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In this video, Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to divide a home’s heating and air-conditioning system into different zones. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Zoning a Forced-Air Furnace & AC Unit Cut into each flexible branch duct and install a motorized zone damper. Secure the damper to the duct with nylon cable ties. Make the wire connections at each motorized damper and run all the wires back to the control panel at the furnace....

Front Row Seat The KARP building team salvaged the vintage stone bench that was original to the house, and placed it alongside the paver pathway from the sidewalk under the cooling shade of a stately tree. It’s an inviting resting spot for kids waiting for the school bus, gardeners who need a quick break, and catch-up conversations with neighbors.PAVERS: Unilock Put-Your-Feet-Up-and-Sit-Awhile Porch The side wing that was added to the circa-1840 house in the 1960s was rebuilt in its original Greek Revival style, and its new double-hungs have been flanked with historically accurate, operable shutters made from a composite that won’t warp or split....

As Mason on This Old House and Ask This Old House, Mark McCullough demystifies the world of stone, brick, and concrete for millions of viewers across the country. Mark first appeared on the This Old House East Boston project in 2006, where he showed Kevin some techniques for patching crumbling stucco. He has since been a more regular presence on This Old House, working on both local renovations and even traveling to job sites in Detroit and Charleston....

Facade Facelift Built in 1840, this Greek Revival farmhouse will be transformed by the experts at Karp Associates. Original elements of the facade are being carefully restored, and reused on the historic street-facing portion of the house. Behind the facade, the dilapidated home has been demolished and built anew, with a smaller footprint and modern amenities. Sheathing: ZIP System Neglected Gable As you can see here, the original gable has weathered years of neglect....

This article appeared in the Fall 2022 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. Seven years ago, when she first glimpsed the bright-blue Folk Victorian in South Atlanta, Kysha Hehn walked away in something of a trance. Built in the 1890s, the house had been unoccupied for decades and had fallen into disrepair, but Kysha couldn’t shake the feeling that it was special. “There was something about the house,” she says....

Most Concentrated: Bissell Carpet Shampoo This solution contains four times more active ingredients than other leading carpet shampoos. Its concentrated formula removes oil, grease, makeup, blood, feces, urine, and more. In addition to receiving an effective cleaner, your purchase supports Bissell’s Pet Foundation. Key Features Comes in a 48-ounce bottle Works on carpets, upholstery, and rugs Has a biodegradable formula What Customers Are Saying Many customers loved this shampoo because it was easy to use and had a fresh scent....

Top 5 Hammocks Best Warranty: Wise Owl Outfitters Hammock Best Stationary Hammock: Vivere Double Cotton Hammock Best Straps: Kootek Camping Hammock Most Trusted: ENO DoubleNest Lightweight Camping Hammock Best Bug Protection: FIRINER Camping Hammock Best Warranty: Wise Owl Outfitters Hammock Whether you plan to use your hammock alone or with a loved one, Wise Owl Outfitters has you covered thanks to its two size options for one or two people. This hammock also comes with two nine-foot straps that each have five loops, allowing you to customize the bed to best fit your setup....

Below are our top recommendations, a comprehensive buyer’s guide, and answers to common questions. Compare Top Irons Most Powerful: Rowenta Micro Steam Iron Pros and Cons ✔ Has 400 soleplate holes to evenly distribute steam ✔ Comes with an anti-drip lid✔ Operates with tap water Rowenta Micro Steam Iron $60 Prices taken at time of publishing. This steam iron comes with a stainless steel soleplate with 400 microholes. It also has an angled precision tip to smooth hard-to-reach parts of your clothes, such as around the collar....

Top 5 Sleeper Sofas Most Adjustable: Saemoza Sofa Bed Most Eco-Friendly: Nirvana Futons Stanford Futon Set Best Storage: HONBAY Convertible Sectional Sofa Most Stylish: DHP Emily Futon Most Thoughtful Design: YAHEETECH Modern Faux Leather Futon Most Adjustable: Saemoza Sofa Bed This four-in-one sofa bed is perfect for small spaces, such as apartments, studios, and dorm rooms, as it transforms into an ottoman, sofa, lounger, and bed. The sofa has an adjustable backrest and high-density foam filling to provide maximum comfort....

