This Old House

This Old House By Episode

• Move Or Improve? (#2901)

  The 30th anniversary season of THIS OLD HOUSE opens with the crew beginning a small but sophisticated addition to a 1915 Dutch Colonial Revival that includes a new kitchen, home office and family room. Homeowners Bill and Gillian Pierce love their old house, but it lacks family space, flow and a modern kitchen. Architect Paul Rovinelli presents his plan for the addition, while problems are identified in the old house, both in the basement and in the landscape. Host Kevin O'Connor visits a similar house in the neighborhood that has been opened up and expanded, while general contractor Tom Silva and master carpenter Norm Abram arrive to begin the demolition with Bill. By the end of the day, the three-season porch has been removed and work is well underway.

• Big Plans (#2902)

  Master carpenter Norm Abram and general contractor Tom Silva remove the old vinyl siding from the exterior of the house, exposing not only the original wood clapboards underneath but also lots of repair work that needs to be done. Inside, architect Paul Rovinelli takes host Kevin O'Connor and homeowner Gillian Pierce through the plan for the new kitchen, which calls for a modest expansion, building, as Gillian puts it, "just what we need" and nothing more. One early proponent of that style of thinking was architect and author Sarah Susanka, so Kevin travels to her own "Not So Big" home in Raleigh, North Carolina, to see some smart ideas for restrained remodels that won't break the bank. Back in Newton Centre, landscape contractor Roger Cook breaks up the old porch slab to make way for the foundation for the new addition.

• Prepwork and Inspiration (#2903)

  Host Kevin O'Connor and general contractor Tom Silva discuss the homeowners' decision to stay in the house during construction, and they agree it won't be easy. Homeowners Bill and Gillian Pierce are already living out of boxes and coolers, because today their kitchen will be gutted back to the studs. In the basement, the laundry room can stay for the time being, but the entire heating system is also coming out, as plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey goes straight to work with a reciprocating saw and a sledgehammer. Outside, Tom shows Kevin how he's extending the old windowsills with wood and epoxy to replicate the historic "ears" of the sill that were cut off by the vinyl siding contractor years ago. Gillian sets up a temporary kitchen in the basement, while Kevin gets some bad news from master electrician Allen Gallant. The exterior service components are water-damaged beyond repair; due to some hidden (and ungrounded) knob-and-tube wiring, nearly 90 percent of the old house will have to be rewired to meet building code. Out back, Tom uses interlocking, insulated concrete forms for the foundation of the new addition, just before the concrete truck arrives for the pour.

• Origins of the Dutch Colonial Revival (#2904)

  Host Kevin O'Connor meets general contractor Tom Silva in the kitchen to see some bizarre and inadequate framing that he recently discovered in the old kitchen ceiling. As a result, they have to reinforce and level the entire ceiling using an angle iron, a laser level and multiple new LVLs. Then, Kevin visits Long Island, New York, with architect Russell Versaci to learn about the origins of the house style, the Dutch Colonial Revival. Back in Newton Centre, master carpenter Norm Abram leads the effort to frame up the first floor platform for the new addition.

• New Gambrel Addition Takes Shape (#2905)

  Homeowner Gillian Pierce shows host Kevin O'Connor the progress - the first floor family room is entirely framed in, and up above, general contractor Tom Silva is building the gable-end wall for the new addition. Kevin climbs up top and lends a hand with the wall raising. Out front, master electrician Allen Gallant prepares to upgrade the service from 100 amp to 200 amp, but first he sets up temporary jobsite power by making up a new main connection from the street - with live wires. In the basement, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows Kevin how he's using a composite pipe made up of PEX and aluminum to run new lines to the old radiators. Out at the new addition, Tom walks Kevin through the complex roof framing, and they get a sense of the new library and home office space for the first time.

• Making Room for New Windows (#2906)

  Work on the Dutch Colonial Revival continues as master carpenter Norm Abram recaps the progress on the addition, then turns his attention to the kitchen where general contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O'Connor are working to reframe the existing walls to accommodate new door and window openings. Upstairs, Tom installs a large new window in the library that is really six individual window units grouped together, while downstairs, kitchen designer Tamara Raymond helps homeowner Gillian Pierce envision her new kitchen with the help of paper mock-ups. Kevin pays a visit to former This Old House architect Treff LaFleche to see how he renovated his 1906 Gambrel-style Victorian to achieve superior energy efficiency and a LEED green building certification.

