The essential old-house toolbox
Assembling a collection of basic tools can be challenging for a neophyte old-house owner. Many tempting tools beckon from glitzy displays at home centers, and it's easy to drop a lot of money on the wrong ones. Most of us add to our collections ... [... more]
Old House Web |
How to buy (and use) ladders
No matter what type of ladder you use or what you use it for, it paysto take some extra precautions. Any fall can be serious, and a fallfrom the height of even a low ladder can mean a painful andincapacitating injury. The U.S. Consumer Product ... [... more]
Old House Web |
Choosing room-sized air conditioners
It might surprise you to know that buying a bigger room air-conditioning unit won't necessarily make you feel more comfortable during the hot summer months. In fact, a room air conditioner that's too big for the area it is supposed to cool will ... [... more]
Old House Web |
Buyers' guide: Programmable thermostats
In our modern, high-tech society, we don't think much about some of the electronic gadgets in our homes. Take, for example, the ever-present thermostat--a staple of American households for decades. It usually takes the shape of an unassuming box ... [... more]
Old House Web |
Buyers' guide: Radiant floor heating and cooling systems
Radiant floor heating has been used for centuries. The Romans channeled hot air underthe floors of their villas. The Koreans channeled hot flue gases under their floors beforeventing them up the chimney. In the 1930s, architect Frank Lloyd Wright ... [... more]
Old House Web |
Synthetic slate: Fabulous fakes
Owners of older homes are often determined to keep original exterior features such as slate roofs. That is, until the see the price of replacing oneof these roofs. Composition shingles are less expensive, but don't give the samehistoric look and ... [... more]
Old House Web |
What to look for when buying framing lumber
Most homeowners can stride into a lumberyard or home store and announce theneed for a 2-by-4 board. Very few, however, will know what kind of2-by-4 to ask for, says a wood products expert in Penn State's College ofAgricultural ... [... more]
Old House Web |
Selecting paint brushes and rollers
It's common knowledge that you can extend the life of a paint job by using atop quality paint. However, what you may not know is that you can get a moredurable and better-looking paint job by using the right type and quality ofbrushes and ... [... more]
Old House Web |
Finishes for wood floors
Wood flooring that has been excessively worn, overloaded, abused or subject to water damage will have to be restored (sanded) and refinished. Wood flooring is available both prefinished, including acrylic impregnated, and ... [... more]
Old House Web |
Designer Specs: The traditional window
High-end window manufacturers want to dazzle you with the possibilities. They promise windows of any shape or size you can imagine, incorporating every type and style from sash windows and casement windows to bow, bay, picture, and Palladian windows. [... more]
Old House Web |
Carpet buying guide
If your landscaping looks a bit like your living room, then it's time to replace that green shag with a more updated look. But, if you haven't been carpet shopping recently, you may be overwhelmed by the many choices. Don't make the mistake of ... [... more]
Old House Web |
Perfect paint palettes
There are no hard-and-fast rules about finding the perfect partner -- or the perfect paint scheme. Who would believe, for example, that orange and green could remain happily married after so many years? Perhaps it's a matter of opposites ... [... more]
Old House Web |
