DIY Smarts
Every month, Ask This Old House and The Home Depot will present a practical home improvement project—from maintenance and repairs, to enhancements and how-to’s—complete with video demonstrations, straightforward instructions, and a handy shopping list to get you started.
7 Electrical Safety Tips for Holiday Lights
Master electrician Heath Eastman shows host Kevin O’Connor what he needs to know about holiday light safety.
How to Replace a Tank-Type Water Heater
In this DIY Smarts segment, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner be proactive about their home maintenance by replacing their existing tank-type water heater before it fails.
How to Repair Gutters
In this DIY Smarts project, Tom Silva helps a homeowner solve a problem with leaky gutters over their patio.
How to Mount a Flat Screen TV
In this DIY Smarts project, This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert walks host Kevin O’Connor through everything he needs to know about mounting a TV.
How to Build Window Flower Boxes
In this DIY Smarts project, This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada build and plant custom window boxes for a colorful touch of curb appeal.
How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring in a Kitchen
In this DIY Smarts project, Carpenter Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner replace a dated vinyl kitchen floor with modern vinyl plank flooring to complete an updated look.
How to Replace a Tub Drain
In this edition of DIY Smarts, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner with an old 1950s bathtub replace the tub drain assembly when the current one stops plugging the tub.
How to Set Up a First-Time Workshop
In this DIY Smarts, general contractor Tom Silva helps a young woodworker set up her first workshop.
How to Install Shingles on a Shed
In this DIY Smarts project, general contractor Tom Silva shows a homeowner the proper way to reshingle an old shed’s roof.
How to Replace a Deck Joist Hanger
Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner repair her deck by replacing rotted hangers and re-securing the joist to the structure.
Installing a Dishwasher in an Old Kitchen
In this DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and carpenter Nathan Gilbert team up to help a homeowner retrofit a new dishwasher into an old kitchen.
All About Growing Echinacea
Ask This Old House Landscape Contractor Jenn Nawada explains how to identify and care for echinaceas. She also shares a variety of ways to incorporate them in a garden.
How to Build a Custom Fence Gate
Ask This Old House Carpenter Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner build a custom fence gate to keep his kids safely in the backyard.
How to Clean Vinyl Siding
In this DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House painter, Mauro Henrique, goes over all of the basics of using a power washer to clean exterior vinyl siding.
How to Replace a Bathroom Faucet
Need to update your bathroom sink faucet? Watch this DIY Smarts as Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates how to replace a bathroom faucet.
How to Safely Hang Outdoor Christmas Lights
In this DIY Smarts, This Old House Master Electrician Heath Eastman helps a homeowner safely install a variety of Christmas lights.
Building a Fire Pit from a Kit
Ask This Old House mason Mark McCullough installs a fire pit kit in this DIY Smarts project.
How to Build a Self-Watering Vegetable Garden
In this DIY Smarts project, Ask This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada travels to Raleigh, North Carolina to help a couple build and plant a self-watering vegetable garden.
How to Clean Tile Grout With Homemade Cleaner
In this edition of DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva offers cleaning tips on how to get rid of dirty tile grout using only household supplies.
How to Choose a Good Paint Roller
In this DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House painter Mauro Henrique explains the different types of paint rollers and then demonstrates good rolling techniques.
How a Frozen Pipe Bursts
In this DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates how and why frozen pipes burst.
How to Refinish Worn Out Stair Treads
In this edition of DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert demonstrates how to refinish stair treads.
How to Plant Hardier Foundation Plantings
In this DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House landscape designer Jenn Nawada helps a homeowner replace and improve foundation plantings that have been crushed by snow piles.
Build It | Tool Storage Shelf
In this edition of DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O’Connor build a tool storage shelf out of leftover lumber from other Build It projects.
How to Tighten a Loose Newel Post
In this edition of DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert travels to a Sears kit house in Richmond, Virginia to tighten an old, loose stair railing.
How to Install a Dining Room Chandelier
In this DIY Smarts, Heath Eastman installs a chandelier in a homeowner’s dining room.
How to Install Winter-Proof Planters
In this DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House landscape designer Jenn Nawada installs a front entry planter for a homeowner that will last through the winter.
How to Refinish a Fireplace with Brick Veneer
In this DIY Smarts project, Ask This Old House mason Mark McCullough replaces a homeowner’s sloppy fireplace surround with a clean, thin brick veneer.
How a Heat Pump Clothes Dryer Works
Ask This Old House plumbing and HVAC expert Richard Trethewey tests out a new dryer in our DIY Smarts series that uses a heat pump to dry the clothes.
How to Hang a Sliding Barn Door
In this DIY Smarts project, Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert travels to Birmingham, Alabama to install a sliding barn door in an open-concept loft apartment.
How to Re-Stain a Deck
In this edition of DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House painter Mauro Henrique teaches a homeowner how to re-stain her mahogany deck.
Why is This Lawn Patchy?
Ask This Old House landscape contractors Roger Cook and Jenn Nawada share DIY Smarts tips for killing weeds without hurting the lawn.