Making and doing things in the real world.
From The Build Show. In today’s episode of the Build Show, Matt and Jordan kick back for a special “Break Time” session packed with hands-on building science, product reactions, and real-world insights. They explore seven standout new products, ranging from ultra-durable exterior cladding and affordable triple-pane windows to smart diagnostic tools that reveal airflow and…
From This Old House. West Roxbury homeowners, Derek and Robyn are shopping for interior lighting. There are many choices, but how will they narrow it down to create a dramatic lighting look? Kevin O’Connor joins them as they make their final decisions. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Where to find it? Lighting showroom: Neena’s…
From This Old House. Kevin O’Connor and Gabriel Oliveira in the master bathroom create a custom curbless bathroom shower. Gabriel explains the advantages of the membrane system that will make it leak-free. They finish installing the bench made from backerboard, tape the joints, apply waterproof sealer and install the linear shower drain. SUBSCRIBE to This…
From The Build Show. Get ready for a special bonus episode of Altitude Adjustment! Stephanie returns to Park City for an exclusive framing deep dive—this time joined by special guest Tim Uhler of Awesome Framers. Together, they explore the challenges of building a luxury mountain home at high elevation, tackling everything from heavy snow loads…
From The Build Show. In this episode of the Build Show, Jake explores a topic he’s surprisingly never covered before—deck construction. Filming from a custom home in DeSoto, Kansas, he highlights why this deck is different: it’s framed entirely with PWT treated LVLs instead of traditional pressure-treated lumber. Jake explains how the treatment process permeates…
From This Old House. TikTok’s cleaning expert Brandon Pleshek shows you how to bounce back from the Thanksgiving mess with simple routines and tools that make any home feel fresh fast. Actor William H. Macy shares the story of his Vermont cabin—and the hard-earned lessons he learned about woodstoves, flies, and finding comfort in the…
From This Old House. At the West Roxbury house, Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Deliandro Dias, and builder/designer David Hornstein are installing a new gutter system that looks like wood, lasts like PVC and is as easy to install as aluminum. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Where to find it? Gutter manufacturer: Duragutter [https://www.duragutter.com/] Looking…
From The Build Show. In this episode of Best of the Build Show, Matt teams up with Master Plumber Eric Aune to tackle a real-world drain-line problem and break down the right way to fix misaligned PVC piping. Eric takes us on-site to a 1940s Minnesota basement renovation where an incorrect pitch, a poorly aligned…
From The Build Show. In this episode of our series Perfect Plumbing Plan, we tackle one of the biggest homeowner complaints: running out of hot water. Matt, Eric, and Ross break down the pros and cons of today’s most common water-heating options—including heat pump, gas and electric tank models, tankless systems, and even advanced split…
From This Old House. The West Roxbury homeowners want to treat themselves to a heated bathroom floor. Electric floor heating is inexpensive and can create a luxury feel to the primary bathroom. Kevin O’Connor and tile installer Gabriel Oliveira will walk us through the relatively simple steps to install the heated flooring systems. SUBSCRIBE to…
From This Old House. Richard Trethewey and Fabricio Coelho are about to install a tub in the kid’s bathroom. Richard explains that the West Roxbury homeowner decided to gut and redo the bathroom mid-construction. Fabio explains how he reran the plumbing to get it ready for installation. Then Richard and Fabio show us how to…
From The Build Show. In our 200th episode of the Build Show Podcast, Matt sits down with longtime friend and Austin builder/designer Emily Press of Emerald & Laurel to dive into her unexpected path into the building world and the values that shaped her thriving design-build business. From growing up in her family’s chrome-plating shop…
From Lincoln St. Woodworks. A complete guide for DIY and beginners looking to build their first set up of cabinets. 🔴Affiliate Links Circular Saw Guide – https://amzn.to/3IP2tsT 1 ¾ Screws – https://geni.us/BMNuDsE Pocket Hole Jig – https://geni.us/vOvd9xj Countersink Bit – https://amzn.to/4aJVu0z Rabbeting Bit – https://geni.us/PEm6kLB Tape Measure – https://geni.us/nrBAHLr Drawer Slides – https://geni.us/ZsguRA0 Handi Shims…
From This Old House. Jenn and Mark create the brick walkway. They explain that a hole was dug, crushed stone was compacted, a layer of sand was added and leveled, and now they are ready to lay the bricks. They pick a pattern and together lay the bricks. They talk about what will make the…
From This Old House. Jenn Nawada and Mark McCullough talk about how the old front porch stairs were a trip hazard. They head to the capital of Massachusetts to be inspired by walking a variety of stairs for their comfortability, design, and materials. They head back to the West Roxbury house to build the front…
