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The Tommy Awards is an award show where all winners are Insiders, hosted by Tom Silva and Kevin O’Connor. This special event showcases our member’s best DIY projects big and small, submitted by your fellow Insider DIYers.

Find Out What You’re Allergic to First Visiting an allergist will help you focus your preventative measures. The most common offenders are dust mites, mold, pollens, and pet dander. “There’s no point in making changes at home if you don’t address your particular allergies,” says Laurie Ross, editor of Allergy and Asthma Today. “Who knows, you might be allergic to cats, and here you are keeping your windows closed.” Then Start With the Bedroom Once you’ve established what causes your allergies, work your way around the house eliminating those specific allergens, starting with your bedroom....

“As soon as we got out of the car, the Realtor pointed in the near distance and said, ‘That’s the reason this house hasn’t sold,’ ” says Drew, who looked across the road to see an old graveyard. “I later told her that’s the reason I bought it.” Shown: A circa-1880 schoolhouse is now a snug home with striking gray clapboards, a metal roof, and bright double doors. Paint: Benjamin Moore’s Wrought Iron (siding) and Merlot Red (doors); Windows: Andersen Before moving to the small upstate town of Ancram, Drew had spent 14 years in a 400-square-foot studio in a bustling area of Manhattan....

4 Best Space Heaters 1. Radiator Space Heater Model DeLonghi oil-filled radiator, about $91 How It Works Shaped like the traditional fixed kind, these heaters are filled with oil warmed by electricity. Oil retains heat well, so the devices give off warmth for a while even after they’re turned off. Best For Living rooms and bedrooms 2. Fan-Forced Space Heater Model Honeywell Cool Touch Energy Smart fan-forced heater, about $60...

Top 5 Deck Paints Easiest To Use: KILZ Interior and Exterior Latex Floor Paint Best For Wet Areas: INSL-X Acrylic Anti-Slip Coating Paint Best For Wood: Ready Seal Exterior Stain and Sealer Most Eco-Friendly: Montage Signature Eco-Friendly Indoor and Exterior Paint Most Weather-Resistant: Rust-Oleum Marine Topside Paint Easiest To Use: KILZ Interior and Exterior Latex Floor Paint Pros and Cons ✔ Has a low-luster enamel surface formulated for decks, patios, and porches ✔ Works on all previously primed or painted surfaces ✔ Resists scuffing, fading, cracking, or peeling ✘ Has a lower viscosity than some other deck paints ✘ Is not fully waterproof Best For Wet Areas: INSL-X Acrylic Anti-Slip Coating Paint Pros and Cons ✔ Leaves a durable, skid-resistant finish ✔ Is good for exterior or interior application ✔ Dries quickly ✘ Some customers had issues with the color of the paint not being accurate ✘ Covers less surface area than some other paints Best For Wood: Ready Seal Exterior Stain and Sealer Pros and Cons ✔ Can be applied using a sprayer, roller, or brush This product requires no back brushing and won’t leave runs, laps, or streaks....

It does take a little extra work, requiring you to shred the materials and manage the pile more actively. But you can’t beat the timeline. Here’s how to do it: 1. Use equal parts by volume of green and brown materials This will deliver the 30:1 ration of carbon- to nitrogen-rich ingredients you’re after. Brown materials include dead leaves, twigs, wood chips, brown-paper bags, newspaper, cereal boxes, milk cartons (rinsed) and cardboard boxes....

Top 6 Chemical Sprayers Best Backpack Sprayer: Chapin International 4-Gallon Backpack Sprayer Best Entry-Level: Chapin International 1-Gallon Home Garden Sprayer Best Sprayer Grip: D.B. Smith 1-Gallon Bleach and Chemical Sprayer Best One-Hand Model: SOLO 2 One-Hand Pressure Sprayer Most Versatile: D.B. Smith 2-Gallon Chemical Sprayer Best for Garden Hoses: Chapin International All-Purpose Hose End Sprayer Best Backpack Sprayer: Chapin International 4-Gallon Backpack Sprayer Pros and Cons ✔ The backpack sprayer includes padded straps for added lumbar support✔ The 4-gallon tank allows you to cover more ground✔ Is made in the USA using global materials ✘ Heavy to strap on when it’s full✘ Requires some coordination, as you have to pump and spray simultaneously...

A Homeowner’s Story On a street filled with ersatz 1960’s Colonials, the two-story white clapboard house with the black shutters exudes antique charm, especially when one notices the quaint sign hanging at the end of the driveway: Suttonfields, ca. 1734. The sign dates to 1983, after Gladys Schondorf, who owns the Somers, N.Y., house with her husband, Jack, did a deed trace on the property. Working with the town historian, she learned that her 2....

Shown: Now wider and brighter, the room has vintage-style tile, chrome fittings, and a windowed alcove.The marble ledge offers a handy spot for bath supplies while reinforcing the horizontal lines of the tilework. Floor: Daltile Paint: Benjamin Moore’s Cinco De Mayo Before: Cluttered and Cramped Since they were renovating the adjacent bedroom anyway, they decided to gut the cramped bath and enlarge it by annexing closet space. That allowed a new layout, with the tub in a tile-rimmed alcove....

These tanks work with pumps, pressure gauges, and valves to maintain consistent water pressure, store water for immediate use, and increase the longevity of components in the home plumbing system. Read on to learn about the different types of well water tanks and to find out how to choose the right one for your home’s potable water supply system. Pressure Tanks Manage Water Supply Nearly all modern water wells include what is typically called a pressure tank....

That is why the This Old House Reviews Team has worked to research and rank the best pest control companies in the country. In this round-up, we will help you learn about some of the top options for pest control in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. Keep reading to learn more about each company’s service and plans. Top Pest Control Companies in Los Angeles, CA Best of the Best Los Angeles Pest Control Companies We named Terminix Best Overall because Terminix offers everything a customer looks for in a pest control service: great customer reviews, online chat features and tools, and an affordable combination of industry-standard and specialty pest services....

Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a commission. Black Friday Furniture Sales - Our Top Picks Best Bunk Beds - Walker Edison Alexander Classic Solid Wood Stackable Jr Twin over Twin Bunk Bed Best Murphy Bed - Bestar Pur 65W Queen Murphy Bed Best Bed Frame - Novogratz Her Majesty Upholstered Linen Bed Best Sectional Sofa - Shintenchi Convertible Sectional Sofa Couch Best Crib - Newton Baby Austin Convertible Crib Best Mattress - Saatva Classic Best Nightstands - VECELO Nightstand Best Bedroom Benches - SIMPLIHOME Avalon 48-inch Wide Rectangle Lift Top Storage Ottoman Bench...