How a Bathroom Vent Fan Works | This First House
The video explains how a bathroom exhaust fan works, pulling humid air and odors from the bathroom and venting them outside through a wall-mounted duct. Installation must meet code requirements, especially in rooms without windows, and involves connecting the fan to rigid pipe that terminates in a louvered sidewall vent with a weather‑proof damper. Key technical points include the fan’s two speed settings—80 or 100 CFM—capable of moving the equivalent of an 18,000‑square‑foot house’s air if run continuously for 24 hours. Because this exhaust expels conditioned indoor air, the presenter advises using timers to avoid unnecessary heating or cooling loss, and recommends rigid piping to minimize airflow resistance. The host highlights practical details such as a flap‑down damper that seals the fan when off, a cardboard cover to keep dust from the blades, and regular cleaning to maintain efficiency. He stresses that a clean fan moves air more effectively, and that timers can automate short‑run cycles of five to fifteen minutes. For homeowners, proper fan selection, installation, and maintenance directly affect moisture control, indoor air quality, and energy bills. Using timers and keeping the system clean maximizes performance while minimizing the cost of conditioned air being expelled, making the vent fan a small but impactful component of overall home efficiency.
How to Repair Brick Fireplace Surround Cracks | Ask This Old House
Homeowners often encounter cracked brick surrounds where raised hearths pull away from adjacent masonry. In this episode, Mark and Kevin explain that the issue usually stems from a faulty monolithic concrete pour beneath the hearth or from mortar shrinkage during...
ASK This Old House | Rainwater, Pliers (S9 E17) FULL EPISODE
The episode of Ask This Old House tackles two core DIY challenges: effective rainwater management and the proper selection of pliers for home repairs. Host Kevin O'Connor and expert Roger demonstrate how to extend gutters and downspouts, employ elbows, aluminum...
This Old House | TOH Goes Hollywood, Almost (S32 E17) | FULL EPISODE
The episode follows "This Old House" crew as they begin a full‑scale renovation of a 1933 Spanish‑Revival home in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. The team highlights the neighborhood’s historic charm, from clay‑tile roofs to graceful arches, while introducing the homeowners,...
What a Home Inspection Looks Like | This First House
The video follows Bill Root of Root Home Inspection as he conducts a walkthrough of a condo unit, illustrating why a professional inspection is essential before purchase. He points out newer 2019 windows, a 100‑amp service panel, and notes several deficiencies...
How to Budget for a Renovation | This First House
The video walks homeowners through building a realistic renovation budget, emphasizing that costs differ dramatically across regions and that media‑driven expectations often mislead consumers. Presenters break down a $50,000 basement remodel into line‑item figures—dumpsters, demolition, framing, insulation, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, finishes,...
How to Run Electrical Power to a Shed | Ask This Old House
The video walks through a step‑by‑step process for bringing electrical power to a new outbuilding, starting with a site assessment and a plan to run conduit from the main house panel to the shed. Heath and Jeff decide on a...
Must-Have Supplies to Paint a Room | Ask This Old House
The video from Ask This Old House walks viewers through the essential supplies needed to paint an interior room or door, emphasizing preparation, application tools, and cleanup equipment. Mauro and Kevin detail protective measures first—drop cloths for floors and plastic sheeting...
ASK This Old House | Lawn Mowing, Deck Building (S9 E15) FULL EPISODE
The episode of "Ask This Old House" blends two home‑improvement topics: the correct way to mow a lawn and the step‑by‑step construction of a two‑level deck. Host Kevin O’Connor and experts walk viewers through engine checks, blade maintenance, mulching versus...
Installing a Slate Fireplace Hearth | This Old House
The video walks through installing a slate hearth over a gas‑insert fireplace, using fire‑rated board as the substrate instead of building a full masonry firebox. Mark and Jason measure the opening, remove sub‑floor, add corner blocking, apply sealant as a gasket,...
How to Landscape a Steep Front Yard | Ask This Old House
The video walks homeowners through a complete redesign of a steep front‑yard slope, beginning with a utility locate and a mini‑excavator‑driven regrading plan that softens the grade and creates a functional shelf and swale. By reshaping the hill, the crew...
Install Top-Down Bottom-Up Shades | Ask This Old House
The video walks viewers through installing top‑down, bottom‑up cellular shades to block a dog’s view while preserving daylight. Host Nathan first assesses the client’s needs, then demonstrates how to remove the old blinds, decide between inside and outside mounting, and...
ASK This Old House | Bathroom Sink, Concrete Wall (S9 E14) FULL EPISODE
The episode of Ask This Old House focuses on two distinct projects in a suburban home: installing a second lavatory sink in an existing bathroom vanity and repairing a large crack in a concrete block foundation in the basement. The crew...
