Home technology expert Ross Trethewey takes us on a road trip to help a homeowner solve their dry air problem. Each winter, the homeowner’s air reaches uncomfortably low humidity levels, so Ross suggests a whole-house humidifier. While it’s not a DIY project, Ross teaches the homeowner how they work, where it can be installed, and the different components involved before a crew of experts installs it.
Next, we meet host Kevin O’Connor and paint expert Mauro Henrique at the shop for a shutter showdown. Mauro shows Kevin his technique for painting several shutters, allowing him to work quickly and efficiently while also painting every nook and cranny—a tall order for shutters.
Finally, Kevin meets general contractor Tom Silva at the shop to work on a teak side table. Tom’s been using a similar table for over 20 years and decided it was time to make its twin. The two work together to recreate the table from teak using crafty templates and several power tools before discussing the finish.
Installing a Whole House Humidifier
While not a DIY project, home technology expert Ross Trethewey shows a homeowner the basics of having a whole-house humidifier installed to help solve their winter-specific dry air issues.
Where to find it?
Ross Trethewey recommends a whole house humidifier for a homeowner experiencing very dry winters.
Work provided by:
How to Paint Exterior Shutters in Bulk
Painting shutters is labor intensive and can take a long time to accomplish. Rather than painting each shutter one by one, This Old House paint expert Mauro Henrique has developed a technique to work quickly and efficiently with flawless results.
Where to find it?
Start by stacking the shutters evenly on two sawhorses. Be sure the corners align for the best coverage. Using a paint sprayer, paint all four sides of the stack in an even fresh coat. Then spray the top of the first shutter and move to the drying station.
Repeat this step until you reach the last shutter in the stack. Let the first coat dry completely before re-stacking the shutters and repeating the process for the second coat.
Essex green paint was used in this demonstration.
Build It | Outdoor End Table
Outdoor end tables are great for taking on the boat, to the patio, or anywhere else one might enjoy a cold drink and a bowl of chips. When general contractor Tom Silva wanted to replicate an outdoor end table made from teak, host Kevin O’Connor wanted to be part of the process. Here’s how to build it.
Where to find it?
Bisect the angle needed using scrap pieces of wood to create the angle and length needed for the frame. Transfer the scrap pieces of wood to the raw teak frame pieces to use as guide on the chop saw. Cut a groove using a router bit to allow the slated pieces to be flush with the top.
Use a wood screw to temporarily fix the two side pieces together.
To create the slates for the face of the top trace the inner triangle of the two sides on a piece of teak. Use a combination square to measure the depth of the groove. Line up the square with the traced line and mark on both sides of the traced triangle.
Use an equal space divider to mark the inner triangle with guidelines to cut the slats.
Original Air Date: Nov 14, 2024, Season 23; Ep. 8 23:42
Products and services from this episode
- Whole-house humidifier manufacturers:
APA HVAC Technologies
MacDougall Plumbing
Murphy Electric - Paint color: Benjamin Moore’s Essex green
