This story originally appeared in the Winter 2021 Issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. The bark of the cork oak tree has been used to seal champagne bottles since the 1600s, but it was a pretty new idea to use it as flooring in 1937 when it was installed at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Visit the iconic house today, and you’ll see much of that cork still in service, a testament to its durability....
Steps: Buy a set of chisels of varying widths, made of high-quality steel. Chisels with wooden handles are meant for more delicate jobs and can only be hit with a rubber mallet or used by hand. Chisels with metal ends can be hit with a hammer. To make a basic cut, hold the chisel perpendicular to the surface being chiseled and tap it in to set the depth. Make a few cuts in this way across the entire section being chiseled....
Mulch can be a wonderful landscaping material. It adds a bit of color and texture, reduces weeds, and even helps plants retain moisture during the dog days of summer. It can be made of pine, cedar, cypress, oak rubber, and other materials. And, rather than buying individual bags, shoppers can purchase it in bulk units known as yards. But how much exactly is a yard of mulch? This guide will answer that question and explain more about this practical landscaping product....
In the first two parts of this series, I built the functional base and an organizer to give a few of my tools a permanent home. In this video, I’ll demonstrate a simple method to build drawers, another way we’re adding storage to the Ultimate Mobile Workbench. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time For the cut list, tools, and materials needed for this project, scroll down to the bottom of this page....
Steps for Replacing a Ceiling Light: Heath starts by explaining why ceiling fixtures are temperature rated and what that means: Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Houses built before 1985 used wires that could withstand temperatures up to 60 degrees Celsius.a. Certain lightbulbs generate more heat than 60 degrees, so over time, those wires could fray and crack, causing an arc, which could create a fire.b. After 1985, they changed the code so that wires needed to be rated to withstand temperatures up to 90 degrees Celsius, which is common for most modern fixtures....
Compare Top Recessed Lights Top 5 Recessed Lights Best Lifespan: Ensenior Ultra-Thin LED Recessed Ceiling Lights Best For Small Spaces: TORCHSTAR Dimmable Slim LED Lights Best Power Savings: Amico Ultra-Thin LED Recessed Ceiling Lights Best Baffle Trim: Sunco Lighting Dimmable Recessed Downlights Best For Large Spaces: Sunco Lighting Six-Inch Slim LED Downlights Best Lifespan: Ensenior Ultra-Thin LED Recessed Ceiling Lights Pros and Cons ✔ Has housing that’s made from lightweight and durable aluminum✔ Available in multiple light colors and housing sizes✔ Can be in contact with ceiling insulation...
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a commission. Best Fourth of July Mattress Sales - Our Top Picks Best Luxury Mattress - Saatva Classic ($1,570 for a Queen) Best Mattress for Side Sleepers - Helix Midnight ($1,099 for a Queen) Most Comfortable Mattress - DreamCloud Original ($999 for a Queen) Best Mattress for Back Pain - WinkBeds The WinkBed ($1,499 for a Queen) Best Cooling Mattress - Brooklyn Bedding Aurora ($1,405....
This creative storage solution for small bikes is perfect for a multipurpose garage and is easy to roll out of the way and clean up once tires go through the mud. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Bike Rack Plans Scroll and click through to view the plans for this project. Cut List Small-Medium Bike Rack 2 x 4 Base Front and Back – 2 @ 57” 2 x 4 Base Dividers – 2 @ 10” 2 x 4 Base Ends – 2 @ 28 ½” 2 x 4 Vertical Sides – 2 @ 48” 2 x 4 Angled Supports – 2 @ 39” 2 x 4 Back Top and Bottom – 2 @ 60” 2 x 4 Back Slots – 8 @ 33” Medium to Large Bike Rack...
Steps: Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Before doing any electrical work, ensure the power is turned off at the circuit breaker. It’s best to trace the path of power from the circuit panel to determine which fixtures are receiving constant power and which are receiving switched power. Setting basement lighting to one switch may be as simple as changing the path of power at one splice and require no additional rewiring....