This Old House | Front Yard Transformation (S32 E14) | FULL EPISODE
The episode follows a front‑yard makeover on "This Old House," highlighting a custom pergola, stair reconfiguration, and new plantings to boost curb appeal. The crew installs an eight‑by‑eight‑column pergola constructed from solid cellular vinyl, a material that looks like wood...
Create a DIY Pea Gravel Patio | Ask This Old House
The video walks homeowners through building a budget‑friendly pea‑gravel patio to create a family‑watching area beside a sloped yard. Host Mark measures a 16‑by‑14‑foot space, outlines a short retaining wall, and selects pea stone for its rounded look and low...
How to Paint an Accent Wall | Ask This Old House
The video walks viewers through a step‑by‑step DIY process for painting an accent wall in a soon‑to‑be nursery. Host Mauro begins with thorough room preparation—taking down curtain rods, covering floors and baseboards, and cleaning any stray paint—before applying the base...
This Old House | Absolute Curb Appeal (S32 E13) | FULL EPISODE
The episode of "This Old House" blends practical home‑improvement instruction with light‑hearted DIY experiments. Host Kevin O'Connor and chainsaw safety expert Tim Ard walk viewers through proper personal protective equipment, chain‑tension checks, throttle interlock, chain‑brake, and chain‑catch mechanisms before demonstrating...
Adding Fire Sprinklers to a Home | This Old House
The video walks through installing a residential fire sprinkler system in a house where the third floor was converted to living space, triggering a code requirement for either a dedicated egress or an automatic sprinkler network. Contractor Scott Kelly explains the...
How to Install Functional Wood Shutters | Ask This Old House
The video follows a New Orleans homeowner’s project to replace deteriorating historic wood shutters with functional, period‑appropriate replacements, navigating the Bywater district’s preservation rules. The homeowners, Lenna and Emily, obtain permits from the Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC), select...
How to Choose a Fertilizer | Ask This Old House
The segment from Ask This Old House walks viewers through the fundamentals of selecting the right fertilizer, contrasting synthetic blends with organic amendments and explaining how the classic “right plant, right place, right fertilizer” rule still applies. Hosts Lee, Jenn and...
How to Replace Battery Smoke Detectors | Ask This Old House
The video walks a homeowner through replacing her battery‑operated smoke alarms with a hard‑wired, interconnected system, aided by a local fire chief and the Ask This Old House crew. They explain that current code mandates photoelectric detectors—ionization units are prohibited within...
This Old House | Making the Most of Green Products (S32 E12) | FULL EPISODE
The latest "This Old House" episode spotlights green‑focused renovations at a 100‑year‑old Arlington home, covering new cedar shingle siding, advanced window shading, and radiant floor heating upgrades. Contractor Tom explains the integrated rain‑screen/air‑barrier that lets moisture escape behind the shingles, while...
Presenting | This First House
The new series “This First House,” from the creators of “This Old House,” spotlights the gritty reality of first‑time home ownership, stripping away the glossy TV makeover veneer to reveal the true challenges of buying and renovating a property. The hosts,...
How to Install Granite Hillside Steps | Ask This Old House
The video walks viewers through a DIY solution for building safe granite steps on a steep hillside leading to a backyard fire pit. Host Mark McCullough evaluates two layout options—cutting a deep stairway versus integrating granite slabs into the existing...
ASK This Old House | Stair Runner, Recessed Lights (S9 E11) FULL EPISODE
The latest episode of "Ask This Old House" tackles three distinct home‑improvement projects: repairing a loose carpet on a staircase, selecting the right shovel for yard work, and upgrading a dated kitchen fixture with high‑efficiency LED recessed lights. Kevin O'Connor...
This Old House | Planning for the Pergola (S32 E11) | FULL EPISODE
The episode focuses on the final phases of the front‑yard renovation at the historic home, highlighting the construction of a new pergola footings, a bluestone stoop, and custom window trim, followed by a horticultural selection process for climbing vines. Contractors dig...
How to Seal and Vent a Hot Roof | This Old House
The segment from This Old House walks viewers through installing a “hot roof,” an unvented roof assembly that relies on spray‑foam insulation rather than traditional soffit‑to‑ridge ventilation. Matt explains that a diffusion vent placed at the ridge serves solely to expel...
Electrical Service Upgrade | This Old House
The video documents a major electrical service upgrade on a historic home being transformed into two separate living units. The renovation, featured on This Old House, adds expansive family rooms, new roof trusses, and modern amenities, prompting a comprehensive overhaul...
