When Alison Hardy bought a 1782 farmhouse in the late 1990s, she discovered what countless homeowners before her had learned: century-old windows are drafty, painted shut, and often rotting in spots. Rather than ripping them out, she taught herself to restore them using borrowed tools and reference books. Today, she is known as the Window […]
Brick steps add durability and curb appeal to any home, but over time the mortar joints between bricks can crack, crumble, or pull away. When water seeps into these gaps and freezes, the damage accelerates, turning a minor cosmetic issue into a structural hazard. Repointing, which removes old failed mortar and replaces it with fresh
What begins as a simple exterior paint job can quickly spiral into a full-scale home renovation when hidden problems emerge behind the walls. That is exactly what happened to one Massachusetts family who set out to refresh the peeling siding on their 1894 Victorian home and ended up with a comprehensive whole-house transformation. Any homeowner
When Ask This Old House first aired, few could have predicted the lasting impact it would have on home improvement television. For two decades, the show has brought expert contractors directly into viewers’ homes, answering their toughest questions and demonstrating professional techniques. The 20th anniversary episode is a celebration of this legacy, featuring memorable moments,
When homeowners Robyn and Derek bought their home on a quiet Boston street nine years ago, they walked into a house where time had stood still for decades. Originally built on farmland in 1894, the West Roxbury Victorian was the first single-family home erected in its new subdivision at a time when carriages still ruled
For homeowners and contractors seeking a wall surface that combines the best of traditional plaster with modern efficiency, blue board veneer plaster systems offer an ideal solution. Unlike standard drywall, which relies on joint compound and tape to conceal seams, blue board is designed specifically to accept a thin coat of setting-type plaster. This technique
Every skilled tradesperson has an origin story, and few are as unexpected as the journey of Mark McCullough, the beloved mason from This Old House and Ask This Old House. Before he became one of the most recognizable masons on television, McCullough was a teenager unloading watermelons in Chelsea, Massachusetts. His path from that humble
Transforming a spare room into a functional craft space does not require a massive budget or professional remodeling skills. With smart planning, repurposed materials, and a weekend of hands-on work, you can create a workspace that rivals expensive studio designs. The key is approaching the project like any home improvement task: define your needs, source
The skylines of major cities tell the story of modern civilization. For over a century, those stories have been written in steel and glass, with concrete providing the backbone for increasingly tall structures. But a quiet revolution is underway. Architects and builders are returning to one of humanity’s oldest building materials and reimagining it for
Home improvement projects carry significant costs, from premium power tools to new appliances and building materials. Many homeowners pay full retail without realising that membership-based discount programs can dramatically reduce these expenses. Programs like the Napsa Truck Parts Discount Program show how members can save thousands through exclusive partnerships, and similar models apply across the
