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While it may be tempting to rush through—or even skip—the preparation process, if you truly want your finish to look good and last a long time, prep is the most important step. And the techniques you employ, and the products you use, can make or break your outcome. Follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to a foolproof finish. The “Before” The wood cabinets were in great shape, but the dark finish was outdated, and made the space feel small and dreary....

After being eclipsed by showy stones like granite and marble and maintenance-free engineered materials like quartz and solid surfacing, natural-wood countertops are enjoying a real revival. Constructed from pieces of hardwood laminated together with glue for strength and stability, they provide a warm, organic landing surface in a kitchen, one that is wonderfully forgiving, gentle on dishware, and able to absorb the noise of a busy household. Wood can also be revived if damaged; if it gets dinged, stained, or gouged, you can refinish it....

Insiders keeping a keen eye on all the webcams will have noticed that there is a new Idea House in the works—in New Canaan, CT! Although this Idea House is almost entirely new construction, it does incorporate the facade of the original 1780 house on the site. The plans call for a 6,000-square-foot house in Greek Revival style, which was a popular house style in the United States from 1825 to 1860....

I fell in love with the town of Hampton Bays, on the eastern end of New York’s Long Island. And in November 1997, I purchased this 25-year-old ranch-style house on half an acre. It had some woods, and the property was nicely secluded. It was my first house, and I figured it was something I could handle. I bought the property in the fall, and I was really looking forward to the coming summer, when I could start gardening in my new yard....

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook explains how to test soil. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Testing Soil: Sandy soil drains too quickly; requires compost or cow manure to hold moisture. Clay soil compacts tightly and doesn’t drain well; mix in sand. Quality topsoil contains proper proportions of sand, silt and clay. Buy soil test kit from garden shop or hardware store; select one that tests for nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and pH....

On November 8, 2018, the town of Paradise, California, suffered the worst fire in a state known for wildfire disasters. Twenty-five thousand lived in Paradise on that day, when 14,000 homes were destroyed, and 85 people died. Eight months later, the population is estimated at three to four thousand. But as the people of this town say, they are Paradise Strong. On March 28, the town issued its first building permit; less than four months later that first house was rebuilt....

This article appeared in the Summer 2021 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. A diamond in the rough­—“with emphasis on the ‘rough’!” That’s how This Old House host Kevin O’Connor summed up the 1890s Queen Anne in Narragansett, RI, when he first toured it last spring. Just under a year later, the house has been transformed, with a state-of-the-art 21st-century interior and a pristine, faithfully restored exterior....

Houston homeowners have a lot to deal with when it comes to pests. The hot, humid environment makes the city a breeding ground for mosquitoes, roaches, and more. Luckily, Houstonians have access to some of the best pest control companies in the country. Orkin, Terminix, and Aptive each have highly trained specialists and regional expertise. With commercial-grade products, equipment, and expertise, pest control specialists from these three companies can tackle your common household pests, as well as termites and bed bugs....

Making the most of your bathroom doesn’t require a complete overhaul—just some creativity and budget-friendly knowhow. Make Fresh Bathroom Updates Without a Renovation Learn how to add style and character at an affordable price. 1. Revitalize Your Claw-Foot Tub Sometimes an old tub simply needs a boost. Rather than replacing an old timeless cast-iron claw-foot tub, save a bundle by reglazing it instead. You can make it a graphic focal point by coloring the outside a deep or vibrant hue, or give it a soft contrast between a white interior and muted exterior, whichever treatment suits your space....

Are you tired of paying bills from the recliner? Or are you refraining from hobbies because you don’t want to drag all the supplies out to the dining table, only to have to put them away again at mealtime? If you need a dedicated workspace, whether for paying bills, stringing beads, or working remotely, these ideas will help you exploit the potential of those underused nooks in your home. 8 Desk Ideas Perfect for Small Spaces The underused closet Since the Covid-19 pandemic sent millions of workers home, cloffices are all the rage....

Like the bark on a tree or the skin on your body, siding is a home’s front line of protection against the elements. To do its job, siding must be sun- and water-resistant, able to withstand extremes in temperature, and stay in place when the wind blows too hard. It’s a part of your house that’s relatively easy to install, and one that will eventually need to be renewed, repair or replaced, some types sooner than others....

