How to Create a Sun and Shade Garden | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House landscaping contractor Jenn Nawada helps a homeowner design a garden that will work with their half-sun, half-shade yard perfectly, turning the homeowner’s backyard into a little oasis. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Jenn Nawada takes us on a house call to help a homeowner give new life to her light-challenged backyard. Jenn helps by building a drip edge that will help preserve the shed first. Then, she creates a sun and shade garden, using certain plants where the sun shines through and others in areas that are primarily shaded. The result is the backyard transformation that the homeowner was looking for. Where to find it? Jenn helps a homeowner install a drip edge around her shed and install a sun and shade garden with a Goshen stepping stone [https://ift.tt/nEDcBdV] path. To install the drip edge, Jenn uses a shovel [https://amzn.to/440Dhci] to excavate a trench on each side of the shed doors about 7-½’ long, 12” wide, and about 5-6 inches; deep. Next, she borders the inside of the trench with steel landscape edging [https://amzn.to/446hQqm] and lines the sides of the trench with a landscape fabric [https://amzn.to/3AB9kC6] that is cut to size. Finally, Jenn fills the trench with beach pebbles [https://amzn.to/3V9pfkF]. To prep the garden, pull and discard weeds with gardening gloves [https://amzn.to/44bxpNq]. Then, break up the grass with a grub hoe [https://amzn.to/3LCWKJa]. Rake [https://amzn.to/3Veaq0f] any remaining sod roots and discard. Use a shovel to turn over the soil and incorporate compost [https://amzn.to/41L1nWZ]. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Materials Goshen stepping stone [https://ift.tt/DFV2jYo] Steel landscape edging [https://amzn.to/446hQqm] Landscape fabric [https://amzn.to/3AB9kC6] Beach pebbles [https://amzn.to/3V9pfkF] Compost [https://amzn.to/41L1nWZ] Tools Shovel [https://amzn.to/440Dhci] Gardening gloves [https://amzn.to/44bxpNq] Grub hoe [https://amzn.to/3LCWKJa] Rake [https://amzn.to/3Veaq0f] Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/xcSKP21 About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG How to Create a Sun and Shade Garden | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

Understanding Gutter Downspouts | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva teaches host Kevin O’Connor what he needs to know about gutter downspouts, including how they work and the different types of downspouts on the market. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Kevin O'Connor learns about gutter downspouts from general contractor Tom Silva. Tom teaches Kevin what he needs to know, from the different types of elbows and outlets and a few tips on how to get that water away from the home. Gutters collect the water from our roofing systems, and they shuttle it away from the house to protect our foundations. But, to get that water from the gutter to the ground requires a downspout. There are a lot of different downspouts and fittings to consider to move that rainwater far enough away from the home. Where to find it? Tom Silva explains the options available for gutter downspouts to divert water away from a home’s foundation. Tom recommends sealing any drilled holes with butyl caulking because it seals well to aluminum. Tom explains that gutter elbows are the best way to divert gutters and they come in a variety of options to accommodate the needs of any homeowner. A few examples of gutter elbows include: A-style elbows [https://homedepot.sjv.io/75aLEy]: bend front to back. Typically a good choice for getting the downspout to connect smoothly from the gutter outlet to the side of the house. B-style elbows [https://homedepot.sjv.io/DKyAYn]: bend side to side. Typically a good choice to divert water away from the house towards the side yard instead of either the front or the back. Flexible elbows [https://homedepot.sjv.io/5g5mWL]: bend in any direction and can help in unique situations. However, because of all the ridges in them, they’re more likely to get clogged than fixed elbows. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/MWyQe0I About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG Understanding Gutter Downspouts | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

How to Extend a Driveway with Asphalt | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House mason Mark McCullough helps a homeowner add an extra parking spot to keep their vehicles off of a very busy street. