departments

ASK THIS OLD HOUSE

Richard Trethewey replies: Shade is nice, because a compressor does have to work a little harder when it’s in full sun. The Department of Energy says shading a compressor can shave 1 to 2 percent off cooling costs. But airflow is much more important; it’s the air moving over the compressor’s coils that causes them to give up their heat.

FINANCES

Beef Up Your Insurance

If you haven’t checked your homeowner’s policy in a while, you may be in for some nasty surprises

By JEFFREY ROTHFEDER9 min

114

features

A Family Affair

TOH’s creator designed his island getaway with three generations in mind

By RUSSELL MORASH9 min

130

features

flower power

How does this garden grow? From hand-sown seed, and TLC, and nothing at all in a row

By RYAN ROBBINS7 min

HOMEOWNER’S HANDBOOK

Installing a Tile Backsplash

In the design of a kitchen, seldom is enough thought given to the narrow strip of wall that runs between the counter and upper cabinets. This highly visible space—the backsplash—is usually just painted a neutral color and forgotten about.

By JOSEPH TRUINI7 min

BY DESIGN

Making the Pieces Fit

Some help with solving the bath design puzzle

By ZACHARY GAULKIN6 min

100

TRANSFORMATIONS

old logs, new life

A couple saves an abandoned cabin by building a new house around it

By LIZ SEYMOUR6 min

UPKEEP

Sliding-Door Tune-up

Go from sticky to smooth in a few easy steps

By JOSH GARSKOF6 min

fantasy islands

From under-counter wine coolers to pop-up TVs, there's practically no limit to what you can put in a kitchen island

By BARBARA CARLIN5 min

138

departments

Norm’s Notebook

Glue is often the best way to repair split wood, but sometimes it’s hard to separate the pieces enough to coat the mating surfaces. That was the case recently on the door of a small storage locker I built to hold hoses and gardening tools. The door, made with vertical tongue-andgroove boards held together with wood cleats, slammed open in a wind gust and one of the boards split.

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July | August 2003

July | August 2003

departments

ASK THIS OLD HOUSE

FINANCES

Beef Up Your Insurance

By JEFFREY ROTHFEDER9 min

features

A Family Affair

By RUSSELL MORASH9 min

This Old House | July 1 2003 Table of Contents

departments

ASK THIS OLD HOUSE

FINANCES

Beef Up Your Insurance

If you haven’t checked your homeowner’s policy in a while, you may be in for some nasty surprises

By JEFFREY ROTHFEDER9 min

features

A Family Affair

TOH’s creator designed his island getaway with three generations in mind

By RUSSELL MORASH9 min

features

flower power

How does this garden grow? From hand-sown seed, and TLC, and nothing at all in a row

By RYAN ROBBINS7 min

HOMEOWNER’S HANDBOOK

Installing a Tile Backsplash

By JOSEPH TRUINI7 min

BY DESIGN

Making the Pieces Fit

Some help with solving the bath design puzzle

By ZACHARY GAULKIN6 min

TRANSFORMATIONS

old logs, new life

A couple saves an abandoned cabin by building a new house around it

By LIZ SEYMOUR6 min

UPKEEP

Sliding-Door Tune-up

Go from sticky to smooth in a few easy steps

By JOSH GARSKOF6 min

fantasy islands

From under-counter wine coolers to pop-up TVs, there's practically no limit to what you can put in a kitchen island

By BARBARA CARLIN5 min

departments

Norm’s Notebook

Every Issue. Ever.

This Old House | The Complete Archive

Members-Only Access to 30 Years of Pro Know-How TV Archives • Online Q&A Sessions with the crew • Savings on renovation products • More!

Every Issue. Ever.

Members-Only Access to 30 Years of Pro Know-How

TV Archives • Online Q&A Sessions with the crew • Savings on renovation products • More!

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This Old House | July 1 2003
Table of Contents