Ask This Old House Season 6, Episode 18: Water Softening; Fiber-Cement Siding

1

Bathtub Drain; Ceiling Repair

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey heads to Cleveland, Ohio to help a homeowner replace a bathtub drain trap. Then Richard, along with general contractor Tom Silva, landscape contractor Roger Cook and host Kevin O'Connor ask, "What is it?" Afterward, Tom helps a homeowner repair a cracked drywall ceiling.

30 min

2

Carpentry Squares; Brick Patio

Up in the loft, general contractor Tom Silva shows host Kevin O'Connor a few different types of "squares" used for general carpentry. Then Tom and Kevin, along with plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and host Kevin O'Connor ask, "What is it?" Afterward, Roger helps a homeowner build a new patio using concrete paving bricks.

30 min

3

Toilet Flange and Plaster Repair

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner replace a broken cast-iron "closet flange" for a toilet. Then Richard, along with landscape contractor Roger Cook, general contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O'Connor ask, "What is it?" Afterward, Tom helps a homeowner repair a cracked plaster wall using a new type of adhesive system. Back in the loft, Roger shares a tip from a viewer about digging holes.

30 min

4

Flood Prevention; Foundation Plants; Epoxy Repairs

Up in the loft, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows host Kevin O'Connor a few devices for preventing plumbing floods in the home. Then, Roger helps a pair of homeowners remove some overgrown shrubs and replace them with appropriate "foundation plantings." Then Richard and Roger, along with general contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O'Connor ask, "What is it?" Then, Tom shows Kevin how to repair a rotted windowsill using a two-part epoxy.

30 min

5

Disposers; Exterior Paint Stripping; Cutting Joists

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a pair of homeowners with a jammed kitchen garbage disposer. Then Richard, along with host Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva and landscape contractor Roger Cook ask, "What is it?" Then, Kevin learns from a painting expert how to remove exterior paint from cedar siding. Back in the loft, Tom and Richard show Kevin the do's and don'ts of cutting holes and notches in joists.

30 min

6

Tree Removal; Door Trim

Landscape contractor Roger Cook and arborist Matt Foti help a homeowner remove an old tree that threatens to fall on her house. Then Roger, along with host Kevin O'Connor, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and general contractor Tom Silva ask, "What is it?" Then Tom helps a homeowner bring some character into a room by installing wood trim around a plain doorway.

30 min

7

Home Energy Savings

In this special episode, the crew demonstrates several ways to save energy at home. First, general contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner select and install energy-efficient "replacement" windows. Up in the loft, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows host Kevin O'Connor a few ways to reduce the energy needed for heating water. Then, Kevin and an energy auditor visit a home and discuss how to improve the heating and air conditioning system and reduce electrical consumption.

30 min

8

Play Area; Space Heaters; Bath Fan

Landscape contractor Roger Cook helps a young couple transform a muddy backyard into a low-maintenance play area for their two children. Then, up in the loft, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows host Kevin O'Connor several different types of portable space heaters and offers suggestions on how to choose the right one. Then Roger, Kevin and Richard are joined by general contractor Tom Silva for the regular "What is it?" segment. Afterward, Tom helps a homeowner with a bathroom fan that drips water down into the room.

30 min

9

Christmas Trees; Caulking a Window

Landscape contractor Roger Cook is on a special mission to pick the perfect Christmas tree at a local tree farm. Later, up in the loft, Roger shares a few tips for keeping Christmas trees healthy throughout the holiday season. Then Roger, host Kevin O'Connor, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and general contractor Tom Silva try to answer the question, "What is it?" Afterward, Tom heads to Florida to show a homeowner the proper way to caulk a leaky window.

30 min

10

Roof Runoff; Refinishing Hardwood Floors

Landscape contractor Roger Cook shows a homeowner in Portland, Oregon an innovative way to handle storm-water runoff from her roof. Later, Roger is joined in the loft by host Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey to answer the question, "What is it?" Then, Tom shows a homeowner how to refinish her hardwood floors.

30 min

11

Cracked Flagstone; Replacing an Electric Range

Landscape contractor Roger Cook replaces the cracked flagstone on a set of front steps with bluestone. Roger, along with host Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey ask, "What is it?" Then, Richard visits a serious cook and helps her replace her old electric stove with a new gas range.

30 min

12

Grading; Inside Walls; Bathtub Stopper

Landscape contractor Roger Cook shows host Kevin O'Connor several different ways to determine the grade, or pitch, of a landscape. Then, back in the loft, Roger and Kevin, along with general contractor Tom Silva and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey ask, "What is it?" Then, Tom and Richard show Kevin different ways to "see" what's inside a wall. Finally, Richard helps a homeowner repair a bathtub that won't hold water.

30 min

13

Vinyl Fence; Garage Floor Epoxy

Landscape contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner install a new vinyl fence. Then host Kevin O'Connor heads to Omaha, Nebraska, where he helps install a protective epoxy coating on a homeowner's garage floor.