Inside the Ask This Old House Workshop If you’ve ever watched Ask This Old House, you may have wondered what the inside of our workshop looks like and how it functions to meet our needs. Here’s an inside look at how we set up the space to serve four different trades to help answer your home improvement questions. Carpentry Though they replicate the real windows they replaced, these LED-backlit panes only date to 2016....

Even in long-haul remodels, some spaces cry out for prompt design attention. For Roeshel Summerville of Butler, Pennsylvania, that space was the first-floor bath. Located between a home office and the family room, it’s the most trafficked of the 1927 farmhouse’s three baths and two powder rooms. But when Roeshel, her husband, and their two daughters moved in, it sported bare drywall and grungy carpeting. Before: Old Bathroom Two years in, with a full redo out of the question, Roeshel decided to make the space “less embarrassing....

From colorful paint to protective epoxy, garage floor coatings can help spruce up your garage floor and protect it from scratches and spills. Since picking the right coating may be difficult, the This Old House Reviews team researched the best garage floor coatings on the market to help you make an informed purchase. Here are our top recommendations for coating your garage floor. Top 5 Garage Floor Coatings Best Paint Kit: Rust-Oleum RockSolid Polycuramine Garage Floor Kit Best Entry-Level: KILZ One-Part Epoxy Acrylic Garage Floor Paint Best Epoxy Kit: Colored Epoxies 1002 Clear Epoxy Resin Coating Best Concrete Sealer: Siloxa-Tek Penetrating Concrete Sealer Best Concrete Paint: Rust-Oleum Epoxy Shield Concrete Floor Paint Best Paint Kit: Rust-Oleum RockSolid Polycuramine Garage Floor Kit Pros and Cons ✔ One kit covers up to 500 square feet✔ Dries with a showroom-shine high-gloss finish✔ Resists hot tire pick-up...

If your usual method of serving beverages at a barbecue involves a Styrofoam cooler and a bag of ice, it’s time to think about an upgrade. This mobile cart is tough enough to withstand sun, rain, and spills of your libation of choice. Two-wheeled construction lets you navigate stone patios or lumpy lawns with ease, and the top tray is removable for serving drinks or munchies. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Best of all, the entire thing can be easily taken apart and stored flat—or, better yet, stashed in your trunk for tailgate parties this fall....

In this video, painter Mauro Henrique demonstrates how to refinish an old piece of furniture with the help of Kevin O’Connor. Mauro’s client has a table that belonged to her grandmother and she would like to spruce it up so it can come out of the basement and be showcased in her home. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Mauro decided it would be a great opportunity to teach the proper technique in painting old furniture....

The second floor of the Cottage on the Cape Idea House features an airy master suite and comfortable guest bedroom with accompanying bath, and ushers in a softer color palette throughout, which includes a transition from black to white windows. A Bright, Airy Master At roughly 16 by 11 feet, the master bedroom is hardly oversize, but a vaulted ceiling and light colors make it feel spacious. Designer Denise Enright chose a soft pink inspired by the Cape sky at dusk to direct attention to the master bedroom’s vaulted ceiling....

Best Flip Top: Ello Syndicate Glass Water Bottle Whether you’re exercising or driving, this water bottle is equipped with a one-touch flip lid for easy access to your water. The lid locks into place when you’re done drinking and features a loop for carrying it. The bottle also has a silicone sleeve that keeps the glass protected if it drops. Key Features 20-ounce capacity Flip-top lid Silicone sleeve Carrying loop Multiple color options What Customers Are Saying Happy customers liked this water bottle’s locking lid, leakproof design, and durable rubber casing....

If you’re an avid gardener or take great pride in your home’s landscaping, you may struggle with keeping deer out of your yard. Deer repellent scares deer away, preventing them from entering your property, eating your plants, and destroying your lawn. From sprays to lights, there are a variety of deer-repelling options on the market. To help you sort through them, the This Old House Reviews Team took a look at the best deer repellents available today....

Hinges, the often under-appreciated member of the hardware department that holds your door in place, comes in a variety of sizes and styles. Choosing the perfect hinges for your project depends on where you’ll install them and the finished look you’re trying to achieve. 11 Types of Hinges This visual guide highlights different types of hinges and their design and purpose. Butt Hinge The most common type of hinge used on doors is the butt hinge....