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Green, cool, and comfortable underfoot, turf grass is as versatile as an outdoor surface gets. But heavy foot traffic can leave it a bit ragged, though, and any missed fall maintenance—that last dose of fertilizer you were supposed to spread, any bare patches that should have been reseeded—may have caused your lawn to look a little worn out this spring, with thin spots and less color than you remember. Now’s the time to make amends with a proper feeding schedule and smart troubleshooting tactics to stop budding pest and weed problems in their tracks....

Call it a Murphy bar. When the guests start arriving, fold down the cabinet door to create a neat and sturdy work surface. Made of naturally rot-resistant cedar, it also happens to be safe for food handling. You’ll need to use a router and a doweling jig to build the door, with its inset slats, but don’t sweat. This Old House contributor Christopher Beidel, owner of Pernt, a handmade-furniture company in Brooklyn, New York, shows you how....

While we think of bathtubs as a place where we get clean, it’s often not until they get a bit dingy that we realize how badly they themselves need to be washed. If you’re noticing that your tub isn’t as bright and shiny as it could be, it’s time to get scrubbing. What to Get Before You Start Before you tackle the dirt and grime, you’re going to need some supplies to get the job done:...

Do school and art supplies take up too much space on top of your dining room or kitchen table? An art caddy is an excellent place to store your kids’ loose markers, crayons, pencils, and other supplies. Steps for Building an Art Supply Organizer You can build it using scrap wood and is easy enough for kids to get involved in, too. 1. Size the Pieces Using a miter saw and the cut list provided, cut the 1x6 board and 1x4 boards to length....

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey renders shower water temperatures safe. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps: Turn off the water leading to the bathroom. Then use pliers and a manual handle puller to remove the faucet handles and escutcheons from the hot- and cold-water faucets. Unthread the faucet stems from the shower wall using an adjustable wrench. Using a level, mark level and plumb lines onto the shower wall, indicating the horizontal and vertical centers of the existing shower valve....

In this video, Ask This Old House master electrician Scott Caron installs a weatherproof television to complete a homeowner’s patio. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Note: Depending on where the homeowner chooses to mount the television, steps may vary. Steps for Installing a TV Outside Use a level to make sure the bracket is level, and then make your marks for drilling. Drill holes for the mounting bracket. Pound plastic anchors into drilled-out holes using a hammer....

Most of the newer folding attic stairs on the market today are lots better than the rickety models installed in tract houses in the 1960s and 70s Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How Much Does it Cost to Install an Attic Ladder? In the case of these products, you get what you pay for; more expensive models are better made and generally have a higher weight capacity. According Home Advisor, it can cost anywhere between $220 to $650 for attic ladder installation....

It’s going to be a busy year for the black-legged ticks that carry Lyme disease and the up-and-coming babesiosis. “Numbers of ticks fluctuate annually, and this is looking to be an up year,” says entomologist Kirby Stafford, Ph.D., the author of a tick-management handbook. Here, some of his tactics to keep the bloodsuckers at bay. Related How To Kill Ticks in Your Yard Ways to Tick-Proof Your Yard with Landscaping Mow the lawn Ticks can’t jump or fly; they travel by standing on grass blades and foliage, and waving their front legs in hopes of hitching a ride with a host....

Best Storage: Cascade Complete Dishwasher Pods These dishwasher pods dissolve quickly to release grease-fighting power that can tackle 24-hour stuck-on grime without a prewash. They’re pre-measured and stored in a sealable tub for easy access and use. Key Features Tablet form 78-pack Fresh scent Phosphate-free formula What Customers Are Saying Customers gave these dishwasher pods positive reviews for being simple to use, leaving a fresh scent, and working in a variety of dishwasher models and brands....

Choosing a new carpet for a room in your home involves more than finding a style in the color you like. You first will need to consider your lifestyle—what you typically do in that room—location, material, construction, and upkeep. Carpet manufacturers have responded to homeowners’ desire for great looks, value, and easy maintenance with many innovations and options in recent years. Fiber Facts The type of fiber used determines the basic performance and appearance of the carpet....