A clogged toilet can occur at any moment, and it’s never fun when it happens to you. But the mess and stress can easily be addressed if you have the right plunger and know how to use it. Here’s how to handle this household emergency when it arises. Steps for Plunging a Toilet Step 1: Get the right type of plunger The key to resolving most clogged toilets efficiently is to have the right kind of toilet plunger....
Insider Bailey Kohl of Sanford, NC, writes: “My husband and I are longtime fans of This Old House. We even spent a wedding anniversary touring the project home in Carlisle, MA, back in 2004, when we lived in New England. We’ve been in North Carolina for years now, and last month we attended the Downtown Raleigh Home Show at the Raleigh Convention Center hoping to be able to hear Kevin O’Connor speak about his experiences and insights....
The first time Brenda Flick fired up a pellet stove was on a cold winter’s day in 2005. And her life hasn’t been the same since. Within a year, she had quit her job, rented some retail space, and started selling them herself. “I knew it was the right time and the right product for the consumer, the country, and the environment,” says Flick, in perfect true-believer fashion. What convinced her was discovering that a pellet stove could heat her entire 3,000-square-foot ranch house for less than $120 a month....
Previous episode: S18 E2 | Next episode: S18 E4 In this episode: Jenn teaches Kevin how to plant a small herb garden with a cocktail theme; a homeowner’s radiator sprung away from the pipe when he tried to replace the valve, so Richard heads to his house to help him reconnect it; Mark replaces a homeowner’s sloppy fireplace surround with a clean, thin brick veneer. How to Plant a Cocktail Garden...
In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains how to install a rain diverter. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Roof Rain Diverter Installation Steps Sand underside of flashing with 80-grit sandpaper to help paint adhere; wipe surface clean. Spray-paint bottom surface and up-turned edge of flashing to match color of roof. Cut flashing in half using aviation snips. Use flat pry bar to loosen stuck roof shingles....
Jenn Nawada explains how to identify and care for holly plants and incorporate them into landscapes. She notes that many holly plants keep their distinctive dense, glossy leaves all year, making them an excellent foundation plant for your garden design. The holly bush is a beloved symbol of Christmas and wintertime. It adorns cards, holiday wreaths, and garlands. But, this evergreen is worth celebrating beyond the holidays and will add cheer to your landscape all year long....
We all have that one friend or family member who loves to cook. When it comes time to buy them a gift for their birthday or the holiday season, it can be difficult to know what to get. Want to save these ideas for later? Create your own holiday gift list to share gift ideas with family and friends. Smirly Cheese Board and Knife Set Shop Now This charcuterie board set comes with everything you need to class up a party....
Steps for Painting a Door Remove the door from its hinge pins with the hammer and place it on the sawhorses. Remove the hardware from the door and place it somewhere safe. Lightly sand the door with 400-grit sandpaper. Use the vacuum with the dust attachment to clean off the door, then wipe it down with a wet rag. Pour the paint into a tray. Cut around the panels of the door or any other trim details using the paint brush....
Viewers of The New Yankee Workshop over the years have marveled not only at the skill of TOH master carpenter Norm Abram but also at the incredible workshop outfitted with tools and machines that most home woodworkers could only dream about. For 20 years, Norm shared his fine-woodworking techniques during episodes of The New Yankee Workshop, building everything from a Shaker-style red pine medicine cabinet (the very first project, Season 1, Episode 1, in January 1989) to library ladders, garden swings, trestle tables, and more....
Q: We will be renovating our bathroom soon but I want a “quick fix” now because I hate the ceramic tile floor’s color. I found a great sale on some Armstrong urethane that I’d like to install. What should I use for an underlayment? The salesperson suggested cement underlayment and patch. The back of the box of tile suggests that or an embossing leveler. Which one would be better? — Arlene, Rochester Hills, MI...
Few summer pleasures are as much fun as a cookout. The smell of grilling food is mouth-watering, everything tastes great and it’s hard not to have a good time - that is, unless you’re the harried host running back and forth between the grill and the kitchen for the chicken and steak, forks and knives, beer and wine, and ketchup and mustard. And when everybody’s done, all the leftovers must be lugged back inside....
