Ask This Old House TV

Showing results for "Season 6"
Scan the episodes below and select "more" to get information on products or services you saw on that episode.

Episode #626

Rebuilding a toilet tank, Lawn Watering, Building a simple bookcase… more

Episode #625

Installing a water pressure reducing valve, Choosing the best types of grass seed, What is it?, Installing crown molding on kitchen cabinets… more

Episode #624

Replacing broken tile, Cutting ceramic and stone tile, Installing glass tile on a kitchen backsplash… more

Episode #623

Overseeding a lawn using a slice seeder, Viewer tip, Preparing a home for sale, Finding and fixing a mysterious plumbing leak … more

Episode #622

Installing granite steps, Choosing "Keyless" Deadbolts, Replacing polybutylene water piping… more

Episode #621

Installing an old full-mortise lockset into a new door, Installing a pellet stove, Non-Gasoline Lawn Mowers… more

Episode #620

Building a soccer goal with PVC pipe, Building stilts, Building a sandbox… more

Episode #619

Original Air Date: Week of February 7, 2008

General contractor Tom Silva shows a homeowner how to save energy and money by increasing the insulation in his attic. Then, landscaping contractor Roger Cook makes a dark walkway safer by adding low-voltage landscape lighting. Afterward, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner replace her old kitchen faucet.

Increasing attic insulation

Tom helped a homeowner make his house more energy-efficient by adding insulation in the attic. Initially, the attic had only about two inches of "rock wool" insulation between the joists. First, Tom filled up the joist bays with loose "cellulose" insulation and raked it level with the tops of the joists. Tom then added even more insulation by laying fiberglass insulation batts over the cellulose and perpendicular to the joists. To allow the homeowner to store items in the attic, Tom built a raised platform out of framing lumber and insulated underneath the platform with fiberglass batts.

Where to find it?

Tom installed 2' x 4' batts of un-faced fiberglass insulation, 9.5 inches thick. It provides an R-value of 30 and is manufactured by Owens Corning (www.owenscorning.com).

Both cellulose and fiberglass insulation can be purchased at most home centers and some building supply centers, such as:

KAMCO Supply Corp. of Boston
181 New Boston Street
Woburn, MA 01801
781-938-0909
www.kamcoboston.com


Installing landscape lighting

Roger and a landscape lighting installer helped a homeowner illuminate her front walkway with new "low-voltage" lighting. The homeowner's old lighting was powered by "line voltage," which is standard 110-volt household current. The old fixtures were also poorly-installed and dangerous. So, with the power disconnected and the old wiring and fixtures removed, Roger and the installer installed new low-voltage copper fixtures. The fixtures were connected to a transformer, which takes 110-volts and reduces it to 12-volts, making it a much safer system.

Where to find it?

Roger and a landscape lighting expert installed new low-voltage landscape lighting.

Installer: Mark Piantedosi
Commonwealth Landscape Lighting
309 Central St.
Acton, MA 01720
(978) 857-0164
www.commonwealthlandscapelighting.com

Supplier: Larchmont Engineering
11 Larchmont Ln.
Lexington, MA 02420


Manufacturer: Nightscaping
Commonwealth Landscape Lighting
1705 E. Colton Ave.
Redlands, CA 92374
(800) 544-4840
www.nightscaping.com

Always consult with a licensed electrician before removing or working on existing landscape lighting, as it might be powered by "line voltage," which is 110-volt standard household current.

The electrician who disconnected the old light fixtures was:

Brian Bergeron
Bergeron Electric
103 Summer Ave.
Reading, MA 01867

Replacing an old kitchen faucet

Richard helped a homeowner replace her old, leaky kitchen faucet with a newer model that included a built-in sprayer. Richard first removed the old faucet and replaced the hot and cold water supply shut-off valves underneath the sink, which had been leaking. He then applied plumber's putty to the underside of the faucet and fastened the faucet to the sink. Finally, he connected the faucet to the newly-installed water shut-offs using rigid lavatory supply pipes and the installation was complete.

Where to find it?

Richard installed a new kitchen faucet with a pull-out sprayer.

Delta "Palo" faucet (model #467SSSD)
Manufacturer: Delta Faucet Company
55 E. 111th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46280
(800) 345-DELTA
www.deltafaucet.com

Faucet purchased at:

Frank Webb's Bath Center
160 Middlesex Turnpike
Bedford, MA 01730
(781) 791-2550
www.frankwebb.com

Episode #618

Installing a Water Softener, Installing fiber-cement siding … more

Episode #617

Improving a lawn, What is it?, Water Supply Piping… more

Episode #616

Replacing a leaky skylight, What is it?, Repairing a 3-way light switch… more

Episode #615

The ATOH crew repairs a smelly dishwasher, transplants a rosebush, changes a circular saw blade, and plays another exciting round of What Is It?… more

Episode #614

Installing thermostatic radiator valves on hydronic radiators, What is it?, Making a refrigerator fit into an opening that is too small, Viewer tip… more

Episode #613

Installing a vinyl fence, Installing an epoxy coating on a garage floor… more

Episode #612

Determining landscape grades, What is it?, Seeing inside walls, Repairing a bathtub drain that won't hold water… more

Episode #611

Improving front steps with bluestone, What is it?, Installing a propane kitchen stove… more

Episode #610

Diverting storm runoff to a "rain garden," What is it?, Refinishing a wood floor … more

Episode #609

Picking a Christmas tree, What is it?, Safety equipment, Caulking a leaky window… more

Episode #608

Improving a muddy backyard, Choosing space heaters, Preventing condensation in a bathroom fan… more

Episode #607

Installing replacement windows, Heating water more efficiency, Home energy audit… more

Episode #606

Removing a dangerous tree, What is it?, Installing interior door trim… more

Episode #605

Repairing a jammed garbage disposer, What is it?, Stripping exterior paint, Drilling and notching in joists … more

Episode #604

Preventing floods, Removing and replacing foundation plants, What is it?, Fixing rotted wood with epoxy… more

Episode #603

Replacing a toilet flange, What is it?, Repairing cracked plaster, Viewer Tip… more

Episode #602

Carpentry squares, What is it?, Installing a patio using concrete bricks… more

Episode #601

Replacing a bathtub drain trap, What is it?, Repairing a cracked drywall ceiling… more