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For the legs and top, Tom used 1x10 and 1x12 select pine, which can be found at the home center. He bought boards with two separate dimensions so that he didn’t have to use the table saw, which is a more advanced tool for children. To cut the boards to length, Tom had Camilla use the Kapex 120 sliding compound miter saw, which is manufactured by Festool. To cut the holes in the legs and for the dog bowls, Tom had Camilla use a jigsaw with a fine tooth cutting blade....

All they need is a design, some of Tom’s handy templates, and some help from their friends at Brookside Elementary. To see the installation, click here. How to Build a Little Free Library Resources At the studio, Tom and Kevin build a little free library for Brookside Elementary School. Then, Tom and Kate paint and decorate it. What You Need Materials MDF sheets Exterior-grade MDO plywood Exterior-grade AA ⅜-inch plywood Plexiglass Piano hinges CA glue Wood glue Earth magnets Exterior grade paint and primer combo White spray paint Black spray paint Decals Lettering Push-in glazier clips...

Mini-golf is a great game for bringing together family members of every age. Who doesn’t love besting Dad on the loop-de-loop hole? But it doesn’t have to be just a vacation-week treat. Wouldn’t it be great to have your very own course to play all year round—inside or out? This Old House’s plumbing and heating expert, Richard Trethewey, and general contractor, Tom Silva, designed a great course that you and your family can build in an afternoon....

Shopping List: Raised garden bed kit Screws Landscape fabric Potting soil mix (7 bags) In-ground potting soil (6 bags) Tools:

Overview Staircase parts are available at home centers, though you’ll likely find a better selection online. For the bottom rail, use a handrail with a fillet, a thin, removable strip of wood that you’ll use as a template for making holes in both rails. Also, make sure the balusters have round pins for attaching to the bottom rail. Before you begin, measure the width of your bed frame so that you’ll know how far apart the end posts should be....

Tips for Selecting and Using Foam Insulation Pick the appropriate foam insulation for the job at hand. Shake can well before applying. Use minimal-expanding Window-and-Door Foam to insulate around windows and doors. Apply the foam sparingly, allowing it to expand to fill the gaps. Use Gap-and-Crack Foam to fill spaces between the house foundation and mudsill. Spray foam insulation behind electrical boxes prior to insulating the walls with fiberglass batts. Use fire-block foam insulation to fill holes around pipes, electrical cables, and ducts....

A fine example is the entry garden he designed for the 1860 house shown here. To give the historic house’s facade its due, homeowner Ramsey Yoder and his late wife, Patty, first commissioned stone steps and low walls to terrace the hillside and emphasize the front-door focal point. Then they called on Hayward to design a carefully composed garden that would deliver summerlong color, winter interest, and a mix of textures....

House-flipping can be a great investment for those who have the skills, the money and the wherewithal to complete a labor-intensive renovation, and in areas of the country where real estate is either hot or affordable, it can be tempting to snap up distressed properties with the intention to fix and quickly resell. But while house flippers on TV shows and Instagram may make it seem their endeavor only has upsides, it’s not a decision that should be entered into lightly....

Curb appeal matters to three sets of people. Primarily, you and your family—bringing a smile and sense of pride on a daily basis. Secondly, your neighbors, who may even have a say in your home’s appearance because of homeowners association or historic district rules. Finally, curb appeal is crucial to would-be buyers you may hope to attract someday. According to a Michigan State University study, attention to curb appeal can increase perceived home value by 5 to 11 percent....

Sand the Surface Rough up smooth surfaces with 220-grit sand-paper. Wipe with a tack cloth to remove dust, then seal with shellac, if desired. Apply the Adhesive Using a foam brush, apply a thin layer of adhesive, called gilding size, to your item. If you have to cover a large surface, use a spray formulation; a brush-on liquid (shown) should be used for smaller, more intricate items. Apply the Metal Leaf Wearing gloves to prevent fingerprints, firmly press a sheet of the leaf, shiny side down, over the adhesive (our leaf came backed with wax film for an easier application)....

To work that fast takes practice and a few specialized tools. But hanging drywall is not just about speed. Doing the job right means using screws of the correct length, off-setting panels so seams don’t line up, and making sure wires and pipes aren’t vulnerable to puncture. Installing drywall is easy enough for a homeowner, as long as there’s someone to help; the heavy sheets are difficult to lift, particularly when doing ceilings....

Resources: Heath installed an Allure 32 Wall Hanging Electric Fireplace Insert, which is manufactured by Napoleon Fireplaces. Since Heath was unable to find an insert that perfectly matched the strange dimensions of the opening at the house, he built up a frame for a “fake hearth” to fill in the rest of the hole. For this, he used regular pocket screws and 2x4” lumber, which can be found at any home center....

DIY Cat Bed Directions: 1. Mark the Basket Size Place the basket onto the plywood. Using a pencil, mark the outline of the basket on the plywood. 2. Cut the Plywood Using a jigsaw, cut just inside the marked outline to allow the panel to find inside the basket. Check for a snug fit inside the basket—trim as needed. Trace the cutout onto a new piece of plywood, and then cut a second circular piece to create two levels....

In the video above, you’ll see a simple box that Tom and Kevin fashioned, fittingly, from pieces of an old salvaged fir door. Doors like this were often made from beautiful knot-free wood with a tight, straight grain. When oiled it turns a warm honey hue. Yet Tom also made sure to leave behind unmistakable clues about this wood’s origins: See the spots where the hinges were attached? How Shadow Boxes Work A shadow box can be made of wood and has a glass-front so you can see the items that you’ll store inside it....

Steps: Use end nippers to extract any nails or screws from the damaged wood area. Nail 1x3 boards around the area to act as fences for guiding the router. Use a router equipped with a straight bit and guide bushing to remove the old wood from the damaged area. Hold the guide bushing against the 1x3 fences to produce straight, accurate cuts. Remove the 1x3s and square up the corners of the routed recess using a hammer and chisel....

What happens with most stains is that people do the best they can to remove them from the top surface of the mattress. But deeply penetrating stains, especially those from bodily fluids, call for a process that’s a bit more intense. And if you just cover them up, these types of stains often become the source of odors in your bedroom, leading you to replace your mattress well before the recommended seven to ten years....

—S. Christopher Hunter, Ypsilanti, MIch. David Raymond, owner, Raymond Design Builders, replies: A stair with missing balusters is not only unsafe, particularly for children, it’s about as attractive as a hockey goalie’s grin. Fortunately, replacing them is fairly easy for anyone who can use a miter saw. It just requires some advance work. First, you have to find new balusters that match your existing ones. It’s unlikely that a home center will have what you need, but companies that specialize in building stairs or making stair parts, such as Harmonson Stairs, can often turn an identical one for you on a lathe....

Steps for Scaling Up an Image Tools