A serious home renovation, the kind that involves more than just a new paint color or a powder room refresh, is an exercise in keeping sane. The months-long disruption, the draining bank account, the incessant dust, the steady stream of strangers in boots—none of it is something that most homeowners…

As Home Technology Expert on Ask This Old House, Ross Trethewey is responsible for seeking out some of the coolest stories in home technology and bringing them to a national audience. You could say that Ross has This Old House in his blood. His grandfather Ron served as the plumber…