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In this episode: Chris meets Matt at the Cape Associates millwork shop to see the process for assembling the Lifespan window and door trim, then takes a deep dive into the strength and efficiency of the pocket hole joinery system. Back on site, he and project manager Josh Piper install a large Sierra Pacific window, and then mount the pre-assembled trim unit. Up on the roof, GAF’s ice barrier system, underlayment, and American Harvest shingles are installed....

As you may know, Norm Abram announced in May that he is hanging up his toolbelt. To give him a proper sendoff, we will be pre-releasing the one-hour tribute special, The House that Norm Built, to Insiders on September 29th. Norm has been a special part of the This Old House family, and we will certainly miss him. Along with Norm’s departure, the New Yankee Workshop license agreement is expiring soon, which means members of This Old House Insider will no longer be able to watch New Yankee Workshop or download NYW plans through Insider as of September 6, 2022 at 12:00am....

Light Bulb Basics: Wattage and Lumens Two things to consider when choosing a light bulb are watts and lumens. A light bulb’s wattage measures how much energy it uses. Lumens, on the other hand, measure a light bulb’s brightness—the higher the value, the brighter the light. Back when nearly all light bulbs were incandescent (prior to 2012, when this style began to be phased out of the marketplace in favor of more energy-efficient options), the only thing you had to consider was a light bulb’s wattage....

If you’re hesitant about working with electricity, don’t worry. We’ve greatly simplified the process by safely tapping into an existing garage circuit and by running the wires through surface-mounted metal tubing, called conduit. This technique speeds the installation by eliminating the need to blindly pull wires through walls and ceilings. All of the supplies required for this project are sold at hardware stores and home centers, including the thin-wall metal conduit, which is referred to as EMT for electrical metallic tubing....

For inspiration, we called architect Darren Helgesen, who encounters all sorts of Colonial Revivals in his Amagansett, N.Y., practice. “Similar two-stories here run the gamut from basic early-American styles to more embellished Federalist homes,” he says. “This house can afford strategic touches of ornamentation.” Facade Before To start, he suggests adding a new portico for depth and a more formal entrance. Pilasters at the corners help frame the front, and dentil molding under the eaves and below the portico cornice introduce character-building detail....

If the loftiness of the discounts alone makes you feel dizzy, it may be hard to discern which Prime Day mattress deals are most worthy of your consideration. Our team (with the help of Mattress Advisor) identified 11 beds and mattress toppers that are excellent options, as you’ll likely not see this steep of a discount from the retailers again—at least, not until the next Prime Day. Here are our picks: By clicking on the product links in this article, Mattress Advisor may receive a commission fee at no cost to you, the reader....

What Will You Do On Your Deck? Let your favorite outdoor activities dictate its size, shape, and features. Eat Family Meals Make sure your table will fit comfortably. A good rule of thumb is to add 4 feet all the way around the table so that people can walk behind those who are seated. Host Barbecues and Cocktail Parties Leave room for a prep station and serving area, as well as a grill....

Joe the homeowner fabricates a stone hearth. Richard learns about automatic sprinkler systems. Kevin sees a simulator that shows how the Camp Fire spread. Tom inspects a vent that’s designed to resist embers. Another project gets the green light.

In this episode: This Old House has followed the rebuilding of over 70 homes. But after 42 years only one of those was a Scandinavian Modern. This Cambridge, MA house started life as a dark, divided 1887 two-family home. We turned it into a bright, open Scandinavian-style one-family. In this summer special, we compress the efforts to restore this beauty into one episode. Follow the action as Tom Silva, Norm Abram, and Roger Cook, along with their teams, take this old house from rundown to remarkable....

In this episode: It’s a brand-new project in a part of a large city with a small-town feel. This modest Victorian defined suburban living before the turn of the last century, but now it’s time for an upgrade. In this episode, we meet a new builder and homeowners. Kevin O’Connor, Tom Silva, Richard Trethewey, and Jenn Nawada take a ride to the 1890s Victorian in the Boston neighborhood of West Roxbury....

In this episode: The project house is located near the Atlanta Beltline which is changing the way people live, work, and play in the area. The Beltline president and CEO Clyde Higgs gives a brief tour and discusses its growth. At the house, Kevin O’Connor meets builder Jerry Davis where the back bump-out has since been demolished. Work is underway for the pour of a new stem wall foundation to begin the building of the new addition....

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey explains how to replace a shower pan. Steps to Replacing a Shower Pan: Tools

To help pinpoint exactly where you are burning through resources—and cash—we polled energy consultants across the country. The simplest route, they agree, is to have a professional auditor detect leaks with sophisticated tools, such as blower doors and infrared cameras. Your local utility may offer this service for free, but if it doesn’t, the cost is typically $400. Or you can do some easy tests yourself and put your money toward addressing the problems....

Go Salvage Shopping Wiring runs from the basement through the newel post to light this ornate, late-19th-century pot-metal salvage find. A unique way to illuminate a stairway for safety. Library Landing A long run of surface-mount, low bookcases transforms the space at the top of the stairs into a library. The second-to-last one on the right (not shown) is set on casters, so it can be pulled out to access crawl-space storage....