Privacy and quiet aren’t so easy to achieve when it’s a corner property and two sides are exposed to the neighborhood. Add to that the sloping terrain—how and what do you plant to keep it stable, yet pleasing?—and turning a hillside into a beautiful and useful landscape can feel like an uphill battle. The Garden Plan A small circular driveway leads to the front of the house. In back, the teardrop-shaped sloping one-acre lot was turned into a series of connecting outdoor rooms....

Engineered for Long-lasting Stability The Farmhouse floor framing uses Trus Joist® TJI® Joists manufactured by Weyerhaeuser. Strong and lightweight, they can handle longer spans than standard dimensional lumber and are less likely to warp, twist or shrink. It all adds up to faster installation and solid, squeak-free floors. A Solid Subfloor that Stands Up to the Elements The Farmhouse pairs its Trus Joist® TJI® Joists with Weyerhaeuser’s newest innovation in premium subfloor, Diamond™ OSB floor panels....

Today, fire pits come in a wide range of sizes, materials, and styles. Choosing the right type depends on how frequently you’ll use it, where you plan to put it, your budget, and your local code, which can dictate size—or whether one is allowed at all. Some homeowners swear allegiance to a crackling wood fire (and are willing to deal with the smoke and ash that come with it), while others may find the ease of flipping a switch for instant (and more controllable) flames a greater draw....

The Anatomy of a Window The glass pane is the most basic part of a window. The sash is the glass and the frame that holds it. Containing the sash is the window frame. The sill is on the outside of a window, while the horizontal piece of interior trim at the window’s bottom is a stool. Extension jambs are added to extend the window frame to the face of the interior wall for trim when the wall is thicker than the window frame’s depth....

Ways to Divide Lengths in Half Rounding to the nearest whole number Measure the width of the board, then choose a slightly larger dimension that’s easily divisible by two. For example, if the board measures 37⅝ inches, round it up to 40 inches. Pull a tape measure diagonally across the board until the 40-inch graduation aligns with the edge of the board. Make a pencil mark at the 20-inch graduation line, which is half of 40....

The best homeowners insurance companies in Washington, D.C., provide affordable premiums and extensive coverage with a variety of customizable add-ons. Read on for our top picks for Washington, D.C., home insurance. To get home insurance quotes in your area, call 855-948-5219 or enter your zip code in our free quote tool: Washington, D.C.’s Top 4 Homeowners Insurance Companies The highest-rated homeowners insurance companies in Washington, D.C., include: Lemonade: Best Valuable Coverage Allstate: Best Overall Farmers: Most Customizable Coverage Travelers: Most Experience...

There are a wide variety of home security systems on the market in Tulsa. To help you find the right fit for your home, the This Old House Reviews Team has evaluated the best home security systems on key factors like affordability, equipment, and installation. Keep reading to learn about your options. Top 6 Home Security Systems in Tulsa ADT: Best Overall Vivint: Best for Smart Home Integration SimpliSafe: Best for Easy Installation Frontpoint: Best for Smartphone Integration Abode: Best for Customization Alder: Best for Medical Alerts...

However, with so many home warranty companies out there, keeping track of who offers what at the best price can be time-consuming. To that end, we’ve prepared a list of the top three home warranty companies in Cleveland, Ohio to make your search easier. We’re confident you can find the right warranty for your home from a provider on our list. Top 3 Home Warranty Companies in Cleveland The highest-rated home warranty companies in Cleveland include:...

Top 5 Hygrometers Best Display: ThermoPro Jumbo Digital Touchscreen Hygrometer Easiest To Read: ThermoPro Digital Hygrometer Best Smart Features: Govee Digital Hygrometers Best Installation Options: AcuRite Digital Hygrometer Best Value: JEDEW Two-Pack Mini Hygrometers Best Display: ThermoPro Jumbo Digital Touchscreen Hygrometer This digital hygrometer has a large four-inch LCD with a backlight and touchscreen navigation, giving homeowners easy access to indoor temperature and humidity readings. This hygrometer refreshes its temperature and humidity readings every 10 seconds to provide users with accurate data....

What Is Mortar Repointing? When mortar starts cracking, receding, and falling out of the joints, it’s time to chisel out the old stuff and trowel in the new, a process called repointing. This is a simple job, but it has to be done with care, using the right tools and the right materials to avoid damaging the brick and permanently compromising the integrity and appearance of the wall. For me, that means using hand tools and lime mortars similar to the ones masons employed 100 years ago....

The first step is to prep and paint the entire wall. Next, tape off and paint the gallery wall section and molding pieces. Lastly, adhere the molding to the wall and add photos, painting, or artwork. Check out the full entryway gallery wall tutorial on sherwinwilliams.com or learn more about the paint and supplies used to create this makeover by visiting your neighborhood Sherwin-Williams Paint Store!

The vision of this house really began in the heart of it all—the kitchen. “In the open floor plan, the kitchen is central to a 44-by-22-foot great room. So it was important that the spaces had a cohesive feel, but also that they had their own personality,” says Sandy. To accomplish her vision, Sandy teamed up with a friend, kitchen designer Karen Berkemeyer of Karen Berkemeyer Home. Says Karen, “We were looking for something different: warm and inviting; sort of rustic-meets-industrial, with a fresh, modern feel....