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Adding a parking spot to a driveway can increase the driveway’s usefulness, keep the vehicle safe and away from busy streets, and even provide an extra spot for repairs. And while it’s not exactly a DIY project, it’s helpful to understand the steps on how extending a driveway with asphalt is done. You Might Need Permission In many municipalities, the sidewalk and even some of the yard may belong to the town. Adding a parking space that may affect the town’s property will require permission. On top of that, the town may require a permit. While neither item is usually a big deal, homeowners should do their due diligence and check with the town first. Hire an Asphalt Contractor Asphalt requires special equipment, techniques, and knowledge, so it’s best to hire a contractor. Knowing how to slope the 300-degree asphalt before it hardens is critical, else there can be low spots that collect water or rain may run off in the wrong direction. Mark the Utilities Installing an asphalt driveway requires some excavation, and contractors need a general idea of where the utilities lie. For this reason, asphalt companies will call utility marking agencies to come out and mark the yard wherever the gas, sewer, water, or underground electricity travel under the yard. Where to find it? Mark recruits the help of a local asphalt contractor to install a parking spot for a homeowner on a busy street. Contact utility locating services in preparation for any project that requires digging. Once water, gas, and sewer lines that run underground are identified and marked, it’s safe to proceed on to digging. To prep the space the crew will dig down about 15” to get below the frost line and use a specialty compactor, called a drum vibratory roller, to compact the soil to establish a solid base. Add a layer of crushed added for proper drainage. Pour the asphalt base and surface layers, compacting between each layer. Visit the Better Business Bureau [https://www.bbb.org/] website to find reputable asphalt companies near you. The asphalt is sealed with a product manufactured by Pioneer Sealcoat, LLC. [https://ift.tt/LVmU2Ge] Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/g6txdTn About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG How to Extend a Driveway with Asphalt | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

Wireless EV Chargers | Future House | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House home technology expert Ross Trethewey takes us to WiTricity to talk about wireless charging for electric vehicles. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse Ross Trethewey takes us on a road trip to talk about wireless EV charging. Ross discusses wireless charging on a small scale with an EV charging expert before looking at larger-scale chargers. Folks can simply park over the top of these units to charge their cars. Ross learns about the magnetic field and coils and the future of wireless charging in the American car market. Wireless Charging Could Be Coming To Your Garage Wireless devices are all around us. Our internet is wireless, as are our thermostats, doorbells, and even washer and dryer controls. We can even charge our wireless phones wirelessly. Wireless charging is exciting, but can it work for an electrical vehicle? Yes, and it’s not too far off from becoming a reality. How Does Wireless Charging Work Wireless EV charging is exciting. The driver simply parks over top of the ground pad and energy flows to the battery. This means no more plugging the vehicle in to recharge it without losing any charging speed. To make this happen, the wireless charging system requires three components: the power supply, the vehicle-mounted receiver coil, and the charging ground pad. The power supply sends electricity to the ground pad and the ground pad creates a magnetic field. The coil then conducts energy through that magnetic field, charging the battery quickly and efficiently. Does It Require Parking Perfection? Wireless EV charging doesn’t require perfectly aligned coils and ground pads. The vehicle can be slightly off-center from the ground pad and still receive a full charge at full speed. Wireless charging retrofit kits come with displays that monitor the ground pad’s location and show the driver the range in which they need to stop, but it doesn’t have to be perfect. Wireless EV Chargers Availability Wireless EV chargers are already available on the market in Asia, but this technology is due to be released in the US in the near future. For folks who already own an EV that isn’t equipped with a wireless coil, there will be retrofit kits available to facilitate wireless charging. The Cost of Wireless EV Chargers Wireless EV chargers are expected to cost about as much to purchase and install as a level 2 EV plug-in charging station. That’s roughly $900 for the system and another $1,500 or so to install it. The Future of Wireless EV Chargers When wireless EV chargers hit the market in the US, folks will have to purchase retrofit kits and have them installed. But they will soon be available as factory-installed options or add-ons that shoppers can bring home on day one of EV ownership. Also, folks in snowy environments are likely wondering about the charging pad and snow plows. Rather than letting plows rip these ground pads off and destroy them, in-ground charging pad technology made from concrete is in the works. These models would install flush with the surface of the driveway to prevent lips that a snow plow could hit and damage. Where to find it? Ross meets a team of engineers at WiTricity [https://witricity.com/] who are working on creating an infrastructure that will allow electric vehicles to charge wirelessly. Wireless chargers transfer electric power over a distance without wires–a concept called magnetic resonance. The wall box, charging pad and the receiver are the main components of a wireless EV charging system. The power sources and the receiver are specifically designed magnetic resonators that transfer power over a distance via the magnetic near field. