Blog Posts by This Old House Magazine

Recently, news about devastating earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and tsunamis around the world had us wondering: What's the worst that can happen in the United States? Turns out it's pretty bad. We're not talking about a couple of feet of water in your basement or a tree down in the yard. We're talking about your home obliterated. And not just your home, but whole metropolitan areas. As This Old House found out, no matter where you live, you can't escape from the forces of nature. Read on to see how, in just the blink of an eye, entire American cities could be wiped off the face of the Earth. See all 10 cities at thisoldhouse.com.


1. New York, NY

Think the 2006 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed 250,000 people, was the worst wave that could ever hit mankind? Think again. Off the coast of western Africa sits Cumbre Vieja, a volcano in the Canary Islands that scientists believe is in imminent danger of collapse. The falling rock that results would send a wall of water

Here at This Old House, our readers never cease to amaze us. It's amazing what they've accomplished with some good old-fashioned elbow grease! Get inspired by their results, and perhaps, steal an idea or two for your spring remodel. -Tabitha Sukhai

Italianate Before and After: A Community Saves an Old House


Before: Exterior

Vic and Cindy Young never planned on ending up back in Ohio. Sure, the Buckeye State was dear to their hearts-Vic grew up in Cincinnati, and Cindy spent many years in nearby Lebanon-but after moving to Colorado and then living abroad, the couple figured their heartland days were far behind them.

But when their four children ended up settling in the Midwest, coming home started to look like a pretty good idea. "We decided to find a place where they would all be able to come down in just one day to visit us," Vic says. But not just any place. They wanted a historic house in a historic town. And since Vic, a full-time restorer of old houses, was hankering for

Who says you have to leave the comfort of your home to see the world's most brilliant sights? Kick back and get clicking for the most fun (and affordable!) world tour you'll go on-without actually going anywhere. See all 10 Wild Houses at thisoldhouse.com

1. Pachyderm-Shaped Pad

Margate, NJ
James Vincent de Paul Lafferty, Jr., the original owner of Lucy the Elephant, thought his whimsical design might lure property buyers to his nearby land holdings back in the 1880s. She didn't, but some 130 years later, she's still awesome! Read more about Lucy


2. Beach House Party

Venice Beach, California
This Frank Gehry-designed beach house seems tame compared to the postmodern architect's curvilinear creations for the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Read more about The Norton Beach House

3. Teahouse Treehouse

Chino, Japan
Architect Terunobu Fujimori designed this house for his personal use in 2004-and he may not see too many eager visitors, for physical reasons. The treehouse teahouse rests on

We love our homes because they keep us warm, safe and sound. But the same forces keeping us happy can turn on us and cause us harm-whether it's creating a hospitable environment for dangerous predators, or leaky gas lines that turn lethal. Here are five dangers to look out for. See all 10 Ways Your Home Can Kill You at thisoldhouse.com

1. Deadly Odorless Gas We all go to sleep at night, but each year 170 of us never wake up thanks to this silent killer. Carbon monoxide poisoning caused by malfunctioning fuel burning appliances such as furnaces, ranges, water and room heaters poses a dangerous threat to you and your family. One way to protect yourself is to make sure you vent the exhaust of these appliances properly, angling pipes up, not down, as these folks have done. Hot air rises, you know-and checking that vents are free of cracks and gaps is another good way to be sure the pipes aren't the problem. Most importantly, install a standard carbon monoxide detector. They only cost 20

If you're like most people, you've got a sad-looking, post-winter hedge bordering your yard. Rows of thickly planted shrubs can be a handsome way to define borders and boundary lines, keep children and pets in (or out), and give birds shelter and even food. But like all shrubs, hedges need regular watering, feeding, and pruning to look their best. Though folks may forget to give roots a good drink in hot weather or to fertilize in early spring with a good 10-10-10 formula, the last area is where most of us really lose it. "A lot of people are intimidated by pruning, but it's a science anyone can master," says This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook. "You just have to learn a few basics."

MORE: Shrub Pruning Dos and Don'ts

Mistake #1: Shearing hedges without hand-pruning them

Using shears-whether hand-held pruners with long scissorlike blades or a power trimmer-to take off branch tips keeps hedges neat and tidy, and also stimulates bud production near the plants'

An essential for any cleanup, these thirsty cellulose rectangles boast an absorbing array of other uses.

MORE: See all 10 Uses for Sponges at thisoldhouse.com




1. Sprout Seeds

Embed flax, radish, or other fast-growing seeds in a damp sponge and place it under an inverted glass bowl in a sunny location. Moisten occasionally. Once you notice seedlings, transfer them to soil.

MORE: SEE HOW SPONGES CAN PREVENT OIL STAINS ON YOUR GARAGE FLOOR

Make a shovel or rake more comfortable to hold by wrapping it with a flexible sponge secured with rubber bands.

MORE: SEE HOW YOU CAN USE A SPONGE TO CREATE A TOOL FOR DRYING NARROW CONTAINERS

Cut damp sponges into small squares and place between breakables. As they dry, they'll conform to the contours of whatever they surround.

MORE: SEE HOW SPONGES CAN HELP YOU LOOSEN STUBBORN WALLPAPER

Make a bar of soap last longer between

Succulent-wall-02

There isn't anything you can't "learn" from a how-to Web search, right? Especially here at thisoldhouse.com! But, I have to admit, nothing comes close to settling in for some DIY "studying" with a good book. Garden Up! by Susan Morrison and Rebecca Sweet is my new favorite. Whether you're low on space and looking for smart ways to get growing, or just looking for creative ways to fill every bare spot on your massive lot, you'll love Morrison's and Sweet's stunning ideas.

Master Gardener and landscape designer Susan Morrison and Rebecca Sweet-her gardens have been featured in Fine Gardening and Woman's Day-offer up easy-care and space-smart solutions to green up your outdoor spaces. In fact, they've sent us the succulent wall how-to from their book to share.

Succulent-wall
Photo: Susan Morrison

STEP 1: Gather Your Tools

- A purchased, recycled, or constructed frame like the one shown here. The authors suggest living picture kits (plants, soil, frame) from Succulent Gardens

PROBLEM #1: The Basement is Under Three Feet of Water

What to do: If the water is coming from a plumbing problem (that is, if it's not teeming outside), shut off the main right away-unless you have to swim to it. Newer houses typically have electrical wiring at least a foot off the ground, but if your heating plant is old, its electrical feed may be just inches off grade. The water could be electrified even if it's only ankle deep. Call an electrician or the utility to cut power to the building. If it's a burst pipe, call a plumber. If it's a rainstorm, sit tight and wait for the water level to drop before attempting a cleanup.

How to keep this from happening to you: You can't do much to prevent pipes from bursting, other than never letting them freeze. But you can protect your basement from rain-induced flooding. "Make sure your yard slopes away from the house and that your gutters are working properly," says Clark Campbell, the owner of an Atlanta basement-waterproofing company