This Old House

Enjoy ad-free streaming and exclusive extras!

Amy Lamb/NativeHouse Photography Having a safe place to retreat to during dangerous weather conditions can mean the difference between life and death. A storm shelter provides a durable, comfortable shell to protect inhabitants against extreme winds up to 250 miles per hour and any dangerous debris it can fling about, even if the home itself doesn’t make it. In this guide, we’ll go over what to know when building a storm shelter. What is a Storm Shelter?

Would you prefer to move to a larger home but don’t have the budget right now? Making home additions is a good way to improve the space and functionality of a home, but it requires enormous planning. If you make your home too unique, you may have trouble recouping costs or selling it at closing. Even if your current home is a forever home, you should make additions, keeping the resale value in mind.

Some dads relax on the couch. Others relax by building a deck, fixing an engine, organizing the garage, or tackling the next project on their to-do list. If your dad falls into the second category, these RYOBI tools make excellent Father’s Day gifts. From portable power stations and automotive tools to workshop essentials and garage upgrades, there’s something here for every type of DIY dad.

The family yearned for a forever house during the years of Dan’s active duty military career. | Anthony Teiuli Not one, but two dream homes were created during the renovation of a 1971 ranch house in Walpole, Massachusetts, and the construction of an attached accessory dwelling unit (ADU), which was documented during the 47th season of This Old House.

Watching TV from your deck shouldn’t mean hauling your indoor TV outside every time. Tired of this routine, a homeowner called Ask This Old House. Outdoor TVs are available, but pairing a standard TV with a weatherproof enclosure is often a more cost-effective solution. Master electrician Heath Eastman installed an outdoor TV enclosure with properly upgraded electrical connections.

When the fire pit at the edge of his beautiful patio started to crumble, our homeowner wasn’t sure what to do. After trying some DIY repairs that worked but probably wouldn’t last, he called the Ask This Old House crew for help. Mason Mark McCullough took over, removing the existing firepit and replacing it with one that would last for generations. How to Install a Granite Slab Fire Pit Wearing your safety glasses, start by demolishing the old fire pit.

Major renovations can be a very trying time for a homeowner. There are big changes, large expenses, and construction phases that they might not understand. To help, general contractors Tom Silva and Zack Dettmore explained the need-to-know information on preparing for a home renovation. Get in the Right Mindset Tom says one of the most important steps is to get into the right mindset.

You shower, wash your hands, and flush the toilet several times throughout the day. In addition to these regular activities, you clean your bathroom. Then, you repeat. While these activities are necessary to maintain good hygiene and keep germs at bay, they could cost you plenty of money and leave a huge carbon footprint on the environment. No, you don’t have to stop your routine, but there is a way to continue it without breaking the bank or dumping toxins into the environment.

Host Kevin O’Connor meets with an insurance expert to better understand what coverages are included in a standard homeowner’s insurance policy, what should be added, and what questions to ask your agent when choosing or updating the right policy for your home. Most homeowners have insurance, as it’s required by almost all mortgage lenders, but surprisingly few truly understand what their policy covers.