30 min

14

Radiator Control Valves; Refrigerator Install

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner control the temperature of her radiators, which are overheating the rooms upstairs. Then Richard, along with host Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva and landscape contractor Roger Cook ask, "What is it?" Then, Tom helps a homeowner squeeze a new refrigerator into an opening that's just a little too small. Finally, Roger shares a tip from a viewer on how to tame a tangle of bungee cords.

30 min

15

Dishwasher Smells; Rose Bush; Saw Blade

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner with a smelly dishwasher. Then Richard, along with landscape contractor Roger Cook, host Kevin O'Connor and general contractor Tom Silva ask, "What is it?" Roger heads to Iowa to help a homeowner transplant a rose bush. Afterward, up in the loft, Tom shows Kevin the proper way to change a circular saw blade.

30 min

16

Skylight; 3-Way Light Switch

General contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner replace a skylight that is leaking water down into the kitchen below. Then Tom, along with host Kevin O'Connor, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook ask, "What is it?" Afterward, electrician Peg Preble shows Kevin how to troubleshoot and repair a faulty 3-way light switch.

30 min

17

Soil Test; Water Supply Pipes

Landscape contractor Roger Cook heads to Oregon to help a homeowner improve her lawn, starting with a simple soil test. Next, Roger, along with host Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey ask, "What is it?" Then, Richard and Kevin visit a local home center to identify several different types of water supply pipes.

30 min

18

Water Softening; Fiber-Cement Siding

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey heads to Phoenix, Arizona to help a pair of homeowners install a new water softening system. Then, general contractor Tom Silva shows a homeowner how to install fiber-cement shingles on his new backyard shed.

30 min

19

Attic Insulation; Landscape Lighting; Kitchen Faucet

General contractor Tom Silva shows a homeowner how to save energy and money by increasing the insulation in his attic. Then, landscape contractor Roger Cook makes a dark walkway safer by adding low-voltage landscape lighting. Afterward, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner replace her old kitchen faucet.

30 min

20

Kids Show; Soccer Goal; Stilts; Sandbox

In this special episode devoted to projects for kids, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows two kids how to build a soccer goal using PVC plumbing pipes. Next, up in the loft, general contractor Tom Silva demonstrates how to build a pair of stilts. Then, landscape contractor Roger Cook shows a family how to build a sandbox and make replicas of fossils.

30 min

21

Mortise Lockset; Pellet Stove; Gas-Free Lawn Mowers

General contractor Tom Silva demonstrates how to install an old mortise lockset on a new door. Afterwards, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner install a pellet stove to provide supplemental heat during the cold winter months. Back in the loft, landscape contractor Roger Cook shows host Kevin O'Connor several different types of lawn mowers that do not require gasoline.

30 min

22

Granite Steps; Deadbolt Locks; Pipe Repair

Landscape contractor Roger Cook replaces a set of rotten wooden stairs with new steps made of granite. Back in the loft, host Kevin O'Connor shows general contractor Tom Silva the latest technology for deadbolt locks. Afterward, Richard travels to Raleigh, North Carolina to help a homeowner replace the leaky polybutylene pipes throughout his house.

30 min

23

Lawn Over-Seeding; Home Sale; Ceiling Leak

Landscape contractor Roger Cook shows host Kevin O'Connor how to improve a lawn using a "slice seeder." Next, plumbing contractor Richard Trethewey and general contractor Tom Silva share a tip from a viewer on how to drive a nail in a tight spot. Afterward, Kevin is joined in the loft by a real estate specialist for some tips on preparing a home for sale. Finally, Richard visits a homeowner to help fix a water leak in her living room ceiling.

30 min

24

Life and Work of Tile Expert Joe Ferrante

This special episode is dedicated to the life and work of tile expert Joe Ferrante. Joe worked on many projects for This Old House and Ask This Old House over 20 years. This episode begins with Joe helping a homeowner replace a broken bathroom tile with a new tile that matches the existing color. Next, up in the loft, Joe shows host Kevin O'Connor some different ways to cut ceramic and stone tile using both hand and power tools. Finally, Joe helps another homeowner install a kitchen backsplash using translucent glass tile.

30 min

25

Pressure Reducing Valve; Grass; Cabinet Crown Molding

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner with very high water pressure by installing a "pressure reducing valve." Next, landscape contractor Roger Cook is joined in the loft by turf expert Mary Owen to discuss which types of grass are appropriate for certain climates and conditions. Then Roger and Richard, along with host Kevin O'Connor and general contractor Tom Silva ask, "What is it?" Afterward, Tom helps a homeowner who ran into a problem while installing crown molding on his kitchen cabinets.

30 min

26

Toilet Tank; Watering a Lawn; Bookcase

Up in the loft, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows host Kevin O'Connor how to replace all the parts inside a typical toilet tank. Next, landscape contractor Roger Cook and Kevin head outside for a look at different types of above-ground sprinklers and some basic tips on watering a lawn. Finally, back in the loft, Tom shows Kevin how to build a very simple but elegant bookcase using plywood and portable power tools.

30 min