This Old House Radio Hour

• A Field Guide to the American Porch, Urban Gardening and Musician Nathaniel Rateliff's Mountain Hideaway

  This week on This Old House Radio Hour, we explore the spaces that bring us together—both inside and out. Architect and author Charlie Hailey joins us to discuss the surprising resurgence of the American porch, what makes it such a powerful space for connection, and how to design one that enhances airflow, light, and livability. Then we head to Morrison, Colorado, where musician Nathaniel Rateliff gives us a tour of his rustic mountain hideaway—complete with a recording studio and cliffside views. In our call-in segment, we tackle everything from crumbling brick railings to filling in a missing hot tub hole in a deck, choosing smart venting options for old houses, and whether to trust those free arc fault detectors from your insurance company. Finally, Kamaria Gray of Detroit’s Hood Stead Farm shares tips for starting an urban garden anywhere—even on a windowsill. Whether you’re a DIYer, a porch-sitter, or a green thumb in training, this episode’s packed with inspiration and smart advice you can use. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: [0:55] – Porch design tips: Six-sided structure, passive cooling, sloped floors, air circulation, screened protection, blue ceiling effect[8:35] – Masonry fix: Water-damaged brick, bugs under brick, how to stop freeze/thaw damage[17:03] – Deck repair: How to fill an old hot tub hole, reframe and weave in decking, DIY structure support[21:22] – Arc fault detectors: Are they worth it? Pros, cons, privacy concerns, and DIY monitoring alternatives[26:24] – Bathroom ventilation: How to vent through a soffit, prevent rot, best practices for short overhangs[40:29] – Urban gardening tips: Soil prep, composting, what to grow first, pest deterrents, low-stakes learning[49:55] – Simple Fix: Remove lint from roller covers with painter’s tape for smoother paint jobs

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• The Ultimate DIY Cleaning Solution + Peter Sagal’s House from Hell!

  This week on This Old House Radio Hour, we’re scrubbing deep, digging trenches, and pulling back the curtain on the emotional side of homeownership. We open the episode with Brandon Pleshek—aka “Clean That Up”—who shares his go-to DIY vinegar-based cleaner, why it works, and where you should never use it. Then it’s onto the phones, starting with a call from California about whether vintage tile can (and should) be saved.Our weekly House Rules game delivers a quick hit of lawn care wisdom, while a listener from Brooklyn gets a hard truth about the perils of combined sewer systems. We cover safe ways to remove lead paint from masonry, how to properly replace a rake board, and why PVC might be the best upgrade you didn’t know you needed.In My Old House, Peter Sagal (host of NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!) shares the darkly funny, deeply relatable story of buying the wrong house for all the wrong reasons. Finally, Cheap Old Houses delivers a bank vault with Airbnb potential and a train caboose you can live in—with one smart DIY trick for seed spreading to close the show. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: DIY Vinegar Cleaner (0:55):Make a simple, effective cleaner using 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup water, and 1 tsp dish soap. Great on glass and hard surfaces—but avoid marble, granite, and wood.Vintage Tile Advice (9:48):If the glaze is worn or the pattern fading, you may need to replace—but decorative vintage tile is often worth preserving.Lawn Tip (House Rules):Grubs—not beetles or cinch bugs—are eating your grass from below. Here's how to identify and control them.Flooding Solution (17:27):Combined storm/sewer systems can cause backups during heavy rain. Why a sump system or rerouting is essential in older cities. Lead Paint Safety (21:38):Use an over-the-counter swab test to check old paint for lead before scraping. If positive, consider hiring a pro or using EPA-safe methods.Rake Board Repair with PVC (26:49):When your spotlight rips away from old wood trim, replace the rake board with maintenance-free PVC—just mind the expansion gaps.Simple Fix – Bucket Seeding Trick:No broadcast spreader? Use a bucket and your hand to cast seed—just like feeding chickens. Perfect for small lawns or quick reseeding. -- other moments -- Peter Sagal (32:27)Save This Old House (41:24)

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• Is Your Parents Home Safe + DIY Weed Killer + The Right Way to Refinish Butcher Block

