Previous episode: S43 E19 | Next episode: S43 E21 In this episode: There is a lot of progress made at the West Roxbury house: the wiring is run, and the rough plumbing is in. Outside, it’s time to work on the front porch. Kevin O’Connor meets up with homeowner and architect Derek, who shows him a plan to use a wood called Ipe for the porch ceiling and the decking. Kevin and Deliandro cut and install the Ipe together....
The well of basement ceiling ideas runs deep, making it possible to downplay or disguise unsightly overhead features without sacrificing height. A new ceiling treatment can bring the style and finishing touch your basement remodel deserves. Whatever your budget, here are several basement ceiling options for you to choose from. Cover the Ceiling with Fabric Show off your bohemian side with a fabric ceiling covering. Staple sheets or other fabric to the floor joists overhead, allowing them to billow down in tufts....
This article appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. Shown: Architect Andrew Sidford’s design for the renovated house marries the 1880s Cape with a modern extension that features high ceilings and walls of windows. New spaces will deliver more light, air, and access to the natural attractions in the back of the property. Every time Megan and I come here, we’re reminded that this is definitely where we want to raise our family,” says Lincoln Pasquina of the 1880s Cape Cod–style house in Concord, MA....
Cutting a straight line through plywood with a circular saw seems easy enough, but it rarely comes out as straight as it feels while you’re making the cut. To get better results here are three easy ways to create a guide for your saw. 3 Ways to Make a Guide for a Circular Saw 1. Use a Board as a Straightedge The first and most obvious way to create a guide is to clamp a board to the plywood and run the saw along the edge....
We have a downspout that dumps rainwater onto our front walkway, which in winter turns into a sheet of ice. Is there a way to fix this problem? Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time —Tabby McCarthy, Olanthe, Kansas Roger Cook replies: A wet walkway is not only a slipping hazard, it contributes to damaging frost heaves that can break apart pavement. If you can’t relocate the downspout, route the water under your walk and out to a dry well buried in your lawn....
Does your house need another bedroom? Converting an unfinished attic or basement into living space is a great way to gain that extra room. Both of these expansion options are less expensive than building a home addition. Any and every bedroom in the house must have an egress window for safety reasons. In the event of a fire or other home emergency, an egress window provides a safe means of escape for home occupants, as well as an entry point for a firefighter or other first responder....
In this video, master electrician, Heath Eastman demonstrates how to install landscape lighting along a garden path. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Adding landscape lighting to a walkway or path can improve the look and experience of the area. Once Heath figures out what kind of landscape lighting he wants, the location, and where the power source is located, he can then make the connections. Heath uses a low voltage wire and decides to replace the plastic connectors with brass connectors to make the connections last longer....
A faux Christmas tree that you can pack away after each holiday season is a huge convenience. But, there are a handful of benefits that come with choosing a live Christmas tree. Then, after the holiday season ends, you can plant your Christmas tree in your backyard. Can You Plant a Christmas Tree After Using It? Yes, you can plant your Christmas tree in your backyard if the root ball is intact....
If you have a pest infestation in your Orlando home, a professional pest control company can help. Pest control companies offer expertise, experience, and highly trained specialists to help get rid of your pest problem and prevent future infestations from occurring. The This Old House Reviews Team believes the best pest control companies servicing Orlando are Orkin, Terminix, and Aptive. There are also some local Orlando pest control providers that offer similar targeted approaches to help you get rid of your pest problem....
TOH fans have been missing their weekly episodes lately, but WE’RE BACK with all-new episodes following our regular mid-season hiatus. New episodes from The Jamestown Net Zero House started airing on Thursday, January 3, 2018 and host Kevin O’Connor took to social media to celebrate! As fans of the show know, TOH and Ask TOH air weekly on PBS but the show’s schedule varies by market. Generally, new episodes air every Thursday or Saturday night....
