Previous episode: S43 E36 | Next episode: S43 E38 In this episode: Work in Saratoga Springs is starting to wrap up, as is the Center School restoration in Dracut, MA. Kevin O’Connor visits a tech school in Massachusetts where three students, under the guidance of their instructors, are constructing a table for the Centre School. The students assemble the table as Kevin speaks with Carpentry Instructor, Bruce Brown, to learn more about the school....
Previous episode: S44 E2 | Next episode: S44 E4 In this episode: The project house is located near the Atlanta Beltline which is changing the way people live, work, and play in the area. The Beltline president and CEO Clyde Higgs gives a brief tour and discusses its growth. At the house, Kevin O’Connor meets builder Jerry Davis where the back bump-out has since been demolished. Work is underway for the pour of a new stem wall foundation to begin the building of the new addition....
Look Out Below Watch that first step—it’s a doozy. Ron Passaro Bethel, Conn. Deep Freeze, Take 2 It’s important to winterize your sill cocks here in New England, too. Ron Cook Close-up Home Inspection Hopedale, Maine Hey, I Can Tile My Own Shower! It just needs a little caulking to finish the job! Tom Kaminski Cross Island Home Inspection Sayville, N.Y. Too Close for Comfort Don’t forget to turn off the fan before checking the smoke alarm!...
Steps for Building Kitchen Drawer Dividers: Measure the inside of the drawer. Each drawer varies slightly, so it’s important to get an accurate measurement of the exact drawer the dividers are going into. Transfer the measurements to a piece of paper and calculate the divider layout. Nathan suggests making the dividers slightly thinner than the kitchen drawer so it can be placed in and taken out of the drawer more easily....
Upbeat, quiet, daring, mercurial—paint colors are a sure way to bring some personality to your rooms. Uncertain where to start? Designers say you already know what you like. “People are naturally drawn to certain shades—they have visceral reactions to color,” says Washington, D.C.–based designer Zoë Feldman. She and other smart design pros work with those preferences, factoring in the available light, other elements in a room, the home’s architecture, and ultimately, how the homeowner wants to feel in the space—calm or energized, for instance....
Staircase handrails rely on the newel post—the large post that anchors the handrail at the bottom of the staircase—for support. If the post is loose, the railing becomes wobbly and offers little support for those climbing the stairs. Here’s how you can tighten a loose newel post yourself. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Repairing a Loose Newel Post Wedge a temporary wood brace between the nearest wall and newel post....
This Old House mason Mark McCullough meets with homeowner Britt to discuss issues with her driveway. The pitch is too steep, and it is uneven and made up of a mix of asphalt, concrete, and gravel. Since replacing the pitch would involve reconfiguring the cement slab in the garage, Britt enlists Mark to pour a new concrete driveway. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Why Choose Concrete Over Asphalt While concrete is more expensive than asphalt, it is incredibly hard-wearing, making it an excellent choice for homes enduring cold New England winters....
Steps for Replacing a Cracked Tile in Your Floor Cut the grout around the damaged tile carefully with a utility knife. Place the cold chisel on the deepest crack in the tile and carefully hit it with the hammer until the cold chisel is underneath the tile. Watch the grout lines around the tile to ensure the grout and surrounding tiles don’t also crack. Slowly pry the tile up with the cold chisel....
Picture a georgian-style red-brick house with classic architectural details inside and out. Now add two young homeowners who love the play of new against old. Their interior designer, Marci Barnes, began at the entry, kicking around the idea of patterned tile before hitting on a crisp painted floor in purplish black and clean white. “It’s a lovely surprise when you walk in the door,” says the Dallas-based Barnes. “You see the traditional exterior, then the traditional staircase, and then—that floor!...
Top 4 Juicers Best Accessories: Breville BJE200XL Juice Fountain Most Customizable: Jocuu Slow Masticating Juicer Extractor Best Speed Control: Cuisinart CJE-1000 Die-Cast Juice Extractor Most Powerful: Mueller Austria Juicer Best Accessories: Breville BJE200XL Juice Fountain Pros and Cons ✔ Features a large three-inch chute so that you can juice whole fruits and vegetables✔ Has a durable stainless steel cutting disc✔ Has a compact design that doesn’t take up much counter space...
