Archives
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.
Cottage Gardens
An idyllic tradition packs big personality into small spaces
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.
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.
Play Structures
Today's play structures allow kids to live out their playtime fantasies right in their own backyard
Designing a Man Den
Get ideas and tips for designing a getaway of your own
If You Dig Up Artifacts During a Remodel
Your old house reveals new charms when you uncover the personal possessions—and with them, the stories—of the people who lived there before you
Living Through A Renovation
We stayed on one floor of the East Boston project house while the crew tore up the other two. Here's how we survived.
S4 E22: Radiator, Grading, Newel, Tub Refinishing
Richard shows Kevin how to repair damaged threads on a radiator. Roger solves a grading problem that is causing wood rot. The guys ask, "What is it?" Tom shows Kevin how to stabilize a wobbly newel post. Kevin helps a homeowner refinish her old cast-iron bathtub..
Small Wonder
They had big plans for the little space, determined to enhance its antique charm. Here's how they made an 1880s farmhouse work for their modern family
S5 E22: Shut Off Valve, Climbing Roses
Richard helps a homeowner replace a corroded shut-off valve with a new one. The guys ask, "What is it?" Roger helps a homeowner select the proper rose bushes and plant them so they will "climb" a two-rail fence.
Stone Faced
Rock veneer adds depth and texture to walls, foundations, and chimneys
9 Galley Kitchen Design Tips
Galley kitchens may be small, but they don't have to feel that way. Here are nine ways to make the most of your space.