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This Old House features two to three projects per season, and at least one of the projects is located in the New England area. We prefer projects located in climates where outdoor work may be undertaken during the winter months, and often we choose the geographic location first and then consider proposals in that area. Please note that the renovations are completely funded by the homeowners. This Old House coordinates product discounts and donations, where possible....

Steps for building a bathroom organizer: Step 1: Prep the frame pieces Download our cut list above. Cut all the pieces to size. Using a pocket hole jig and drill/driver fitted with a pocket hole drill bit (both set to a ¾-inch depth), create two pocket holes in each end of the Frame’s 1 x 2 Front, Back and Side pieces. Step 2: Prep the plywood shelves Using a pocket hole jig and drill/driver fitted with a pocket hole drill bit (both set to a ½-inch depth), create three pocket holes along the side edges of each plywood shelf....

How To Build a Stone Planter Overview Day-to-day timeline Friday: Outline the planter Saturday: Excavate and level the base Sunday: Build the walls and fill the planters Step 1: Know Your Blocks Using blocks of various lengths allows for a natural-looking, randomized pattern. With only one textured face to work with, you’ll need to cleave certain blocks to get a second face that can be exposed—at corners or anywhere perpendicular walls meet....

For many household bathrooms, storage is at a premium. While you may admire the elegant look of a pedestal or the minimalist aesthetic of a console, neither of these designs offers cabinet space for toiletries and towels. And even though a vessel sink might be the lavatory of your dreams, it’ll quickly become a nightmare if you’ve got small children using it every day—cleaning up stray soap suds and toothpaste can be difficult to clean when the basin is sitting on top of the counter....

Steps: 1. Wear safety glasses to protect eyes from flying chips, dust and debris. Some models have lanyards for draping over neck. 2. For working in dimly lit areas, consider safety glasses with built-in LED work lights. 3. Protect your hearing by wearing rubber earplugs, or earmuff-style protection; some models even have a radio built into them. 4. Use a dust mask with a release valve to protect your lungs from wood dust....

Types of Riding Lawn Mower Basic Riding Lawn Mower A basic riding mower costs about $900 and has the engine located below the seat. Its narrow 30-inch mowing deck isn’t efficient for mowing large lawns, but it does allow the mower to easily fit through narrow gates and into sheds or garages. Riding Lawn Tractors Riding lawn tractors have wider mowing decks, starting at about 42 inches wide, automatic transmissions, and front-mount engines....

Steps for Cutting Pipes and Tubing: Tools 5 Ways to Repair PVC Pipes

8 Christmas Safety Tips for Dogs 1. Keep Unsafe Food Out of Reach Everyone knows chocolate is off-limits for dogs, but there are other foods you may never have guessed could be harmful. Any of these could cause your pooch weakness, upset stomach, dehydration, vomiting, tremors, and, in extreme cases, kidney failure. The list includes: Avocado Citrus Coconut Grapes Raisins Nuts Dairy Onions Garlic Salty snacks 2. Secure Holly and Mistletoe Properly If you hang holly or mistletoe, make sure it’s out of your pet’s reach and secure enough that it won’t fall down....

Check Basement Walls for Moisture Insulate the Foundation Wall Attach a Wooden Grid to the Foundation Wall Mark out Interior Wall Locations Mark the Wall Stud Locations Assemble the Wall Frame Recommended Tools:

Types of Hydrangeas These so-called mopheads (a type of H. macrophylla) were imported from Japan, China, and Europe in the 19th century. But there are also delicate lacecaps that have flat heads dotted with color and ringed with four-petaled florets, and panicle hydrangeas with white cone-shaped flowers. There are also easy-care species native to the U.S., such as the shade-tolerant oakleaf hydrangea and cold-hardy smooth hydrangea. How Do You Get Your Hydrangeas to Bloom?...

The natural stone stepper Mark used is called a “New York Paver”, which he got from Cavicchio Greenhouses. The plastic edging is Vigoro No-Dig Landscape Edging Kit, and can be found at most home centers. The compacter Mark used can be rented from most home centers. The other materials Mark used for this job, including the mallet and edging, can also be found at the home center. Expert assistance with this segment was provided by MJM Masonry....

To choose the colors, I tested out the match a photo feature of the ColorSnap® visualizer app by Sherwin-Williams. It allows me select a photo on my phone and shows me the matching Sherwin-Williams paint color. For this pattern, I’m using a white base and two blue tones. Because this is an entryway, and the walls get plenty of wear, my local Sherwin-Williams Paint Expert suggested using Emerald® Interior Paint, which is durable and washable, and perfect for high traffic areas....

The roller creates a natural frame on all sides; to avoid this, you could roll the pattern on wallpaper liner and paste it in place. But once we’d arranged a few of our favorite things, all we could see was our built-in’s lively new look. Learn how to use patterned paint rollers in our guide below. Steps for rolling on a painted pattern: Step 1: Mark the design roller To achieve wallpaper-like repeats, mark the roller with a + at any point and with a − halfway around....

It’s best to start replacement work early in the day, so there’s time to fix any problems that come to light after the old threshold is out. A rotten subsill, punky joist ends, or a termite-riddled rim joist can stretch this two-hour job into a full day’s labor. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to install a door threshold. How to Replace a Door Threshold in 9 Steps Step 1: Know the Parts That Make Up the Exterior Door Threshold Click ‘’enlarge this image’’ to view illustration labels....

Steps for Installing a Stair Railing Tools ad Materials

Lawn Treatment Schedule North: Zones 1, 5, 6 March Rake up debris and leaves from winter. April Growing season starts. Mow grass 3 inches high. Leave clippings on lawn. Apply first dose of fertilizer. Treat for crabgrass with pre-emergent herbicide or eco-friendly corn gluten. May Pull or spot-treat dandelions or treat whole lawn with post-emergent weed control or lime. Fertilize six to eight weeks after first dose. June–July Water if rainfall is below 1 inch a week....

From the Inside Out When you own a fixer-upper, you can’t tackle every project at once, as Gretchen Fitzenrider, knows all too well. “We’ve been so busy renovating the interior of our 1904 farmhouse that we’ve neglected the dull exterior,” she told This Old House. Extended Welcome Opening up the enclosed porch restores the house’s original architecture and makes it feel more welcoming. Grand Entry A handsome brick walkway and wider set of stairs add grace to the approach....