By following some of these simple safety measures, you can help your home weather the storm of the holidays and venture safe and sound into the new year. To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com. Methodology We used Google Trends to research the most common holiday disasters with the highest search interest by state. We analyzed 2020 data for the holiday months of November-December using 18 different types of commonly searched home disasters during the holiday months....

Resources Expert assistance with this segment was provided by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).

Do I Need an Electrician to Add an Outlet? For safety reasons, it is better to work with a licensed electrician to install an outlet in your home. They’ll also be able to ensure you get the coverage you need. If you have experience and are comfortable running electrical wiring, then you can do it yourself with the instructions shared below. But, if you are uncomfortable with any of the steps, it’s better to consult with an electrician....

Watch the video and read the steps below to learn how to build this easy wood plank wall planter using vinyl plank flooring and plywood. Cut List ½" Plywood Backer Board – 60" W x 25 ½" H 1 x 4 Cleat – 1 @ 24" Ripped in half at a 45-degree bevel ¼" x 5" Wood Planks – About 11 sq feet (or enough to cover the plywood backer) 1 x 4 Planter Base – 1 @ 60” ¼” x 5 ½” Planter (Front) – 1 @ 60 ½” ¼” x 5 ½” Planter (Sides) – 2 @ 4” ¼” x 1 ¼” Trim (Top) – 1 @ 60 ½” ¼” x 1 ¼” Trim (Sides) – 2 @ 20”...

Steps for Building an Accessible Home Gym

The drainage pipe used for extending downspouts is non-perforated Schedule 40 PVC pipe with 4-inches-diameter. Some jobs will also require flexible drainpipe, which is invaluable for getting around obstacles or following uneven terrain. For our installation, we used it to snake around a few large boulders we couldn’t pry out. What You Need for a Downspout Extension Along with the drainage pipe, you’ll need an assortment of PVC elbows, T-fittings, couplings, adapters and other specialty fittings that allow you to connect together the pipe sections....

Mortise Lockset Parts Multiple parts make up full mortise locksets. Nothing was standard during manufacturing 100 years ago, so each lock may be slightly different. Here are some general universal parts: The lockbox is the carcass that contains all of the small parts within the lockset. It’s also the part that slides into the door. The latch is the part of the door that opens and closes with the twist of the door knob....

What causes the mold on my roof? How can I get rid of it? How can I keep it from coming back? — Trudy, Muskegon, Michigan What is Roof Algae? The black mold-like stains and streaks that appear on roofs, particularly light-colored asphalt shingles, is actually a blue-green algae (Gloeocapsa magma). Commonly found in climates with warm, humid summers, it does no damage to the roofing, but it certainly does looks bad....

Fortunately, the pipe that’s most susceptible to extremely cold weather—the outdoor hose faucet—is also one of the easiest to protect from freezing. Here, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to replace an existing hose faucet with a freeze-proof faucet. Prevent outdoor faucets from freezing Water expands when it freezes, and if that water is sitting in a pipe, the resulting pressure can be enough to crack it....

How to Install Gas Logs Tools

This Old House senior technical editor Mark Powers used 2- and 3-inch polished stones from Stone Decorative to create this spiral-pattern mosaic, which can be scaled up or down depending on the size of your site and the stones you select. “Just be sure to lay the stones on edge for added strength and stability,” he says. Pebble Mosaic Overview Project Timeline Friday: Sort the stones and lay out the pattern Saturday: Lay the base, set the stones, and let the concrete begin to cure Sunday: Grout the stones into place...

Read the step-by-step instructions below and scroll down for a list of tools, materials, and cut list needed for the project. Steps for Making a DIY Reversible Porch Sign 1. Size the Frame Pieces Starting with the 1x12 board at its full 6-foot height, measure and miter the 1x2 frame pieces on edge so that they wrap around the corners of the board. 2. Apply the Finishes Using a foam roller, cover one side of the board with two coats of white paint, and the other side with two coats of black paint....

Types of TV Mounts There are essentially three types of TV mounts: fixed, tilting, and full motion. Which mount would work best depends on the scenario. How to Hang a Flat-Screen TV Fixed mounts are ideal for situations where the wall in front of the couch is unobstructed, allowing the TV to be mounted at a seated eye level. Tilting mounts are useful for scenarios where the TV will mount above a fireplace or mantle, as it can tilt down to improve the viewing angle....

While you don’t have to be a pro to learn how to paint like one, there is more to a good paint job than just slathering some color on the wall. That’s where we come in. Below, This Old House technical editor Mark Powers shows how to paint a room expertly in one weekend, from the first scratch of the pole sander to the final feather of the brush. And you won’t be wasting time taping off every corner or backtracking with the touch-up brush like an amateur....