There are a wide variety of home security systems available in Boston, but they differ widely in terms of packages, equipment, cost, and more. The This Old House Reviews Team has evaluated the best home security systems on these key factors to help you decide the best fit for your Boston home. Top 6 Home Security Systems in Boston ADT: Best Overall Vivint: Best for Smart Home Integration SimpliSafe: Best for Easy Installation Frontpoint: Best for Smartphone Integration Abode: Best for Customization Alder: Best for Medical Alerts...

Are Cordless Drills Worth It? If it’s a cordless model, you can drill holes and drive screws with the same tool—and not have to worry about finding an outlet near the work to power the drill. The good news: There are hundreds of these drills on the market. The bad news: It’s not always clear which drills you should be considering. What Drill To Buy Match the Tool to the Job With all the different models of drill/drivers on the market, it’s easy to buy more tool than you really need....

Floating stairs and glass railing: Viewrail Customize your kitchen to your cooking style I chose white oak cabinets in a European overlay design and matched the vertical grain for a seamless look. Sizes and quantities of cookware, spices, and kitchen tools were all considered in order to make each cabinet and drawer truly custom. I love that my carpenter burnished the inside of the dovetail drawers with the This Old House Idea House logo!...

We polled contractors, designers, and other pros for their top tips and insider tricks for getting every detail right. Whether you’re on a budget or ready to pay a pretty penny, follow these DIY bathroom remodeling ideas and you’re sure to create the bathroom you always wanted. Radiant Floor Heating Radiant heat beneath tiles makes them toasty underfoot. But you don’t need to have it throughout your house; you can simply add an electric mat to boost a bath’s existing heating system....

Happily, you don’t need deep pockets or lots of land to enjoy your own water feature. You can install a fully equipped, landscaped, fish-filled pond for around $500, provided that you do your own digging. Creating a lush habitat like the one at right requires rubbery liners, powerful pumps, effective filters, and, without question, a commitment to care for them. But when you’re finished, whether it’s tucked into a corner of the yard or next to a deck or patio, your pond will provide an endless source of fascination for family and visitors alike....

Hidden Litter Box Ideas 1. Upcycled Cabinet or Dresser Take an old base cabinet and refinish it to hide that litter box. Use a jigsaw to cut a hole in the side large enough for kitty to pass through and lay a scrap of carpet in the bottom to catch any litter stuck to kitty’s paws. For a finished look, trim the hole with something to match the cabinet’s style. Apply a fresh coat of paint, add a new top, and switch out the hardware to bring new life to the piece and match your decor....

When Should You Replace Appliances? The life expectancy of a typical appliance depends to a great extent on how much it’s being used. Still, appliances are often replaced long before they are worn out because changes in styling, technology and consumer preferences make newer products more desirable. Of the major appliances in a home, gas ranges have the longest life expectancy: 15 years. Dryers and refrigerators last about 13 years. Some of the appliances with the shortest lifespan are: compactors (6 years), dishwashers (9 years) and microwave ovens (9 years)....

Steps for building an easy, DIY porch swing: 1. Cut the Boards to Size • Using the cut list provided, cut the 2x6 and 2x4 pieces to length. 2. Drill the Pocket Holes • Prep the boards with pocket holes noted in the cut list for a strong and sturdy assembly. 3. Assemble Base Pieces • Layout the pieces of the base positioning the 2x6 ends flat between the front and back boards, and then add the 2x4 support pieces....

Tools and Materials Tack-free microfiber cloth Spray bottle Distilled water Mild dish soap The Best Way to Clean a Flat Screen TV There’s more to cleaning a flat screen TV than dousing it in window cleaner and scrubbing it with paper towels. The following is the best way to clean a flat screen LED, LCD, or plasma TV that won’t damage them or leave streaks behind.[WY1] Note: Be sure to check the owner’s manual before cleaning the TV....

Jenn Largesse is the editor of multiple DIY blogs, including House One and Build Basic. Shopping List: ¼-inch board Wood to cut a circle into (can be any species or dimension) Nail Tools:

Once you know what to look for, you can locate your leak, seal it, and get back to kicking back. It’s not always an easy job, but it can save your hot tub from a slow, leaky death. On the outside, a hot tub doesn’t seem all that complicated. But peel back that skirting (which you’ll probably have to do to fix it), and you’ll notice a network of piping and mechanical components....

Also, finding a molding profile that matches the existing trim can be challenging at best – and costly if it requires having the trim custom made. For these reasons, Tom Silva prefers to patch the baseboard with a dutchman – a wood repair patch that is glued into a custom-cut hole. Instead of cutting the patch to match the hole, Tom cuts the hole to match the patch. He uses a simple custom-made template and routers to cut the hole....

Steps for installing a utility sink Tools

How Much Does it Cost to Install an Attic Ladder? In the case of these products, you get what you pay for; more expensive models are better made and generally have a higher weight capacity. According Home Advisor, it can cost anywhere between $220 to $650 for attic ladder installation. How to Install Attic Stairs 3 Folding Attic Stair Installation Tips Putting temporary cleats across the stair’s jamb makes it easy to hold it in place while you shim it....

To get started, just cut up a 4x4 post and some dowels to make the game pieces and stake out the playing field with thinner dowels. This Old House’s game experts, aka Team Saturday, walk you through the steps of fashioning the king and kubbs in a video tutorial. Then you, too, can learn to relish that satisfying clunk of wood-on-wood contact in your own backyard—a realm where your rule reigns supreme....