Archives

ask_3605_3000x1920
Play

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.
toh3605_3000x1920
Play

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.
smart_homes_tortolani_exterior

Really Smart Homes

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
Toilet in modern bathroom.

What To Know Before You Buy a Toilet

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

Family Love Sustains Three Colonial-era Homes in Newport

As part of a unique preservation program, three siblings living in a cluster of historic houses enjoy a close connection to the 18th century—and each other
tom_silva_placing_door_weatherstrip

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
toh3604_3000x1920
Play

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.
ask_3604_3000x1920
Play

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.
water_heater
Play

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
circular_saw
Play

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.
bab_bathroom_overall

Adding a Wet-Room Shower Space to a Master Suite

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

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.
Extension ladder

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.
Gutters that are clear and not clogged.

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.
offerman_inside_look_promo

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.
toh3603_3000x1920
Play

S38 E3: Make Way for the Family Room

Tommy and Kevin replace a 100-year-old wooden beam with a new steel one. The tank gets removed by a specialist. The old concrete from the foundation get transported to a recycling center.
ask1503_3000x1920
Play

S15 E3: Bookshelf, Plants

Tom and Kevin use store-bought stair treads to create a bookshelf in Build It. And landscape designer Jenn Nawada transforms the look of a home’s foundation by using existing plants.
existing_plants
Play

How to Transform Your Landscape Using Existing Plants

Ask This Old House landscape designer Jenn Nawada uses a homeowner’s existing plants and a few additions to transform the look of a house’s foundation
build_bookshelf
Play

How To Build and Finish a Simple Bookshelf From Stair Treads

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O’Connor use stair treads to create a simple bookshelf in Build It.
Gallons of paint in several different colors and paint brushes.

No-Fail Color Combos to Make Any Space a Work of Art

Are you having trouble choosing a paint color? Not sure what matches? This guide offers color combinations guaranteed to work in any room.
ask_1502
Play

S15 E2: Fire Safety, Strainer

Kevin visits Chicago to explore the dangers of home fires and ways to stay safe. Scott shows off a portable generator that doesn’t run on gas. The guys ask, "What is it?" And Richard finds a rusted sink strainer in the kitchen.
toh3602_3000x1920
Play

S38 E2: A New Look, Inside and Out

The design process kicks off. Old plaster walls are carefully demolished. Landscape plans and Roger begins removing the old Silver Maple. Kevin and Tommy bring down the exterior back wall.
generator
Play

How to Provide Backup Power without Gas

Don't get caught by surprise during a power outage - an electric generator is a great alternative option to keep the lights on during a storm.