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Your companion follows you everywhere—on walks to the park, down the driveway to get the mail, and even to bed at night. But when one hop doesn’t quite cut it anymore, or arthritis makes the trip to bed too difficult, the addition of a handy ramp that collapses for storage and hides away pet bedding feels like a custom fit. In fact, if your pup is part of the 20 percent of adult dogs experts say suffer from osteoarthritis; the gentle incline could even help avoid injury....

In this video, This Old House landscaping contractor Roger Cook helps an elementary school build and plant a raised-bed vegetable garden. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Installing a raised vegetable garden Use a circular saw to cut to length 2x10 rough-sawn spruce boards for the frame of the raised bed. Screw the boards together using 3-inch galvanized screws. Square up the frame by measuring the opposing diagonals from corner to corner....

Though expensive, a metal roof will last half a century or more. Considering investing in a metal roof but don’t know where to begin? Read this guide to learn more about the styles and finishes to choose from. Metal Roof Styles Standing Seam Its crisp lines, formed where panel edges interlock, complement a wide variety of houses, from traditional to modern. Hidden clips hold panels in place and let the metal move....

Previous episode: S18 E18 | Next episode: S18 E20 In this episode: Kevin works with House One maker Jenn Largesse to demonstrate an interesting technique on a trim router. Heath explains the purpose of a ground wire and then grounds an outlet for a homeowner, while Mauro explains the different types of paint rollers and then demonstrates good rolling techniques. Mark replaces a pair of outdated, malfunctioning fireplace doors. How to Cut a Perfect Jig Circle Kevin works with maker Jenn Largesse to demonstrate an interesting technique on a trim router....

Despite living along a major fault line, the state of Oregon didn’t have a seismic building code until the 1990s — meaning most of the homes there wouldn’t be prepared for a substantial earthquake if one occurred. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor traveled to Portland, Oregon to help one resident retrofit her home to protect it from earthquake damage. How to Retrofit a House for an Earthquake The work involved with a seismic retrofit often requires a consultation with an engineer, and any work involving gas must be done by a licensed professional....

Coffee is a difficult beverage to transport. For one, holding a hot coffee can be difficult and even painful without proper protection. Secondly, coffee can cool down quickly, and if you’re busy at work or running errands, you might not have time to drink it all before it cools down. Most Durable: Stanley Classic Wide Mouth Bottle Key Features Can keep contents hot or cold for up to 24 hours Has a leak-resistant, multi-purpose lid Comes in several colors Has a collapsible handle, making it easy to transport What Customers Are Saying Customers who were satisfied with this thermos said that it had excellent heat retention, was well-designed, and had a large capacity....

Top 5 Touchless Trash Cans Best Capacity: Glad Stainless Steel Sensor Trash Can Best Medium-Sized Can: EKO Mirage-T Touchless Rectangular Motion Sensor Trash Can Best Round Can: iTouchless Touchless Sensor Trash Can Best Butterfly Lid: hOmeLabs Automatic Trash Can Best Semi-Circle Can: iTouchless Sensor Kitchen Trash Can Best Capacity: Glad Stainless Steel Sensor Trash Can This touchless trash can has a capacity of 20 gallons, allowing it to hold a lot of trash before it needs to be emptied into a dumpster or curbside can....

Egg cartons ingeniously cradle fragile cargo. The standard model—known as a 2x6 in packaging parlance—is made of molded recycled paper. You can give that paper yet another life by reusing the cartons in these resourceful ways. 1. Start seedlings Cut off the lid, fill each cup with potting soil, and plant some seeds. Once the seedlings sprout, cut each cup from the tray and plant it—cup and all. 2. Muffle the band This Old House technical editor (and former rock-star wannabe) Mark Powers once nailed egg cartons to his apartment walls and ceiling to dampen sound while he was recording....

The closet space you use in your home is a central part of how you organize your life. No matter how much space you have—from small cubbies to extra rooms converted into walk-in closets—strategically using what’s available is the best way to maximize your storage. Whether you choose to install organization systems or renovate to build a new closet, you have plenty of options for effectively using your space at home....

Master electrician Heath Eastman teaches host Kevin O’Connor about the different types of electric vehicle chargers. Heath explains Level 1, 2, and 3 chargers, how they work, and who they’re suited for. He even goes over the installation requirements for each type of charger and how many miles of charging the owner can expect. He even puts to rest some safety concerns on the topic. Electric Vehicles Need Chargers Electric vehicles run on power stored in their batteries....

