This Old House

This Old House gives you the inspiration, information and instruction you need to take on home improvement projects of all sizes and succeed. In every issue, find fresh design ideas for every room, creative DIY solutions, step-by-step projects, and tips from the pros.

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A winter’s tail…and what may come with it

Around The House • What’s happening in the world of This Old House

You did it! • Reader projects, tips, and triumphs

Packed with possibilities • Light, bright interiors with ample open space and treetop views serve a variety of lifestyle needs in a neighborhood of duplexes laid out with flexibility in mind

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

Every inch counts • A design pro upgrades her family’s cook space, improving its function, flow, and finishes while making the most of its existing footprint

GET THE LOOK • Period-style pieces from different eras mix with timeless finishes for an easygoing, eclectic look

Old house, modern appeal • A minimalist approach to renovating a 1925 house maximizes the available light, allowing original features, including Craftsman-style millwork, to shine

WHAT LIES BENEATH • (Yes, we’re talking basements)

Building strong bones • As work progresses on the Concord Country Cape project house, Tom and Kevin spend a day putting together a beefy ridge beam and a sturdy structural window wall

Making the most of the view • Engineered posts and beams create a strong wall to support big window openings

Marrying old structure with new • A three-layer LVL ridge beam will support the weight of the addition’s complex roofline

Keeping tabs on your house • Protect your property from porch pirates, intruders, and more with a smart home-security system you can set up in an afternoon

COMPARING SMART SECURITY GEAR • These popular whole-house systems all offer starter packages with hubs and door/window sensors, plus plenty of extras, but their prices and features vary widely

DoesYour Home Need a Health Check? • Meet the pros focused on uncovering—and addressing—problems like leaky ductwork, poor ventilation, and airborne contaminants that could be undermining your health

DIY home health assessment • If you answer yes to any of these questions, your home isn’t as healthy as it could be. If it’s yes to most of them, consider bringing in a home performance pro for a complete analysis.

What a home health expert looks for • Home performance contractors generally take a three-pronged remediation approach when they determine a house has poor air quality: controlling pollutants at the source, introducing balanced mechanical ventilation, and improving air filtration. Here are the top contaminants they find—starting with the most common—along with their source-control strategies.

Three ways to ventilate

Upgrade your filter

What to do next?

Play it safe—and save • Home improvements that reduce risk can yield lower home insurance costs

Cork flooring • It’s cushiony underfoot, easy to care for, and far more versatile than you might think. Here’s what you need to know about choosing and using this resilient natural floor material in your home

Is cork flooring right for you? • Here are some pluses and minuses to consider

Waterproof floating floors

CORK TWO WAYS • Their costs are similar, but the two types of cork flooring are manufactured and...