From The Build Show. In this episode of the Build Show Matt travels to Altadena, California, where a catastrophic wildfire left thousands of structures destroyed and families displaced. Matt meets David Ly, Founder of Rebuild Altadena, who not only lost his own home but is now leading the charge to rebuild his community with determination…
From This Old House. About fourteen miles southwest of Philadelphia sits a 220-acre college campus that looks like an Ivy League campus. It’s the home of the Williamson College of the Trades, founded in 1888. The school provides room, board, and tuition-free education for young men who want to pursue a career in the trades.…
From Primitive Technology. Grate furnace, wood fuel smelting experiment Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subPT | Never miss a video! Enable ‘ALL’ Notifications! Watch my newest content: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnWLXjIDnpBR4xqf3FO-xFFwE-ucq4Fj&playnext=1&index=2 Follow Primitive Technology: Wordpress: https://primitivetechnology.wordpress.com/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/user?u=2945881 Watch More Primitive Technology: Newest Uploads: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnWLXjIDnpBR4xqf3FO-xFFwE-ucq4Fj&playnext=1&index=2 Pyrotechnology: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnWLXjIDnpBVRqu5lz5JGaQxjPs7q3CJ&playnext=1&index=2 Shelter: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnWLXjIDnpBBsdKZb-vy30o88SIxItp2&playnext=1&index=2 Weapons: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnWLXjIDnpA-XGDrrmVgBnSXx15i2Awp&playnext=1&index=2 Popular Videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnWLXjIDnpAb29Lrdki5BPjTpMon8zla&playnext=1&index=2 About This Video: I built a furnace from…
From The Build Show. In Episode 5 of our series Forever Home, Steve dives into the on-site impact of Builders FirstSource’s Ready-Frame® system — a fully pre-cut, digitally labeled framing package that dramatically reduces waste, increases accuracy, and accelerates build time. Throughout the episode, Steve interviews the BFS team, Shoreline Builders, and third-generation framer Ryan,…
From This Old House. Give your house a holiday makeover with the latest and greatest from the north pole. We tell you the latest decoration trends and technology with Jason Woodward from ChristmasDesigners.com. Actor Steve Schirripa reflects on his journey from a crowded Brooklyn apartment to building his dream home in Las Vegas, and how…
From The Build Show. In episode 3 of the Perfect Plumbing Plan, Matt is joined by engineer Ross and master plumber Eric as they walk through Matt’s home to test how well the engineered hot-water layout performs in real-world conditions. They measure time-to-tap at multiple fixtures, compare the benefits of recirculation systems, discuss pipe sizing…
From The Build Show. In this episode of the Build Show from Raleigh, Matt tours multiple North Carolina job sites to showcase smart building details and opportunities to elevate performance. He starts in a garage where he highlights the use of Zip System sheathing as an effective air barrier and walks through proper air-sealing around…
From This Old House. Inside, walls being moved around left a flooring dilemma. The West Roxbury homeowners meet with Kevin O’Connor and Deliandro Dias to decide whether to install all-new hardwood flooring or keep the existing flooring and feather in new flooring where needed. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Looking for more step by…
From This Old House. Jenn Nawada and Mark McCullough will build a large brick patio in a small city yard. You’ll see how they prepare the area to create a long-lasting classic brick patio that will feel like they added an additional room. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Where to find it? Brick paver…
From HAXMAN. These are the 12 Christmas gifts every DIYer will actually use. From stocking stuffer to budget buster, I own and use all of these tools and love them all. Stop guessing and get the gift they really want even if they don’t know it yet. These unusual gift ideas for the handyman or…
From This Old House. Richard Trethewey and Al Vieira from Aldos HVAC are installing a forced hot air dual fuel HVAC heating and cooling system and ductwork to every room on the first and second floor of the West Roxbury house. It’s a great system because it gives the homeowner a choice of gas or…
From The Build Show. In today’s episode of the Build Show Podcast, Matt sits down with builder and colleague Daniel Glauser to dive into the wins and the “oh dangs” from their recent personal home builds. From airtightness strategies and Huber ZIP System successes to HVAC lessons, dehumidification, window packages, design constraints, and why smaller,…
From This Old House. Richard Trethewey and our plumber Fabricio Coelho will solve the West Roxbury drain pipe puzzle while dealing with obstacles like large vents, navigating around beams—all while trying to keep a the drainage pitched. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Where to find it? Plumbing contractor: FRC Enterprise, Inc. Plumbing & Heating,…
From The Build Show. In this episode of the Build Show, Matt travels to Charlotte, North Carolina for a Builder 20 group tour, showcasing Grande Builders’ innovative projects — from a unique monolithic-framed home to a beautifully executed lakefront master-suite addition. Matt walks through airtight framing details, steam-shower construction, smart mechanical-room layouts, and thoughtful carpentry…
