Resources: Mauro washed the shutters using a biodegradable cleaner, in this case Simple Green, mixed with water to remove the dirt. Mauro chose an exterior paint in Hale Navy for the shutters, manufactured by Benjamin Moore. Other materials for this project including respirators and drop cloths are available at home centers and paint suppliers.

Pruning a fruit tree Tools

Tools

The building’s super promised to fix it — and fix it he did, by slapping on some latex paint that flaked off every time I settled in for a warm bath. The super’s methods were suspect, but he was essentially on the right track in trying to save the tub by recoating its surface. “People very often rip out old tubs because they’re slightly blemished,” says Richard Trethewey, This Old House plumbing and heating expert....

Answer: Let me introduce you to professional wood finisher Wayne Towle of Master Finishing and Restoration in Needham, MA. He’s helped with many This Old House TV projects over the years. Here’s what he had to say about your problem.
“Sorry to hear about your uncooperative poly. Nobody wants to do all the work of refinishing and end up with bubbles in the finish. “The most common causes for bubbles are shaking the can and improper brush prep—you don’t stick a brush into the finish without first soaking the bristles in mineral spirits, for oil-based polys, or in water, for water-based polys....

Steps for Repairing an Outdoor Pizza Oven Materials Type N mortar mix Water Tools How to Restore a Colonial-Era Beehive Oven

The goal is for the Cottage on the Cape to be comfortable year-round, so a heated floor system is being installed in the master bathrooms for some added warmth during cold New England winters. Cape Associates’ lead tile setter, Billy, gives a few tips for a proper install, from preparing the floor for the membrane to setting the heating cables into place. In the basement, Chris catches up with Matt to talk about how he has structured the forced hot air technology throughout the home to maximize efficiency without sacrificing aesthetic....

Stephen: No problem. Aaron: So tell us a little about, about the Wood Pastor and how you get started. Stephen: I started making money woodwork about five years ago. And then it turned into…I kinda wanted to market is as brand and start a website. And you need a name, you need a logo, or so I was told. So I started thinking; how can I be creative but keep things simple and came up with The Wood Pastor just because I was helping my church with builds and stuff and part of the percentage of what I made was going to missions at the time....

Masterful ease What makes a first-floor master first-rate? Building in a buffer from the rest of the household. In our Farmhouse, that means two handsome character-oak pocket doors that slide back to reveal a sitting room separating the bedroom and bath from the busy hallway. Pocket doors, floors, trim: Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods; Door hardware: Emtek; Lighting: House of Antique Hardware; Paint: Gravel by Curator*; Furnishings: Stowed; Room styling: Leia T....

If your location is zone 7, I’d recommend planting ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae trees to create your privacy hedge. Sometimes referred to as ‘Smaragd’ because of its Danish lineage, this arborvitae will take wintry weather in stride and has excellent resistance to disease and insects. How Tall Does Emerald Green Arborvitae Grow? You can expect an ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae to grow into a narrow pyramid shape, about 10 to15 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide when mature....

Jenn plants an indoor garden, Richard demonstrates how and why frozen pipes burst, Tom discusses hole saws, and Mark replaces a hearth.

In this episode: It’s officially spring and Ask This Old House is celebrating by tackling some springtime home improvement projects! Starting with plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey demonstrating a couple of ways to fix a leaky hose spigot. Plumbing & Heating Expert Richard Trethewey explains that there are two places a spigot usually fails—the bonnet and the stem. He shows how to easily fix the problem to stop the leak to help extend the life of your spigot....

In this episode: General contractor Tom Silva meets past guest and young woodworker Camila in her dad’s shop where they catch up since they last met. After checking out some of Camila’s work, the two discuss her need for a workspace of her own. With a worktable in mind, Tom invites her back to the workshop to help with the special project. Back in the shop, Tom and Camilla get to work on the worktable....