth. Fortunately, some photosynthesis-efficient grass species do just fine in partial sun....

Craftsman Roots The British Arts & Crafts movement that emerged in the mid-1800s during the Industrial Revolution was a rallying call to revive handcrafted workmanship and return to the use of quality materials and creation of beautiful, useful products by gifted artisans. At the turn of the century, the movement gained widespread popularity in the states, and the Craftsman homes it gave rise to were a refreshing change from the overly ornate, mass-produced, and shoddily constructed Victorians of the day....

Make a Drop-Cloth Throw Rug Published in Jan/Feb 2018 With a little DIY handiwork, a canvas designed to protect surfaces from paint spatters can become the basis for some latex magic of its own. Customize it with a pattern and paint colors of your choosing for an affordable floor covering you can toss in the washer. A spray-on stain-resistant finish helps it stand up to any hardworking space like an entryway or kitchen....

Different roofing materials Asphalt shingles come in three-tab or architectural style. They’re reasonably durable, but the reason most people opt for these shingles is because they’re cost effective. Wood shingles can cost nearly double what asphalt shingles do, but when installed correctly, they can last as long as 50 years. Metal roofs are really good at protecting the sheathing underneath from wind and water and can last up to 100 years, but they can cost sometimes four times the amount of asphalt shingles....

Steps for installing a sliding barn door: The door in the kit comes untreated, so start by applying a desired stain/finish to the door with a rag. Attach the mounting board over the opening with 4 inch structural screws. Keep a level on the board and loosely screw the board in until it’s roughly in the right place. Once the board is mostly attached to the wall and level, secure all the screws....

Despite their lowly position along the floor, baseboards are one of a house’s defining features. If they have stature, a room becomes regal; when they are skimpy, that same space looks dowdy. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Baseboards were often three-piece affairs consisting of a flat plank, a decorative cap molding, and a rounded shoe molding to cover gaps along the floor. “In old houses, you often see the fanciest baseboard in the front room downstairs,” says This Old House general contractor Tom Silva....

Maybe right now, you’re more focused on spring bulbs and reseeding the lawn. But before you walk away from your snow blower, take the time to ensure that it will roar back to life with that first unexpected blast of icy weather next winter. Hose off dirt and road salt Focus on the auger and the impeller behind it. Towel dry and buff car wax on the painted metal housing and inside the chute....

Removing old carpet from a room is a relatively easy project that you can generally accomplish in a morning or afternoon on your own, depending on the size of the room (add some extra time if you’re removing carpet padding, too). Can I Remove Carpet Myself? Taking on this task yourself will not only save you money, but it’ll also give you the opportunity to inspect the subfloor and address any issues before the new carpet or flooring is installed....

Top 5 Floor Lamps Best for Your Eyes: JOOFO Floor Lamp Most Modern: LEPOWER Wood Tripod Floor Lamp Best Storage: Brightech Maxwell LED Shelf Floor Lamp Best Dual Lighting: Simple Designs Home LF2000-BLK Mother-Daughter Floor Lamp Best Lighting Angle: FOLKSMATE Multi-Head LED Floor Lamp Best for Your Eyes: JOOFO Floor Lamp Pros and Cons ✔ Is constructed with a weighted base for enhanced stability✔ Is made of acrylic materials that won’t get hot to the touch✔ Has a slim design for small spaces...

Below you’ll find our top foosball table recommendations, a comprehensive buyer’s guide, and answers to some common questions. Top 5 Foosball Tables Best Tabletop: Sport Squad FX40 TableTop Foosball Best Protection: KICK Foosball Table Best Design: Barrington Billiards Foosball Table Best Value: ESPN Foosball Table Best Lighted: Atomic Azure Light-Up Foosball Table Pros and Cons ✔ Can accommodate two to four players✔ Features premium chrome-plated steel rods✔ Has comfortable rubber handles...

Decks and patios are fine, except when you planned to spend a lazy summer afternoon enjoying yours and it rains or gets too hot. If only there was a roof… And if there’s a roof, why couldn’t there be screened walls as well, to keep out the bugs? If you follow this logic, it’s easy to understand why porches are so popular. How Big Should a Porch Be? Porch size depends on porch function....

If you worry about someone trying to break in when you’re away from home or sleeping, consider investing in a home security system. There are many options out there, allowing you to choose between self-monitoring or professional monitoring as well as features like video doorbell cameras, two-way talk, and more. Not all home security companies are created equal. Providers can differ in terms of the number and types of packages they offer, the specific equipment included in these packages, the cost for equipment and professional monitoring, and more....

In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva transforms stock shelving into a custom built-in. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Building a custom built-in Use a utility knife to slice through the existing paint and caulk along the top and bottom edges of the baseboard. Carefully pry the baseboard from the wall with two flat pry bars. Saw through the baseboard with the oscillating multitool fitted with a plunge-cut wood blade....

Raccoons may look adorable, with their solemn, masked faces, but they can cause harm and damage to your home, your pets, and even your health. These pests can be annoying, tipping over your garbage cans to leave trash strewn everywhere and decimating your vegetable garden. At the more dangerous end of the spectrum, they may fight with your outdoor cat or small dog, which poses the possibility of passing on canine distemper or rabies, and may sometimes even lead to the injury or death of a beloved pet....

Steps: Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Tools & Materials Scaffolding Tape measure Hammer drill Screwdriver Set up scaffolding (staging) in the work area. Measure the center to center distance between the two hooks on the back of the mirror. Measure from the bottom of the mirror to the top of the hook. Measure the width of the chimney, then divide that in half to find the center location. Determine the height of the bottom of the mirror off the mantle....

Moisture-resistant drywall When wet, the paper facing on standard drywall becomes a perfect habitat for mold to flourish. At a minimum, choose the type of panels made for use in bathrooms. Even better, install fiberglass-faced panels with gypsum cores that are treated to resist moisture, such as DensArmor Plus (about 66 cents per sq. ft.; Georgia-Pacific). Metal framing Soggy wood-stud walls can become a haven for mold, unless built using preservative-treated lumber or wood coated with borates like Bora-Care with Mold-Care ($103 per gallon; Solutions Pest & Lawn)....