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For homes with smaller lots, a plunge pool gives you the cooling, relaxing benefits of a traditional pool, but on a smaller scale. Like traditional pools, plunge pools can be outfitted with bells and whistles like lighting, built-in stairs, jets, and water features. They use the same filter equipment and can be saltwater or chlorinated. The smaller size also means plunge pools are not only less expensive to buy than full-sized ones, but they cost less to maintain; fewer chemicals are required, and if you choose to heat a plunge pool with a supplemental heat source, the water comes up to temperature faster, saving fuel....

How Big Should a Porch Be? Porch size depends on porch function. Many new homes have shallow front porches for curb appeal, four-foot deep vestiges of the wide ones we associate with older homes and past times when people interacted more with their neighbors. For comfortable seating, a porch needs to be at least 6 feet deep. If you’d like a table for outside dining, you need at least 10 feet of depth....

Tin ceilings originated in the 1880s as an affordable way for people to dress up a room’s fifth wall. Tin was not only an aesthetic upgrade, meant to emulate high-end decorative plaster, it also offered a measure of fire protection—a big concern at a time when home cooking, lighting, and heating were largely done with open flames. The 2-by-2- and 2-by-4-foot panels were originally stamped out of steel and called “steel ceilings....

Brass Beauty Urban Archaeology Try it: By a Victorian-style claw-foot tub; its substantial casting will complement exposed brass plumbing. Made of: Polished solid brass Size: 3"W x 3½"D x 2⅜"H About $75 Save 15 percent! Square Peg Restoration Hardware Try it: In a Craftsman-style bath, where its strong geometric shape will be at home. Made of: Brass with an oil-rubbed bronze finish Size: 2¼"W x 2¼"D x 2¼"H About $30...

With the flip of a switch, odors and excess moisture are easily vented outside. But what happens when a building’s design makes it difficult or impossible to vent a bath fan to the exterior? As it turns out, there are many situations that can make it difficult to install a bathroom fan that vents to the exterior. Solving this problem calls for some construction creativity, smart product selection, and the installation skills of an experienced HVAC contractor....

To help our readers in Oklahoma City find the right security system for their needs, we analyzed and ranked dozens of security systems on factors such as cost, customizability, and professional monitoring plans. Continue reading for more information on our top security systems. Top 6 Home Security Systems in OKC ADT: Best Overall Vivint: Best for Smart Home Integration SimpliSafe: Best for Easy Installation Frontpoint: Best for Smartphone Integration Abode: Best for Customization Alder: Best for Medical Alerts...

The This Old House Reviews Team compared seven moving companies in Los Angeles on services, benefits, and pricing to help you find the best moving company for your move. All six companies listed below can provide help with local, long-distance, and even international relocation. Whether you’re looking for a full-service or partial-service company to pack your belongings or you’d prefer to pack yourself, we’ve got a suggestion for every type of move....

To cut the boards to the correct dimensions, Tom used a TS 55 circular saw from Festool (www.festoolusa.com). He then secured everything together using GRK #9 2-inch multi-purpose screws from GRK Fasteners and some wood glue from Gorilla Glue. The kit that Tom and Kevin referenced and used as inspiration for their tool storage organization was the M18 18V Cordless Combo Tool Kit by Milwaukee Tool. Shopping List: 5/8-inch plywood for cabinet ¼-inch plywood for adjustable dividers 1x10 or wider lumber Cup Wood screws...

Though you can buy a compost bin made from budget-friendly plastic or even chicken wire, a wood bin, typically made of rot-resistant cedar, will conceal those yard clippings and kitchen leftovers without sticking out like a sore thumb on your landscape. The gaps between the wood slats let air circulate around the pile to keep odors at bay and ensure that wastes are breaking down; removable slats, front panels, or doors make it easy to turn the pile and remove compost when it’s ready to spread....

What the Sharmas weren’t prepared for was the extent of these ills. The asbestos turned up all over the house, the lead paint coated the entire exterior, and the termites had already moved on from their appetizer of sill to the main course of studs. “We were just relieved that we didn’t have any mold,” Allison says. The Sharmas faced some big decisions about how far they wanted to go—and how much they wanted to spend—to address all these issues....

Ways to Store Your Workout Equipment Retro-style metal locker Form meets function with this retro-style metal locker, perfect for boosting the design of your home gym while hiding away your gear. You can even use magnets to attach inspirational notes and photos onto the sides of this cool steel cabinet! 37 Ways to Add Extra Storage to Every Room A weight rack Eminently practical, weight holders can be stylish, too. This tree rack fits three pairs of weights and its compact profile is great for a smaller workout space....

Down in the basement, a bonus room can be used as anything from an office to a teen hangout. The garage was turned into a maker’s workshop. Upstairs, a loft provides an elevated hangout space. All were drawn down to the inch. Cozy Reading Loft A sculptural ladder, a collaboration between Enright and Cape Associates, offers access for the agile to a reading loft above the second-floor hall. Ladder finish: Varathane The loft’s sloped ceiling accommodates low-slung seating that suits its use as a casual hangout....

—Steve Miller, Sylvan Lake, MI. Using Fire-Rated Drywall The 5/8-inch, “fire-code” drywall (called Type X) increases a wall’s fire rating to a minimum of 1 hour, from the 30-minute rating for standard ½-inch drywall. And it’s not just thickness that makes the difference. Type X has a denser core and contains glass fibers that keep it from crumbling in the heat. But because Type X is slightly more expensive-about 75 cents more per sheet—it’s rarely used in residential construction except where the building code requires it—on walls separating an attached garage from the house, and around the boiler in multiple-family dwellings....

Mantel Overview When dealing with a new wood mantel, there are two major safety concerns: making sure the mantel isn’t too close to the fire, and securely attaching the heavy piece to the wall so it doesn’t fall over. Satisfying the first concern is a matter of ordering a mantel that is sized correctly for your fireplace. The National Fire Code says that all combustible material must be 1 inch away from the firebox opening for every 1/8 inch it protrudes from the surface, with a minimum 6-inch clearance all around....

Fourth of July Gifts for Hosts/Hostesses If you’re planning to attend an Independence Day celebration or BBQ, don’t forget to give a small and festive gift for the host or hostess. We’ve rounded up a couple options to consider. Patriotic Ceramic Plates Perfect for the Fourth of July, this set of mini 6” ceramic plates are designed in the shape of stars—each one featuring a pattern inspired by Old Glory....