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- TERESA DORE, ALPHARETTA, GA TOH mason Mark McCullough: A fire pit can be a great addition to any backyard. - BERTRAND GARCIA-MOREN, BALTIMORE TOH mason Mark McCullough: Because it's formulated to harden and bond to masonry, polymeric sand will outperform masonry sand. Freestanding steel bowls or baskets are less expensive, but wood-burning fire-pit kits consisting of a steel liner, a masonry surround, and a screen cover are more durable. •Tips, tricks, and answers to your home-improvement questions Monitoring indoor air quality With additional insulation, our house is now more energy efficient than ever. [Extracted from the article]

- IRENE RICH, AUBURN, ME TOH mason Mark McCullough: All chimneys need small repairs from time to time, to avoid major damage down the road that is more expensive to fix. Starting from the top, a mason will check the crown of the chimney for cracks, missing mortar, and gaps between the mortar and the flue liner, or liners, which extend through the crown. Chimney repairs We just closed on a house built in 1991, and the chimney's exterior obviously needs repair. Damaged bricks can also be replaced once the mortar surrounding the brick is removed by chiseling out the broken bricks, inserting new bricks, and then adding fresh mortar. [Extracted from the article]

"Mid-century modern houses broke with tradition by using a longer, thinner brick to complement the low, horizontal design", says Mark. Mark recognized the vintage brick as "Endicott red velour Roman." WHEN PLANS CALLED FOR NEW ELECTRICAL OUTLETS in the original brick interior walls of the Lexington project house, TOH mason Mark McCullough and TOH master electrician Heath Eastman each took a deep breath. [Extracted from the article]

"The different experiences you have as you move from room to room are what make the house special", says Sidford, who varied the room proportions so that natural light pours in from every angle. IDEA/FILE IDEA/FILE INSPIRING SPACES, DESIGN DETAILS, AND FINISHING TOUCHES With some help from TOH mason Mark McCullough and TOH builder Charlie Silva, the eating nook's existing fireplace got a new top course of brick, crowned by an oak-beam mantel. The family moved in just a couple of weeks before, and "the tree-house room", as Megan has dubbed it, is already their favorite hangout space. [Extracted from the article]

2017 ASKTOH LANDS A ROCK STAR During the first of many appearances, mason Mark McCullough teaches a Milwaukee homeowner how to repoint brick, and quickly becomes a cornerstone of the team. 2010 ROOM FOR ONE MAURO Making his AskTOH debut, painting contractor Mauro Henrique helps a homeowner re finish a rusty bulkhead door. Around The House What's happening in the world of This Old House 2002 SINCE YOU ASKED… After homeowners across the land put in requests for on-the-ground advice, AskTOH gears up to hit the road. [Extracted from the article]

Fit baseboard over bullnose corners We want to install baseboard molding, but the walls in our house have rounded outside corners. TOH MASON MARK MCCULLOUGH: It's not unusual for stone foundations to leak, as the stones can shift slightly and the mortar can crack and fall out. PHOTO (COLOR): To avoid tearing up walls to vent a sink drain, Richard Trethewey mounts an AAV (air-admittance valve) to a sanitary tee on the drain line downstream from the P-trap. PHOTO (COLOR): To repair water damage on the inside of this fieldstone foundation, Mark McCullough fills in between the stones with a Type N mortar mix, which is more forgiving of movement than harder Type S mortars. [Extracted from the article]

With a classic New England barn as inspiration, a split-granite perimeter foundation already laid in place by Mark, and a plan orchestrated on-site by Tom Silva, the group framed the new coop - from sole plate to ridge beam - in a single day last summer. "It's a lot of firepower, but having the whole team throw in to help Mark was a ton of fun", sums up Kevin O'Connor of the day's work, quipping, "Anything for the chickens!" GROUP EFFORT TOH MASON Mark McCullough was mulling improved digs for his 12 hens, who had survived a fire that destroyed their coop, when the AskTOH team decided to swoop in for a good old-fashioned barn raising. [Extracted from the article]

