TO
This Old House Radio Hour

The Truth About Luxury Paint + Jake Tapper’s Lake Escape + Biodiverse Backyards

March 24, 2026·51 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Is luxury paint actually worth the splurge, or are you just paying for branding? This week, we dig into what really separates high-end paint from the rest, from durability and scrub-ability to the chemistry inside the can. Then, CNN anchor Jake Tapper takes us to his quiet A-frame lake house in rural Virginia, a family refuge far from the chaos of Washington. And This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada explains how to create a biodiverse yard with native plants, layered landscaping, and habitat that supports birds, bees, and other wildlife.In This Episode You’ll Learn:* How to hang photos and curtain rods on old plaster walls in a renter-friendly way. (7:57)* What might be causing a hump in the floor of a 1909 Craftsman home. (14:19)* Ways to disguise a large crack in a wall-sized mirror. (20:31)* How to make a smart thermostat work in an older home with outdated wiring. (25:28)All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.Show notes:Find MPI’s Approved Products List or Decision Tree to help find the perfect match at MPI.net. (https://mpi.net/thisoldhouse/)

AI Summary coming soon

Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.

Listen to This Episode

Get summaries like this every morning.

Free AI-powered recaps of This Old House Radio Hour and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.