Volunteer Day 2: Demolition and Patio Prep | Ask This Old House

In this video, the Ask team gets to work at the Rebuilding Together Boston job site, removing the old deck with surgical precision while also preparing the corner of the lot for a beautiful brick patio. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. A Careful Deck Removal Kevin meets general contractor Tom Silva, carpenter Nathan Gilbert, builder Deliandro Dias, and finish carpenter Bill Gilbert in the backyard to discuss the plans with the deck. Deliandro got the building permit, so it’s time to tear down the deck. But, it’s not that simple. The deck stands over top of a split air conditioning unit. The unit has a series of wires and pipes running below the joists, and the team needs to be careful with these during demolition. In order to pull the deck down carefully, they set up some temporary posts before starting on top of the deck, removing railings, posts, and decking before disassembling the frame. All of the decking material, rails, and framework needed disposal, and The Dumpster Depot came to the rescue. The company supplied a dumpster and the removal of the debris, allowing the crew to focus on moving forward with the project. Preparing for a Patio Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, mason Mark McCullough, and landscaper Tommy Kelleher get to work prepping the patio area before the volunteers arrive. First, the team removes the fence blocking the patio space, setting aside beautiful granite boulders. Next, the excavator removes several inches of soil in the patio space to allow for a base of crushed stone. Once the space is dug, they compact the soil by making several passes with a plate compact. Once the soil is stable, they fill the excavated area with several layers of crushed stone, compacting each layer down as they go. This will provide a stable base for the patio, preventing it from moving in the harsh New England winters and hot summers. 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/5Kx2HoW 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 Volunteer Day 2: Demolition and Patio Prep | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

Volunteer Day 1: Meet the Homeowner | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House host Kevin O’Connor takes us to Dorchester, Massachusetts to partner with Rebuilding Together Boston in helping a very special homeowner. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Rebuilding Together Boston is a local chapter of a national organization that’s dedicated to repairing homes and revitalizing neighborhoods. Kevin met with Janice Walker, executive director of the local affiliate, to help a homeowner in Dorchester—a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts. Rather than letting homes go into disrepair and subsequently forcing the homeowners to sell them, Rebuilding Together steps in. By focusing on veterans, senior citizens, and people with disabilities in communities that need it most, the company is able to help folks stay in their homes with donated materials and volunteer labor. Meet Our Homeowner, Roz Roz is a senior citizen who has lived in her house since she bought it in 1999. When the home was for sale, she purchased it for $119,900, which was a terrific deal. But, she also bought the adjoining empty lot for just $1, making it a steal. And while the two lots and home now appraise for much more than she paid, she wants to stay in her home. Roz has special ties to her home and her neighborhood. When she bought the house in 1999, this area of Dorchester was facing pressure from drugs, crime, and gangs. However, as a determined woman and community liaison, Roz was able to help spearhead the revitalization of her neighborhood, where people now live and congregate in peace. What the House Needs While the neighborhood is now thriving thanks to Roz’s efforts, her outdoor entertaining spaces aren’t doing as well. As a corner lot, she has a lack of privacy from the street on one side of her property. Also, she has a deck on the back of her home that she loves to entertain her friends and family on. However, it’s in disrepair, with a distinct lean, sub-code stairs, and railings that wobble when touched. It’s also a bit too high, making opening the storm door over a snowy deck a real challenge and safety hazard. Coming Up With a Plan After inspection, general contractor Tom Silva and builder Deliandro Dias come up with a plan for the deck framing. Due to its condition, the deck needs a full tear-down and rebuild, including new footings that extend below the frost line, and careful framing around air conditioning line sets. Also, finish carpenter Bill Gilbert assesses the deck stairs and realizes that they’re not up to code. The steps are too high and the stair width is too narrow, so new stairs are a must-do project. Bill suggests adding an additional tread to lengthen the run of the stairs and bring them into code, allowing for a more comfortable climb that also works within regulations. Carpenter Nathan Gilbert is on the top side of the deck assessing its condition. Agreeing that the deck needs to be reframed, Nathan suggests that the team lower the deck height an inch or two to make opening the storm door on the back of the house easier with snow on the deck. Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada and mason Mark McCullough work on an additional project. Jenn sketches the backyard and points out areas she’d like to screen off with some evergreen trees to provide privacy. Also, the two found a corner of the spacious lot that was begging for a brick patio. The two design that a brick patio would provide a hangout space while still providing plenty of space for Roz’s grandkids to play. 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/JBMxRVp 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 Volunteer Day 1: Meet the Homeowner | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

