Previous episode: S42 E2 | Next episode: S42 E4 In this episode: From young blacksmiths metalworking to a woodworker who finds centuries-old lumber under water, This Old House features talented makers all over the country who make beautiful household items. A lumberjack sources his own material from the bottom of the Edisto River near Charleston, SC. He brings up an old cypress log, mills and dries it, and turns it into a unique dining room table....
Best Gripping: GreenLife Cookware Pots and Pans Set If you’re looking for a starter cookware set that includes more than just the essentials, we recommend this 16-piece option. It comes with three pots, four pans, a steamer, and four utensils. The ceramic coating in all of the pots and pans is nonstick and dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. Key Features 16 pieces Aluminum, glass, and ceramic Dishwasher-safe Oven-safe up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit What Customers Are Saying Many customers thought that this cookware set offered even heating, solid durability, and easy maintenance....
Best Lather: Puracy Hand Soap This 99.95% natural hand soap eliminates germs and invigorates the skin without using triclosan, sulfates, and other harsh chemicals. Its honey-like gel turns into germ-killing suds when you lather for 20 seconds. Key Features 12-ounce dispensing bottle Lavender and vanilla scent Plant-powered formula What Customers Are Saying Customers liked this soap’s pleasant scent. They also said that it worked well on sensitive skin because of its soothing and moisturizing ingredients....
Top 5 Pens Best Value: PILOT G2 Premium Rolling Ball Gel Pens Largest Pack: Sharpie S-Gel Gel Pens Best High-End Pen: Scriveiner Rollerball Pen Best For Lefties: uni-ball Jetstream Retractable Ballpoint Pens Best Fountain Pen: Asvine Forest Fountain Pen Best Value: PILOT G2 Premium Rolling Ball Gel Pens These rolling ball pens have gel ink and rubber gripping, making them comfortable and long-lasting. While this pack includes five affordable blue pens, you can purchase other packs with varying colors and sizes to best fit your needs....
Vacuum sealers are food storage devices that keep food fresh, prevent freezer burn, and are helpful for sous vide cooking by sucking all of the air out of specially made vacuum sealer bags. Here are our top recommendations. Top 5 Vacuum Sealers Best Handheld Option: FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer Machine Best Screen: NutriChef Vacuum Sealer Best Settings: Nesco Vacuum Sealer Best Long Seal Bar: Weston Vacuum Sealer Machine Best Compact Sealer: GERYON Vacuum Sealer Machine Best Handheld Option: FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer Machine Pros and Cons ✔ Comes with a long 5-year warranty✔ Has a removable drip tray that catches any liquids that come out of the bags during sealing✔ Has a progress bar to indicate how far along the sealing process is for each bag...
Add a new control to your old radiator by installing a thermostatic radiator valve. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time What Does a Thermostatic Radiator Valve Do? Thermostatic radiator valves control the heat output from a single radiator for better energy efficiency. In doing so, you also create mini-zones in your heating system. Thermostatic Valve Installation in 13 Steps Drain water from radiator. Use pipe wrenches to disconnect old valve from radiator....
As both the state capital and the location of a major university, Tallahassee sees a lot of residents come and go. Whether you’re moving into college or you’re heading to the beach to retire, hiring a Tallahassee mover is a good option. To help you in your search, the This Old House Reviews Team has provided a list of the best moving companies in Tallahassee, FL, for a variety of residential and commercial moving needs....
This article appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. 1. Instant box bay SkycoveThis factory-built glass alcove brings the outdoors in as it captures light and views from four sides. At 25 inches deep, the units come in two sizes: 76 inches wide by 67 inches tall or 99 by 83 inches. The steel frame bolts to a properly reinforced and flashed wall opening; no additional support needed....
Once exclusive to dining spaces and foyers—not to mention virtually every Bridgerton interior—chandeliers have now arrived to illuminate the bathroom in high style. These decorative light fixtures, which suspend from the ceiling via a chain or tube, are typically comprised of branches that hold the bulbs. While more ornate than flush-mount and recessed lighting, bathroom chandeliers needn’t drip with lavish crystal or be massive enough to swing from; in fact, trendy mini models work well in smaller spaces, possibly even powder rooms....