• Pruning Hemlocks and Checking In On Toh Austin (#2907)

  Landscape contractor Roger Cook welcomes certified arborist Matt Foti to Newton Centre to prune all of the existing hemlock trees on the corner of the house, and along the driveway. Inside, master electrician Allen Gallant installs a bath fan in the new powder room that looks like a recessed light, but it has hidden ventilation capabilities built in. Host Kevin O'Connor travels back to Austin, Texas to revisit our first certified green building project - a 1920s bungalow that was expanded to accommodate a family of four. Nearly three years later, the homeowners and their builder report back on how the house is performing. Back in Newton Centre, general contractor Tom Silva shows Kevin how he's roofing the new addition to match the existing house using an architectural asphalt shingle.

• Father and Son Lend A Hand (#2908)

  General contractor Tom Silva replicates the old exterior trim details around the new windows in the addition using cellular PVC that will never rot. Master carpenter Norm Abram installs the pre-hung Douglas fir exterior door for the back entry. Architect Paul Rovinelli takes host Kevin O'Connor on a tour of a recently renovated Dutch Colonial Revival that makes the most of its small footprint. Back at the house, Tom gets some help from homeowner Bill Pierce and his dad, Bill Pierce, Sr., as they remove the old bookshelves and plaster wall to gain entry into the new library addition.

• Radiant Heat, Two Ways (#2909)

  General contractor Tom Silva enlists homeowner Gillian Pierce to help him fabricate the new decorative bracket that will support the rear entry porch roof. In the basement, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows host Kevin O'Connor the progress on piping the old radiators, and the challenges he is facing in providing heat to the new kitchen space. The solution is two different applications of radiant heat, a portion installed above the subfloor, and a portion installed underneath. In a renovated church downtown, interior designer Lisey Good shows Kevin how she created a beautiful new kitchen and a combination home office/library space (both with smart storage solutions). Back at the house, Kevin helps master carpenter Norm Abram use new red cedar clapboards to patch in the old exterior siding at the back of the house.

• Inspired Openings and Insulating The House (#2910)

  To replace the stairway he removed from the old kitchen, general contractor Tom Silva builds a brand new stairway to the basement. Then, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows host Kevin O'Connor how to select a good quality faucet - discussing function, finish, construction and valves. Inspired by an existing arched door opening, Tom shows Kevin how he's making a vaulted ceiling in the hallway that connects the front of the house to the new addition out back. At the end of the day, insulation contractor Tony Trigler arrives to install spray foam insulation in the new addition.

• Never Paint Again (#2911)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives at the house to find the prepping for the exterior paint job well underway. Homeowner Bill Pierce reveals that he has selected a new kind of paint that promises homeowners they'll "never paint again." General contractor Tom Silva and master carpenter Norm Abram install custom copper half-round gutters that the architect specified for the rear of the house. Inside, Kevin finds the wallboard up, and plastering contractor David Crawford and his crew putting up a base coat of veneer plaster. Back outside, Kevin meets painting contractors Mat Giovanello and Pat Foley to learn more about their product - a system that relies on proper surface preparation, proprietary bonding agents, and an acrylic paint containing ceramic beads to create a lasting finish. Kevin learns that just a few weeks before the end of the project, Bill has decided to have Tom rebuild his entire one-car garage. Wasting no time, Tom gets to work removing the old garage.

• Stone, Tile and Oak Finishes (#2912)

  Host Kevin O'Connor lends a hand as general contractor Tom Silva builds a new small deck that will serve to connect the kitchen to the patio. Then, landscape contractor Roger Cook works with homeowner Bill Pierce to lay concrete pavers for the new patio. Tile specialist Catherine Mitchell shows Kevin the range of options available in selecting white subway tile for the kitchen backsplash. Then, in the new library, flooring contractor Patrick Hunt shows master carpenter Norm Abram how he's installing new oak flooring to match the existing flooring in the house. Kevin checks back in with Roger as they finish the patio by applying polymeric sand, compaction, and finally, water, to lock it all in place.

