Home Improvement and Remodeling: This Old House

Planning & Ideas
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How-to & Repair
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Tools & Products
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Give & Get Advice

Special

'Save This Old House' Update

Learn what happened to those ravaged beauties we feature in the back of the magazine. PLUS, see more Save This Old House updates, including:
•Save This Old House 2003
•Save This Old House 2004
•Save This Old House 2006
•Save This Old House 2007-2008
See before-and-after photos of houses that were saved, and see houses that are still available for your taking … more

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DIY Upgrade

bathroom after getting an easy-upgrade bath and vanity

Bath-Vanity Revamp

Transform your bath with budget-conscious improvements that'll boost your home's wow factor—and its value. PLUS, see more on Bathroom upgrades, including:
•Installing a Medicine Cabinet
•Replacing a Bathroom Faucet
•Anchoring a Towel Bar
•Installing a Shower Door
Upgrade your bathroom today … more

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Keep Cool for Less

How to Install a Solar Attic Fan

Keep your attic cool and your electricity bills down. PLUS, see more on Cooling, including:
•10 Ways to Beat the Heat
•9 Things to Know about Air-Conditioning
•How to Install a Ceiling Fan
•Hiring a Cooling Contractor
Install it in just a couple of hours … more

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Hot-Weather Gardening

Succulents: Ideal Plants for Summer

Succulents thrive where most plants would shrivel; their ability to go days without water makes them ideal garden staples for summer. PLUS, see more on low-maintenance Gardening, including:
•Succulent Plant Gallery
•Drought-Resistant Annuals
•Drought-Resistant Ornamental Grasses
•Lawn-Less Yard Solutions
Learn about hardy succulent plants … more

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Yard & Garden Tools

Hose Nozzles

A good nozzle on the end of your hose will save you both time and water. PLUS, see more Yard and Garden Tools, including:
•Water-Saving Garden Gear
•Installing Drip Irrigation
•Repairing a Hose
•Unkinking a Garden Hose
Water well with these essential attachments … more

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Special Coverage

Victorian-era house in Spartanburg, South Carolina

Best Places to Buy a Fixer-Upper

14 great neighborhoods where the historic houses come at a bargain, if you can give them a little TLC. Plus, see more on the Best Places to Buy an Old House, including:
•Editor's Top Picks
•Best Places for Bargains
•Best Places for Retirees
•Best Places for Families
See what you can get if you're willing to put in some DIY elbow grease… more

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DIY Projects That Pay

Kitchen-Counter Upgrade

Transform your kitchen with budget-consicous improvements that'll boost your home's wow factor—and its value. PLUS, see more on Kitchen Upgrades, including:
•Install a Soapstone Countertop
•Put in a Solid-Surface Backsplash
•Install a Pull-Out Faucet
•Replace a Kitchen Sink
Get great new looks, and don't spend a lot … more

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Home Improvement Topics

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Planning & Ideas

How-to & Repair

Tools & Products

50 Best Places to Buy an Old House

Watch Online

Live Webcams

Weston House Project premieres in October on PBS. Watch the crew at work

How-To Videos

This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey shows a quick and effective way to drain a sediment-filled water heater

Spotlight

Building a Fort

How to make a versatile backyard play area, with instructions for parents and kids

Your Old House

Learn More

Calculators

Calculate exactly how much material you need

Photo Galleries

1,000s of inspirational images

Your Daily Fix

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Open Question

Q: To seal or not to seal?

I'm having my white-oak hardwood floors refinished. How would you recommend they be finished? Every floor guy has a different answer, and it's very confusing! Should we seal first? And how many coats of poly?

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