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Freestanding Tub A stand-alone soaker makes a strong design statement. But once filled with water—not to mention a bather—it can easily weigh up to 500 pounds, straining the floor beneath it. Sistering the joists or doubling up a subfloor of 3⁄4-inch plywood under a pedestal or one-piece tub will shore up the floor. Cast-iron claw-foot? TOH ’s Tom Silva likes to play it safe with 2x material laid flat between joists and supported by cleats under the legs....

Icicles hanging along the eaves of your house may look beautiful, but they spell trouble. That’s because the same conditions that allow icicles to form—snow-covered roofs and freezing weather—also lead to ice dams: thick ridges of solid ice that build up along the eaves. Dams can tear off gutters, loosen shingles, and cause water to back up and pour into your house. When that happens, the results aren’t pretty: peeling paint, warped floors, stained and sagging ceilings....

In this video, Jenn Nawada tells you everything you need to know about ornamental grasses, and why they are some of her favorite plants to add to a landscape design. While there are many varieties you can choose from, Jenn shows a few examples and explains how you could use them to add a cool visual element to any area. Specifically discussing Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’, Miscanthus ‘Adagio’, switchgrass, and Hakonechloa grass, Jenn points out their characteristics and shares what other plants she likes to pair them with....

In many houses, bathroom ventilation doesn’t present problems. A fan or fan/light combination is installed in the bathroom ceiling, then vented through the roof or through a soffit or side wall. With the flip of a switch, odors and excess moisture are easily vented outside. But what happens when a building’s design makes it difficult or impossible to vent a bath fan to the exterior? As it turns out, there are many situations that can make it difficult to install a bathroom fan that vents to the exterior....

There are a wide range of home security providers available in Tucson, but they differ in the packages and equipment they offer, how they’re installed, their cost, and more. To help you decide on the best security solution for your Tucson home, the This Old House Reviews Team evaluated the best home security systems in the area. Read on to find out about our top home security recommendations in Tucson, Arizona....

If guests tend to fly right by your drive, it might be time to add some oomph to your entrance. Install a stepped stone planter along the driveway, and suddenly you’ve got an unmistakable guidepost. Not to mention a natural spot to add a pop of color with plantings or the welcoming light of a lamppost. With a wide variety of block sizes and styles available, you can tailor the look to that of your home, from rustic to stately....

Instead of spending $100 or more for an end-grain cutting board, spend a few enjoyable hours in the shop building your own one-of-a-kind piece. If that sounds like an appealing use of your time, just follow the steps ahead. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time What Is the Best Wood to Use for an End Grain Cutting Board? You can use salvaged or scrap wood to create and end grain cutting board....

Solar generators convert sunlight into energy to power your devices and appliances when you don’t have electricity. If you’re looking for a portable power source to take with you on a trip, read our review below to see our top picks for the best solar generators. Top 10 Solar Generators Best For Small Items: Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240 Best Medium Output: Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 Best Handle: ROCKPALS Portable Power Station Most Powerful: EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station Best Outlet Covers: BLUETTI Portable Power Station Best For Camping: Goal Zero Yeti 500X Portable Power Station Most Charging Options: MAXOAK Portable Power Station Most Durable: ITEHIL Portable Power Station Fastest Charging: EF ECOFLOW RIVER Pro Portable Power Station Most Portable: Rainier Outdoor Power Equipment Portable Power Station Best For Small Items: Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240 Pros and Cons ✔ Has the most affordable price point out of the models in this review Compare Top Solar Generators Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240...

Hot tubs are a great place to relax with family and friends after a long day. Coming in several styles and sizes, there are a lot of options when it comes to determining what hot tub is best for your needs. Here are our top recommendations. Compare Top Hot Tubs Best For Muscle Relief: Intex PureSpa Plus Hot Tub Best For Small Groups: Bestway SaluSpa Miami Hot Tub Best Square Tub: Coleman Atlantis SaluSpa Best Entry-Level: Intex SimpleSpa Hot Tub Most Decorative: Bestway SaluSpa Helsinki AirJet Hot Tub Best For Muscle Relief: Intex PureSpa Plus Hot Tub Pros and Cons ✔ Includes a patented fiber-tech construction for superior structural stability✔ Has built-in hard water treatment✔ Has a tilt-adjustable control panel...

