Archives

Ask This Old House master electrician Heath Eastman replaces a standard toggle switch with a reproduction antique push button switch.

Kevin O'Connor reviews the progress of the Westerly house. Tom Silva and Jeff Sweenor work on the main staircase at Jeff’s shop and then they bring it to the house to install. At the Idea House, Kevin looks at new clapboard siding technology. Richard Trethewey tours a factory to see how a furnace is built and then watches one being installed at the project house.

Tom checks out a women’s DIY class; Jenn plants a terraced garden.

Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and HVAC expert Richard Trethewey, mason Mark McCullough, and carpenter Nathan Gilbert discuss the ways homeowners and contractors should communicate to set appropriate expectations for home improvement projects

Ask This Old House landscape designer Jenn Nawada helps a homeowner select, place, and install plants for her terraced garden

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva checks out a women’s only DIY class on building a footstool and discusses some of the unique challenges faced by women learning DIY skills

Tom Silva teaches the new apprentices to frame a deck. Jeff Sweenor’s crew frames the exterior flair detail. Jenn Nawada learns about Westerly granite. Jeff teaches the apprentices to install a window. Richard Trethewey and Jeff look for a path for the drain stacks.

Tom repairs a built-in with hand tools; Heath Eastman installs a light in a dining room.

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva repairs an old dining room built-in cabinet with hand tools and a bar of soap.

In this DIY Smarts, Heath Eastman installs a chandelier in a homeowner’s dining room.

The crew stands up the second floor walls, and three new apprentices arrive as part of the Generation Next program.

Richard installs a ductless humidifier; Ross discusses electric bills; Jenn installs a winter-proof planter.

Norm gives apprentice Katherine a lesson on composite decking as they continue to work on the Westerly project.

Ross Trethewey heads to Albany to check out the latest advancement in geothermal drilling, and learn how it’s becoming more accessible for homeowners.

Kevin takes a trip down to the TOH Idea House, where he checks in with Gordon, who’s working on putting up a new kind of siding.

Heath Eastman helps a homeowner add overhead lighting to a dining room, showing her how to pick just the right spot.

This Old House home technology expert Ross Trethewey and plumbing and HVAC expert Richard Trethewey discuss electric bill structures.

Trying to discern between different types of screws can be dizzying. Read how to decode screws in our guide.

In this DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House landscape designer Jenn Nawada installs a front entry planter that will last through the winter.

Dry air in your house can lead to a lot of problems, including respiratory issues, but you can address this by installing your own whole-house ductless humidifier. Read how in our step-by-step guide.