The final house of Season 42 moves Tommy, Kevin, Richard, Jenn, and the team to Dorchester, MA where a 1905 three-family home endured a fire on the 4th of July in 2019. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the house suffered significant damage. Homeowner Carol lived in this house for 39 years before the fire. A retired accountant, Carol raised her own children and fostered kids in-need in this home. She shared the apartments with her two sisters and 3 nephews....

What to Know About Certified PVC Flue Gas Ventilation: Gas appliances create flue products which include temperature, carbon monoxide, and sometimes moisture. These need to be vented outside to prevent poisoning (from CO), mold, and mildew. As appliances have become more efficient, traditional venting gave way to direct venting outside. This made venting with metal pipes obsolete, since eventually they would rust due to the moisture buildup. For years, contractors vented flue products with the same PVC pipes they use for liquid waste....

Homeowners can choose among three kinds of flat roofs, says Bruce O’Neal, vice president of Matthews Roofing, which has been keeping Chicago’s many flat roofs dry since 1934. What are the different types of flat roofs? Built-up roof (BUR), modified bitumen roof (MBR), and rubber membrane roof (EPDM). Pros and Cons for Flat Roof Materials All three types of flat roofing cost $250 to $350 per “square” (100 square feet), but prices vary according to region and size of the roof....

Home insurance policies help you rest easy at night. If you’re dealing with the aftermath of an unexpected disaster like a fire or windstorm, your home insurance policy can help cover the costs of rebuilding or repairing your home’s structure and replacing your personal property. With several companies offering home insurance in Dallas, finding the right provider for you requires a lot of research. That’s why we’ve done the homework for you, researching factors like coverage, cost, and the customer service quality of each major player in the industry and compiling this list of the top homeowners insurance companies in the area....

Nothing announces the arrival of summer like firing up the grill. Unfortunately, nothing sours a summer party faster than grills that won’t light, smoke too much, or cook unevenly. Grease, marinades, and sauces wreak havoc on gas burners, while charcoal grills suffer the corrosive properties of charcoal. Grills of all kinds, from simple kettles to stainless steel restaurant-grade infrared grills, require maintenance to ensure that they perform and last. “At least twice a year you need to pull the grill apart to get inside and take a closer look at it,” says Derrick Riches, barbecue and grilling guide for About....

When Stefani Bachetti’s office relocated to Chicago’s River North neighborhood, the new address was only a couple of blocks away from the old office. But while the move wasn’t a big deal, she did lose something major—workshop access. The building where Stefani, who does research for an industrial-design firm, used to work had housed a large shop outfitted with a table saw, an assembly bench, and a drill press. So Stefani decided if she could no longer go to that shop, she’d bring one to her by converting her brick-walled one-car garage into a workspace for building small-scale furniture projects....

If you’ve ever dreamed about sending a rocket sky-high, you might be relieved to learn you don’t have to mess with explosives to make one fly. If you put air under pressure, like in a tire, you can use it to propel an object upwards. Add water to the mix, and your rocket will go far above the trees. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time This rocket is made from simple PVC plumbing pipe and some plastic soda bottles....

Steps Switch off the steam boiler to prevent risk of scalding. Loosen the nut holding the radiator. Make sure the wrench is biting the nut in three different corners to prevent the nut from deforming. Carefully remove the old radiator. (Optional): To replace the hand valve, use one wrench to bite the pipe and one wrench to bite the valve. Move in opposite directions to loosen. This step may require a pipe for persuasion....

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey changes a shower valve. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How to Replace Single Handle Shower Faucet Turn off the water to the shower. Remove handle and escutcheon plate to expose shower valve. Loosen locking nut with pliers and pull old cartridge from center of valve. Put new rubber seat with spring onto end of pencil and push into the valve....

Nature’s uneven terrain has its charm until you try to play croquet on a hilly lawn or enjoy a candlelit dinner on an off-kilter patio. What Can I Do With a Sloped Backyard? Install a retaining wall for a sloped backyard and you can carve out functional outdoor spaces where once there were only precarious slopes. To help you, we asked our experts for their inexpensive retaining wall ideas so you can choose which sturdy and stylish structure for leveling your landscape....

Previous episode: S19 E5 | Next episode: S19 E7 In this episode: There is something tranquil about a water feature in a natural landscape. It adds a beautiful visual element to the yard and the sound of running water creates a sense of peace and serenity. In this special episode, we’ll share some of the features we’ve added to homeowners’ houses over the years and we’ll break down the process of adding one of these to your own backyard....