How To Babyproof Your Home | Ask This Old House

In this video, Nathan Gilbert, Mauro Henrique, and Heath Eastman help a homeowner prepare their home for their baby's future, keeping them safe from serious hazards like poisons, electricity, and falls. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Painting expert Mauro Henrique, master electrician Heath Eastman, and carpenter Nathan Gilbert take us on a house call to help a homeowner with babyproofing their home. The three get to work testing for lead paint, installing safer outlets, and mounting gates and latches to keep baby Jack safe as he grows. Babyproofing a home is essential for keeping children safe as they grow. Safeguarding items like household cleaners and poisons, as well as hazards like electrical outlets and stairs, can help avoid terrifying accidents. To help, painting expert Mauro Henrique, master electrician Heath Eastman, and carpenter Nathan Gilbert show us how to babyproof a home. Check for Lead Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detection Safer Outlets Cabinet Latches Door Knobs Baby Gates 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/glMz0eO 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 Babyproof Your Home | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

Understanding Septic Systems | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey teaches host Kevin O’Connor everything he needs to know about septic systems, how they work, and how to maintain them. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Host Kevin O'Connor and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey meet at the shop to talk about septic systems. Richard explains how septic systems work, what they look like inside, and what homeowners can do if their septic begins to fail. Septic Systems are Contained Units A septic system consists of piping running from the home’s drain system to a sealed tank, and then out to a series of pipes called leach pipes. As waste is flushed down the drain, it travels down the waste pipe to the tank where it separates, breaks down, and eventually ends up back into the soil. There are Two Chambers Septic tanks are typically very large, with over 1000 gallons of volume, and they’re made from concrete or fiberglass. Inside those tanks are two chambers divided by a half-wall. As waste comes down the drain pipes and lands in the tank, solid waste falls into the first chamber, while liquid waste continues over the wall and into the liquid chamber. From there, the liquid flows out into the leach fields through the leach pipes. The First Chamber is Where Solids Break Down Solids that travel down the drain pipe land in the first chamber and break down. The septic tank is an anaerobic chamber filled with beneficial bacteria and enzymes, and these bacteria and enzymes get to work breaking down the solid waste and turning it into liquid. Once it turns to liquid, other solids will displace it and allow it to flow over the half wall into the liquid chamber. The Second Chamber is for Liquids Liquids land in the first chamber and then overflow into the second chamber. Here, bacteria and enzymes break down any additional waste that may exist, but once the liquid reaches the height of the drain inside the tank, it overflows out into the leach pipes, dispersing into a leach field. Earth is the Last Filter After the wastes are broken down and flow out to the leach field, it then drains into the sand and soil where it will continue to be filtered until it heads back into the water table. This is the reason why properties require perk tests, as the wrong type of soil will not allow the waste to drain properly. Certain Items Don’t Belong in Septic Systems Septic systems are great at breaking down waste, but some items don’t belong. For instance, sanitary products, baby wipes, grease, dental floss, and other items that are flushed down drains can disrupt the harmony in a septic system. For the most part, these items float over the top of the other waste in a layer known as a “scum layer.” However, if these items make their way to the leach pipes, they can quickly clog the system and prevent it from draining properly. Also, certain solutions like paint and other chemicals can actually kill the beneficial bacteria and enzymes inside the tank. This will prevent the breakdown of waste, and result in a backup, requiring the homeowner to call and have the system pumped out and restored. 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/glMz0eO 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 Septic Systems | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