This article from This Old House offers a range of practical advice on home improvement projects. It covers topics such as identifying and addressing moisture problems in the home, refinishing deck railings, creating shade sails for sun protection, starting a worm farm for composting, reusing old bricks for a patio or garden path, and repairing double-pane windows. The information is presented in a helpful and informative manner, providing practical solutions for common home improvement issues. The article also provides tips on rejuvenating worn kitchen cabinet doors, encapsulating crawl spaces for energy efficiency, converting a window into a sliding glass door, and refacing a damaged cabinet interior. [Extracted from the article]

This Old House magazine celebrates its 29th year of publication by reflecting on its covers throughout the years. The covers feature the talented team behind the television show, showcasing their work and capturing memorable moments. The team members, including Norm Abram, Tom Silva, Richard Trethewey, and Kevin O'Connor, share their thoughts and memories on the covers. The magazine also highlights the importance of teamwork and the diverse perspectives that contribute to educating and empowering homeowners. [Extracted from the article]

EDITOR'S LETTER If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the garden - a.k.a. the yard - is the soul. The pages that follow are also chock-full of outdoor inspiration, starting with colorful spaces behind a 1930s Los Angeles home, including a pergola-covered patio and a fire-pit seating area (page 20). A patio is another classic outdoor upgrade, so we delve into what you need to know about using a traditional material that's a go-to for TOH mason Mark McCullough: clay-based brick pavers (page 39). [Extracted from the article]

Nuts & bolts A "blacktop" driveway can last for decades, driven over tens of thousands of times, with car wheels following the same paths without issue. C | Binder course of asphalt Depending on the depth of the aggregate base - every additional 3 inches of aggregate generally means 1 inch less of asphalt - the asphalt is ideally put down in two layers. ANATOMY OF AN ASPHALT DRIVEWAY Blacktop is a combination of liquid asphalt and small-stone aggregate - sometimes with additives for strength, flexibility, and water resistance. E | POROUS ASPHALT With about 20 percent void space, this driveway paving contains ½-inch stone and can be laid in one 4-inch course, or in 2½-inch binder and 1½-inch finish courses. [Extracted from the article]

Where others might have seen only rotted sills, sagging floorboards, and windows so drafty the kitchen cabinets blew open in a gale, Bill von Oehsen and Helen Moore von Oehsen saw beauty, history, and potential. THESE PAGES FIXTURES, FAUCETS: American Standard, Grohe, from F.W. Webb "When I saw Bill and Helen pulling up the attic floorboards themselves, I knew they were really committed to honoring the old house. Bill and Helen's devotion to saving as many pieces of the old house as possible turned the cathedral ceiling into a dramatic showpiece. [Extracted from the article]

In an upstairs bedroom in the oldest part of the house, TOH host Kevin O'Connor and TOH general contractor Tom Silva inspect original timbers prior to work on the gambrel roof. Nuts&bolts Sunlight brightens the gap where the old gambrel roof is opened up to meet the ceiling of the ell addition. To help turn their dreams into reality, the couple enlisted local architect Ben Nutter and TOH home builder Charlie Silva - and teamed up with T is Old House, which is documenting the project as part of its 44th television season. [Extracted from the article]

On the second floor, they rejiggered rooms to introduce a laundry closet and a primary bath, and relocated and rebuilt a steep attic staircase, carving out a third-floor home office for Palen and playroom for Alice. A two-story addition made space for a mudroom, powder room, and primary bedroom, with most of the primary bath's space taken from a former bedroom. IDEA/FILE When she was young, Melissa Schwab saw many This Old House renovations up close; her late father, Richard Bilo, was a plumbing subcontractor on the show for years. [Extracted from the article]