Whether or not you’re one of the ever-growing number of people who work from home, you necessarily do work from home…and you need a place to get the job done. To create a functional workspace, consider who will be using it and for what purpose. A home office can range in size and complexity from a corner of the kitchen counter to the whole top floor of your house, depending on its uses—and users....
With just under 2,500-square feet for both the main house and the rental unit, we needed to get creative and maximize every inch of space. Here’s a look at some of the easy-care, innovative, and space-saving products and materials that brought this Cottage together. A Closer Look at the Kitchen The 3-by-8-foot kitchen island has a quartzite top with a rich, easy-care leathered finish. The touchless smart faucet is voice activated....
Steps for Fixing a Jammed Garbage Disposal: If your garbage disposal suddenly stops working, there’s a good chance that it is simply jammed. In this how-to video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to fix one. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Step 1: Check the Electricity First, confirm that electricity is flowing to the garbage disposal by first checking the appropriate circuit breaker or fuse at the main electrical panel....
Can You Install a Three-Prong Outlet Without Ground Wires? Old-fashioned two-prong receptacles, also known as outlets, connected to two-wire cables don’t have the ground wires that protect people and electrical devices in case of a fault. Yet it is possible to retrofit a new three-prong or GFCI receptacle into the same outlet box without any rewiring, as long as the box itself is grounded. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Luckily, metal boxes attached to armored, or BX, cable—a type of wiring commonly found in old houses—generally are grounded; the cable’s flexible metal jacket serves the same purpose as a dedicated ground wire....
Repairing window sash cords Remove the screws holding the stop beads with a screwdriver. Remove the sash from the window opening. Remove the screws holding the doors to the weight pockets using a screwdriver. Take out the old weights and broken sash cords. Feed a cotton line down the pulley hole and into the weight pocket. Tie off the bottom end of the cotton line to the old weight on each side and return the sash weight to the window pocket....
Previous episode: S43 E28 | Next episode: S43 E30 In this episode: The project house is an 1864 Dutch Colonial in Saratoga Springs, NY—a town attractive for its springs. A new attraction was built just a year before the house was built and has been a hit ever since—the Saratoga Racecourse. Kevin O’Connor visits the course and gets a tour from Glen Kozak to learn more about the track and its history....
Previous episode: S43 E38 | Next episode: S44 E1 In this episode: After 13 long months and many delays, the restoration of the 158-year-old Dutch Colonial owned by the same family for seven generations is finally completed. General Contractor brothers Matt and Jason Whitbeck, along with their team of talented subcontractors, are to thank. Additionally, the homeowners put in a great amount of sweat equity to help make their dream come to life....
Top 5 Mops Best Scrubbing: BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop Best Pack: Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Microfiber Floor Mop Best Handle: Microfiber Wholesale Mop Best Mop Head: O-Cedar ProMist MAX Microfiber Spray Mop Best Robot Mop: iRobot 240 Braava Robot Mop Best Scrubbing: BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop This mop provides a 100% chemical-free clean and can remove 99.9% of germs on your floor. The mop’s steam can be customized to three levels, and its optional scent discs can be used to get rid of lingering smells....
Ask This Old House Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada explains why she enjoys teaching children. With a background as a camp counselor, an outdoor education instructor, and volunteering in youth centers, Jenn appreciates watching kids grow and learn. She enjoys teaching them that good things take time and that learning where things come from is a lesson in respect. She’s Always Worked with Children Jenn has always appreciated working with children. She’s worked in youth centers, summer camps, and even as an outdoor education teacher on a farm....
Wall-mounted Feeder Shelf This handsome, handcrafted wooden shelf with built-in bowls is a top seller! Deluxe Cat Playplace This set is available in a range of colors and you can customize to suit your decor, but this beautiful all-black installation almost looks like art. 3-pack Climbing Shelves These Oxford cloth shelves can be installed in just 4 easy steps. Wall-mounted Cat Shelves This set includes a “cat condo” and hammock. Sisal-covered surfaces are perfect for scratching....