Pros Know Best A bath remodel is no small undertaking. So before you start tearing up the tiles and picking out the tub, get a little advice from the people who make bathroom makeovers their bread and butter. We polled contractors, designers, and other pros for their top tips and insider tricks for getting every detail right. RELATED: Read This Before You Redo a Bath Bathroom Checklist Measure your space thoroughly so that you know what size fixtures will fit....
Kevin O’Connor explains how he became the host of ASK and This Old House. With a bright future in finance, Kevin and his wife sent in a letter to This Old House about their home at the same time Ask This Old House was starting. A few weeks after the crew performed a house call at Kevin’s home, he received the job offer from the production crew, and the rest is history....
Here at This Old House, you’ll see iconic cedar-shingle siding on several Idea Houses and TV projects—including our most recent 2020 Idea House, the Cottage on the Cape. Here’s a peek at some of our favorite looks, and why you might want to seek out cedar for your own home. The Scoop on White Cedar Shingles Eastern white cedar is a prevalent species in the Northeast, and a popular choice for wood-shingled homes in large part thanks to naturally occurring oils that make it insect and rot resistant....
If your hot water heater is not heating up, air has likely gotten into the system. Being more buoyant than water, the air rises into the tops of radiators and blocks the hot water from flowing there. The fix is easy—radiators have bleed valves at their tops so you can let the air out. What You’ll Need to Bleed a Radiator The tools you’ll need are simple. Many bleed valves require just a straight screwdriver to operate....
In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner build a custom fireplace mantel. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for building a custom mantel: Spread a canvas drop cloth onto the floor in front of the fireplace. Cut three poplar boards to size to form the vertical pilasters and horizontal frieze of the fireplace mantel. Join the boards together with glue and pocket screws. Rout a rabbet into the back edges of the mantel so that it will overlap the wall tiles that surround the fireplace....
Have you removed the carpet on a staircase only to reveal that one of the stair treads is cracked or broken? It’s always best to err on the side of safety and repair any broken treads on your staircase. In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva reveals his quick fix for cracked wooden stair treads. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Fixing a Stair Tread Use a tapered bit to drill three holes into the edge of the cracked stair tread....
Ask This Old House painter Mauro Henrique demonstrates the best way to paint furniture built out of MDF from priming to the final top coat. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How to Paint MDF Step-by-Step Start by priming the edges on the inside of the cubbies with an oil-based primer. Once all the edges have been cut, use a roller to paint the rest of the bench. Allow the primer to dry and then add a second coat the same way....
Painting expert Mauro Henrique shows up to repair the ceiling after Heath Eastman’s electrical work. After installing some strapping and a drywall patch, Mauro shows the homeowner how to match the repair with the existing textured ceiling. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How to Patch a Hole in a Textured Ceiling Cut a patch to match the existing hole’s shape and size. Use a hole saw, and screw gun or a keyhole saw to cut the patch from the 1/2-inch drywall....
Compared to charming white picket and stunning gothic wrought iron, chain link fences get a bad rap. Sure, chain link fences are as basic and practical as they come, but they’re also incredibly durable and long-lasting. And, since only a few things tend to go wrong with them, learning how to repair a chain link fence is relatively easy. How To Repair a Chain Link Fence: Bent Rail Chain link fences are sturdy but fallen tree limbs or fence-hopping teenagers can bend a top rail....
Mason Mark McCullough takes us on a house call to Dallas, Texas, where a homeowner’s sandstone steps are starting to cause issues. After noticing that the bond between the pre-existing concrete steps and new sandstone veneer is failing, Mark and the homeowner get to work. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time What is Sandstone? Sandstone is known for its rustic look and earthy color palette. It can be used for walls, fireplaces, and flooring and is used in indoor and outdoor spaces....
Kitchen + Office + Reading Nook For their 1920 Tudor in Newton, Massachusetts, the homeowners gave Nashville-based designer Stephanie Sabbe a sentimental directive for this 230-square-foot kitchen. “They’re a big Irish family with four kids, and wanted a bench in the kitchen where the children could sit and look out the window while waiting for their dad to come home,” Sabbe says. That simple idea kicked off this workhorse room. How she makes it function seamlessly:...
