This Old House Radio Hour

Garage doors are the hardest-working system in your home, so what happens when they start to fail? We break down how to maintain, repair, and replace them before small issues become costly problems. Then, Senior Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy reflects on the Sacramento home that shaped his lifelong belief in justice, tolerance, and moral responsibility. And finally, a practical guide to cleaning and preserving your upholstery, so your couch can survive everything from spills to everyday wear.In This Episode You’ll Learn: * How to temporarily fix a misaligned window that won’t close (8:52)* Whether and how to rebalance an uneven HVAC system (14:50)* What causes a retaining wall to bulge and how to prevent further damage (20:20)* How to manage humidity and radon in a multi-level home (26:30)All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.

Got bees? Before you call an exterminator, a professional beekeeper explains why relocation is often the smarter move, and how to keep colonies from moving into your home in the first place. Seinfeld writer Spike Feresten tours his 1939 Paul Williams–designed home in the Hollywood Hills, from a hidden speakeasy to a basement with a surprising past. And we break down why contractors are wary of stepping into partially DIY projects, and what homeowners can do to make those collaborations actually work.In This Episode You’ll Learn: * How to reduce dampness and musty smells in a dirt-floor basement with a fieldstone foundation. (7:30) * How to properly level and maintain a bocce ball court on a slope. (14:16)* Whether it’s worth removing asbestos siding to replace windows and add insulation—and how to do it safely; (20:23) * Why removing paint from brick is so difficult (and when it’s better to leave it alone). (26:14)All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.

Is luxury paint actually worth the splurge, or are you just paying for branding? This week, we dig into what really separates high-end paint from the rest, from durability and scrub-ability to the chemistry inside the can. Then, CNN anchor Jake Tapper takes us to his quiet A-frame lake house in rural Virginia, a family refuge far from the chaos of Washington. And This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada explains how to create a biodiverse yard with native plants, layered landscaping, and habitat that supports birds, bees, and other wildlife.In This Episode You’ll Learn:* How to hang photos and curtain rods on old plaster walls in a renter-friendly way. (7:57)* What might be causing a hump in the floor of a 1909 Craftsman home. (14:19)* Ways to disguise a large crack in a wall-sized mirror. (20:31)* How to make a smart thermostat work in an older home with outdated wiring. (25:28)All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.Show notes:Find MPI’s Approved Products List or Decision Tree to help find the perfect match at MPI.net. (https://mpi.net/thisoldhouse/)

We take a look at what comes after the McMansion, as architecture critic Kate Wagner explains how these oversized suburban status symbols came to define an era and why today’s replacement may be even blander. Then, Bullseye host Jesse Thorn takes us inside his lovingly preserved 1888 Queen Anne in Los Angeles, where original craftsmanship, city noise, and a lived-in sense of history make the house feel truly alive. And Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz shares simple ways to make your living room feel more like a real movie theater, from better sound to fewer distractions.In this episode you’ll learn:* Whether acoustic insulation above a bathroom ceiling can cause moisture problems, and why proper ventilation is the real key. (8:02)* How to deal with a sink cutout that’s too large for a replacement sink without replacing the whole countertop. (14:16)* The best way to remove raised plaster stencil designs from a wall before repainting. (20:59)* What it could mean when an older home’s floors suddenly develop a hump or slope, and when structural movement may be a concern. (26:09)All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.

Energy bills are climbing, but a new wave of “plug and play” solar is making it easier for homeowners and renters to start generating their own power without a full rooftop install. Then, author Kao Kalia Yang takes us inside the drafty blue St. Paul duplex that helped her refugee family redefine what “home” could be. Plus, Cheap Old Houses spotlights an 1895 shingle-style Victorian in Arkansas for under $40,000, and the team breaks down what’s charming, what’s risky, and how historic tax credits can help bring a place like this back to life.In This Episode You’ll Learn: * How chain-drive garage door openers compare to belt-drive models, and what’s involved in switching (8:37)* What might cause eerie “whistling” in plumbing after you shut off a faucet, and a simple test to diagnose it (14:19)* Whether salvaging vintage windows for a period home is worth the effort, and how to shop for historically appropriate modern replacements (21:07)* How to prioritize foundation and HVAC concerns when you’re also planning a future addition or major renovation (26:00)

