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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. Plus-size sleepers who are on the hunt for the best mattress for heavy people often have a more challenging time finding options that incorporate the support features they need. The term “heavy sleepers” doesn’t necessarily mean overweight people, but rather those who are taller, larger, and weigh more than some mattresses can viably support (around 230 lbs per side)....

This winter, give muddy, salt-stained floors the boot with this clever stand, a perfect resting place for wet Wellies and snowy footwear. Ours gets a stylish upgrade from a mix of turned-wood stair balusters. Hit up your local salvage yard or pick up new ones at the home center, starting at $5 each. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Download the Boot Rack Cutlist. Overview Cut list to build a boot stand:...

After a winter stuck inside renovating her 1890 farmhouse in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, TOH reader Maria Hasenecz was eager to head outdoors. Here, she tells us how her garden grew—and provides tips that you can use to create your own backyard retreat. Before: A Desolate Yard The yard was desolate when we moved in: neglected, weedy, with just some leggy rhododendrons, Norway maples, and a lone purple coneflower still standing. The previous owner, who’d been there for 30 years, hadn’t been able to keep up the place....

In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how to beautify an old, ugly brick fireplace. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Upgrading a mantel, hearth and surround Remove the protruding brick corbelling from the face of the fireplace using a masonry hammer and cold chisel. Chop out the old hearth and mortar bed using a hammer and cold chisel. Mix up a batch of mortar; spread the mortar over hearth using a smooth trowel....

In this video, Ask This Old House master electrician Heath Eastman helps mason Mark McCullough wire his chicken barn for lights and power. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Mark explains that it’s important for him to have electricity in the shed because he needs to be able to check on the chickens at night, especially in the winter, and also to be able to see when walking out to the barn from his house....

Previous episode: S42 E21 | Next episode: S42 E23 In this episode: Host Kevin O’Connor finds Paint Expert Mauro Henrique working with our new apprentices to fix the plaster damage created by the fire and its aftermath. Plumbing and Heating Expert Richard Trethewey finds fellow plumber Ronnette Taylor installing a sprinkler system to help prevent another disaster. Shortly before the fire, Carol selected new tile for each bathroom in the house....

Problem ingredients: Methylene chloride, a volatile solvent found in fast-acting paint strippers, is a known neurotoxin and possible carcinogen that has caused many fatalities over the years. Also called dichloromethane (DCM), it was removed from The Home Depot and Lowe’s stores in 2018, and then banned nationwide by the EPA in March 2019. Sales of strippers containing this ingredient are prohibited beginning in mid-September 2019. Lowe’s and The Home Depot have also voluntarily purged paint strippers with NMP (n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone), a less volatile, slow-acting solvent, because it’s been shown to adversely affect fetal development....

To encourage nesters to turn your birdhouse into a home, follow this advice from National Audubon Society birding expert Stephen W. Kress. How to Attract Birds to a Birdhouse Site it right Birds that like to lay their eggs in nesting boxes prefer ones that get morning sun and have entrance holes sheltered from prevailing winds. Having a freshwater source nearby is another plus. Related How to Build a Birdhouse Place it high To protect nesters from marauders, including raccoons, squirrels, snakes, and house sparrows, Kress suggests installing houses on metal poles about 5 feet above the ground and 10 feet from branches or buildings....

Add comfort and charm to existing outdoor spaces like porches, patios, and decks—it can be like hanging out inside but with a breeze and a better view. Decor Ideas for Patios, Porches, and Decks 1. Add a Porch Swing Architect and homeowner Erica Broberg Smith, left, says she’s got the best seat not in the house. A cushion and throw pillows encourage lingering. 2. Try a Stone Floor Irregular bluestone creates a grounded look that ties in with the landscape....

Previous episode: S43 E26 | Next episode: S43 E28 In this episode: The team is starting a new project in Saratoga Springs, NY, a city famous for its springs and home to America’s oldest sporting venue. Tom Silva and Kevin O’Connor meet homeowners Evan, Whitney, and Evan’s mother, Susan. In the family now for seven generations, the home was built in 1864 as a single-family, then expanded and cobbled together, creating a three-family dwelling between 1918 and 1920....

