Ask This Old House TV

Showing results for "Season 2"
Scan the episodes below and select "more" to get information on products or services you saw on that episode.

Episode #226

Replacing a storm door, identifying a paint mixer and gutter nail driver, and choosing garden tools … more

Episode #225

Corroded copper pipes, old-fashioned sheet metal cutter, and worn-out weather stripping
… more

Episode #224

Track lighting, drywall repair clips, and noisy baseboard heaters… more

Ask This Old House #223

Radiant heat, a cable saw for PVC, and painting aluminum siding… more

Episode #222

Installing curved baseboards, buying wire by the foot, a "Nite Ize Flashlight Friend," and making maple syrup… more

Episode #221

Fixing a steam radiator, a "Molemover" and an invisible nailing kit, and preparing a raised garden bed for winter… more

Episode #220

Installing a programmable thermostat , a snowball maker and garage stopper, and fixing a plaster and lath wall… more

Episode #219

Cutting glass, planting vines, a stud finder and tile spacers, and venting a portable air conditioner… more

Episode #218

Deterring deer, making PVC connections, pipe plugs, and fixing a sagging shower door… more

Episode #217

Wiring for outdoor speakers, a Japanese chalk line, and planting a tree… more

Episode #216

Testing water quality, a duster and downspout diverter, and replacing a damaged floorboard… more

Episode #215

Original Air Date: Week of January 15

General contractor Tom Silva travels to Venice, California, to help two homeowners fix their stubborn sliding closet doors. Back at the loft, Tom, landscape contractor Roger Cook, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and host Kevin O'Connor try to guess "What is it?" Richard shows Kevin the basics of electric radiant floor heat. Then Kevin and preservation specialist Sally Zimmerman use a new software package to help homeowners select historically appropriate exterior paint colors for their Queen Anne Victorian.



Repairing Sliding Closet Doors
The wooden doors were designed to slide back and forth on small metal sliders similar to thumbtacks. Tom replaced each of these metal sliders with a thin strip of hardwood that he made from a scrap piece of oak flooring. He then sanded the edges of the doors and the jamb and used a non-silicone-based lubricant on all the surfaces where wood rubbed against wood.

Where to Find It
Tom used basic hand tools such as a block plane, a handsaw, and wood glue to replace the sliders on the bottom of each door.

He then used "SlipIt" to lubricate the rabbet and dado grooves in the door and the wooden rail on the bottom of the jamb. This non-silicone lubricant is available as a paste, aerosol, and liquid and is manufactured by:
Slipit Industries, Inc.
845-691-8400

What Is It?
Roger, Richard, Tom, and Kevin examined an unfamiliar object and tried to guess how it's used.

Where to Find It
Kevin demonstrated a "PlugSlide" electrical cord connector. It is available from:
PlugSlide
770-889-2519

Tom demonstrated an ellipse marking tool (item no. 23685). It may be purchased from Rockler Woodworking, although it is only available at their retail stores:
Rockler Woodworking
800-279-4441

Electric Radiant Heat
Richard and Kevin discussed the features of electric radiant floor heat and several installation issues.

Where to Find It
The electric radiant heat mat that Richard displayed is available in many standard sizes and can also be ordered to fit custom layouts. It is manufactured by:
NuHeat
800-778-9276

Selecting Paint Colors
Kevin and preservation planner Sally Zimmerman helped the homeowners select an exterior paint color scheme for their 100-year-old Victorian house. They used a software package to select colors and show the homeowners what the final result might look like. Sally cautioned the homeowners that they should also test samples of the paint on the outside of the house before they begin to paint the house.

Where to Find It
Many communities have local historical commissions that may provide guidance on selecting exterior paint colors. Sally Zimmerman works for the Cambridge Historical Commission in Cambridge, Massachusetts:
Cambridge Historical Commission
617-349-4683

Sally and Kevin used Benjamin Moore's Personal Color Viewer software to represent some of the possible paint schemes. The software package costs $15 and may be downloaded from Benjamin Moore's Web site or purchased on a CD at most of their retail stores:
Benjamin Moore Paints
800-344-0400

Episode #214

Installing a brick walkway, a maple sugaring spile and "Sand Anchor" umbrella holder, and cutting accurate miters… more

Episode #213

Quieting hardwood floors, a garden sieve and heavy-duty twist-tie, and building timber steps… more

Episode #212

Drip irrigation repair, a "Sander Sitter" and "Forearm Forklifts," and fixing a leaky tile in a tub… more

Episode #211

Adding a stairway handrail, a grout saw and tile cutter, and transplanting a rhododendron… more

Episode #210

Installing a chimney liner, a proportioning tool, and a toilet anti-sweat valve… more

Episode #209

Removing poison ivy, a steel center square and pencil leash, and shingling an outside corner… more

Episode #208

Installing an engineered wood floor, and replacing a sink's pop-up drain… more

Episode #207

Planting ground cover, and opening stuck windows… more

Episode #206

Installing window trim, landscape camouflage, a "tape dolly," and fixing a kitchen spray hose… more

Episode #205

Installing a drywell, a spray paint shaker and magnetic pickup tool, and adding a shower grip bar… more

Episode #204

Patching drywall, sanding blocks and an antique clapboard gauge, and replacing an aged toilet… more

Episode #203

A slate walk, EZ Lift handles and eye-bolt driver, and repairing a shower stall leak … more

Episode #202

Securing a newel post, a nut splitter and paint scraper, and replacing a water heater… more

Episode #201

Installing a deadbolt, trimming a hedge, and installing an indirect hot water heater… more