To find the elbow room they needed, Melissa and Palen turned to local architect Ken Savoie, who designed a new layout for the old house, as well as a 13-by-15-foot two-story rear addition to go up on the only buildable part of the narrow lot. In the backyard, TOH landscape contractor Jenn Nawada designed raised-bed vegetable and herb gardens and suggested Melissa and Palen put in a low-maintenance microclover lawn. PHOTO (COLOR): BELOW: Palen and Melissa join Kevin to check out the French doors that connect the dining room to the new patio. [Extracted from the article]

For a cohesive look, Derek and Robyn wanted the trim on the new dining room windows to be stained to match the existing gumwood trim. Robyn and Derek were united in wanting a modern, European-style kitchen with sleek frameless cabinets and built-in appliances. IDEA/FILE From the moment we stepped into this house, I was redesigning everything", says architect Derek Rubinoff, who, along with his wife, Robyn Marder, loved their home's Victorian character but knew the house needed an overhaul. [Extracted from the article]

<- Moby with Jenn during our cover shoot (left) and in the driver's seat of her truck, ready to take on the day (inset). And happily for the TOH team, Jenn Nawada's "loyal, chill, peaceful, curious, and intelligent" Bernese mountain dog, Moby, is her constant companion. Moby takes his job seriously, too, jumping into the landscape contractor's truck each day, whether they're visiting clients or filming at the job site. [Extracted from the article]

• Tips, tricks, and answers to your home-improvement questions Painting exterior wood railings I have cedar front-porch railings that I built years ago. BRICKS AND MORTAR Mark slips a replacement brick into a spot where he has already applied a bed of mortar (left). TIP Brick jointer Masons use this simple tool to pack fresh mortar into joints and give them a final smoothing that makes them more weather resistant. Gather your replacement bricks, and mix up some brick mortar to an oatmeal-like consistency. [Extracted from the article]

Nuts&bolts nuts&bolts KNOW-HOW YOU NEED TO GET HOME UPGRADES DONE RIGHT all about Today, paver bricks can be found in a surprising range of earthy hues with antiqued textures and unique surface treatments. Many manufacturers also offer veneer brick pavers, a.k.a. "thin brick", which gets mortared into place over concrete and works well on front steps.» × WEEDS ARE A NUISANCE Many brick-paver projects are laid in sand, and weeds are a common sight in the joints between pavers. The brick industry offers a conservative estimate of 40 years, but brick-paver sidewalks in colonial-era cities have been in service under constant traffic for nearly 150 years. [Extracted from the article]

WATER TREATMENT As this newly cleaned pond is being refilled with water, Jenn adds a dose of dechlorinator to ensure that the fish will have a livable habitat when they're reintroduced. When the pond is empty, remove any remaining debris and power-wash the stones that line the pond. • Tips, tricks, and answers to your home-improvement questions How to maintain a pond We have a small man-made pond on our property that fills every year with pine needles and other stuff, creating a very mucky bottom. Lightly sweep off the crumbs of mortar with a stiff -bristled brush, then go back over the joints with a flat brick jointer and smooth the mortar one last time to create a weatherproof surface. [Extracted from the article]

Before you rout the dado, remove the door, rest it across a pair of sawhorses, and mark cutlines on the door's bottom edge where the dado will go. - JAY EATON, OXFORD, PA TOH general contractor Tom Silva: All that mildew could be caused by roof leaks - roofing shingles have a life span of about 20 years - or by moisture coming up from the ground, or in from the sides. WATCH See how Nathan and Jenn assemble a backyard rink at thisoldhouse.com/ice-skate New roof for a garden shed We have a nearly 20-year-old shed that needs a new roof, not just shingles. Backyard skating rink We would like to build an ice rink in our yard to keep our four hockey-loving grandkids (and their parents) active this winter. [Extracted from the article]