From This Old House. Kevin O’Connor along with West Roxbury homeowners are meeting with Marissa Perez at a kitchen design showroom to make the final selection of their kitchen design. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Where to find it? Design assistance: The Gallery [https://www.worldwidecabinetsgallery.com/] Countertop manufacturer: Caesarstone [https://www.caesarstoneus.com/] Kitchen cabinet supplier: The Gallery [https://www.worldwidecabinetsgallery.com/]…
From Get Hands Dirty. In this video, I renovate my grandma’s kitchen that had heavy and stiff drawers, not ideal for someone her age. I built new smooth-gliding drawers and gave the cabinets a good refresh along the way. Thanks Skil for being a supporter of my work! Power tools I use https://skil.com GHD online…
From This Old House. The 1720 Gambrel in Ipswich has clapboard siding, and the new additions will have the same. Kevin O’Connor tours a lumber mill in Maine to learn about how local Eastern White Pine is used to make clapboards. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Where to find it? Mill side trip: Robbins…
From The Build Show. In Episode 6 of our series Altitude Adjustment, Stephanie takes viewers inside the highly complex construction of a cliffside infinity-edge hot-pool, revealing how the team engineered a gunite shell, integrated custom features like fiber-optic “star floor” lighting, and designed the space to capture panoramic lake views. She walks through the challenges…
From seejanedrill. Walabot Sponsored Today’s video Unlock the inside of your walls with Walabot DIY2 — the smart wall-scanner that uses advanced RF technology to detect studs, pipes, wires, and even movement. In this project, I show how Walabot helps you work safer and more accurately by revealing exactly what’s behind the drywall. It’s an…
From The Build Show. In this episode of The Build Show, Jake walks through a Kansas City addition project and highlights why proper water management and rain-screen design are critical for building durability. He contrasts common “single-wall” T1-11 construction used in many local spec homes with his team’s higher-performance approach using ZIP-R sheathing, dedicated air…
From This Old House. How to make your home run itself from your phone—simple automations you can set up in minutes, even if you’re not techy. Comedian Tig Notaro opens the door to her family’s Gulf Coast home and the love, loss, and resilience held in its walls. And Cheap Old Houses returns with real…
From The Build Show. Join us for an exclusive webinar with Matt Risinger as he dives deep into the future of high-performance windows and doors with the team from Enerlux. This fast-paced, information-rich session explores why fiberglass is becoming the preferred window material for builders who demand strength, energy efficiency, and long-term durability. Learn how…
From The Build Show. In this second episode of the Perfect Plumbing Plan, Matt is joined by engineer Ross and master plumber Eric for a deep dive into plumbing layouts and the science behind creating faster, more efficient hot-water delivery. Together, they break down concepts like the hot water rectangle, compare trunk-and-branch systems with manifold…
From The Build Show. In this episode of Best of Build Show, Matt and Lydia “Drywall Shorty” Crowder explain the fundamentals of properly filling flat drywall joints. She covers why allowing tape and mud to fully dry is essential, how bevels work, and how to avoid overfilling that leads to visible wall humps. Lydia demonstrates…
From This Old House. Timber frame expert, Arron Sturgis, has signed on to help restore original parts of the Ipswich house. Today Kevin O’Connor and Tom Silva help dismantle the ell and preserve as much of the original material as possible. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Along with Tom Silva, historic timber frame expert…
From The Build Show. Eric Aune and guest Brian Foy break down Rheem’s latest hybrid heat pump water heater. They explain how the heat pump and electric elements work together, walk through the five operating modes, and show how the EcoNet app lets homeowners schedule, monitor, and protect their system with leak detection and usage…
From This Old House. Jenn Nawada goes to a nursery and meets horticulturist Peter Mezzitt who helps her tag a quintessential street tree—the American Elm—resistant to the Dutch Elm disease and is fast growing and has a vertical vase-like shape. She brings it back to the house and plants it in the side yard near…
From This Old House. Tom Silva and contractor, Deliandro Dias will side the house with fiberboard that fits the look of the West Roxbury Victorian and is easy to maintain. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Where to find it? Building contractor: Alpha Smart Builders [https://alphasmartbuilders.com/] Looking for more step by step guidance on how…
From The Build Show. In this episode of the Build Show Podcast, Matt visits with master plumber Eric Aune—known to many as Mechanical Hub—and welcomes special guest Ross Trethewey, the acclaimed engineer from This Old House. Together, the trio unpacks the concepts behind their new series, The Perfect Plumbing Plan, focusing on how smarter layouts…
