Ask This Old House

Tom walks two homeowners through the entire process for building a two-level deck, starting with pulling permits and getting a land survey all the way through to installing the deck boards and railings.

How, where and why plumbing systems fail; when and how plumbing pipes and connections can be repaired or replaced; how to prevent plumbing failures with new technology.

Best practices for installing or repairing a walkway; installing a brand-new walkway using natural stone.

How various climates across the United States impact the design, care and maintenance of different landscapes.

Using, installing, maintaining and repairing a window.

Installing a variety of different water features as accents in landscapes; installing an alternative to a downspout; installing a waterfall feature in a backyard.

Different ways that fireplaces can be updated and maintained; building a custom mantel; fireplace inserts; adding granite to a fireplace.

Different Christmas tree species; waste that should not go down a garbage disposal; installing a variety of Christmas lights.

Turning a reclaimed beam into a fireplace mantel; changing a bathroom faucet; innovations to geothermal installations.

Installing landscape lights in a garden; how siphons are used to make a toilet work; organizing tools with a pegboard; repairing a brick walkway.

Cleaning up a garden; how air filters catch unwanted air impurities; building an air filter; building an Adirondack chair.

Replacing a valve; repainting a radiator cover that has lead paint on it; identifying and removing load bearing walls.

Installing a mini split unit; identifying Japanese maple trees and incorporating them into a landscape design; installing a butcher block countertop.

Installing precast concrete steps; refinishing an old table; replacing a front lamppost.

Exploring landscape technology; different walkway and driveway deicers and how they might impact masonry products; building a modern bench.

Turning an original exterior door into a Dutch door; installing a garbage disposal; refacing a concrete wall with thin stone veneer.

Sanding; using a power washer to clean siding; home inspection nightmares; installing deck railing lights.

Moving baseboard heat from one side of the room to another; selecting different species of arborvitae; building an outdoor bench that doubles as a cooler.

Installing smart irrigation; different ways to troubleshoot flickering lights; repointing a set of brick front steps.

Failure points in a hose spigot; painting vinyl siding; how and why to maintain pruners; building a custom fence gate.

Caring for echinaceas; cutting stone with a saw and chisel; replacing a kitchen sink and faucet; wrapping up kitchen projects.

An electrical inspection; inspection nightmares; restoring an antique front door using a variety of techniques.

Richard and Nathan retrofit a new dishwasher into an old kitchen; Jenn explains the uses and purposes of different types of mulch; Tom and Kevin turn a French rolling pin.

Installing a shutoff valve for washing machine supply hoses; the progression of EV chargers; ornamental grasses; repairing a deck.

Setting up a home gym; selecting the right paint color; updating a fireplace with a stacked stone veneer.

Building a flag display case; replacing a circuit breaker; the team explains how their trades were affected by COVID-19.

Tom Silva travels to Colorado to help a family build a DIY swing set for their young son, Charlie; Tom and the parents work together to build Charlie a beautiful play set that will last for years.

Jenn turns an overgrown landscape into a charming garden path featuring a variety of plants, stepping stones, a sitting rock, and a fishpond.

The team tackles a few projects to make any garage workshop high performing.

Kevin learns how quartz countertops are made and helps install one; Richard repairs a hot water shutoff valve in order to replace a kitchen sink faucet; Nathan upgrades kitchen cabinets to soft-close.