As tornado season ramps up, we separate myth from fact about storm protection and explain what actually makes a shelter tornado-rated. Then bestselling author Tracy Sierra takes us inside her 300-year-old New England colonial, where squeaky floorboards, carved windowpanes, and a real bump in the night helped spark her latest novel. Finally, structural engineer Dr. Nehemiah Mabry lays out the clear line between cosmetic updates and risky renovations, including the warning signs that mean it’s time to call in a licensed pro.On this episode you’ll learn: * Whether insulating between an 1806 home’s basement and original first-floor wood floors is worth it, and how to do it without trapping moisture. * Why certain rooms and interior walls can feel unusually hot in winter and cold in summer with a ducted heat-pump system, and how to diagnose air leakage or airflow patterns. * What to do when a single slate shower tile starts turning to powder, including whether it’s a bad tile, a moisture issue, and how sealing and maintenance can help. * Options for updating a large vaulted popcorn ceiling in a 1992 home.All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.

We discuss the truth about “house burping,” when opening your windows helps, when it doesn’t, and what actually keeps your indoor air healthy. Nick Offerman returns to the Illinois farmhouse that shaped his love of building. Plus, we break down how to make sure your contractor pulls the right permits, before a small oversight turns into a big problem.In This Episode You’ll Learn:* How to fix a leaky glass shower door: where the water is really escaping and what stops it. (8:17)* How to switch a wood fireplace to gas or electric and which one is right for you. (14:28)* Which anchors to trust in drywall, how to pick the right strength, and how to secure things without wrecking your walls. (19:44)* The best lighting options for an unfinished basement, when to call an electrician, and why more outlets can save you headaches later. (26:52)All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.

Building Tomorrow is a special collaboration between Marketplace and This Old House Radio Hour that asks a simple but urgent question: how do we build homes that can last the next hundred years? From wildfire rebuilds to factory-built housing, this hour explores how new materials, new methods, and new ideas about community are reshaping the future of housing in America. Hosted by Jenn Largesse and Marketplace’s David Brancaccio, the episode blends reporting, lived experience, and hard science to show what’s possible right now.In this episode you’ll learn about: * A massive prefab factory where homes are built like cars on an assembly line.* A disaster research campus where engineers crash-test houses against hurricanes, hail, and wildfire.* A cutting-edge microfactory using software and small factories to build homes faster, locally, and at scale.* Touring a pioneering cross-laminated timber home built as a living case study in low-carbon construction.* How a 100-year-old house is transformed into a net-zero, future-ready home.* A tiny-house community redefining retirement, aging, and what “home” really means.Note: In the segment featuring Aloe Blacc's pre fabricated home, the exterior is made of cement fiber but the interior is not. The home's fire resilience comes from a combination of steel framing, fiber cement siding, and triple paned windows.

Learn how to get rid of stubborn smoke odor in a home. Restoration expert Darren Hudema breaks down how to ID the type of smoke you’re dealing with, what you can safely tackle yourself, and when it’s time to call a certified pro We visit comedian Lewis Black’s childhood bungalow, where basement ping-pong rivalries, radio as a lifeline, and his family’s creative streak shaped the person he became. Then Cheap Old Houses returns with two sub-$30K listings, breaking down what’s charming, what’s alarming, and what’s realistically fixable. Finally, Zach shares a deceptively simple favorite tool: a toothbrush, for cleaning glue squeeze-out from detailed trim before it hardens.In this episode you will learn: * How to safely start using gas fireplaces you have not turned on in years. (9:02)* How often key home systems should be inspected and where to find a seasonal home maintenance checklist. (12:08)* What to do when window and shutter work leaves new drywall cracks, damaged corner bead, and rust bleed-through. (14:16)* How to replace a stuck drain on a pedestal sink and when removing the sink (or replacing it) is the most practical path forward. (19:38)* Which air-conditioning options work best for older, historically detailed homes without existing ductwork, plus the pros and cons of different options. (25:35)All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.