Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Before you leave for vacation, your home might need a checklist of its own. Home maintenance expert Kyshawn Lane shares the simple steps that can help prevent leaks, odors, pests, and costly surprises while you’re away. Then, “Bare Feet” on PBS host Mickela Mallozzi reflects on growing up in a loud, loving Italian-American home in Stamford, Connecticut, where food, family, and constant renovations shaped her idea of home. Plus, builder Charlie Silva explains what it really takes to turn an attic into usable living space.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
* Whether ventless all-in-one washer dryers are a smart choice for older homes
* How to properly paint stucco without trapping moisture
* What to do after discovering rodent nests inside bathroom walls
* Why a UPS battery backup might warn you about “faulty wiring”
All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.
Before you leave for vacation, your home might need a checklist of its own. Home maintenance expert Kyshawn Lane shares the simple steps that can help prevent leaks, odors, pests, and costly surprises while you’re away. Then, “Bare Feet” on PBS host Mickela Mallozzi reflects on growing up in a loud, loving Italian-American home in Stamford, Connecticut, where food, family, and constant renovations shaped her idea of home. Plus, builder Charlie Silva explains what it really takes to turn an attic into usable living space.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
* Whether ventless all-in-one washer dryers are a smart choice for older homes
* How to properly paint stucco without trapping moisture
* What to do after discovering rodent nests inside bathroom walls
* Why a UPS battery backup might warn you about “faulty wiring”
All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.

![Ask This Old House x Toys and Colors Build It Dress Up Cabinet | This Old House
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Kevin OConnor had so much fun in the barn with Kaden and Wendy from @ToyandColors, creating this colorful, kid-friendly dress-up closet designed to keep costumes organized and playtime flowing. Kaden and Wendy proved that it doesnt matter your age, with the right guidance and supervision, you can build something awesome, too!
Stream the full project now: [https://youtu.be/BJcORBUsEb0]
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Ask This Old House x Toys and Colors Build It Dress Up Cabinet | This Old House
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![How to Select a Kitchen Cabinet | This Old House
A large portion of the new addition includes a spacious kitchen. Our homeowners are eager to make the most use of the space, within their budget of course. Sarah Raeder, Senior Designer at Columbia Cabinets, has a plan. Kevin meets up with Sarah and the homeowners at the cabinet showroom to find out more.
SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse.
Where to find it?
Cabinet showroom: Columbia Cabinets [https://www.ccabinet.com/]
Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH
Want weekly tips, project guides, and behind-the-scenes content from the TOH crew?
Sign up for our free newsletter here: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/newsletters
Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/streaming-app
About This Old House TV: This Old House is America’s first and most trusted home improvement show. Each season, we renovate two different historic homes—one step at a time—featuring quality craftsmanship and the latest in modern technology. We demystify home improvement and provide ideas and information so, whether you are doing it yourself or hiring out contractors, you’ll know the right way to do things or the questions to ask. Our experts including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor give you the tools you need to protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.
Follow This Old House:
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How to Select a Kitchen Cabinet | This Old House
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![How to Choose a Fertilizer | Ask This Old House
In this video, Landscape contractors Jenn Nawada and Lee Gilliam teach host Kevin O’Connor everything a homeowner should know about lawn and plant fertilizer.
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Fertilizer is full of nutrients that break down and soak into the soil where plants and grass can use them to become stronger and healthier. When host Kevin O’Connor wanted to learn more about fertilizer, he turned to landscape contractors Jenn Nawada and Lee Gilliam for a lesson at the shop.
Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH
Want weekly tips, project guides, and behind-the-scenes content from the TOH crew?
Sign up for our free newsletter here: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/newsletters
Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/streaming-app
Where to find it?
Organic Fertilizer [https://homedepot.sjv.io/BnNqG0]
Synthetic Fertilizer [https://homedepot.sjv.io/19XEg6]
About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.
Follow This Old House:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisoldhouse
How to Choose a Fertilizer | Ask This Old House
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![Truss Factory Tour | This Old House
A simple solution that will raise the roof and the ceiling height and keep the Saratoga renovation on schedule: Roof trusses. Kevin O’Connor tours the factory to learn how they’re made.
SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse.
Where to find it?
Manufacturer: S.R. Sloan [https://www.srsloan.com/]
Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH
Want weekly tips, project guides, and behind-the-scenes content from the TOH crew?
Sign up for our free newsletter here: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/newsletters
Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/streaming-app
About This Old House TV: This Old House is America’s first and most trusted home improvement show. Each season, we renovate two different historic homes—one step at a time—featuring quality craftsmanship and the latest in modern technology. We demystify home improvement and provide ideas and information so, whether you are doing it yourself or hiring out contractors, you’ll know the right way to do things or the questions to ask. Our experts including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor give you the tools you need to protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.
Follow This Old House:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisoldhouse
Truss Factory Tour | This Old House
https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/ Truss Factory Tour | This Old House](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AOowjwm81dk/mqdefault.jpg)


![Mitigating Construction Dust | This Old House
Throughout the construction at Saratoga, homeowner Evans mother will live in her apartment. Tom Silva meets with our builder Matt Whitbeck who is installing a ducted system throughout the house to mitigate dust and keep the air safe for his workers—and Susan.
SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse.
Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH
Want weekly tips, project guides, and behind-the-scenes content from the TOH crew?
Sign up for our free newsletter here: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/newsletters
Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/streaming-app
Where to find it?
General contractor: Whitbeck Construction [https://www.whitbeckconstruction.com/]
About This Old House TV: This Old House is America’s first and most trusted home improvement show. Each season, we renovate two different historic homes—one step at a time—featuring quality craftsmanship and the latest in modern technology. We demystify home improvement and provide ideas and information so, whether you are doing it yourself or hiring out contractors, you’ll know the right way to do things or the questions to ask. Our experts including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor give you the tools you need to protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.
Follow This Old House:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisoldhouse
Mitigating Construction Dust | This Old House
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![Toys and Colors | Build It | Ask This Old House
In this video, host Kevin O’Connor helps the children from Toys and Colors [https://toysandcolors.com/] build a perfect storage solution for their imaginative outfits: A well-designed and painted dress-up closet.
SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse.
Wendy and Kaden, young hosts of the online channel “Toys and Colors [https://www.youtube.com/@toysandcolors],” travel to the shop to collaborate with Ask This Old House on a project. General contractor Tom Silva develops a design for a dress-up closet. Then Kevin O’Connor teaches Wendy and Kaden how to assemble it. With basic power tools and pocket hole joinery, the trio builds a shelf before having a dress-up party of their own.
Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH
Want weekly tips, project guides, and behind-the-scenes content from the TOH crew?
Sign up for our free newsletter here: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/newsletters
Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/streaming-app
Materials
1x12 lumber [https://homedepot.sjv.io/09kkNJ]
1x3 lumber [https://homedepot.sjv.io/1rz2q6]
1 ¼ dowel [https://homedepot.sjv.io/yqnn1W]
¼-inch plywood [https://homedepot.sjv.io/7aWWNQ]
Pocket screws [https://homedepot.sjv.io/1rNZ29]
Paint [https://homedepot.sjv.io/55o5Vb]
Tools
Tape measure [https://homedepot.sjv.io/LKWkyj]
Miter saw [https://homedepot.sjv.io/YRKy7j]
Pocket hole kit [https://homedepot.sjv.io/XmbEvy]
Drill [https://homedepot.sjv.io/xLRyQk]
Clamp [https://homedepot.sjv.io/kOeAPx]
Cordless finish nailer [https://homedepot.sjv.io/B0QJoW]
Circular saw [https://homedepot.sjv.io/4P7669]
Sanding block and sandpaper [https://homedepot.sjv.io/kO77qd]
Paint roller [https://homedepot.sjv.io/N9ZEvP]
Roller covers [https://homedepot.sjv.io/nX99dX]
Paintbrushes [https://homedepot.sjv.io/JzPqxN]
Paint tray [https://homedepot.sjv.io/y25OG2]
About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.
Follow This Old House:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisoldhouse
Toys and Colors | Build It | Ask This Old House
https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/ Toys and Colors | Build It | Ask This Old House](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BJcORBUsEb0/mqdefault.jpg)