Jenga Giant The only thing more fun than a game of Jenga is GIANT game of Jenga. This is the biggest authentic hardwood Jenga-brand game ever sold. Starts at about 2 feet high at setup and can stack to over 5 feet high in play. Copper Wood Burning Fire Pit This pit by Plow & Hearth makes an elegant focal point for outdoor entertaining. Ingenious design includes a fitted copper lid so the unit can be converted to a side table when not in use....

If you prepare daily home-cooked meals, your stovetop may be the grimiest part of your kitchen. This is where the messy splatter happens, made worse by intense heat from the burners that cook the splatters onto the surface. Fortunately, it’s not so difficult to get your range looking like new again. This article will tell you how to clean a gas cooktop. How Often Should I Clean My Gas Range? A daily light cleaning can go a long way—it’ll stave off the need for deep cleaning and make the job easier when you choose to do it....

1. Hang Up a Flag First things first: No patriotic scene is complete without Old Glory. Whether you want to install a front-entry flagpole or place an in-ground flagpole in your yard, make sure you follow the Flag Code, which states the proper guidelines for displaying the American flag. We’ve made the Flag Code rules easy to follow: Flag Hanging Dos and Don’ts. 2. Create a Casual Spot for Entertaining Summer cookouts are best kept fuss-free, and the one for this holiday celebration is no different....

It’s fairly common for people to have difficulty sleeping (nearly one-third of adults aren’t sleeping enough!), but some of the causes may have simple solutions. Overheating at night and experiencing night sweats can be incredibly uncomfortable, and cause sleepers to receive less-than-adequate rest because of this discomfort. Cooling bed sheets offer an easy way to keep your body at a comfortable temperature throughout the night due to their unique materials and breathable weaves that allow for more air to circulate through the bedding....

BEFORE | Storage Unfriendly It’s said that girls mature faster than boys—and with that maturity generally comes more stuff: hair stuff, nail stuff, you-name-it stuff. So when Mikaela Randolph was ready to redo her daughter Aiyanna’s bathroom in their 1987 Los Angeles house, adding more storage was key. She also wanted the finishes to be pretty but not precious, so Aiyanna wouldn’t tire of them as she grew. “I was aiming for a fresh, inspiring look she’d be happy with through her teens,” Mikaela says....

In this video, Ask This Old House Host Kevin O’Connor shows a new mom a few tips to keep her baby safe around the house by using cabinet locks, a baby gate, outlet covers, and securing a television. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How to add childproofing For cabinet latches, place the latch where you want it on the cabinet door and the catch on the cabinet frame, and pre-drill holes with an electric drill....

“I want to install some recessed lights in my living room, where there are no ceiling fixtures. The only electrical source is a wall receptacle. How do I run the wires from the receptacle up to the ceiling and then to the lights?” —YIN CHOI, ARLINGTON, VA Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Putting lights in a ceiling that has no fixtures requires some detective work to determine which way the ceiling joists run (look at the ones in the basement) and whether there are overhead drainpipes if there’s a bathroom on the floor above....

Previous episode: S19 E6 | Next episode: S19 E8 In this episode: In this special episode of Ask This Old House, Tom Silva and Mark McCullough tell you everything you need to know about fireplaces. Fireplaces make a statement about your style and your home and there’s nothing better than gathering around a fire. If they are not built and maintained correctly, fireplaces can be dangerous. To make sure yours is safe, start with a inspection from a reputable company....

Previous episode: S43 E35 | Next episode: S43 E37 In this episode: The third floor of the 1864 Dutch Colonial was quaint at best. Kevin O’Connor walks through the new space, a drastic change from the once dark area with different levels and low ceiling height. The new space has triggered a code to add a fire sprinkler system. Kevin meets Richard Trethewey outside, where digging has begun to install a new sewer line and two new water lines—one replacing the old galvanized and lead line and another to supply the new fire sprinklers....

Best Speed Settings: Whirlpool Whispure Air Purifier With four fan speeds and one sleep mode, this air purifier is customizable to match how much purification your air needs. It has a useful display that shows you the settings as well as the life of the carbon pre-filter and true filter. Key Features Offers four fan speeds, a sleep mode, and a timer Purifies up to 490 square feet Runs at 43–44 decibels Comes with a five-year warranty What Customers Are Saying Customers had this air purifier set up in minutes....