• The New Kitchen Is Coming Together (#2913)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives at the house to find that landscape contractor Roger Cook has removed the old driveway and has begun putting down the the new asphalt. Inside, master carpenter Norm Abram finds the new cabinets on site, and lends general contractor Tom Silva a hand as he begins to install them. In a nearby showroom, Kevin meets up with lighting specialist Bob Joyce to see the latest in under cabinet lighting, including some new energy efficient LED options. Then, back at the house, Kevin observes how painting contractor Anne Brady strips off two layers of old wallpaper from the front entry hall. With all of the kitchen cabinets installed, Tom and Norm work to trim out the bank of windows in the back corner of the kitchen.

• Interior Painting Primer and Fabricating Our New Countertops (#2914)

  Landscape contractor Roger Cook and homeowner Gillian Pierce visit neighbor and gardener Cathy Schneider to take her up on her offer to share some of her plants that need dividing. Back at the Pierce home, painting contractor Anne Brady gets started on the prep and painting of the dining room, first explaining how to patch and spot prime a water-damaged ceiling. Then, Anne teaches host Kevin O'Connor a method for repainting the ceiling in 3'x3' patches that allows her to do two coats at once while always keeping a wet edge. Kevin checks on the progress of the kitchen and then meets up with countertop fabricator Danny Puccio to see the latest offerings in countertops at an off-site showroom. Out back, they see how the tops are fabricated both by machine and by hand. Inside, Kevin finds general contractor Tom Silva constructing the new built-in bookshelves for the formal living room. Kevin lends a hand fabricating the boxes and mounting them to the wall.

• Is The Island Too Big? (#2915)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives at the project house to find a bustling jobsite and the finished countertops arriving. Inside, homeowner Bill Pierce reviews the tight clearances around the kitchen island before the tops are permanently installed. Landscape contractor Roger Cook takes homeowner Gillian Pierce shopping for plant material for the yard, focusing on dwarf specimens to fit the scale and size of her lot. Back at the house, master carpenter Norm Abram welcomes back wood countertop fabricator Paul Grothouse to install the butcher block island top and to review other wood top options. Outside, Roger and Gillian review the site prep and put the new plants in the ground. Upstairs, Norm and general contractor Tom Silva continue work on the new library by fabricating and installing the face frames for the base cabinets and gluing and installing the new oak tops for the window seat. Back in the kitchen, tile contractor Mark Ferrante installs and grouts the subway tile backsplash using a new pre-mixed urethane grout that promises faster installation time, greater stain resistance and no additional sealing.

• The Finished Project (#2916)

  In the final show from Newton Centre, host Kevin O'Connor drives up to find all hands on deck for the last few days of the project. Landscape contractor Roger Cook mulches in the last of the plants and lays sod around the new patio. Inside, flooring contractor Pat Hunt shows Kevin the prep for the new oak floors and how the color is achieved through layers of dye and stain to match the 100-year-old floors in the rest of the house. Down in the basement, Kevin meets plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey to see the final heating installation and how he made smart use of some old radiators to heat the basement space. In the kitchen, Kevin finds master electrician Allen Gallant installing the new LED under-cabinet lights that use a fraction of the energy of traditional lights. On the final morning of the project, master carpenter Norm Abram meets up with architect Paul Rovinelli to see the finished exterior elevations, and inside, the dramatic new library and furnished home office space. Homeowner Bill Pierce shows Kevin the finished living room, with plenty of new built-ins for books, and the new family room that is already being used by the kids in the house. The highlight of the whole project is the new kitchen, where homeowner Gillian Pierce is already happily at work preparing food for the wrap party. Highlights include a new 30" range with burners up top, and two ovens below, and plenty of space for the family to gather around to keep her company. Lead by general contractor Tom Silva, the modest project (with a modest budget) succeeded in its goals of tightening up the old house, while adding on just enough space to achieve better flow and living space for the family. At the wrap party, friends and family arrive to celebrate another This Old House job well done.