This Old House | Landscape Decisions, Duck Tour (S32 E10) | FULL EPISODE
The episode centers on retrofitting radiant floor heating beneath a wood‑floored kitchen that previously relied on a noisy kick‑space heater. Host Kevin O'Connor walks viewers through the constraints of a fully cased kitchen, the need for a silent, even heat...
Backyard Skating Rink | This Old House
The video follows a Boston‑area homeowner who converts a sloping backyard into a full‑size ice rink, documented by the This Old House crew. Using a backhoe to level the former carriage‑house slope, the team installed a tiered plywood base, added...
Using a Coffered Ceiling to Hide Plumbing | This Old House
The segment follows a This Old House renovation where the master bathroom’s plumbing must be routed through a second‑floor space crowded with steel beams. Rather than cutting through structural members, the crew leverages a coffered ceiling—essentially a series of box...
ASK This Old House | Patio Repair, Rusty Bulkhead (S9 E9) FULL EPISODE
The episode of Ask This Old House focuses on two classic DIY challenges: re‑leveling a ten‑year‑old bluestone patio and restoring a mildew‑ridden metal bulkhead door. Host Kevin O’Connor and crew walk viewers through the step‑by‑step process, from assessing settlement to applying a...
This Old House | Stucco, Kitchen Design (S32 E9) | FULL EPISODE
This Old House season 32 episode 9 follows host Kevin O'Connor as the crew tackles exterior and interior upgrades on a historic home. General contractor Tom Silva applies an acrylic stucco system to seamlessly merge a new basement addition with the existing...
Selecting Tile for a Whole House | This Old House
This Old House’s in‑house designer Julie Maleski helps Saratoga homeowners choose tile for multiple areas of their renovation, including kitchen backsplash and oven wall, master bathroom floor and shower walls, and the mudroom. The episode walks viewers through a local...
How to Select a Kitchen Cabinet | This Old House
The Old House episode walks viewers through a real‑world kitchen cabinet selection process, as host Kevin meets homeowners Evan and Whitney and their design consultant Sarah. They review the L‑shaped layout, seating needs, and the transition from demolition to a...
ASK This Old House | Storm Door, Privet Hedge (S9 E8) FULL EPISODE
The latest episode of "Ask This Old House" tackles three distinct home‑improvement projects: installing a new aluminum storm door, demystifying copper‑pipe plumbing, and pruning an overgrown privet hedge. Host Kevin O'Connor walks viewers through each task, emphasizing safety, precision, and...
This Old House | Shingles, Ductwork, Lights (S32 E8) | FULL EPISODE
The latest episode of *This Old House* tackles three major renovation fronts: restoring the home’s exterior with new wood shingles, installing a high‑velocity mini‑duct HVAC system, and upgrading to next‑generation LED recessed lighting, all while completing rough‑in electrical work. The crew...
Truss Factory Tour | This Old House
This Old House takes viewers inside the nation’s oldest family‑owned truss manufacturer, a business that began in a modest garage in 1960 and now spans an 80,000‑square‑foot plant in upstate New York plus a smaller Pennsylvania site. The tour showcases...
Plumbing Fixture Shopping | This Old House
The This Old House segment follows homeowners Evan and Whitney as they tour a showroom to select plumbing fixtures for their new Saratoga Springs residence, accompanied by Whitney’s mother, licensed architect and interior designer Susan Schafer. The discussion highlights how fixtures...
Pouring Basement Steps | This Old House
The This Old House video demonstrates how the crew builds a new basement stairwell for homeowners Evan and Whitney, opting for an in‑place concrete pour rather than precast stair units. They fabricate formwork by inverting standard 2x8 stringers, beveling the riser...
ASK This Old House | Circular Patio, Brick Steps (S9 E7) FULL EPISODE
The episode of Ask This Old House follows host Roger Cook and crew to a Fargo, North Dakota backyard, where homeowner Mary wants a circular paver patio with a central fire pit and a curved seating wall. The team first excavates...
Building Tomorrow: A Special Look at the Future of Housing
Building Tomorrow explores how new construction methods are reshaping housing after California wildfires. Host Jen Laress and Marketplace’s David Bronacio tour an Altadena lot where Bronacio’s home burned, using the tragedy to examine how the next century of homes will...
This Old House | Progress On All Levels (S32 E7) | FULL EPISODE
The episode follows a major renovation of an early‑20th‑century Boston home, focusing on the basement conversion into a family room. Contractors pour a new concrete slab using a boom‑mounted pump, replace old asbestos‑laden tile and a boiler, and install a...
Secret Saratoga Gardens | This Old House
The video spotlights the annual Secret Saratoga Gardens tour, a community‑driven event organized by This Old House that opens private gardens to the public while raising money for Soroptimist International scholarships for young women. Homeowners volunteer their spaces, creating...