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Statement from This Old House CEO, Dan Suratt: “For over 35 years, Roger Cook has provided expert landscaping and gardening advice to millions upon millions of viewers. But perhaps more importantly, he has displayed a sense of humor and warmth while going about his craft. As he stepped back from This Old House and Ask This Old House the last few seasons, Roger has maintained that grace and good-natured attitude, and endeared himself even more to his fans....

From gable to mansard, read on to learn about the various roof shape types that add character and style to homes. Gable Roof Shapes Gabled roofs are the kind young children typically draw. They have two sloping sides that come together at a ridge, creating end walls with a triangular extension, called a gable, at the top. Gable Roof The house shown here has two gable roofs and two dormers, each with gable roofs of their own....

In this episode: It’s been 20 years since the first episode of Ask This Old House aired, and the team reflects on the past two decades together. This episode covers it all, from looking at how some of the team members started on the show to insight into working with Tom Silva. First, we meet host Kevin O’Connor, plumbing & heating expert Richard Tretheway, and general contractor Tom Silva in the shop to discuss the show’s origins....

In this episode: The most critical part of the foundation is where the old meets the new. Kevin O’Connor meets expert Hugo Provetti, the local go-to person for waterproofing. It’s time in the project to start thinking about exterior colors. There are many surfaces to consider: siding, trim, roof, doors, and shutters, to name a few. Mauro Henrique and Kevin meet with the homeowners to survey the choices. Our homeowners want to up the oomph factor of the newel posts at the interior stairs and have asked Tom Silva to help....

In some areas where there aren’t sewage treatment plants, septic systems do largely the same thing, but on a much smaller scale. Waste-water leaves the house and empties into an underground septic tank that’s usually 20 to 50 feet away from the house, beginning the treatment process. What are Septic Tanks and How Do They Work? Septic tanks are made from concrete or heavyweight plastic and typically have a capacity of 1000 to 2000 gallons....

Chicago homeowners Jason and Jennifer LaFleur practically became experts last year after insulating the newly renovated kitchen in their 1919 Arts and Crafts bungalow. They learned that unlike the traditional pink stuff, some of the most innovative insulation on the market is green, made from various materials, including recycled denim and shredded newspaper. But the most airtight is spray foam derived from soybeans. This renewable alternative to spray foams—packed principally with petrochemicals—is what the LaFleurs chose for the hub of their home....

Here’s a closer look at all the beautiful hardwood products from our friends at Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods that helped bring Matthews’ dream home come to life. For these barn doors leading to the ground-floor sunroom, Matthews wanted them to appear to be created of individual slats of wood, much like the Shou Sugi Ban-inspired black exterior siding. Builder Chad Maack (Hartman Homes) milled recessed grooves into the faces of the solid-core Birch and Oak Flush Doors, and stained them black to mimic the look....

Largest Capacity: Hamilton Beach Roaster Oven Key Features Made from stainless steel Has an 22-quart or 28-pound capacity Comes with a one-year warranty What Customers Are Saying Positive reviews highlighted this roaster’s ability to cook different birds of various sizes quickly. Customers also liked its sleek stainless steel finish. Those who left negative reviews said that it had a short power cord. Others were disappointed that it didn’t feature a temperature or on/off indicator....

Top 5 220 to 110 Adapters Best Plugs: BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter Most All-Inclusive: Odoga Voltage Converter Best Basic Kit: BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter Best For Large Appliances: Rockstone Power Voltage Converter Transformer Most Compact: HYTED Travel Adapter and Converter Combo Key Features 250 watts Power strip with three U.S. outlets and four USB ports Power cord Four international adapters 24-month warranty What Customers Are Saying Customers liked this device because they could buy the one travel voltage converter and use it in almost every country they visited....

Top 5 Cordless Stick Vacuums Best Battery Life: Dyson Torque Drive Cordless Vacuum Best Standard Vacuum: Hoover Linx Stick Vacuum Best Maneuverability: Shark Rocket Pet Pro Stick Vacuum Best Design: Eureka RapidClean Stick Vacuum Best Attachments: BISSELL ICONpet Pro Stick Vacuum Best Battery Life: Dyson Torque Drive Cordless Vacuum This cordless stick vacuum works on a variety of surfaces and contains a whole-machine filtration system that traps up to 99.99% of particles and allergens....

