This Old House Radio Hour

In our series, Work In Progress, This Old House's Kevin O'Connor talks with HII CEO Chris Kastner about America's manufacturing renaissance and how paid apprenticeships are creating lucrative careers without the burden of college debt.Then, how far is too far when it comes to Halloween decorations? A professional haunted house designer shares his secrets for creating a truly terrifying yard. And an energetic strategist explains how to banish unwanted spirits from your home. “Evil Dead” star Bruce Campbell takes us back to his childhood home, where backyard forts and homemade horror movies helped launch his career. Plus, we uncover the wild history of Halloween pranks, from stolen gates to the invention of trick-or-treating, and learn how to create the ultimate listening room at home.In This Episode You'll Learn:* How to protect and refinish expensive mahogany garage doors without having to redo them every year. * Whether gaps around your front door could be a warning sign of foundation problems. * What to do if your electrical panel is missing a protective cover and if you need to replace the entire panel.All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-864-7460.

In the first of a series called Work In Progress, This Old House's Kevin O'Connor sits down with Business Roundtable President and COO Kristen Silverberg to explore America's skilled labor shortage and how workforce training could help. Then, is having a TV in your bedroom ruining your sleep? A sleep expert weighs in on the debate and explains why breaking the habit can be harder than you think. Then, bestselling author Robert Kolker takes us inside his unconventional childhood home in a 1970s utopian community, complete with orange shag carpeting, unusual angles, and a ladder connecting his bedroom to a playroom. Plus, uncover the surprising history of the Lazy Susan, from a Victorian-era solution to the servant problem to its unlikely role in Chinese restaurants. And roofing expert Travis Jones reveals the warning signs your roof may be failing and when it's time to repair or replace it.In This Episode You'll Learn:* How to get started in the electrical trade when you're considering a career change as an adult. * Whether a sagging drywall ceiling is at risk of collapsing and how to repair it. * Which walls actually need washing before repainting your home's interior.All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-864-7460.

Why does your electric bill keep going up and what can you actually do about it? Consumer reporter Jeff Rossen shares simple ways to cut your energy costs. Comedian Ryan Hamilton returns to the tiny Idaho house where he grew up and reflects on how its simplicity and spectacular views shaped his idea of what makes a home feel comfortable. Plus, we dive into the strange rise and fall of the waterbed, then accessibility specialist Blake Watson explains how a new generation of residential elevators and stair lifts is making it easier to age in place.On this episode you’ll learn:* Why underwater lights that repeatedly trip a GFCI breaker could point to water intrusion, damaged wiring, or a failing fixture. * How to securely mount a freestanding projector screen in a finished basement without tearing into your floors or ceiling. * How to clean and re-stain weathered cedar shingles when you don’t know what finish was previously used.All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-864-7460.

Why does turning on the “big light” instantly kill the vibe? Home design curator Andrew Maddock explains why harsh overhead lighting can make a room feel uninviting and how layering warmer lights can transform your space. HGTV’s Erin Napier returns to the Mississippi ranch house her grandfather built from salvaged materials, where childhood memories include an encounter with a surprisingly friendly ghost. Plus, we reveal the secret history of the alarm clock and driveway expert Patrick Mattingly breaks down the pros and cons of asphalt, concrete, gravel, and pavers.On this episode you’ll learn:* Why discovering live knob-and-tube wiring during a renovation is a job for a licensed electrician, even if you were told the old wiring had been disconnected. * Why a repeatedly crumbling shower wall may signal water damage behind the surface and require more than another round of grout and mortar. * How to track down a leak in an old concrete fountain and seal hairline cracks without changing its appearance.All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-864-7460.