Pest control companies all claim to effectively rid your home of pests, but it’s important to take a closer look at several companies to weigh your options. In this article, we’ll discuss six of the top pest control companies in the Bay Area and include information on price, services, and scheduling. Our team at This Old House has reviewed dozens of top pest control providers to find the best pest control company for your specific needs....

One reward of overhauling other people’s properties for a living is experience that you can put to use on your own place—eventually. For eight years, Vincent Ocampo worked as the contractor half of a design-build team in Southern California with garden designer Nicole Lopez. He loved how their work blurred the boundaries between indoors and out. Garden Plan More privacy, more areas for outdoor living designer Nicole Lopez tamed the front-yard slope with a wide walkway with four steps that takes two turns as it leads to the front door....

(Prices based on manufacturer-approved online distributors.) Fein Multimaster Model FMM 250Q Used it to: Demo copper baseboard tubing. My two cents: “Plenty of power and a 16-foot cord. You don’t need an Allen wrench to change blades, a real time-saver. This is the tool I reach for again and again.” Comes with: Straight and semi-circular wood-and-metal-cutting blades; two triangular sanding pads; assorted sandpaper; carbide grout-cutting blade; carbide rasp; scraper blade; vacuum adapter....

The This Old House Reviews Team has evaluated many lawn care companies in Oklahoma City to help you find the best company for your needs. We’ve created this comprehensive TruGreen review, detailing the company’s availability, services, and more. This Old House Reviews Team believes it’s the top lawn care company for Oklahoma City homeowners. Pros and Cons of TruGreen ✔ Natural fertilizer available✔ Mobile app and online chat✔ Offers pest control services✘ Customers complain about inexperienced technicians✘ Customer service can be difficult to get in touch with by phone...

In this episode: There’s a lot going on in Fairfield, and the farmhouse is beginning to take shape. Plumber Brian shows Chris what he’s been working on now that [to prepare for] the on-demand water heaters have been installed. He’s swapped out standard PVC for a material specifically designed for flu gas, and has chosen an arrangement that requires only one roof penetration. Down in the basement, Chris learns why this house will benefit from three HVAC systems as opposed to one....

1. Dry-Erase Calendar This gold-framed calendar will help keep you on track. The dry-erase board allows you to stay updated any month of any year. Urban Outfitters; $16 2. Marble Accessory Set Stay organized with this stylish stationery set. The trio of chic desk accessories includes a marble stapler, pen cup and tape dispenser. Ali Express; about $33 3. String Lights with Clips Add ambience to the room with these pretty string lights....

Power tools sets vary in the number of tools they provide, with some offering as little as two and others containing 10 or more. No matter the number of tools provided, each power tool set typically houses widely used tools like hammers, drills, and reciprocating saws. Top 5 Power Tool Sets Best Value: BLACK+DECKER 20V 4-Tool Set Best Drill-Only Tool Set: DEWALT 2-Tool Combo Kit Best Battery Life: Makita 7-Piece Cordless Set Best Four-Tool Set: CRAFTSMAN 4-Tool Combo Kit Most Comprehensive: DEWALT 10-Tool Combo Kit...

Payment options (40 points): Options include purchase, loan, lease, and PPAs. Companies receive points for each of those four options it provides. Solar services (30 points): Does the company provide in-house installation of solar panels and battery backups? Can the company also monitor energy production and perform energy-efficiency audits to ensure system performance. The more options available, the higher the score. Warranty options (10 points): The success of a residential solar system depends on the workmanship, performance guarantees, and length of product coverage....

Put on socks Slip an old nylon stocking over the pump and its intake to keep out stray dirt. Fight buildup Each time you refresh the water supply, add a clarifier to deter algae growth and a scale and stain remover, following the label directions on dosage (it depends on your fountain’s capacity). Double the normal amount if you notice algae or scale that persists. In warmer months, when algae grow more readily, add a time-release algaecide in tablet form about once every three weeks....

For instance, when warmer air inside a refrigerator is passed across tubing coils filled with a cold refrigerant, the refrigerant picks up the heat from the air. Pumped through a compressor, the refrigerant is compressed, then pumped to a second coil, where the heat is dispersed to the cooler air at the back of the refrigerator. Continuing through the loop, the now cooler refrigerant is allowed to expand, which lowers its temperature....

Lay of the Land If your land is between 1-5 acres, fairly flat terrain, and features obstacles like trees, shrubs, and planters, a zero-turn might be right for you. Steering Smarts Unlike a standard steering wheel, zero-turn mowers employ lap bars or dual operation levers. This might take a bit of getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll appreciate the smooth, precise control you’ll have for delicate trimming and work around trees and flowerbeds....

All Tucked In The homeowners, Bill and Cory Laverack, had already renovated the rest of the house. “We used a lot of beadboard and liked it,” says Cory, an interior designer, so Helgesen continued it here, calling on general contractor Ronald Gray and carpenter Paul Stisi to fit together beaded boards and built-ins as neatly as jigsaw pieces. The team also rejiggered an existing bath and put down a pine floor....

Before You Plant a Winter Container Garden As you begin to plan your cold-weather container gardening, make sure your vessels can survive fluctuating temperatures. Porous materials like ceramic and terracotta are subject to flaking and cracking in frosty temps, so containers made from them need to be moved indoors. How to Install Winter-Proof Planters Best Types of Planters to Use Planters constructed from metal, fiberglass, heavy-duty plastic, resin, and wood are more apt to survive extreme temperatures and not crack....

To help you find the best home warranty for your home, the This Old House Reviews Team researched some of the top home warranty companies in California and compared them on coverage, plans, and pricing. Keep reading for our top home warranty picks for Fresno residents. Top 4 Home Warranty Companies in Fresno The highest-rated home warranty companies in Fresno, CA, include: 1. American Home Shield American Home Shield (AHS) is our recommendation for the best overall home warranty company in Fresno....

When we lie down to sleep at night, we expect to wake up refreshed and ready to tackle the day’s tasks, but waking up with back pain can make sleeping––and arising––a lot more difficult. Back issues are more common than we think: According to Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute, roughly 8% of adults are affected by long-term back pain during the course of their lives. How we lead our daily lives is a big factor, but another consideration to make is how we’re sleeping....

There are plenty of homes in these more than two dozen places where you can find a bargain if you’re willing to put in a little elbow grease. Union Springs, Alabama On Friday evenings about 35 people meet up at Union Pizza in the small southeastern Alabama town of Union Springs to discuss important matters, such as how to properly reglaze a banged-up window, which stain to use on heart-pine floors, or whether or not to restore plaster walls....