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Methods for Removing Paint from Metal Paint Scraper This handheld tool, with a plastic or metal blade similar to a putty knife, can remove paint with just a little elbow grease. If you are working with a softer metal like brass, choose a plastic blade over a metal one to make sure you don’t damage or scratch the metal’s surface. Scrapers come in various sizes; choose one that’s comfortable to hold and well-suited for the job (a wide blade for flatter, wider surfaces and a narrower blade for smaller, harder-to-reach areas)....

Assess the Issue Before repairing the gutters, it’s important to determine where and why they are failing. Cleaning gutters may often allow them to flow more readily, meaning a quick bead of caulk will prevent leaks. However, gutters that are pitched backward or crowned or those that are installed too high won’t allow proper water flow. All About Gutters and Downspouts How to Install Gutters Gutters should be installed along the eaves of a home, with one end of the gutter pitched lower than the other....

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How To Replace Exterior Door Trim Resources To build out new front door trim and plinth blocks, Nathan used flat PVC stock in 1x10” boards. For the plinth blocks, Nathan used flat PVC stock in 1x4”s boards. For decorative elements, Nathan used stock PVC head casing for above the door, stock PVC profiles for under the header, and fluted trim to the left and right of the door. Stock PVC can be found at home or lumber centers....

Understanding Masonry Finishes Concrete needs protection too Concrete is a tough, durable material, but it also needs protection. After 30 or 40 years of exposure to the elements, it can wear down, become brittle, or absorb moisture. This includes brick, block, concrete, stucco, and similar materials. Protecting those surfaces with a product designed to seal the masonry is best. The process is key There is a process to sealing a masonry surface:...

scurrying across your dining room floor. Unfortunately, fall and winter are prime pest invasion times. To prevent rodents and winged critters from breaking in, start by strengthening your home’s vulnerable spots. Window and Door Frames Replace worn weatherstripping. Repair soft spots in wood sills and frames; rats and mice can gnaw at them to gain entry. Screens should fit frames tightly; patch tears right away. Roof Banish bats by closing up gaps in eaves and flashing joints with aluminum or galvanized steel....

How to decide where to place a window The power of windows is often most evident when the size, type, or location is miscalculated. Then rooms are either glaringly bright, depressingly dim, or stultifyingly stale. But if planned right, windows can be the key to enjoying your home’s ambience, inside and out. Here’s how to think about them. 3 Rules for Choosing Windows 1. Don’t Be Bound by Tradition Most people think of their houses — and the windows that go in them — as representative of an iconic “type,” like Colonial or Queen Anne....

Fix a Doorbell Don’t leave holiday guests waiting out in the cold. Make sure your doorbell is in working order before they come ringing. It could be the fault of a worn outside button. But it’s also possible that the chime or transformer have stopped working. For full step-by-step instructions to help you find and fix the problem, see How to Fix a Doorbell. Fix a Worn Concrete Walkway Make safe passage for party guests this holiday season....

Recommended Thermostat Settings for HVAC in the Home Your home relies on a thermostat to control the temperature within its four walls, and it’s this thermostat with which homeowners are most familiar. In the summer, we’ll often set it low in the evening and higher during the day, if the house is unoccupied. In the winter, people often set it higher in the evening but allow it to drop a few degrees during the day to save energy....

In this episode: Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner turn a reclaimed beam from an old barn in Vermont into a fireplace mantel. Richard Trethewey demonstrates how to replace a bathroom faucet. In Future House, Ross Trethewey travels to Albany, New York to explore ways to make drilling for and installing geothermal heat pumps more affordable for average homeowners. How to Turn a Reclaimed Beam into a Fireplace Mantel The homeowner found the reclaimed beam at the Brimfield Antique Flea Market, but materials like the beam can be found at most flea markets and also at reclaimed lumber yards....

In this episode: While Tom Silva is on vacation in Florida, he has a strange dream about Paul Revere and the start of the Revolutionary War, but the historic figures seem very familiar to him. He awakes to a call to discover he’s needed back home to join the crew at the latest project in Concord, MA. Still puzzled by his dream, he gets into the car with Richard Trethewey, Jenn Nawada, and Kevin O’Connor to meet the homeowners, Megan and Lincoln, at their 1880 Cape-style house....

Soon Derek, an architect who has worked on dozens of single-family homes, was drawing up plans for a whole-house renovation of his own. While the house’s footprint and room layout wouldn’t change significantly, Derek’s plans would improve traffic flow and relieve frustrations that his family—which includes his wife, Robyn Marder, and their two teenagers, Zach and Aria—has been living with for the last nine years. To bring his vision to life, he called on local builder Deliandro Dias of Alpha Smart Builders, with whom he had worked on a previous residential project....