ASK This Old House | Colors, Fireplace Upgrade (S19 E25) FULL EPISODE

Kevin and Tom travel to Montana to set up an accessible home gym for a Navy SEAL veteran; Mauro shares how to select the right paint color; Mark updates a fireplace with a stacked stone veneer. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Kevin O'Connor meets Bo Reichenbach, a Navy SEAL veteran injured during the war in Afghanistan. Tom Silva meets Kevin and Bo to help them set up an accessible home gym. Mauro Henrique discusses why he loves different paint colors and shares what goes into selecting the right color; Mark McCullough helps a homeowner update her wood burning fireplace with a stacked stone veneer and a slab of stone. Enjoying full-episodes of This Old House? Join This Old House INSIDER to stream every episode ever made of This Old House (over 1,000 hours), commercial-free. https://bit.ly/32CLaGe Where to find it? How to Install Stacked Stone Veneer on a Fireplace Mark installed a stacked stone veneer by Eldorado Stone [https://bit.ly/2RQVEQP] in the color “Chapel Hill,” with Type S mortar [https://thd.co/3bUsmHI] and an adhesive bonding agent [https://thd.co/3uptsSj], all of which were provided by Sansoucy Stone [https://ift.tt/xgsoILC]. For the hearth material, Mark installed a slab of bluestone [https://thd.co/3i24GoV], which he got from Cavicchio Greenhouses [https://ift.tt/VEk2nSY]. The other tools and materials required for this project, including the masonry drill, wire mesh, and masonry hammer, can all be found at home centers. Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/f6lPMUd 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 ASK This Old House | Colors, Fireplace Upgrade (S19 E25) FULL EPISODE https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

Induction Cooking Technology | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House home technology expert Ross Trethewey teaches host Kevin O’Connor everything he needs to know about induction cooktop technology. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Host Kevin O'Connor discusses induction cooktops with home technology expert Ross Trethewey. Ross sets up a comparison test with two tea kettles, comparing the difference in the amount of time an induction burner takes to boil water over a gas burner. Ross explains how induction technology works, as well as how he believes it will be the future of kitchen appliances. Where to find it? Ross explains how induction works, compares its efficiencies against gas and talks about the features, benefits and downsides. Ross and Kevin set up one propane single burner and one induction cooktop in the studio to test which one brings a kettle of water to a boil first. This test showed Induction heats up about twice as fast as gas, bringing the water to a boil. Induction is more efficient than both electric and gas cooktops at ~80% efficiency, while gas is about 40%. Induction is known for its great response when adjusting the heat level. These cooktops are easier to clean than gas stoves and they can be placed on top of or under a counter, island or oven. Induction is safer as it only heats up the pan/pot not the cooking surface and it turns off without a pot sitting on the surface. This also minimizes accidental injury (if children or pets touch the surface) or fire since hot-pads or towels won’t catch fire upon contact. The downsides are induction cooktops can be more expensive than both gas and electric cooktop and they will not work in a power outage (unless backup battery or generator). You must use cookware that contains some iron in order for the magnetic technology to work. The cooktop used was Insignia Single-Zone Induction Cooktop 1,800 watts [https://ift.tt/OmGerid]. The propane burner was Stansport Single Burner 5,000 BTU Propane Stove. [https://bit.ly/3GfJlUF] 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/NZM5VkF 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 Induction Cooking Technology | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

Shaker End Table | Build It | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House host Kevin O’Connor meets maker Char Miller-King in her community’s workshop while she simplifies the challenging aspects of building a shaker-style table. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. We follow Kevin O’Connor as he takes us to the workshop of Decatur Maker's VP Char Miller-King where she helps him build a shaker-style table. After showing Kevin how she simplifies the complicated aspects of the project (tapered table legs and drawer joinery!), the two build a table from walnut that is truly special. Difficulty: ⅗ Time: 2 days Cost: $200 Certain aspects of furniture building are intimidating. Tapering legs with any degree of accuracy, building and attaching drawers, and creating tabletops make newer woodworkers nervous. But, when host Kevin O’Connor meets maker Char Miller-King in her community’s workshop, she shows him some simple methods to build a beautiful shaker table with all of these features. Where to find it? You can check out other building projects by Char Miller-King at The Wooden Maven. [https://ift.tt/d0uEqk1] 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: Wood material [https://bit.ly/3Q5ldr6] Glue [https://amzn.to/3vn9xGA] Drawer knob [https://amzn.to/3jyBqca] Tabletop hardware [https://amzn.to/3YSFwfh] Various pocket screws [https://bit.ly/3Q2khDU] Wood screws [https://bit.ly/3vnD6Yy] Tools: Tape measure [https://amzn.to/3G29zbB] Miter saw [https://amzn.to/3vkcckg] Table saw [https://amzn.to/3jt7JZL] Planing jig [https://amzn.to/3GqY6UJ] Combination square [https://amzn.to/3IbXG5I] Tapering jig [https://amzn.to/3GnJ9Tj] Pocket Hole jig [https://amzn.to/3vomlwc] Various clamps [https://amzn.to/3C6wDEW] Drill and screw guns [https://amzn.to/3YRBLXr] Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/NZM5VkF 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 Shaker End Table | Build It | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/