Archives

Putting in a Pond: Types, Benefits, and Essential Maintenance

Learn how to install a perfect pond for your yard with our guide covering pond types, benefits, and essential maintenance tips.

How To Choose and Use the Right Screwdriver for Your Task

A screwdriver is an important tool for do-it-yourself projects, but you must know how to use it correctly. Scan our guide for more details.

Drilling Guide for Drawer Pulls

How to get the handles in the same place every time

A Victorian-Era House Turns Out to Be a Diamond in the Rough

What we got was an 1895 Queen Anne with melted wiring and soggy plaster—a home in desperate need of some architectural TLC

Structural Insulated Panels at Carlisle

These foam-core panels at Carlisle will stand for a century and keep heating costs down

Interior Design Plans at Carlisle

In Carlisle, we put our newest crew member to the test with a design assignment that was a bit unusual—even for us

3 Different Designers Tackle Rooms at Carlisle

How three different designers put their stamp on the Carlisle project house

Finishing Up at Carlisle

Tom Silva's long—make that very long—list of finishing tasks

Better Waterproofing at the Cambridge House

How builder's channeled water that sneaks behind the cladding

Broken Glass in Your Modern-Style Garden?

Our Cambridge project house is Modern, which means its garden will be Modern, too. That could mean unusual materials. Like broken glass.

Don't Just Jump into a Water Feature

Fountains, ponds, even faux streams are great additions. Just consider resource maintenance before you build.

S4 E26: Mini-Split AC, Lawn De-Thatching

Richard installs a mini-split air conditioning system. The guys ask, "What is it?" Roger helps a homeowner "wake up the lawn" in preparation for spring by using a de-thatching machine.

S5 E26: Workbench, Lawnmower, Whistling Heat

Tom Kevin how to build a simple workbench. The guys ask, "What is it?" Roger shows Kevin how to tune-up a gas-powered lawn mower. Richard helps quiet a whistling forced-air heating system by installing a "bypass duct."

S4 E25: Cutting Tile, Sump Pumps

Tile expert Joe Ferrante shows Kevin the proper way to cut several different types of tile. Tom installs a sump pump in a wet basement. Tom and Richard discuss emergency backup systems for sump pumps.

S5 E25: Edge Mowing, Water Heater, Stair Tread

Roger shows how to mow and edge their front lawn properly. The guys ask, "What is it?" Richard shows Kevin how to repair and maintain electric water heaters. Tom helps a homeowner repair a broken stair tread.

S28 E26: Finished House and Five Stars!

Cottage Gardens

Looking for inspiration for your cottage garden? This guide provides 15 cottage garden ideas for spaces small to large.

S4 E24: Dishwashers, Chisels, Lawn Spreaders

Richard helps a homeowner select and install a new dishwasher. The guys ask, "What is it?" Tom shows Kevin how to sharpen wood chisels using different types of sharpening stones. Roger and Kevin head outside for some lessons on proper use of lawn spreaders.

Green Roofs: A Sustainable Solution for Modern Buildings

Who says your garden has to be on the ground? An environmentally friendly trend grows insulating, air-improving vegetation—on rooftops.

S5 E24: Mailbox, Brick Foundation Repointing

Roger helps a homeowner replace a mailbox damaged by a snowplow. Tom Silva heads to St. Louis to help a pair of homeowners repoint the failing mortar on their home’s brick foundation.

S28 E25: Green is Good

S4 E23: Interior Door, Leaky Faucet

Tom Silva replaces an interior "hollow-core" door with a "solid-core" door. Tom and Kevin cut several doors in half to reveal how they’re constructed. Richard repairs a leaky kitchen faucet. Richard shows Kevin several types of kitchen faucets and a few tips on repairing them.