This article appeared in the Summer 2022 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. When choosing a designer for a remodel, it’s a good idea to hire someone who will consider your future needs as well as your present wants. Even better when that person is your daughter and knows your taste to a tee. While Catherine Williamson’s parents wanted the 1950s Cape they bought near her family in Columbus, OH, to be their forever home, they could see that the second-floor primary bath (and the basement laundry) might not be doable for them down the road....
It’s a big year for us here at This Old House. It’s our 40th-anniversary season, and to celebrate we’ll be doing a net-zero renovation of a 1920s bungalow in Jamestown, Rhode Island. Our Generation NEXT program continues with the addition of two amazing apprentices (Kevin Barker and Mary McGuire Smith) on the job site. For this project, the goal is to create a super-efficient dwelling that produces all the energy it needs....
If your perfect kitchen design is being compromised by dinged-up dog bowls and the dried-up drool that surrounds them, this well-built dog feeding station can help. Not only will it jazz up the fanciest of cook’s spots—and organize the bowls, cans, and bags that are part and parcel to nourishing your pup—but the elevated platform will also give your furriest family member some much-needed neck and back relief. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time This is especially helpful for large breed dogs, like Great Danes and Dobermans, or pooches who are getting on in years....
Cat lovers know how much their feline friends love to climb, hide, and scratch. That’s what makes a cat tower the perfect home accessory. If your beloved cat scratches the sofa, climbs the curtains, or lolls about in your laundry basket, it’s time to make a cat tower for them to climb and play on. If your tower has the basic elements—height, a scratching surface, and a place to lounge—that’s all your cat needs....
End-grain cutting boards are attractive, useful, and a great addition to any kitchen. Not only is their checkerboard pattern distinctive, but end-grain cutting boards have a unique ability as well—the fibers of the wood separate with each cut of the knife to absorb the impact of the blade, hiding nicks and helping the knife stay sharp. Building your own end-grain cutting board makes it that much more special and can be a highly enjoyable and satisfying experience....
When it comes to fireplaces, brick is overwhelmingly the most popular material choice for the surrounding wall. It’s affordable, and its non-flammable properties make it a practical option. But, as brick ages, it deteriorates, loses its color, and captures dirt and grime. Give yours a fresh new look by learning how to paint a brick fireplace. Learning how to paint a brick fireplace isn’t hard, but it does require certain tools and materials....
A Full Day of Fun On Friday, March 29, a few Insiders and their guests got the chance to experience a jam-packed slate of activities at the JLC LIVE trade show in Providence, Rhode Island. From meeting This Old House team members to tool demos to actually being on camera, it was quite a day! Want to be the first to know about events like this? Join This Old House Insider!...
What’s a plunge pool exactly? A plunge pool can fit nearly anywhere in a yard or patio—and is the perfect place for leisure and relaxation. See the plunge pool installation at our 2020 Idea House: The Farmhouse in Fairfield County and get inspired to take the plunge! Inspiration for the Plunge Pool The builder of our 2020 Idea House loved the organic feel, easy installation, and low maintenance of the plunge pool that we featured in our 2018 Idea House (shown here) in Narragansett, RI, so much, that he’s installing the same model at his Modern Farmhouse in Norwalk, CT....
Previous episode: S20 E3 | Next episode: S20 E5 In this episode: Painter Mauro Henrique shows host Kevin O’Connor how to bring an old paintbrush back to life. Kevin O’Connor explains that a “friend” let their wet paintbrush sit too long, allowing it to harden and become unusable. Mauro explains the importance of cleaning a paintbrush after every use before showing Kevin some methods of removing the dried paint from the bristles with a chemical brush cleaner....
Our Rating Methodology The This Old House Reviews Team is committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. This means earning your trust through transparency and having the data to back up our ratings and recommendations. With that in mind, we created an objective rating system to score each home insurance company. Here’s what that review process looked like: We analyze the information on each company’s website. This allows us to determine what products and services are offered by each home insurance provider....