WATCH See Nathan build a wood gate at thisoldhouse.com/fence-gate NO-MESS REPAIR After removing a broken tile, Tom spreads a premixed acrylic tile adhesive, a.k.a. mastic. Vent for an upstairs dryer Previous owners moved the laundry room to the second floor and terminated the dryer vent in the attic space above, since it's not near an exterior wall. Spread an acrylic tile adhesive in the recess using the flat edge of a tile trowel (see Tip); then, holding it at a 45-degree angle to the surface, comb the adhesive in straight lines with the trowel's notched edges. WATCH See how Heath installs a low-voltage lighting system at thisoldhouse.com/ landscape-lighting CORING JOB Mark says that a sturdy, long-lasting railing should be made of solid steel and have solid-steel posts embedded at least 6 inches into stone or concrete. [Extracted from the article]

BY ROB WOTZAK PHOTOGRAPHY BY JARED KUZIA With some help from TOH mason Mark McCullough and TOH builder Charlie Silva, the eating nook’s existing fireplace got a new top course [...]

• Tips, tricks, and answers to your home-improvement questions Fx for a lamppost light The carriage lamp in our front yard no longer works. With the hinge installation complete, remove the hinge pins and set the door across a pair of sawhorses. To allow the halves of the Dutch door to close tightly against each other, a beveled filler piece has to be added to the bottom edge of the door's top half and the top edge of its bottom half. Before you do any cutting, however, you'll need to get at least two additional hinges - a Dutch door requires a separate pair for the top and bottom halves - but I suggest that you buy four new hinges that are the same size as the existing ones so that they all match. [Extracted from the article]

Tips, tricks, and answers to your home-improvement questions How to plant a cherry tree What's the best way to plant a potted cherry tree we bought at a nursery? Then set the tree aside and dig a hole just deep enough to contain the tree roots. When the faucet, valves, and drain assembly are all installed, have your helper lift the sink and set it on the pedestal while you reconnect the sink drain to the p-trap. Best base for concrete pavers I'm planning to lay a concrete-paver patio. [Extracted from the article]

TOH general contractor Tom Silva, who has seen it all, offers these words of wisdom: "Get the materials all picked out. "Invest in the structure and bones of the landscape first - the deck, the patio, the walls; these components are permanent, and dictate where the plantings will go", says TOH landscape contractor Jenn Nawada. RICHARD JENN NAWADA KEVIN TOM "Getting several references from a contractor who you're thinking of hiring is great. - TOM SILVA, TOH General Contractor MAURO JEFF "Buy the betterquality paint; it'll cover in two coats, while a cheaper paint might need three or four. [Extracted from the article]

Cabinet crown for a sloped ceiling How do we add crown molding above our new kitchen cabinets when one side of the ceiling is three-quarters of an inch higher than the other? When you have a clear, mild day - your doorway will be wide open for a while - pop out the hinge pins with hammer and nailset, and set the door on a pair of sawhorses outside. The hinge leaves go in the same mortises, but you'll need to rotate the leaves so the hinge barrels are on the inside. It can withstand temperatures up to 1,200 degrees F. Pro Tip Best bit for hinges A Vix bit has a tapered, spring-loaded tip that automatically centers its drill bit in the hinge hole. [Extracted from the article]

"That double-wide garage door just overwhelmed the whole house", says John. "Ideally, the kitchen floor has to be level", Charlie says. PHOTO (COLOR): ABOVE: Tom and Charlie apply a self-sealing waterproof membrane to form a weathertight pan before installing the breakfast room window. [Extracted from the article]

My fireplace has some cracked bricks. Once the mortar surrounding the brick is cut or gone, take a big chisel and hand sledge and break out the brick. Then grab a margin trowel and lay more mortar against the end of a neighboring brick and on the back face of the replacement brick. We are tearing down a wall between our kitchen, which has a smooth ceiling, and our dining room, which has a sand-texture ceiling paint. [Extracted from the article]

Scott is drawn to iconic shingled New England beach houses, and he had been watching TOH home builder Jeff Sweenor's work along the Rhode Island coast for years. So Scott called Jeff for a walk-through and heard some magic words: structurally sound, ready for a second-floor addition, gambrel roof, shingled, classic New England. Jumping into the project with Sweenor's design team, Scott and Shayla's main priority was making more space for their family. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents questions and answers related to home improvement and safety including when to use pruners and loppers, the right way to put in a natural-stone pathway to prevent the stones from sinking into the mud and home security for the 21st century.