With some careful choices and some extra resources, you can upgrade your house with long-lasting materials that will take some maintenance chores off your to-do list. Read our guide to learn more about low-maintenance building material choices from your home. Types of All-Weather Trim Duration crown molding This 9-inch-wide molding is milled from TruExterior poly-ash, a material impervious to water and barely affected by temperature swings. It’s also approved for use in areas prone to wildfires....

A cozy fire on a cold night is a delight. But it loses its charm when you must wait for it to burn out before heading to bed. A wood fire left untended isn’t safe. Unlike a gas fireplace, which can be switched off, the only way to leave a wood fire is to close it off with glass doors. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Can You Add Glass Doors to a Fireplace?...

Before With no landlord to answer to for the first time, the homeowner was eager to make over the dated living room fireplace. Sometimes you have to trust your instincts and just go for it. Ask Sneha Bhoir, who was itching to freshen up the dated brick fireplace in her 1985 ranch house in Lincoln, NE. She decided to experiment with paint in order to introduce a more modern color palette, despite the fact that she’d never tackled a large project before....

This story originally appeared in the Winter 2021 Issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Crackling wood fires have always been an evening tradition in our family, but trekking out to the woodpile to retrieve an armload of logs has never been anyone’s favorite activity. So I decided to build something that would put a stockpile of dry wood just outside the door....

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey takes us on a house call to knock a couple of items off a homeowner’s punch list. With a wobbly toilet and a sticking faucet handle on the schedule, Richard digs in. He shows the homeowner the potential issues and solutions for that toilet wiggle, including the different types of flanges and seals, and also gives them a solutions for the stuck faucet handle....

Concrete steps are durable, but over time the edges and corners become vulnerable to chipping and breakage. And what initially looks like an unfortunate eyesore can quickly turn into an unsafe condition, causing people to trip and fall. Thankfully, these concrete step repairs are easy to tackle without a major investment in time or money, and even an inexperienced DIYer can successfully complete this project in less than a day....

Before Starting the Remodel A funny thing happened to Dr. Sunil Ghelani and his wife, Dr. Neha Kwatra, on their way home from a real estate open house two years ago: They fell for a house they’d had no intention of buying. The couple had just visited one disappointing house in the Boston suburb of Brookline, when they drove past another open for viewing. “From the outside it was a gray box, and we didn’t think we’d be interested, but we had a little time so we stopped by,” Sunil recalls....

Top 5 Mini Coolers Best Storage Options: TOURIT Cooler Backpack Best Zipperless Cooler: Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Cooler Best Capacity: Lifewit Soft Cooler Bag Best Attachments: SEEHONOR Insulated Cooler Backpack Best Collapsible Cooler: CleverMade Collapsible Cooler Bag Best Storage Options: TOURIT Cooler Backpack This cooler has an insulated main compartment that can hold up to 30 cans along with six additional storage pockets that can carry snacks, utensils, and other picnic essentials....

PVC Slim Slide Out Pantry in White by Lavish Home In a small space, every inch counts. Add a bit of storage with this sturdy shelving unit on wheels! If you have the very common bit of dead space between your fridge and cabinetry (as shown at the top of this post), consider this addition. Available in a range of sizes. About $24.99 - $38.10/ each. Buy now at homedepot.comDoor-Mount Adjustable Spice Rack, Installed...

Growing Green This is one good reason to keep [vines] away from siding. Lon Grossman Technihouse Inspections, Inc. Bloomfield Hills, Mich. New Definition of “Raised Garden” Note the rooftop sprinkler system. The roof only leaks when the plants are watered. Jim White Superior Home Inspections Homer, Ill. Pop! There’s Corn in the Roof This proves corn can grow anyplace in Nebraska. Ted Rabenberg Advanced Home Inspections Fairmont, Neb. Gutter Garden First came window boxes, now look up!...