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Episode #826, Season 8 of ATOH

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner replace his leaky outdoor faucet… more

Episode #825, Season 8 of ATOH

General contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner repair a wobbly newel post at the bottom of a staircase… more

Episode #824, Season 8 of ATOH

Landscaping contractor Roger Cook visits a nature center to learn how to attract many different species of birds… more

Episode #823, Season 8 of TOH

Landscaping contractor Roger Cook shows a homeowner how to use and maintain string trimmers… more

Episode #822, Season 8 of ATOH

Landscaping contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner revive a damaged lawn… more

Episode #821, Season 8 of ATOH

Host Kevin O'Connor and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey head to Virginia to help a homeowner replace his old, electric water heater with a heat pump water heater that uses much less electricity… more

Episode #820, Season 8 of ATOH

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and general contractor Tom Silva head to Detroit to help a homeowner remodel her kitchen with new appliances… more

Episode #819, Season 8 of ATOH

General contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner replace the broken sash locks on his vinyl windows… more

Episode #818, Season 8 of ATOH

General contractor Tom Silva helps a pair of homeowners in Houston, Texas install crown molding in their bedroom using an innovative fastening system… more

Episode #817, Season 8 of ATOH

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey heads to Tampa, Florida to help a homeowner cool off his garage workshop with a ductless air conditioning system… more

Episode #816, Season 8 of ATOH

Landscaping contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner conserve water by installing an innovative rainwater collection system… more

Episode #815, Season 8 of ATOH

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner update the look of her bathroom by installing a new vanity cabinet, countertop, and sink… more

Episode #814, Season 8 of ATOH

General contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner dress up an old fireplace by installing a new mantle and marble hearth… more

Episode #813, Season 8 of ATOH

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey heads to Tampa, Florida to help two homeowners repair their broken water softener… more

Episode #812, Season 8 of ATOH

Landscaping contractor Roger Cook helps a pair of homeowners improve the appearance of an unsightly concrete retaining wall… more

Episode #811, Season 8 of ATOH

General contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O'Connor show how to build and install new laminate kitchen countertops… more

Episode #810, Season 8 of ATOH

Original Air Date: Week of 12/10/2009

Landscaping contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner install stone veneer over an ugly concrete retaining wall. Then Roger, along with host Kevin O'Connor, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and general contractor Tom Silva ask, "What is it?" Then, up in the loft, Richard shows Kevin how to retrofit dampers in forced-air HVAC ducts. Next, Tom shares a viewer tip about how to get the most from your can of insulating foam.

Installing Stone Veneer on a Concrete Wall

Roger helped a homeowner improve the appearance of an old, concrete wall by covering it with natural stone. The stone was sliced into thin pieces in a factory and glued into rectangular panels, making it easy to attach to the wall. To prepare the wall for the stone veneer, Roger first removed the existing concrete stain using a power-washer and right-angle grinder with a wire brush attached. Next, he brushed on a bonding agent to help the scratch coat of mortar stick to the concrete. Roger then mixed masonry cement, sand, water, and an acrylic additive together for the scratch coat. He then applied the scratch coat to the concrete and finished it off using a notched trowel. With the scratch coat dry, Roger back-buttered each piece with more mortar mix, and applied the panels to the wall. Some panels needed to be cut to fit in irregular spaces. Finally, Roger installed the cap pieces and the installation was complete.

Where to Find It?

Roger installed natural quartz veneer panels over an existing concrete wall.

Sierra Accentstone
Manufacturer: Real Stone Systems
866-698-5066

Additional assistance was provided by:

Consolidated Brick
508-587-6600

Martignetti Enterprises, Inc.
781-935-6677

What is It?

The guys try to guess the intended purpose of an unusual-looking product.

Where to Find It?

Roger showed a reciprocating saw attachment used for shaking a can of spray paint or foam.

MixKwik
208-709-4308

Retrofitting Dampers in Forced-air Ducts

Up in the loft, Richard showed Kevin some ways to retrofit zoning "dampers" in existing HVAC ducts. Dampers help restrict conditioned air-flow in some parts of the house, while diverting more warm or cool air to other parts of the house where it's needed.

Richard showed a variety of tools and methods for retrofitting dampers in HVAC ducts. All of the dampers and tools for this project were provided by:

Air Purchases

Viewer Tip

Up in the loft, Tom shared a viewer tip with Kevin and Richard about replacing the applicator tube on a can of insulating foam when it becomes clogged or lost. The viewer suggested using the sheathing from a piece of romex electrical wire to replace the clogged nozzle.

Where to Find It?

Insulating foam, electrical wire, and plastic tubing are available at most lumberyards, hardware stores and home centers.

Episode #809, Season 8 of ATOH

Landscaping contractor Roger Cook visits Harvard University to learn about their new organic lawn-care program… more

Episode #808, Season 8 of ATOH

General contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O'Connor build a basic picnic table using common framing lumber… more

Episode #807, Season 8 of ATOH

This episode is all about saving energy at home… more

Episode #806, Season 8 of ATOH

Landscaping contractor Roger Cook joins plant expert Carrie Kelly at a nursery to learn about container gardening.… more

Episode #805, Season 8 of ATOH

General contractor Tom Silva helps a pair of homeowners install a new siding glass door… more

Episode #803, Season 8 of ATOH

Landscaping contractor Roger Cook travels to Baltimore, where he helps transform a small urban backyard into a pleasant outdoor living space… more

Episode #802, Season 8 of ATOH

Host Kevin O'Connor teams up with an electrician to install a home intercom system. Then Kevin, along with… more

Episode #801, Season 8 of ATOH

Landscaping contractor Roger Cook kicks off our 8th season by helping a homeowner build a cozy campfire pit...… more

Episode #804, Season 8 of ATOH

General contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner install new aluminum gutters and downspouts. … more