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
Modern homes are more energy efficient and technologically advanced than ever, but are they truly healthier? This question sits at the heart of a compelling episode of This Old House’s podcast Clearstory, where host Kevin O’Connor sits down with professors Jonsara Ruth and Alison Mears, co-founders of the Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons School of
Before steel framing and pressure-treated lumber became the norm, one tree dominated American homebuilding. The American Chestnut stood over 100 feet tall, grew straight as an arrow, and produced rot-resistant wood that framed houses, milled into trim, split into shingles, and furnished interiors across the eastern United States. Its disappearance in the early 20th century
The idea of humans living on Mars has moved from science fiction into serious engineering conversations. Tech visionaries and space agencies are actively planning missions that would not only land on the Red Planet but establish permanent settlements. For those involved in the construction industry, the question is no longer whether we can get there,
Every homeowner knows the frustration of spotting an ant trail across the kitchen counter or finding a spider web in the corner of the living room. We clean, scrub, vacuum, and spray, determined to keep our living spaces free of unwanted visitors. But what if the very idea of a completely sterile home is an
The COVID-19 pandemic did more than disrupt daily routines and global economies. It fundamentally challenged how we think about the spaces where we live, work, and rest. In This Old House’s Clearstory podcast season 2 premiere, host Kevin O’Connor sat down with author and architecture professor Sara Carr, journalist and bioethicist Elizabeth Yuko, and assistant