  This week on This Old House Radio Hour, we’re making your home smarter, safer, and more soulful—whatever your age, stage, or style. Rick Cantino from Operation Independence joins us with essential advice for aging in place, from grab bars to threshold-free showers to stair lifts that won’t kill your curb appeal. Then we take your calls: a fireplace switch that only works if you smack it, post-contractor tile repairs, and the right way to refinish butcher block. Later, Third Eye Blind’s Stephan Jenkins takes us inside his decade-long restoration of a San Francisco Victorian. Plus: the real difference between gas and induction—and the DIY weed killer that actually works.In This Episode You’ll Learn:• How to make your home safer for senior. (0:55)• Wiring a wall switch for a gas fireplace (8:38)• How to hide tile holes after glass shower reinstallation (16:35)• The best food-safe finish for butcher block counters (23:04)• Fixing HVAC issues in multi-level homes (27:36)• Stephan Jenkins’ renovation journey in a San Francisco Victorian (32:56)• Gas vs. induction: which is right for your kitchen? (41:09)• Simple Fix: DIY weed killer you can mix in minutes (49:46)

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• The Ultimate Home Organization Method + How to Drill Safely into Walls

  This week on This Old House Radio Hour, we’re helping you bring order to the chaos—starting with the junk drawer. The founders of the Neat Method join us to share their ultimate organizing approach: no label maker required. Then, we roll up our sleeves for practical fixes around the house, including how to repaint a metal garage door, treat cedar beams damaged by roof leaks, and repair crumbling brick. Plus, we share a simple fix on how to drill into your walls without hitting pipes or wires. Finally, Marketplace host David Brancaccio shares the story of losing his beloved Altadena cottage to wildfire—and what it means to build a home for the next 99 years.In This Episode You’ll Learn:• The best way to organize any space.  (1:08)• Fixing a floating floor (9:27)• Repairing bricks with damaged faces (17:50)• Water-stained cedar beam solutions (23:14)• How to repaint a steel garage door without peeling (26:42)• David Brancaccio’s journey of loss and rebuilding after fire (32:51)• Cheap Old Houses: A circular midcentury gem + a 7,200 sq ft schoolhouse (40:20)• Simple Fix: How to drill safely without hitting pipes or wires (49:48)Call the hotline with your questions: (877) 864-7460

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• Modern Feng Shui Tips + Restoring Rusted Chrome Fixtures + How to Stop Paint from Peeling

  This week on This Old House Radio Hour, we’re shifting the energy—literally. Architect and modern feng shui expert Cliff Tan joins us to share how simple design changes can create more harmony, balance, and positive flow in your home. From furniture placement to room orientation, Cliff breaks down the ancient principles of feng shui with a fresh, accessible approach. (1:01)Then: imagine secretly building an apartment inside a mall. That’s exactly what Michael Townsend and eight artists did in 2003 inside the Providence Place Mall. Michael shares how they constructed a hidden 700-square-foot home—and lived there for four years undetected. (32:46)Want to make your lawn look like your favorite Baseball Field? If you build it… We can help you… Former Director of Grounds for the Boston Red Sox, David Mellor, joins us to share his tips and tricks to give your yard a major league overhaul. (40:27) Plus, the This Old House experts are standing by to solve your most pressing home improvement issues:(8:07)—Jenn Nawada and Zack Dettmore help Cory in Texas restore his classic porch, adding a creative DIY twist that blends traditional materials with a more flexible alternative, preserving the timeless look. (18:12)—Zack Dettmore and Jenn Largesse chat with Kathy from New Jersey about an unusual challenge: her block house has no insulation between the walls and the exterior. Jenn and Zack share some solutions to update her walls and add that much-needed insulation, especially during the winter. (22:54)—Mauro Henrique and Zack Dettmore help listener Pam in Michigan, who wants to paint the bricks in her home. Mauro goes over the best ways to paint brick and the steps you need to take if you want to paint the bricks around your fireplace. (26:50)—Richard Trethewey and Zack Dettmore speak with Adam from Ohio. Adam is interested in retrofitting his existing heating system to incorporate propane as a fuel source. Richard evaluates whether Adam can make this upgrade.All that, plus a round of our house rules game, and a simple fix for unsticking your windows. This Old House Radio Hour is produced by Ember20 and distributed by American Public Media.

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