Home Design for the Neurodivergent + How to Build a Catio + A Simple Hack for Picture Hanging
This week on This Old House Radio Hour, we explore what it means to build a truly inclusive home—one that works for every member of your family, including those who are neurodivergent. Dr. Susan Faja from Boston Children’s Hospital walks us through practical design tips for supporting sensory needs at home, from choosing the right lighting and colors to building calming spaces that actually work.Then, author Sloan Crosley takes us on a tour of her charmingly off-kilter West Village apartment, where a tilted floor, tulip tree view, and bookshelf-lined walls have shaped both her writing and her sense of home.Next, it’s DIY time. We help listeners insulate attics, restore old wood siding, seal leaky outlets, and repaint crumbly foundations. And finally, Catio Bob stops by to explain how to give your cat the backyard of their dreams with the perfect outdoor enclosure—plus how to build one yourself.All this, plus a round of House Rules and a no-tools-needed picture hanging hack.In This Episode, You Will Learn: How to design a home that supports neurodivergent family members (0:55)What to consider when insulating an attic space—vented vs. unvented (8:42)Best materials for restoring historic wood siding and trim (16:38)How to seal outlets to prevent drafts (21:54)How to prep and repaint a stone foundation (26:28)What a catio is, how to build one, and why your cat might need it (39:37)
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How to Find The Source of Any Water Leak + Soundproofing Noisy Homes + Paula Poundstone’s Old House
Martin Poirier is best known as the Soundproof Guide on YouTube. He walks us through the essentials of blocking unwanted noise and turning your home into a peaceful retreat. Our friends from Cheap Old House return with a steel-clad, mid-century time capsule that still shines in rural Iowa.Comedian Paula Poundstone shares a deeply personal story about the magical Massachusetts duplex and the generous family that took her in and changed her life. Plus, we answer your questions about radon mitigation, roof leaks, crumbling chimneys, and the best way to floor around an indoor pool! In This Episode, You Will Learn:Noise Abatement: The Best Soundproofing tips for renters. (0:55) Radon: The best way to read your Radon level, and some sure ways to mitigate it… Even if you have a sump pump in the basement. (8:34) Roof Leaks: We help a listener identify the possible source of a leak in her home. We share a useful garden hose trick that can pinpoint the exact location before investing in expensive repairs. (17:43)Pool Flooring: Indoor pools used to come with carpet, but what should you use to replace it? We have a solution that won’t grow mold. (22:17) Chimney Repairs: We help a caller with a steep quote, and unpack why chimney fixes can be pricey—and how damage at the top can mean deeper water problems inside. (28:17)Lustron Homes: What makes steel-paneled Lustron houses so rare, low-maintenance, and perfect for anyone who loves retro design with modern durability. (40:21)
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Pro Kitchen Hacks with Ellen Marie Bennett + Backyard Beekeeping 101 + The Fix for Woodpecker Damage
This episode starts in the kitchen with chef and Hedley & Bennett founder Ellen Marie Bennett, who shares her professional kitchen wisdom that anyone *renters included* can use to make their cooking space more efficient and joyful. Then, we head to the red rock canyons of Utah, where former miner Grant Johnson spent 30 years carving his off-grid dream home by hand. Also, beekeeper Ariel Silva, aka Bowser Bee on TikTok and Instagram, explains how to start a hive in your own backyard, no matter where you live—even if it’s a rooftop in the city. We also tackle listener questions about cracked ceilings, old doors, keeping woodpeckers away, and bricks shaken loose by an explosion. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Smarter Kitchen Flow: How thinking in zones—prep, cook, serve, store, and clean—can turn any kitchen into a more functional and stress-free space. (0:54)Ceiling Cracking?: What might cause a piece of drywall to sag from the ceiling, and why you don’t have to panic right away! (8:53) Woodpecker Deterrent: Woodpecker’s marking up your home? We might have the fix to make your home less attractive to them. (17:28)Hanging an Old Door: Why building a new door frame may be the best way to hang an antique door. (22:13) Post-Blast Brick Repair: How structural cracks in brickwork can hide deeper issues, and why replacing the full façade might be necessary if insurance allows. (28:00) Life Inside Stone: One man spent 30 years hand-blasting a 5,700 sq ft home into solid rock—and why living in stone can bring unexpected peace. (32:27)Backyard Beekeeping Basics: Learn everything you need to start your own beehive from Bowser Bee on TikTok and Instagram (40:49)
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An Expert’s Guide to Babyproofing Your Home + Gas and Power Tips for Hurricane Season
On this This Old House Radio Hour, we’re helping parents breathe a little easier with a full guide to babyproofing your home, courtesy of Stephanie Lyons from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. From newborn-safe sleep setups to toddler-proof kitchen fixes, we cover every stage of early development with tips that make your home safer—without turning it into a padded cell.Then we visit the Massachusetts South Shore, where New York Times bestselling author J. Courtney Sullivan tells us how a weathered beach cottage became her real-life literary retreat—and the unexpected joys of moving back to her hometown.Plus, Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein of Cheap Old Houses showcase a $35,000 Arkansas cottage and a 150-year-old general store in Pennsylvania ripe for restoration. And, as always, our team of experts take your home improvement calls, from shifting laminate floors to hurricane-proofing stucco, fridge mishaps, and generator upgrades. In This Episode You Will Learn: How to babyproof for every stage: from newborns to crawling toddlers (1:03)How to shift floating floorboards a DIY Trick (8:13)Safe and simple ways to repair cracks in stucco around windows (17:32)Installing the right portable generator safely for hurricane prone homes (26:25)How to keep your A/C running efficiently by cleaning filters and avoiding overcooling (39:13)
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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
For over four decades, This Old House has been America’s most trusted source for home improvement, craftsmanship, and restoration. Now, we’re bringing that same expertise to the airwaves with This Old House Radio Hour—a weekly deep dive into the art, science, and soul of home building. Hosted by This Old House editor Jenn Largesse and featuring all your favorite TOH experts, each episode blends practical advice with rich storytelling. Whether you’re tackling a DIY project, renovating a historic home, or simply fascinated by the way we shape—and are shaped by—the spaces we live in, this show has something for you. Expect expert guidance from a roster of top builders, designers, and craftspeople who answer your home improvement questions—covering everything from plumbing to flooring, framing to finishing. We also go beyond the toolbelt, exploring the philosophy of craftsmanship with master artisans, and uncovering America’s forgotten architectural gems with the team behind Cheap Old Houses who spotlight properties you can buy for as little as $1000. Along the way, we’ll dive into the latest in building science, design trends, and home innovation. Plus, we keep things fun with games, surprise guests, and some seriously ridiculous prizes. So join us each week for the best home has to offer. Subscribe now to This Old House Radio Hour!
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