Top 5 Patio Umbrellas Most Customizable Umbrella: Abba Patio Nine-Foot Patio Umbrella Best Lightweight Umbrella: Sunnyglade 7.5-Foot Patio Umbrella Best Lighted Umbrella: Sunnyglade Nine-Foot LED-Lighted Patio Umbrella Best Coverage: Grand Patio Deluxe Curvy Aluminum Offset Umbrella Best Color Options: EliteShade Sunbrella Nine-Foot Patio Umbrella Most Customizable Umbrella: Abba Patio Nine-Foot Patio Umbrella This patio umbrella has an easy-to-assemble design that consists of two screw-in pole pieces with a power-coated finish for added rust and wear resistance....

Best Mint Scent: NEST Fragrances Reed Diffuser This reed diffuser can freshen up a living space with a designer-like touch and a lemon and mint scent. The attractive packaging makes it a suitable gift for a loved one, and the vegan oil that’s made in the United States without animal testing positions it as a premium option that’s worth the price. Key Features Lemon and mint scent 5.9 fluid ounces Eight reeds 90 days of lasting power...

This Old House’s 7th Idea House is a modern farmhouse set on a rolling lawn overlooking Long Island Sound and the 14th green of Norwalk’s Shore Haven Golf Club. The gracious 3,700-square-foot Farmhouse in Fairfield County was designed by Connecticut’s celebrated Jamieson Architects, and built by the gifted craftsmen of Greyrock Homes. This fresh farmhouse features a host of luxury amenities – indoors and out – including a grand, vaulted great room that looks out across Long Island Sound; a chef’s kitchen and butler’s pantry; a covered porch and patio outfitted with an outdoor kitchen, retractable screens, plunge pool, fire pit, and personal putting green; a spacious ground-floor master suite; two additional bedrooms and baths; a bunk room; and three-car garage....

Shown: The house’s New England–style elements include a gambrel-roofed addition, cedar shingle siding, and white trim. Bluestone steps lead to the front and side doors. RAFTER TAILS: LamcoCEDAR SHINGLES: SBCROOF SHINGLES: GAFEXTERIOR TRIM: Lifespan Solid SelectSOD: SodcoRAINSCREEN: MortairventWESTERLY GRANITE STEPS: Comolli Granite CompanyMASONRY: Sharpe Construction Adams Family The Adamses’ dream-house journey began in August 2018, when the couple purchased a run-down ranch in Westerly, Rhode Island. When they moved in a little over a year later, that ranch had been transformed into the perfect home for their young family—a spacious two-story, gambrel-roofed Dutch Colonial....

They’re battered by the elements, assaulted by basketballs, and commanded to perform their disappearing and reappearing act countless times each week. When, after decades of service, a garage door stops working well—or looking good—you can take comfort in the fact that a new one is among the best investments you can make, allowing you to recoup nearly 95 percent of the cost when you sell. “Garage doors have come a long way over the last fifteen years....

In this Episode: With framing finally moving ahead, Jared and his team face the next challenge. Their Mountain Modern designed home requires steel to support its dramatic style. That means crane snaking mountain roads in mud season. It’s a dangerous operation, requiring everyone to be on their toes. Also, the window order must go in. Jared tours the factory where the special windows are being made.

Swamp coolers are available at home centers in the American Southwest, but are not recommended in other regions as they add humidity to the air. The smart phone-controlled air conditioner is the Aros, manufactured by Quirky.

To help you in your search, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the top moving companies in Philadelphia for self-service, partial, and full-service moves. Keep reading for our recommendations of the best moving companies in the city. 6 Best Moving Companies in Philadelphia Through in-depth research, we determined that the best moving companies in Philadelphia, PA, are: International Van Lines: Best Overall Full-Service Mover 1-800-PACK-RAT: Best Overall Self-Service JK Moving: Most Customizable Full-Service Mover American Van Lines: Most Experienced Moving Labor uShip: Best Mobile App U-Pack: Most Affordable...

6 Tips for Prepping Your House for the Holidays Follow this handy checklist to prepare your house for guests this holiday season. Clean and Declutter Thoroughly Ridding your home of excess clutter is your first step to a cleaner-looking home. This is an organized effort to remove unnecessary items and toss, donate, or sell them. Then instead of your regular weekly house cleaning, consider giving your home a deep cleaning (especially if it’s a task you haven’t tackled all year)....