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If you hope to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living, think about putting a pergola in your yard. This popular architectural element, akin to an arbor, is typically supported by concrete footings and posts; it may be freestanding or attached to your home. Unlike a gazebo, which is octagonal in shape and has a solid roof, a pergola is rectangular and offers an airy, open ceiling, usually of beams and rafters, to filter light while providing some shelter and shade....

In this video, Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner install a washer and dryer in his basement. Steps: To install the dryer vent, use a small drill bit to drill through the side of the wall of the house. Pick a spot that’s near the base of the home and free from obstructions. With the small hole as a guide, use a 2½ inch hole saw to saw through the house siding and into the basement....

Whenever using oil-based finishes, it’s essential to properly dispose of the application tools to prevent spontaneous combustion. It is possible – it even happened to Tom Silva! Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time While oily rags do not pose the risk of spontaneous combustion as long as they are left uncovered by other objects and allowed to dry flat, Tom likes to soak them in water and then allow them to dry flat....

We spend so much of our day in the kitchen—cooking, cleaning, raiding the fridge, eating—most of it on our feet. Picking the ideal kitchen flooring option is an important investment in not only your home’s beauty, but also your wellbeing. You want the kitchen to be warm, inviting, beautiful, and fun to spend time in, and that starts with decisions that include the flooring type you choose. The best kitchen flooring options have one or more of these attributes:...

Rope Caulk This clay-like ribbon comes in gray or brown. Peel off as many of the 1⁄8-inch strips as you need to fill a gap, and press them in place.They leave no residue, but aren’t reusable. The unused portion has a four- to five-year shelf life. Mortite Weatherstrip and Caulking Cord, about $6 for a 90-foot roll; Frost King Foam Backer Rods These closed-cell polyethylene rods come in a range of diameters, starting at 3⁄8 inch....

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Products Perfect Fit Small yet mighty, this workstation sink measures just 15 inches square. Made of 16-gauge stainless steel, its inserts include a colander, a basket strainer, and this sapele-wood cutting board. A great solution where space is tight or as a secondary prep sink. Siena Bar Prep RV Sink, $289; ruvati.com Suite Deal From an Italian company that made its name with stylish pro-style ranges: Get one as part of a four-piece Energy Star–rated suite—a 30-inch range, vent hood, fridge, and dishwasher—all at a tasty price....

For this project, I’m using a small piece of plywood (sometimes called a “project panel” at the home center), a 1 x 2 board, and a thin acrylic sheet. To keep the design looking clean and fastener-free, I’m assembling it using a very strong glue called Clear Gorilla Glue. Download the plans for this wooden magazine rack below. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Building a Magazine Rack Step 1: Prep the plywood...

We catch up with DIY expert Jenn Largesse to check in on her backyard renovation project. Her grand plans to install a shipping container pool means a retaining wall is necessary, and she and her landscaping contractor walk us through the process. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time After digging out the soil, they lay the necessary layers of gravel, fill, and concrete blocks to create a beautiful retaining wall to hold back the excavated soil....

The glow of lit candles always makes for a festive atmosphere during the holidays, but the drips and pools of wax they can leave behind are no cause for celebration. So here’s how to get candle wax off any surface for good, without scratching up your furniture or staining your walls in the process. Wood When removing wax from wood, first harden the wax with an ice cube, then carefully scrape it off with an expired credit card or a plastic ruler....

Hanging a curtain rod seems easy, but can quickly become frustrating when you hang the curtains only to find out the rod is too high or low, or not level. Steps for Hanging a Curtain Rod Follow these steps to learn how to properly hang a curtain rod. Scroll down for the list of tools and materials needed for this project. Step 1: Measure the window To add drapes that partially cover the window, I’d add 2-5 inches to each side of the frame....

You can’t do any project without tools, but which tools do you really need? There’s a specialty tool for every task, but you don’t need every tool in the store to begin tackling projects. A smart strategy is to match the tool to the job at hand and fill your toolbox over time. For any given tool, you’re likely to find a broad price range that usually equates with quality. It’s usually best to look in the middle of that range, buying tools that will let you do good work without breaking the bank....

