Archives

From Cramped Bath to Relaxing Retreat

A shed dormer bumpout creates more breathing room in a tight, low-ceilinged bath

All About Ceiling Fans

These air movers keep you cool and look cool doing it. Here’s how to choose a model that’s right for your space

Designing a Craft Room for $397

This budget redo by Rachel Beach of Craving Some Creativity uses Craigslist cabinets, recycled countertops, and a wall of DIY storage to turn a spare room into a well-organized workspace.

How To Replace and Maintain a Broken Front Porch Board

Homeowners can easily replace broken floorboards on their front porches to keep themselves safe. Learn how to complete the project in our step-by-step guide.

How to Identify and Treat Soft Water

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey answers an email about a shower stained green and why it may be linked to soft water

How to Conceal Electrical Wires with Crown Molding

Ask This Old House master electrician Scott Caron uses crown molding to conceal wiring and bring more electrical outlets to a bedroom.

S15 E5: Deck, Conceal Wiring

Tom repairs a broken board on a front porch. Richard analyzes a homeowner’s green-stained shower. Scott brings more power to a bedroom and is able to conceal the wiring with crown molding.

S38 E5: A Steely Den

Steel beam fabrication and erection on the house. HVAC plans for the second floor. Front porch demo’ed with heavy machinery and new footings for a new porch. Working on the firebox and chimney.

There are a lot of choices these days in the way of connected devices for a safer, more secure, and more convenient home. Maybe too many. To help you figure it out, here are 5 starter kits tailored to 5 very different types of homes and homeowners

What To Know Before You Buy a Toilet

Keep these key parts and new features in mind on your next toilet shopping trip.

Winter Weatherproofing Tips

A few quick fixes will keep chilly breezes from seeping into the house. These three are sure to make you more comfortable this winter

S38 E4: Foundation Fundamentals

The new concrete foundation is poured. Finding mature specimen trees for the yard. A precast concrete bulkhead is installed. The old rubble foundation gets waterproofed with synthetic rubber spray.

S15 E4: Orchard, Water Heater

Roger helps plant a home orchard using apple and pear trees. Tom shows Kevin how to choose and use a circular saw. Richard installs a new tank water heater and discusses new regulations on them.

How to Replace a Tank Water Heater

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner replace a tank water heater

How to Choose a Circular Saw

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O’Connor discuss how to choose and use a circular saw.

An outdoor catio attached to the side of a yellow house.

A Step by Step Guide to Building a Perfect Catio

Use basic cedar lumber to create a screened-in patio space that gives cats a breath of fresh air while keeping them close to home.

Adding a Wet-Room Shower Space to a Master Suite

A bathroom addition offers the opportunity for an open and inviting shower space

3 Garden Rakes for Different Tasks

Whether you’re gathering leaves into a pile or leveling soil to prep for grass seed, a rake is an important part of fall yard maintenance. While they all require that trademark push-pull motion, many are task-specific. Here are three worth storing in your shed.

A stool that is having polyurethane applied to its surface.

Step-by-Step Polyurethane Application Guide

Polyurethane is a durable coating that has numerous applications. Learn our tips and tricks for applying polyurethane here.

10 Safety Tips for Using an Extension Ladder

Ladders cause thousands of injuries every year - don't let it happen to you! Follow these tips to stay safe while using an extension ladder.

How To Keep Gutters Running Freely

In this guide, we provide tips on how to keep your running free all year long, as well as three effective gutter guard solutions.

An Inside Look at Nick Offerman’s California Woodshop

Nick Offerman is well-known as an actor, comedian, and author, but he’s also an accomplished woodworker. For 16 years, he’s owned the Offerman Woodshop in Los Angeles, a small collective of woodworkers and makers. Nick’s latest book Good Clean Fun offers readers an inside glimpse at the inner workings of his shop and even teaches some basic woodworking skills through step-by-step project instructions. Host Kevin O’Connor toured Offerman Woodshop for an episode of Ask This Old House. Here are some of the highlights from that visit.