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/rRAo7G3 Future House: Ask This Old House home technology expert Ross Trethewey shows you the newest smart-home innovations. From automated home construction to energy monitors to robotic solar panels, and more, find out what’s happening now and what’s coming in applied home science. Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG Tumblr: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTumblr Wireless EV Chargers | Future House | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

Simple Guide to Pollinator Plants | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada teaches host Kevin O’Connor the basics of pollinator plants and the role they play for these critical insects and birds. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Kevin O'Connor and Jenn Nawada take a road trip to a local nursery to discuss pollinator plants. After explaining that every plant that flowers is technically a pollinator plant, Jenn shows Kevin some of her favorite varieties. The two discuss some early season, mid season, and late season pollinator plants, as well as the importance of these plants as a source of food for critical pollinators. Where to find it? Jenn and Kevin head to the garden center to discuss pollinator plants and how to create a pollinator garden at home. Pollinator Plants are flowering perennials, annuals, or shrubs that provide nectar and pollen essential for a flourishing pollinator population, which allows for crops and flowers to continue producing seeds and fruits via insect pollination. Pollinators include bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other insects beneficial to gardens. Jenn shares her tips for creating a pollinator garden: - Planting only a few pollinator plants here and there will not make a noticeable difference. Jenn recommends planting multiples of each pollinating plant and grouping them together. - Try to pick annual perennials that come back each year to keep maintenance to a minimum. This will also keep bees and birds coming back each year. - Try to choose native plants. Native plants are more likely to attract local pollinators than imported or hybrid plants. They also require less water because they are already acclimated to your local climate and soil. - Most pollinators prefer spending time in the sun so try to place pollinator plants in sunnier areas of your garden. - If possible, try to have a water source nearby. This can be as large as streams or ponds or as simple as a birdbath or small water container. Pollinators seek out water for drinking, reproduction and just staying cool. - Choose plants with a variety of colors, create a visual buffet for bees to choose from! Also, be sure to choose plants with a variety of bloom times, allowing plants to bloom in succession throughout each season instead of all at once. This provides consistent food for pollinators and encourages them to return to your garden all season long. Jenn Nawada and Kevin O’Connor visited Mahoney’s Garden Center [https://ift.tt/oVDEvk7]. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/l8auebD About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG Simple Guide to Pollinator Plants | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

How to Install a Vented Microwave | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey teams up with a local plumber to install a new stove and a vented microwave to exhaust the fumes. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Richard Trethewey makes a house call to Philadelphia. There, he helps a homeowner upgrade her oven as well as install a new microwave with ventilation. Partnering with a local licensed plumber, the pair remove the old units, modify some plumbing and ductwork, and install new units that the family can enjoy for years to come. Ventilation is always important in a kitchen. It prevents unnecessary humidity from building and can help eject smoke if that casserole gets away from you. But, when it comes to gas appliances, a properly-exhausting hood or microwave is critical for keeping potentially harmful contaminants out of the house. Here's how to install a vented microwave. Difficulty: ⅗ Cost: Around $40 not including the microwave Time: 4 hours Where to find it? Richard heads to Philadelphia to help a homeowner with a leaking gas oven. Richard teams up with local plumbing expert, Kelly Ireland [https://ift.tt/dVizj0Z]. Together, they install a new gas oven and built-in vented microwave [https://amzn.to/41aKhRE]. To install the microwave, Richard and Kelly drill in the mounting brackets into the wall using an electric drill [https://amzn.to/3Mxh2o7]. Richard uses a hole saw [https://amzn.to/3nVkoqJ] to cut an access hole to run the plug into the receptacle in the overhead cabinet. He also cuts an access hole for the ventilation duct [https://amzn.to/3mi7DpU] to come through the overhead cabinet using an orbiting sawzall [https://amzn.to/3nPq2un]. Richard offsets the exhaust by installing a double elbow [https://amzn.to/3GrZyWb] ventilation pipe. Kelly uses an auger drill bit [https://amzn.to/3KNdCfG] to drill the pilot hole to the exterior. After, Kelly uses a hole saw to cut an access hole to the exterior of the house. Richard cuts the exterior access hole with the hole saw and installs the exterior exhaust vent [https://amzn.to/40Xmipi]. To install the gas stove, Kelly has to allow space for the gas connection. She partially modifies the wall by cutting into it with a sawzall behind the connector. To ensure the stove is secure, Richard and Kelly install an anti-tip bracket [https://amzn.to/3ZWzeut]. Once secured, Richard and Kelly check the level [https://amzn.to/40TC84z]. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Materials: Vented microwave [https://amzn.to/41aKhRE] Ductwork [https://amzn.to/3mi7DpU] Flexible elbow [https://amzn.to/3GrZyWb] Duct louvers [https://amzn.to/40Xmipi] Anti-tip bracket [https://amzn.to/3ZWzeut] Tools: Drill [https://amzn.to/3Mxh2o7] Pilot bit [https://amzn.to/3KNdCfG] 4-inch hole saw [https://amzn.to/3nVkoqJ] Reciprocating saw [https://amzn.to/3nPq2un] Stud finder [https://amzn.to/418phv6] Angle grinder [https://amzn.to/43oodFh] Level [https://amzn.to/40TC84z] Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/kRNQtus About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG How to Install a Vented Microwave | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

Simple Guide to Outdoor Tool Maintenance | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House host Kevin O’Connor and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada discuss outdoor tool maintenance with a landscaping pro. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Host Kevin O'Connor meets back at the shop with landscape contractor Jenn Nawada and her guest, fellow landscaper Lee Gilliam. Lee shows Kevin and Jenn some of the tools landscapers use most often, from pruners to lawnmowers. After that, Lee shows Kevin and Jenn how to maintain those tools so they work well and provide the best results. Outdoor tools need love too. Host Kevin O’Connor and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada discuss outdoor tool maintenance with fellow landscape professional Lee Gilliam. Lee teaches them about some of the most common tools landscapers use, as well as how to maintain some of the larger power tools. Where to find it? Jenn introduces landscape contractor Lee Gilliam, and together they discuss different landscape tools and how to maintain them for Spring. Lee explains the main differences between gas-powered and electric-powered tools. Gas powered tools: Are usually capable of working at a higher capacity for longer periods of time. Better for larger properties require more maintenance to ensure the combustion engine performs at a high level, which includes changing the oil, checking spark plugs, changing the filters,..etc. Electric powered tools: Usually require little maintenance have less capacity and require frequent battery recharging. Better fit for properties 1 acre or less. For electric lawn mowers, the biggest maintenance includes sharpening the mower blades. To do this, Lee will: 1. Flip the machine on its side. 2. Remove the fastener that holds the blades in place using a screwdriver. 3. While wearing gloves (to avoid cutting himself), Lee will remove the blades 4. Using a file, run the blade in the same direction until the blade is sharp again 5. Slide the blades back into position and secure them to the lawnmower using the screwdriver For string trimmer maintenance (Lee will use a gas powered string trimmer in this demonstration): String trimmer tune up kits can be found in most home centers and they provide all the materials necessary for most basic maintenance on the string trimmer. The most typical maintenance on a string trimmer includes: • Changing the gas and air filters • Restringing the trimmer–remove the head on the trimmer by twisting it counter-clockwise. Pull the wire out until it’s at the right length. If there’s tension or nothing comes out, it will need a new line. For blower maintenance (Lee will show a gas powered and electric powered blower for this demonstration): • It’s less of a maintenance thing, but Lee recommends checking the decibel rating of your blower. Many towns are starting to ban blowers based on decibel levels, sometimes as low as 65 decibels. If yours is too loud, it may need to be replaced. Expert assistance provided by Lee Gilliam and Sons Landscaping [http://bit.ly/3ZPmaHY]. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/YSxONaw About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG Simple Guide to Outdoor Tool Maintenance | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/