From Lincoln St. Woodworks. Big thanks to Branch for partnering with me! Transform your workspace by heading to my link https://branchfurniture.yt.link/mpONIfY. Can I build the nicest desk on youtube and prove the haters wrong? Lets find out. Don’t miss out on the best sale of the year! Honest Finishing – https://lincolnstwoodworks.com/pages/honest-finishing Beginner Course – https://www.bestbeginnerwoodworking.com/…
From This Old House. The siding on the West Roxbury project is in sad shape and our builder recommends it be replaced. The old underlayment appears to be rosin paper. Deliandro Dias will use a more high tech house wrap. This new product is a self-adhesive house wrap. Tom Silva helps with the installation. SUBSCRIBE…
From The Build Show. In this episode of The Build Show, Matt Risinger teams up with structural engineer Whit Smith to break down best practices for CMU construction. Filmed at Whit’s personal home build, the episode dives into the essential details that make a CMU project strong, durable, and code-compliant—from the right grout mix and…
From This Old House. In this video, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada teaches host Kevin O’Connor about the light needs of some different potted plants that even he could keep alive. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House…
From HAXMAN. Build a privacy fence, crazy fast, that will last for decades with no digging! You’ve never seen a fence built this way! Fence contractors hate me for showing you how to transform your yard with this DIY home improvement project. Head to my link https://drinkag1.com/haxman to get a free AG1 welcome kit with…
From This Old House. Jenn Nawada travels to the International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon, to learn how roses are curated and tested for quality before selecting one for a homeowner’s garden; Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner replace a few bathroom wall tiles damaged by grab bars from the previous homeowner; as another season…
From This Old House. This week on This Old House Radio Hour, we’re breaking down home and renter’s insurance—what you really need, what’s worth skipping, and how to keep premiums affordable without leaving gaps. New York Times Bestselling author and National Book Award nominee Rachel Kushner shares the lessons she learned growing up in a…
From The Build Show. In this first episode of our Series The Perfect Plumbing Plan, Matt and Eric dive into the essential strategies every homeowner and builder should understand before laying out a plumbing system. They walk through the foundational decisions that set a project up for long-term reliability, from understanding optimal fixture placement to…
From The Build Show. In this episode of The Build Show, Matt demonstrates how exterior mineral fiber insulation can dramatically improve a home’s fire resistance while delivering year-round energy benefits. He compares PowerWool’s Class A, non-combustible mineral fiber board to traditional foam insulation, showing how foam quickly melts, burns, and drips under a propane torch,…
From This Old House. Eleven months ago, construction started on an 1887 Victorian in Glen Ridge, NJ, to restore its original charm and transform it into a home suitable for multigenerational living. The renovation is now complete, and the crew is back for a tour. The homeowner presents a new bottle of wine, signifying the…
From This Old House. When the Swannanoa River surged past 26 feet during Hurricane Helene, it didn’t just destroy homes, it swept their landscapes with it. A local garden center is stepping in to help revive the Swannanoa project houses. Jenn meets with homeowners Jim, Allie, and Miah to hear their visions for brand-new yards, offering plant…
From This Old House. In this video, when a homeowner wanted a bit more soundproofing in their home, they decided solid-core doors would be a big upgrade over hollow. Nathan Gilbert replaced their doors with new, modern, solid doors. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to…
From The Build Show. This week on the Build Podcast, Matt sits down with with building scientist Jesse Hayre as part of The Origin Series, exploring how modern construction practices have evolved and where the industry is headed. Jesse shares his background in engineering and building science, highlighting how curiosity about materials and performance led…
From This Old House. In this video, landscape contractor Lee Gilliam helps a pair of homeowners level and seed their backyard so their daughter can stay dry and play safely. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Where to find it? Level rake [homedepot.sjv.io/Vx29NA] Starter fertilizer [https://homedepot.sjv.io/yq4AkV] was used to boost early root growth after seeding.…
From This Old House. As part of the Generation Next initiative, Richard visits a local vo-tech school to speak to the plumbing students. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Richard Trethewey visits Essex Technical High School and finds a school vastly different from tech schools of old. Today they are training kids for a future…
From The Build Show. Today on The Build Show, Matt focuses on one of his favorite topics: framing. With an assist from Mark Wille, Matt dives deep into Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) from Extreme Panel, emphasizing six key advantages: built-in monopoly framing, extreme weather and load resistance, high insulation values, rapid construction speed, minimal job-site…