I just finished installing a basic dust collection system inside my mobile workbench, so in this video, I’ll demonstrate how I added a built-in downdraft sanding station that can easily be capped for more workspace when not in use. To create it, I’m installing a box with a pegboard on top to allow sawdust to filter down and an opening below to attach a hose to my shop vac. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time For the cut list, tools, and materials needed for this project, scroll down to the bottom of this page....

Typically found in gardens and backyards, a pergola is a structure that says, “Sit here. Let’s visit awhile.” It includes vertical posts supporting a lattice of crossbeams that provide limited shade. Pergolas come in all shapes and sizes and help to define an outdoor space, often for backyard entertaining. Vines like wisteria, honeysuckle, and jasmine provide additional shade on hot summer days. Always check with your homeowners association and your county’s building department before erecting any structure in your yard....

Adding a deck to your house is the easiest and most affordable way to increase your living space—and when it comes to deck design, the sky’s the limit. Multiple levels, shady overhead structures, and spa-like amenities are all within the realm of possibility—with a little planning. You can use online sites to create virtual decks and you can glean design ideas from the work others already have done. Whether you’re building a deck or remodeling one, the only real design constraints are your budget, what’s permissible in your neighborhood, and what complements the setting....

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows how to repair a flat tire on a wheelbarrow. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How to Fix a Wheelbarrow Tire: Step-by-Step Wheelbarrow tires that have tubes can be fixed with a repair kit. Remove tube and cover hole with rubber patch and cement. Let dry then replace tube. To repair a flat tubeless tire, start by using an air compressor to fill the tire with air so that you can locate the hole....

Checkered Chef Premium Pizza Cutter and Cutting Board Set Makes a great gift for your favorite pizza chef! Cutting board features handy cutting guides to ensure all slices are equally cut. Rocker-style cutters ensure toppings stay put while you slice. Wisco Digital Pizza Oven This is a great solution for frequent pizza chefs who don’t want to fire up the oven every time they make a pie. Removable cleanout tray and a drawer handle that flips up make this a convenient appliance to have....

Previous episode: S43 E3 | Next episode: S43 E5 In this episode: The most critical part of the foundation is where the old meets the new. Kevin O’Connor meets expert Hugo Provetti, the local go-to person for waterproofing. It’s time in the project to start thinking about exterior colors. There are many surfaces to consider: siding, trim, roof, doors, and shutters, to name a few. Mauro Henrique and Kevin meet with the homeowners to survey the choices....

Top 5 Label Makers Easiest To Use: Brother P-Touch Easy-To-Use Label Maker Best Basic Label Maker: DYMO Label Maker Best Display: Brother P-Touch Label Maker Best Professional Label Maker: DYMO Label Writer Best Portable Label Maker: NiiMbot Label Maker Machine Easiest To Use: Brother P-Touch Easy-To-Use Label Maker This label maker has a keyboard that mimics the one on a computer, making it easy to type and print your labels. It also has 27 user-friendly templates that allow you to make a wide variety of labels for gift tags, scrapbook pages, and more....

Want to create a humble home for your pup? You’ll want quality materials if you’re going to build a doghouse that stands the test of time and a pup’s rambunctiousness—but you shouldn’t be expected to mill tiny moldings and other architectural details. Good news: Many stock materials are readily available at building supply outlets, hardware stores, and craft shops. Here are some elements of the doghouse to consider: More about doghouses: 16 Doghouses Like Your House...

Without the backdrop of her double-wide, red-carpeted, carved mahogany staircase, Scarlett O’Hara’s entrances and exits would not have seemed nearly so dramatic. Likewise, if George Bailey’s “wonderful life” didn’t include a daily struggle with a loose newel cap, he wouldn’t have been quite the everyman. Even the Brady Bunch couldn’t have exuded such early-’70s grooviness lined up along anything but an ultra-mod set of treads. As the focal point of a house’s interior architecture, a staircase is the primary mood-setter, a place where a homeowner can announce his or her individual style, whether it’s the whispered elegance of Early American details or the bold strokes of Victorian excess....