Homeowners in Kansas City should look out for invasions from many common pests, since the temperatures in the area can be attractive to certain bugs or rodents throughout the year. Finding the best pest control company to serve your needs can be an important part of protecting your home and keeping it comfortable to live in. The top three pest control companies are a great place to start, since they’re well-known across the country, including the greater Kansas City metropolitan area....

Los Angeles continues to be a popular city that many individuals and families are choosing to relocate to. With beaches and fun activities within arm’s reach, LA is an attractive place to call home, and its diverse neighborhoods give homebuyers a wide variety of options no matter your budget. Homes are appreciating in value year-over-year, so it remains a great market to buy and sell. Whether you’re a seller or a buyer, you’ll need a talented real estate agent to help you navigate this city’s competitive market....

Steps: Roger shares that the homeowner’s yard was patchy because she used a non-selective herbicide to treat for weeds in her lawn. Read labels carefully to ensure the proper weed killer is being used. On a lawn, a selective herbicide should be used. On sidewalks and walkways, a non-selective herbicide can be used. If there is a concern about the harsh nature of these chemicals, there are organic herbicides available that work pretty effectively....

As open-plan spaces became more desirable, so did the concept of making them multi-purpose. Now, with so many of us doing, well, everything at home, the notion of designating areas to different activities—or just carving out some privacy—has never been more important. Fortunately, room dividers offer a simple, stylish way to make your home more flexible, and you can even tailor partitioning preferences to what best suits your needs and lifestyle....

Insulation helps to keep interior temperatures comfortable when it’s unbearably hot or cold outside. Sure, we rely on furnaces and air conditioning equipment to heat and cool the indoors, but insulation plays a major role, too—by impeding heat flow. In the winter, insulation helps to keep heat inside. On hot summer days, the same insulation makes it more difficult for outdoor heat to move indoors. An added bonus is that insulation also makes a building more energy-efficient and less expensive to heat and cool....

The descriptor “original” isn’t always a plus when it comes to the bath, but neither is a long-ago reno. This primary bath, stuck in the 1990s, was a notable low point in a 1937 house in Portland, OR. The awkward layout had the tub marooned in a corner and clunky sink cabinets that wrapped a corner. “It just looked dated and wasn’t the homeowners’ style,” says designer Max Humphrey, who was called in to reimagine the room....

Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner with upgrading their kitchen cabinet hardware. While the cabinets themselves are nice, the homeowner dislikes the lack of hardware. Nathan shows the homeowner several jig options before explaining how they’ll tackle the job. With a drill and a few jigs in hand, the two set to work installing hardware and giving those kitchen cabinets a serious facelift. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Builder-grade cabinets are a great option for folks looking to install affordable cabinets without long lead times....

For homes in most regions of the country, rain gutters and downspouts are necessary to collect and carry away rainwater. Without them, water would erode the soil around the foundation, splash dirt onto the siding, and likely leak into the basement or crawlspace. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Gutters are most often installed by professionals, but there’s no reason you can’t do it yourself. All the materials and accessories are readily available at home centers, lumberyards, and roofing-supply firms....

From an excitable pet’s sharp claws to branches rubbing against the house, unsightly scratches can appear on your windows. Repairing the damage doesn’t always have to include a glass professional, but you should address scratches relatively quickly before they develop into cracks. Where Do Glass Scratches Come From? Window scratches can come from just about any wear and tear your home sustains. Often, scratches become apparent over time, and their source is a mystery....

Pity the poor wooden threshold. That stomped-on, scuffed-up, taken-for-granted plank bakes in the sun, gets soaked by the rain, and endures the grit from every shoe that tromps in or out of the house. Without regular attention—an occasional lick of paint and some caulking—sooner or later that wood’s a goner, and the underlying framework isn’t far behind. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time It’s best to start replacement work early in the day, so there’s time to fix any problems that come to light after the old threshold is out....

Need a new rake to handle fallen debris and leaves in your yard? We’ve rounded up our favorite rakes in this handy guide. Root Assassin Rake In addition to collecting leaves, this tool is designed to pulling out tough roots that don’t want to budge. The thin but durable tines allow you to lift grass, pruning clipplings, and even skim your pool. Amazing Rake Your back will thank you for picking up this 3-in-1 tool....