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Top 5 Tick Killers Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Lawns Granules BioAdvanced 700288S Complete Insect Killer Spectrum HG-61067 Bug-Free Spray Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray Wondercide Ready-To-Use Flea, Tick, and Mosquito Yard Spray Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Lawns Granules These insecticide-covered pellets protect against ticks, as well as other pests like spiders, fleas, ants, and mole crickets for up to three months. Because of how large the bag is, you can protect up to 10,000 square feet....

To help you in your search, the This Old House Reviews team researched 15 of the best tool sets for kids. Keep reading to learn more about each of these sets. Top 14 Tools for Kids TOMY John Deere Deluxe Talking Tool Belt REXBETI 15 Pieces Young Builder’s Tool Set Melissa & Doug Take-Along Tool Kit Learning Resources New Sprouts Fix It! Fine Motor Tools Hape Master Workbench DIY Jr....

These days, no home is complete without an updated TV. With the current options available, even entry-level models blow away the best sets from the 90s and early 2000s. Since the multitude of modern TV options can be confusing, you might feel discouraged to upgrade from your current TV. Refresh rate, high dynamic range (HDR), soundbar options, OLED vs QLED technology, and built-in streaming apps are all worth considering, but it’s important to understand what these mean before making a purchase....

Often the evocative exterior of an old house hooks us, but the interior doesn’t prove to be as much of a catch. That’s what Katherine and John Breese discovered over time, having reeled in their dream home, a 1930s Tudor Revival in White Plains, New York, where they both grew up. Looking to move back to the area for Katherine’s job, they found themselves on the hunt for a house with an easy commute into Manhattan, a diverse school system, a good yard­, and plenty of architectural interest....

It was getting unstuck. They had found their dream house in the Los Angeles suburb of Yorba Linda in 2005. Like much of Orange County, Yorba Linda is crammed with ranches and Spanish-style homes. So when Wendy—who had grown up in Tennessee, and is drawn to more traditional architecture—saw the only Cape around for miles, she was sold. Shown: An antique-brick walkway, gracefully framed by an arched arbor and lined with planters, welcomes visitors to this no-longer-plain Cape Cod–style home....

Heath prefers using a 4-inch insulated flexible venting both to cut down on noise and to prevent condensation. Heath emphasizes that bathrooms cannot vent into an attic. All that humidity will get trapped in the attic and cause mold to form. He suggests venting out a side wall whenever possible. If that’s not possible, go through the roof. Do not vent through a soffit. Heath shows that most bath fans have the fan mounted right over the register, but there is an option where the fan is located elsewhere, often an attic or basement and is ducted to both the bathroom register and the vent to outside....

How to fill a Large Hole with Concrete Holes 1 inch or deeper require a concrete mix with coarse, crushed-stone aggregate, which bonds well with existing concrete. Shallower holes need a sand mix. Whichever type you use (they’re both available at home centers), follow these steps. How to Resurface Worn Concrete Step 1: Use a hammer and a cold chisel to level the bottom of the hole Do this to undercut its sides slightly so the patch can’t pop loose....

Steps for Building an Umbrella Stand Side Table 1. Bevel the Edges Using a router fitted with a Chamfer Bit, bevel the face edges of four 1 x 6 boards. 2. Cut the Pieces to Length Using our cut list, size all the parts. Set up a stop block to ensure all the boards are cut evenly. 3. Prep the Front and Back Boards To prep the longer pieces, clip the corners at 45-degrees so that the miter meets the beveled edges....

The risks of butchery seem high, and the rewards low. “But it isn’t difficult,” says This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook. “And what you get in return is thicker foliage, more flowers, and healthier plants.” Keep reading for a roundup of our best how-to advice on the topic so that you can make a few cuts of your own with confidence. How to Prune Shrubs Young flowering shrubs should be pruned lightly to make them grow fuller and bushier....

Steps for Adding Stairway Headroom Tools and Materials How to Silence Your Squeaky Stairs

I’ve decided to build a custom bench that follows the angle of the staircase and then install hooks so they can make better use of the space for coats and backpacks. Steps for Building a Corner Bench What You Need for This Project Cut list Bench Seat – 1 @ 12" D x 26" L (miter one end at half the corner angle) Bench Seat – 1 @ 12" D x 37 ½" L (miter one end at half the corner angle and the other to follow the back wall) ¾ plywood supports – 3 @ 4" H x Cut to fit between legs and at angled end of bench Legs – 3 @ 11”D x 18” H 1x2 Trim – 3 @ 18”H 1x2 Trim – 3 @ Cut to fit the front edge of the bench Backer Board for Hooks – 1 @ 4" H x 26" L (Bevel ends at 45-degrees)...

For the legs and top, Tom used 1x10 and 1x12 select pine, which can be found at the home center. He bought boards with two separate dimensions so that he didn’t have to use the table saw, which is a more advanced tool for children. To cut the boards to length, Tom had Camilla use the Kapex 120 sliding compound miter saw, which is manufactured by Festool. To cut the holes in the legs and for the dog bowls, Tom had Camilla use a jigsaw with a fine tooth cutting blade....

All they need is a design, some of Tom’s handy templates, and some help from their friends at Brookside Elementary. To see the installation, click here. How to Build a Little Free Library Resources At the studio, Tom and Kevin build a little free library for Brookside Elementary School. Then, Tom and Kate paint and decorate it. What You Need Materials MDF sheets Exterior-grade MDO plywood Exterior-grade AA ⅜-inch plywood Plexiglass Piano hinges CA glue Wood glue Earth magnets Exterior grade paint and primer combo White spray paint Black spray paint Decals Lettering Push-in glazier clips...

Mini-golf is a great game for bringing together family members of every age. Who doesn’t love besting Dad on the loop-de-loop hole? But it doesn’t have to be just a vacation-week treat. Wouldn’t it be great to have your very own course to play all year round—inside or out? This Old House’s plumbing and heating expert, Richard Trethewey, and general contractor, Tom Silva, designed a great course that you and your family can build in an afternoon....

Shopping List: Raised garden bed kit Screws Landscape fabric Potting soil mix (7 bags) In-ground potting soil (6 bags) Tools:

Overview Staircase parts are available at home centers, though you’ll likely find a better selection online. For the bottom rail, use a handrail with a fillet, a thin, removable strip of wood that you’ll use as a template for making holes in both rails. Also, make sure the balusters have round pins for attaching to the bottom rail. Before you begin, measure the width of your bed frame so that you’ll know how far apart the end posts should be....

Tips for Selecting and Using Foam Insulation Pick the appropriate foam insulation for the job at hand. Shake can well before applying. Use minimal-expanding Window-and-Door Foam to insulate around windows and doors. Apply the foam sparingly, allowing it to expand to fill the gaps. Use Gap-and-Crack Foam to fill spaces between the house foundation and mudsill. Spray foam insulation behind electrical boxes prior to insulating the walls with fiberglass batts. Use fire-block foam insulation to fill holes around pipes, electrical cables, and ducts....