The article focuses on the renovation of a boxy 1950s house in Brookline, Massachusetts, owned by doctors Sunil Ghelani and Neha Kwatra, which features high ceilings, concrete-look tile floors, and a wall-mounted floating metal fireplace.

The article discusses launch of Generation NEXT initiative to shine a light on the urgent need for young people to enter the building trades. It mentions that according to U.S. Department of Labor, more than seven million jobs in the construction industry will need filling by 2024 to replace the number of skilled workers. It mentions views of general contractor Tom Silva, on apprentices as a a much-appreciated addition.

WORKSHOP TRANSPLANT CROWDED SHRUBS The cooler temperatures of early-tomid fall make it prime time for moving shrubs that have outgrown their space or are languishing in the wrong location. INSPECT GAS FIREPLACES Fireplaces that burn natural gas or propane require professional service and maintenance yearly, since these combustion appliances need to operate and vent properly to carry away the carbon monoxide they produce. Burning gas produces a lot of water vapor, and peeling paint and wallpaper or obvious damp spots can signal a leak in the flue. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers information about the use of flexible and watertight adhesives to build concrete-block retaining walls by landscape contractors and presents the views of contractor Mark McCullough regarding the same.

The article discusses the renovation of Arlington house with the roofs and the stucco and half-timbering in the gables with inspired with the television program "This Old House."

The article highlights few signs to determine whether a chimney needs a checkup or not. Topics discussed include schedule of annual chimney inspections; identifying cracking or settling of masonry inside the firebox; crumbly black soot accumulating in your firebox; and presence of smell smoke outside the room the fireplace.

EDITED BY JILL CONNORS Front and center As TOH magazine marks its 29th year of publication, we look back at how we’ve captured the talented team who launched television’s home-improvement [...]

THE EDITORIAL TEAM Photograph by Chad Griffith Keeping up the good work, left to right: This Old House painter Mauro Henrique, DIY expert Jenn Largesse, master electrician Heath Eastman, building [...]

ROCK-SOLID RAILINGMark uses a bucket lid to keep the coring bit centered on his mark. He removes the guide after drilling the first inch. (SARAH CHASSE) • Tips, tricks, and [...]

BY JILL CONNORS HEAVY LIFT Drama at the front door REESTABLISHING A MID-CENTURY MODERN facade posed a big challenge early on for the current season’s Lexington Modern project house. A [...]

Monitoring indoor air quality With additional insulation, our house is now more energy efficient than ever. We’re looking forward to lower energy bills, but should we be concerned about indoor [...]

(MCCULLOUGH: ANTHONY TIEULI) SKILL: Moderate COST: $1,500 TIME: 36 hours Edge a driveway with cobblestones We’re having some problems with our driveway; one edge, where it meets the lawn, is [...]

Chimney repairs We just closed on a house built in 1991, and the chimney’s exterior obviously needs repair. What do we need to know? —IRENE RICH, AUBURN, ME TOH mason [...]

BY JILL CONNORS PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTHONY TIEULI Sunlight brightens the gap where the old gambrel roof is opened up to meet the ceiling of the ell addition.In an upstairs bedroom [...]

BY GAIL RAVGIALA PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE CASEY NEWBURYPORT FOREVER HOUSE Restored pine clapboards, new windows and shutters, a revamped entry, and a stone retaining wall put a fresh face on [...]

BY GAIL RAVGIALA At the new mudroom door, TOH home builder Charlie Silva reinstalls an original bracket salvaged from the front entry, where a portico is planned. Set on a [...]

BY JILL CONNORS PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN LITTLE The new open floor plan emphasizes 9-foot ceilings, expansive sight lines, and blended styles, with modern kitchen cabinetry on view along with original [...]