Archives
S5 E7: Energy Audit, Toilet Seat Bolts
Kevin and energy efficiency expert Bruce Torrey conduct an energy audit of a house. The guys ask, "What is it?" Richard demonstrates how to remove an old toilet seat that has corroded bolts.
19th-Century Rowhouse Revival
It was moved, used as a house of ill repute, then chopped up into apartments. With its original details now carefully restored, this 1878 Italianate has once more claimed its place as a gracious family home
How To Spot a Crooked Contractor
Tom Silva and the National Association of Home Builders can help you spot a crook
Bars Straight Up
These built-ins are popping up in more and more homeowners' remodels, whether as a fully equipped kitchen in miniature or just a niche carved out for bottles and glassware.
Kitchen Lighting Schemes
The right kitchen fixtures not only provide task lighting and ambiance but also distinguish zones and accentuate design details.
The Women of This Old House
This just in: Women fix things! The media is all over it; websites are sprouting up—but here at This Old House, it's never been news that women are involved in home improvement. Just ask our staff.
Medicine-Cabinet MacGyver
Lipstick for home improvement? Yup. Your toiletries bag is essentially a tool kit
S4 E6: Raised Garden Bed, Snaking a Drain
Roger builds a raised garden bed using composite landscape timbers. Roger shows host Kevin several other types of landscape timbers. Richard clears a slow-draining bathtub using a plumbing snake.
S5 E6: Building a Small Deck
Tom helps a homeowner rebuild a small exterior deck. They start by removing the existing deck, which has rotted and become unstable. Together, they build a new deck, including stairs and handrails.
S4 E5: Roses, Toilet, Basement Leak
Roger helps a homeowner care for an ailing rose bush. The guys ask, "What is it?" Richard shows Kevin a number of ways to steady a wobbly toilet. Tom prevents water from leaking through a hole in the foundation into a basement.
Creating a Safe, Healthy Playroom
Playrooms made with healthy, fun, durable, eco-friendly materials
S5 E5: Bulbs, Ripping Plywood, Water Hammer
Roger and Kevin plant flower bulbs outside the barn. Tom shows Kevin how to makes straight rip cuts with a circular saw. The guys ask, "What is it?" Richard helps a homeowner eliminate the water hammer noise from his pipes.
Everything You Need to Know about Setting Glass Tile
Learn how to set glass tiles in your home, including selecting materials, preparing the wall surface, and achieving a long-lasting finish.
Fitting Flooring Against Walls
For fast, accurate cuts, leave the tape measure in the toolbox
9 Steps to Getting the Kitchen You Want
The key: Learn how to work with your designer (start by downloading our comprehensive Kitchen Planning Questionnaire)
How To Clean and Maintain Screwdrivers in a Few Steps
Your tools can rust and corrode over time, but that doesn't mean they're unusable. Read how to clean and maintain your screwdriver in our step-by-step guide.
S4 E4: Wheelbarrow Tire, Gutters, Water Tank
Roger shows Kevin how to repair a flat wheelbarrow tire. Tom repairs an aluminum rain gutter. Kevin and Tom demonstrate a tip sent in from a viewer on how to drill a hole in ceramic tile. Richard Trethewey installs a thermal expansion tank.
History of Grotesques and Gargoyles
Find out what makes them so significant, and spooky
S5 E4: Garage Cabinets, Ceiling Fan
Tom installs new cabinets designed especially for garages. In the "What is it?" segment, Kevin and Roger test a new type of vacuum-assisted post hole digger. Electrician John Barros installs a new ceiling fan. John shows Kevin a few other ways of installing fan-rated electrical boxes.
How To Install a Cork Floor
Cork flooring is an eco-friendly material that's also easy on the feet. Learn how to install it.
How To Safely Rid Your Home of Asbestos, Lead, and Mold
Learn how to responsibly rid your house of three major health and environmental hazards, either on your own or with the pros.