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—Bill Bailey, Baldwin, Mo. David Raymond, Raymond Design Builders, replies: Sticking out into the weather year after year, wood windowsills take quite a beating. They can last for decades if you just keep them clean and protect them with a coat of paint. But when water gets trapped in or against them, as happens with improperly flashed windows, rot can take hold. A simple epoxy repair will do the trick if the rot is confined to a small area, but if more than 10 percent of the sill is rotten, the old sill should be cut off and replaced....

Resources: Finding a matching tile can be difficult. Look on the underside of the tile for clues and bring the tile with you when looking for a match. Everything Tom used to replace the tile, including the cold chisel, hammer, notched trowel, and grout can be found at The Home Depot. The acrylic base Tom used in place of thinset is Acrylpro Professional Tile Adhesive, manufactured by Custom Building Products. It can be found at The Home Depot....

What is a Toilet Snake? The tool basically consists of a long cable, sheathed in a rubber tube. A coiled tip on one end goes into the drain and grapples with the clog, while an angled handle on the other end acts as a crank for extending the cable. How Much Do Toilet Snakes Cost? Toilet snakes can be rented from a hardware store, but it typically doesn’t cost a lot (less than $10) to purchase a simple version....

Resources: Updating a hollow core door can save time when trying to hang a completely new door. It can also save some money compared to buying a new door. To add the fake panels, Nathan used some molding, which can be found at any home center. He secured those to the door using Gorilla wood glue and a 20V Max Cordless Bradnailer, which is manufactured by Dewalt. Nathan then painted the door using Behr Marquee in Ultra Pure White....

Facts About LED Lights Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are commonly used in flashlights and Christmas tree lights. LEDs are long-lasting, super-bright, and energy-efficient. A standard Christmas tree light consumes seven watts of electricity per bulb. An entire string of LED lights uses just three watts. Replace old incandescent bulbs with retrofit LEDs, which screw into standard lamp sockets. Reflective-style LEDs come with various bases and often simply plug into the socket. Recessed LEDs combine the light bulb and trim kit into one compact unit....

Other venting options includes running the duct up through the roof or down through the soffit. Note that the fan must always exhaust to the outdoors; never allow the duct to simply blow into an attic, crawlspace or other enclosed area, or you’re certain to fail inspection. Bath Vent Overview A bathroom without a ventilation fan is like a fireplace without a chimney: If you fail to pull the moisture generated in the bathroom out of there, it will migrate into the walls and grow mold and mildew, or blister paint and peel wallpaper....

Tom Silva replies: It might be easier, but it wouldn’t be better. A floating wood floor has to be free to expand and contract with seasonal changes in humidity, and it can’t do that with heavy cabinets resting on top of it. That’s not the only problem: You’d have a tough time cutting out the strips that extend under the cabinets if you ever wanted to replace the flooring; you’ll be spending money on a surface you’ll never see; and you run the risk of scratching your new floor if you install the cabinets after it’s in place....

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After The big challenge, points out O’Leary, is the house’s shoebox-like shape. “Additions that modify its form will give it a lot more character,” he says. Front and side porches do the trick nicely, without altering the home’s brick shell. Matching gables on either side of the front door would make the entry more prominent and appealing, while also taking away the house’s flattop look. Wider front steps, a curved walkway, and low-maintenance, drought-tolerant foundation plantings extend a warmer welcome to guests....

In this episode: Mark McCullough helps an expecting couple install a concrete paver patio; Jenn Nawada discusses the common elements she includes in outdoor kitchen designs; Tom Silva and Kevin O’Connor build a combination bench/shoe rack out of fir decking. How to Install Concrete Pavers Mark McCullough helps an expecting couple install a concrete paver patio. Where to find it? Mark installed Andover Collection Stone Cleft pavers in the Richfield Blend color, which are manufactured by Ideal Concrete Block....

In this episode: Ask This Old House’s Tom Silva takes you through how to add a deck to your home by helping two homeowners build the deck of their dreams. After setting string lines and batter boards to mark the locations for the concrete footings, Tom digs 4-foot deep holes for the footings using a power auger. Next, they set cardboard tubes into the holes and filled them with concrete. They then frame the deck using pressure treated lumber and galvanized steel hardware....

In this episode: Roger Cook, Jenn Nawada and Mark McCullough explain best practices for installing or repairing a walkway. Mark helps a homeowner install a brand new walkway using natural stone. Jenn heads to Phoenix to recreate the desert in a homeowner’s front yard. Roger helps a homeowner repair a crack in an asphalt walkway. He cuts the asphalt with a cold chisel and removes the tree root underneath. How to Install a Rustic Stone Walkway Mark installs a front walkway for a homeowner using natural stone....

In this episode: Master electrician Heath Eastman tells us how he became an electrician. Heath explains that he hadn’t considered the trade until he and his wife started renovating their first home. After hiring an electrician to handle some of the projects they had on their plate, the electrician mentioned knowing someone looking for help. With a basic understanding of carpentry (thanks to his father), Heath decided to jump into the trades and try something different....

In this episode: Even with everything new in the 1890s Victorian, plenty is still original and needs to be examined. Mark McCullough inspects the original Roxbury rock foundation and finds signs of water problems—punky mortar and water on the ground. The necessary repairs are made. Kevin O’Connor is back in Dracut, MA, at the 124-year-old Dracut Centre School for the installation of windows previously restored by Alison Hardy. Alison gives Kevin a lesson on hanging the antique windows....

In this episode: The third floor of the 1864 Dutch Colonial was quaint at best. Kevin O’Connor walks through the new space, a drastic change from the once dark area with different levels and low ceiling height. The new space has triggered a code to add a fire sprinkler system. Kevin meets Richard Trethewey outside, where digging has begun to install a new sewer line and two new water lines—one replacing the old galvanized and lead line and another to supply the new fire sprinklers....