Ask This Old House Season 15, Episode 20: Build It, Cable Lighting

1

Window, Robotic Mower, Lead

Watch Tom pull off a balancing act to repair an old window. Roger shows Kevin the future of lawn care with a robotic mower. Richard addresses concerns of lead...

30 min

2

Fire Prevention, Strainer

Preventing fires in homes; replacing a rusty sink strainer.

30 min

3

Bookshelf, Foundation Plants

Tom and Kevin use store-bought stair treads to create a bookshelf in Build It. And landscape designer Jenn Nawada transforms the look of a home’s foundation by using existing plants.

30 min

4

Water Heater, Home Orchard

Roger helps plant a home orchard using apple and pear trees. Tom shows Kevin how to choose and use a circular saw. Richard installs a new tank water heater and discusses new regulations on them. How to Plant a Home Orchard Roger helps a homeowner plant an pear and apple orchard in her backyard.

30 min

5

Molding Raceway, Deck Board

Tom repairs a broken board on a front porch. Richard analyzes a homeowner’s green-stained shower. Scott brings more power to a bedroom and is able to conceal the wiring with crown molding.

30 min

6

HVAC Zoning, Plaster Patch

Richard learns about a way to heat and cool a house using a new room-by-room ventilation system. Tom explains the best ways to patch a small hole in the wall. And the guys ask, “What is it?”

30 min

7

Reclaimed Bench, Robotic Wall

In Future House, Ross Trethewey helps build a robotic wall that could be the key to tight spaces in urban living. Tom and Kevin use reclaimed pine heart wood to create a bench with a historic theme in Build It.

30 min

8

Laundry, 3-Way Switch, Saw

Richard travels to Seattle to help a couple choose and install laundry appliances. Tom shows Kevin new table saw technology. And Scott repairs a three-way switch.

30 min

9

Microgreens, Elevator

Kevin helps a contractor install a home elevator. Jenn learns how to grow and harvest microgreens.

30 min

10

Wood Shop, Wireless Switch

Tom heads to Chicago to transform a one-car garage into a carpentry workshop. Scott installs a wireless light switch. Richard gives a history lesson on antique bath fixtures.

30 min

11

Bluestone, Mead, Wire Splices

Roger rips up an old, dangerous walkway to replace it with bluestone. Scott explains the best wire nuts to use for each project. Kevin gets a lesson on making mead.

30 min

12

Radiator, Saws, Garage Lights

Landscape Designer Jenn Nawada shares an environmentally safe way to keep walkways safe during the winter. Tom gives a tutorial on hand saws, showing how and when to use them.

30 min

13

Rooftop Garden, Stains, Shed

Landscape designer Jenn Nawada learns about rooftop and small space gardens. Tom explains the best practices to remove stains from plaster and dry wall. Scott helps a homeowner power his shed by running electricity underground from his house.

30 min

14

Future House, Nick Offerman

A tour of comedian Nick Offerman's woodworking shop. Also: measuring a home's energy consumption; and making a dish soap blunder.

30 min

15

Water Heat, Panels, Astronaut

Solving a hot water problem; and sprucing up a dining room. Also: a former NASA astronaut talks tools.

30 min

16

Build It, Lighting, Mousetrap

A cutting board is made from scrap heart pine; an overly bright room is recast with LEDs; and mice-preventive measures are discussed.

30 min

17

Kentucky Lawn, Chandelier

Tips for lawn care; and a jigsaw tutorial. Also: installing a motorized lift for a chandelier.

30 min

18

Passage Set, Landscape

An historic plan is used to revive a back yard; and an inactive door handle is replaced with a passage set. Also: the evolution of plumbing.

30 min

19

Water Heater, Storm Door

A house is made more energy efficient; and a hybrid water heater is replaced. Also: voice-recognition technology.

30 min

20

Build It, Cable Lighting

A home message center is built; and cable-powered fixtures are installed. Also: the importance of carbon monoxide detectors.

30 min

21

Water Filter, Fire Pit, Wood

A whole house water filter is installed; and a patio and granite fire pit are built. Also: the differences between soft and hard wood.

30 min

22

Alaska Generator, Wood Floor

Hooking up a portable generator capable of powering an entire house; and repairing a poorly installed piece of wood floor nosing. Also: an inside look at dishwasher cycles.

30 min

23

Clogged Pipe, Convection Heat

A clogged drain is fixed; and an electric convection heater is installed in a chilly bathroom. Also: a masking primer that leaves clean lines on a window.

30 min

24

Build It, Future House, Surge

A planter box is built with western red cedar. Also: a tablet attachment that makes 3D scans of home interiors; and the need for surge protection.

30 min

25

Rain Garden, Cabinet Hardware

A rain garden is planted to keep runoff and waste out of marshlands; and a dim bedroom receives new overhead lighting. Also: installing cabinet hardware accurately and consistently.

30 min

26

Hawaii Makes 50

In Hawaii, a unique keepsake box is built from island materials; storing solar energy is explored; and an organic garden is planted.

30 min