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He is the host of the podcast Clearstory, he published a book The Best Homes of This Old House, and he also has hosted shows for the DIY and History’s H2 networks. Kevin received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the College of the Holy Cross and a Master’s of Business Administration degree from Boston University. Prior to his television career, Kevin worked for Bank of America as a Senior Vice President in the Commercial Real Estate Group and before that in the Sports Finance Group at Fleet Bank....

How Do You Measure Pull Down Attic Stairs? You’ll need at least three critical measurements: the width and length of the rough opening, and the ceiling height. Measure the rough opening’s width and length in three different spots, at the top and bottom of the framing. Choose a stair that fits into the smallest of these measurements and is long enough for your ceiling height; you may have to trim to fit....

These machines owe their versatility to their unique motion: The sandpaper disc spins in a circle while the whole pad moves in an oval loop. As a result, no single abrasive particle follows the same path twice, leaving a swirl-free finish even when sanding across the grain. But while random-orbits work more quickly than vibrating sanders, they can’t aggressively remove a lot of material—for that, get a belt sander for flat surfaces or a disc sander for curved ones....

In this episode: Kevin O’Connor travels to Minnesota to tour a facility that manufactures quartz countertops. Traditionally, people choose granite or marble that comes out of the Earth in a large slab. But recently, a new option has surged in popularity—quartz countertops. Quartz is extremely hard, so people like it for countertops and other stone surfaces because it doesn’t scratch. It’s non-porous, meaning it doesn’t really stain. It’s easy to clean, and it doesn’t require sealing like granite....

In this episode: The construction crews are finally done, and Luke and Crystal can finally move in after nearly a year after their home burned down. Kevin finds them tackling a few last-minute punch list items and figuring out where to set their brand-new furniture that was just delivered. Studies show that 90% of homes lost to wildfires catch fire from flying embers and not the heat of the fire....

In the video above, Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, walks you through a house with a steam heating system. How to Quiet a Banging Steam Radiator What is Steam Heat? Steam heat is created by converting water from a boiler into steam. Houses with steam heat can be identified by looking for radiators that are connected to only one pipe, not two. Should You Use a Steam Heating System?...

You Can’t Fix What You Don’t Know For homeowners who want to maintain a lush, green lawn or healthy plants, soil tests are important—after all, they can’t fix what they don’t know. Soil tests are essentially a screenshot of the soil’s health. They explain the soil’s condition, including its nutrients, what nutrients it lacks, and those in abundance. They will also explain the soil’s acidity, allowing the user to adjust it for prime growing conditions....

Best Speed Settings: Whirlpool Whispure Air Purifier With four fan speeds and one sleep mode, this air purifier is customizable to match how much purification your air needs. It has a useful display that shows you the settings as well as the life of the carbon pre-filter and true filter. Key Features Offers four fan speeds, a sleep mode, and a timer Purifies up to 490 square feet Runs at 43–44 decibels Comes with a five-year warranty...

Top 5 Fire Extinguishers Best Aerosol Spray: First Alert EZ Fire Spray Fire-Extinguishing Aerosol Spray Best Pack: First Alert HOME1 Rechargeable Home Fire Extinguisher Best 10-Pound Extinguisher: Amerex B402 Fire Extinguisher Best Five-Pound Extinguisher: Amerex B500 Fire Extinguisher Most Lightweight Standard Extinguisher: Kidde FA110 Multi-Purpose Fire Extinguisher Best Aerosol Spray: First Alert EZ Fire Spray Fire-Extinguishing Aerosol Spray This fire extinguisher from First Alert comes in a lightweight aerosol can, which makes it the perfect size for small spaces, such as dorm rooms and vehicles....

Top 5 Potting Soils Best For Indoor Plants: Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix Best For Succulents: Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm, and Citrus Potting Mix Best For Orchids: PERFECT PLANTS Orchid Potting Mix Best Starting Mix: Miracle-Gro Seed-Starting Potting Mix Most Versatile: Burpee Organic Potting Mix Best For Indoor Plants: Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix Meant for indoor plants, this soil works well in herb gardens and other windowsill pots. Because it doesn’t contain compost or bark, it’s less likely to bring gnats into your home....

Top 5 Sewing Machines Best Computerized Machine: Brother CS7000X Computerized Sewing and Quilting Machine Best Instructions: Brother GX37 Sewing Machine Best Speed: SINGER 4423 Sewing Machine Best Basic Machine: SINGER Mechanical MX60 Sewing Machine Best Value: Magicfly Mini Sewing Machin Best Computerized Machine: Brother CS7000X Computerized Sewing and Quilting Machine This Brother sewing machine has a digital display, allowing you to see what function you input. With over 70 built-in stitches, this Brother sewing machine gives you a lot of versatility when it comes to your sewing projects....

“This Old House: Live” begins on Friday, March 27, at 5p ET with free access in the This Old House App to stream all episodes of This Old House and Ask This Old House, and select episodes of New Yankee Workshop, a benefit normally reserved for Insider members. The This Old House App is available on iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV, and access to all episodes will remain free through Sunday, March 29....

Drilling a Hole Isn’t Always as Easy as It Seems It might sound very easy to drill holes through wood, but it can be challenging when that wood is vertical and tightly spaced. And, with codes dictating where those holes can be, there’s more to it than simply drilling. Drill Bits and Attachments The most common drill bits used for drilling through studs are auger bits and spade bits. Auger bits look like large twist bits but typically have self-feeding tips and large, heavy-duty flutes that can handle a nail or two....

title: “Top 10 Best Pet Insurance Companies 2023 Review " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-23” author: “Ralph Duran” title: “Top 10 Best Pet Insurance Companies 2023 Review " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-23” author: “Charles Smith” title: “Top 10 Best Pet Insurance Companies 2023 Review " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-20” author: “Albert Harmeson” title: “Top 10 Best Pet Insurance Companies 2023 Review " ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-08” author: “Holly Cooper” title: “Top 10 Best Pet Insurance Companies 2023 Review " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-16” author: “Lajuana Carvajal”