If you live in the greater St. Louis area and are experiencing pests, we’re here to help. Many pest problems—like a small outbreak of ants in your kitchen—can be easily handled by using store-bought products and do-it-yourself solutions. However, a larger outbreak can lead to an infestation, and many pests, such as German cockroaches or termites, often require professional treatment if you want a pest-free home. In this article, we’ll discuss six top pest control companies in the St....

Lawns make up more than an estimated 63 thousand square miles in the US, three times that of any irrigated crop. It’s no surprise that they require an amazing amount of water and mowing to maintain. The mowing creates toxic emissions, and in some areas of the country, water’s in dangerously short supply. If you want to be more eco-friendly—and eliminate the hours of upkeep a manicured lawn requires—replace some of that grass with a maintenance-free alternative that can also save you money in the long run....

One day, you have total power over your possessions—you know where they are and enjoy accessing, using, or simply admiring them. Then, seemingly overnight, you can’t find what you need, and you’re distracted, frustrated, and stressed about the mess. Now, with so many folks sticking to a WFH modus operandi, keeping those belongings in check is more important than ever to your productivity, serenity, and sanity. What Does a Professional Organizer Do?...

Want to save these ideas for later? Create your own holiday gift list to share gift ideas with family and friends. Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl Shop Now If your dog finishes its meal before the food bag is even put away, you may want to consider a slow feeder bowl. This bowl has a maze on the bottom, slowing down the dog’s ability to pick up the pieces of food....

Whether you’re sick with chest congestion or just suffering from the effects of the dry air caused by your heating system, a humidifier can be your best friend. “Research shows that keeping your home’s relative humidity level between 40 and 60 percent can decrease influenza survival in the air and on countertops, doorknobs, faucets, etc., by up to 30 percent,” says Lynne Hammell, director of marketing for Vicks. But putting a humidifier to work also means that it’s going to need routine cleaning....

Host Kevin O’Connor and general contractor Tom Silva discuss identifying wood rot and what to do about it. After discussing some of the key ways to keep wood from rotting, like flashing and avoiding ground contact, the two discuss the signs of wood rot. How to Prevent Wood Rot For the most part, rotting wood is preventable, but it requires keeping water away from the house as much as possible. This means installing gutters and maintaining them, preventing the wood from coming in contact with the ground, and adequately flashing any openings that water could sneak into....

When life gets busy, it’s easy to miss the signals that a dog needs to go outside right now. And when the message doesn’t get through, the result can be a nasty mess. That isn’t a worry with a dog door, fitted into either a human-sized door or a wall like the one at right, because it gives your dog the freedom to come and go at will. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Providing a pet with its own portal can also save on heating and cooling bills—a small door, when opened, allows less interior air to escape than a big one does—as long as it is weatherstripped and closes tightly on its own....

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. Looking to maximize your dollar for a new mattress purchase? Our Nectar mattress review explores how this memory foam mattress offers hard-to-beat value, comfort, edge support, and pressure relief well-suited for most body types and sleep positions. It also comes at a disruptively low price point and is augmented by a generous 365-day sleep trial and a lifetime warranty....

This DIYer is no stranger to home remodeling on a lean budget! “Unbelievably, I have three bathtub and shower remodels going on at the same time,” Ursula Carmona wrote in How to Remodel a Shower/ Bath for Less. She shares countless tips on everything from keeping closets organized to keeping plants watered while you’re on vacation. Here, we share our top 5 favorite DIY projects from Ursula’s amazing blog: 1. Diamond-tufted Headboard Upholstered headboards became a huge design trend a few years back, but many have found that this approach to the bedroom-furniture staple is, well, just super comfy....

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. There comes a time when your mattress no longer provides the cushion or support that you need. When you start to experience new body pains or simply feel uncomfortable on your bed, it’s time to make a change––and that’s where the best mattress toppers come in....