1. Account for Codes and Safety Every attic is different, but a few established norms and practices will guide your renovation. Follow the “rule of 7s”: Enforcement varies, but codes typically say that at least half of a finished attic must be at least 7 feet high, and that this area must be a minimum of 7 feet wide and 70 square feet. A contractor or a local building official can help you assess how the rule will apply to your attic and how modifications like dormers can resolve height shortcomings....

In this episode: Kevin O’Connor learns how quartz countertops are manufactured and then helps install one in a homeowner’s kitchen; Nathan Gilbert explains the proper way to hang and display a U.S. flag; Tom Silva and Jenn Nawada split firewood using a variety of techniques; Mark McCullough installs a fire pit that comes in a kit. How to Install a Quartz Countertop Kevin O’Connor learns how quartz countertops are manufactured and then helps install one in a homeowner’s kitchen....

—Mary Ann Carpentieri, Warwick, RI Pine Needles Can Work as Mulch Pine needles, also known as pine straw, make fine mulch for some flower beds. They are light and fluffy, so spreading them around is a piece of cake, and they don’t compact much as they decompose, so you don’t have to worry about them becoming too thick or forming a rain-impervious mat. Even better, in your case, they’re free for the raking....

Energy-Conscious Upgrades When you’re trying to cool off indoors, air conditioning can be a relief—but it can also be a big contributor to your electric bill. Upgrading to an ENERGY STAR® certified window A/C unit or ENERGY STAR certified central air conditioning system can reduce your energy consumption and your operating costs. National Grid offers rebates on your purchase of new qualifying units, so you can stay cool and comfortable, save energy, and reduce energy costs at the same time....

Top 5 Drills Best Handle: DEWALT Cordless Drill/Driver Kit Best For Medium Tasks: BLACK+DECKER Cordless Drill/Driver Best Accessories: TECCPO Cordless Drill Best For Heavy-Duty Tasks: DEWALT Brushless Cordless Drill/Driver Kit Best Corded Drill: BLACK+DECKER Corded Drill Best Handle: DEWALT Cordless Drill/Driver Kit The handle on this cordless drill is completely covered in a textured, rubberized material, giving you something comfortable and non-slip to hold onto. This drill comes with a carrying bag for holding the tool and its two batteries and charger....

Top 5 Electric Chainsaws Best Battery-Powered Model: Milwaukee 16-Inch Chainsaw Kit Best for Small Projects: DEWALT 20-Volt MAX XR 12-Inch Chainsaw Kit Best Corded Model: Oregon CS1500 18-Inch Corded Electric Chainsaw Best Lightweight Model: Greenworks 12-Inch, 40-Volt Cordless Chainsaw Best Value: WEN 16-Inch Electric Chainsaw Best Battery-Powered Model: Milwaukee 16-Inch Chainsaw Kit This Milwaukee 16-inch chainsaw rivals the power of its 40cc gas-powered counterpart with its efficient speed that reaches full throttle in just one second....

Top 5 Fire Pit Tables Best for Large Yards: Outland Living Rectangular Fire Table Safest Fire Pit: U-MAX Propane Gas Fire Pit Table Best for Small Yards: Best Choice Products Fire Pit Table Best Tabletop: Outland Living Square Fire Pit Table Best for Traditional Fires: Yaheetech Fire Pit Table Pros and Cons ✔ Features easy-pull handles to reach the hidden propane tank under the tabletop✔ Has a powder-coated aluminum frame for durability✔ Doesn’t produce smoke ✘ Weighs close to 100 pounds✘ Requires a separate purchase if you want a flame guard...

Top 5 Hammocks Best Warranty: Wise Owl Outfitters Hammock Best Stationary Hammock: Vivere Double Cotton Hammock Best Straps: Kootek Camping Hammock Most Trusted: ENO DoubleNest Lightweight Camping Hammock Best Bug Protection: FIRINER Camping Hammock Best Warranty: Wise Owl Outfitters Hammock Whether you plan to use your hammock alone or with a loved one, Wise Owl Outfitters has you covered thanks to its two size options for one or two people. This hammock also comes with two nine-foot straps that each have five loops, allowing you to customize the bed to best fit your setup....

Explore our top recommendations, tips on what to look for when shopping, and answers to common landscape fabric questions below. Best For Small Gardens: ECOgardener Weed Barrier Best Lifespan: Dewitt Bulk Woven Landscape Fabric Best For Large Gardens: Mutual Industries Geotextile Fabric Best Nonwoven Fabric: HOOPLE Garden Weed Barrier Best UV Resistance: WAENLIR Heavy-Duty Weed Barrier Best For Small Gardens: ECOgardener Weed Barrier Pros and Cons ✔ Features double-layered weatherproof fabric✔ Safe for use in vegetable gardens✔ Is easy to cut and install ✘ May not eliminate 100% of weeds✘ Refund guarantee lapses after 30 days...

Top 5 Mouse Traps Best Glue Trap: Catchmaster Baited Rat, Mouse, and Snake Glue Traps Best Pack: JT Eaton 409BULK Jawz Plastic Mouse Trap Best Jaws: Tomcat Press ‘N Set Mouse Trap Best For Small Mice: Acmind Mouse Trap Best Catch-and-Release Trap: Catcha Two-Piece Humane Smart Mouse Trap Best Glue Trap: Catchmaster Baited Rat, Mouse, and Snake Glue Traps If you’re looking for a trap that’s easy to set and safe for homes with pets and children, this glue model is the one for you....

But just because a mattress calls itself luxury doesn’t mean it’s the ideal bed for you. And furthermore, who are you to judge if you haven’t had a chance to test the bed yourself? That’s where the This Old House Reviews Team, in partnership with Mattress Advisor, can help. Measuring performance factors like cooling, motion isolation, pressure relief, and spinal alignment, results from the Mattress Advisor sleep lab and tester feedback gave us insight into which mattresses truly merit the luxury label....

That means whoever does the work needs the know-how and the integrity to do the job right. DIY’ing your own roof is tricky. If you get it wrong, you can potentially ruin your house—and that’s not to mention the safety considerations of working on a slope that’s high up in the air. Know the Anatomy of a Roof The first way that roofs shed water is their slope. The greater the slope of a roof, the faster water runs off it, and the less time it has in which to find a hole to leak through....

It sold briskly, prompting other tool companies to come out with their own versions. Hyde responded with the 6-in-1 tool, and the race was on. Now there are 8-in-1, 10-in-1, and, yes, 17-in-1 painter’s tools. What hasn’t changed: Those original five uses that proved so valuable to painters and carpenters have remained part of the tool for 45 years. You Can Also Use It To: Punch holes in a paint-can rim....

It has a ¼-inch collet, features a brushless motor that runs on Bosch’s 12V battery platform and spins at 13,000 RPMs, has a unique compact design, an inset on/off switch on the left side, battery indicator, multi-functional lockable height adjustment, a spindle lock, finger guards, and a large base plate. Bosch Compact Cordless Router Features First up, the motor: at 13,000 RPMs and no variable speed dial, this may seem less versatile than other cordless routers on the market that run in the 25,000 RPM range and it is....

Your House Burns Down One of summer’s many lightning storms can start a fire, and with no one to call 911 it can take out a whole house. The best defense, says TOH general contractor Tom Silva, is lightning rods. “This is not by any means a homeowner job,” he warns. “You need a pro to install them.” Any highly placed metal protrusion on your house should be grounded, in fact, including weather vanes and satellite dishes....