• Roxbury Project, Part 1 of 10 (#2917)

  For the second project of This Old House's 30th Anniversary Season, the crew takes on an issue that's top of mind in the country: foreclosures. Partnering with the City of Boston and local non-profit Nuestra Comunidad, they will take a foreclosed and abandoned two-family house from the 1870s, and turn it into two units of affordable housing in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Local general contractor David Lopes shows host Kevin O'Connor just how extensive the damage to the old house is, and they quickly get to work demolishing the parts that can't be saved, including a three-story rear extension, which has rotted through from roof to floor. Joining the project will be apprentices from YouthBuild Boston looking to earn jobs in the building trades. In order to recruit two young carpenters from the program to work with the crew, master carpenter Norm Abram visits YouthBuild's annual carpentry challenge. Back at the house, after more necessary demolition, certified arborist Jack Kelly and his crew arrive to remove a giant dead tree that had fallen from the project house yard onto the neighbor's garage. Renovating the house will be a great challenge, but the City feels it will make a statement of hope and respect in a neighborhood that has been plagued by foreclosures.

• Roxbury Project, Part 2 of 10 (#2918)

  Master carpenter Norm Abram meets up with general contractor David Lopes to discuss problems he's encountered in the last several weeks, including major engineering challenges and a month of rain. Meanwhile, host Kevin O'Connor meets up with non-profit developer David Price to learn more about Roxbury's past and present. David explains the work that his CDC, Nuestra Comunidad, is doing to bring back parts of Dudley Square. As part of Nuestra's mission to create affordable housing, they recently held a public lottery for our project house that resulted in a qualified buyer. At nearby restaurant Merengue, Kevin meets the lucky buyer of the house, Roxbury native Lanita Tolentino, to go over her renovation plans. Back at the house, the foundation walls for the new rear addition have been poured and backfilled. Inside, David Lopes shows Norm what he's done to shore up the structure of the main house, and how he is using laminated veneer lumber to remedy a structural problem caused by the failing foundation. After extensive foundation excavation on the main house, a framing crew arrives to start raising the walls for the new addition.

• Roxbury Project 3 of 10 (#2919)

  Master carpenter Norm Abram meets up with general contractor David Lopes to check out the progress that has been made on the house both outside and in. They find that there has been extensive framing work completed, but unfortunately, a great majority of the house had to be rebuilt due to the dire condition of the structure. Out front, a concrete truck arrives to pour the footing for the new front entry, which will be one of the last sections to be reframed. Up on the mansard roof, David shows Norm how he's putting down the new roof using architectural shingles made to look like the slate that would have been on the house originally. Days later, the new, energy-efficient vinyl windows have been installed, and work continues on the exterior PVC trim. Host Kevin O'Connor catches up with carpenter Ed Curet to see how he's installing the new siding, which was both pre-primed and pre-painted, saving time and money. At the end of the day, paint color consultant Bonnie Krims shows Norm how she worked with all of the modern, low maintenance materials to create a classic color scheme that is historically informed.

• Roxbury Project 4 of 10 (#2920)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find the construction trailer leaving the site, making way for the landscape work to begin. The roofing and siding of the house have been completed and the paneling on the front bay window has been recreated to resemble what might have been there originally. In the basement, plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey reviews the waste and water configuration of the two-family house, and meets HVAC contractor Abdul Barrie to see the new, high-efficiency two-stage hot air system he's installing. Throughout the house, spray foam insulation has been installed to keep that warm air inside. Host Kevin O'Connor visits the Fort Myers area in Florida and realizes that while foreclosures are still on the rise in Boston, the city is better off than many others in the country. Real estate agent Marc Joseph gives Kevin a look at one of the country's most foreclosure-ravaged communities, and explains how the houses there are selling quickly, but often at half their former market value. Back in Roxbury, Kevin catches up with our new homeowner, Lanita Tolentino, to see the progress she's made on selecting flooring and kitchen cabinet finishes with the help of interior designer Tricia McDonagh. Out back, master carpenter Norm Abram and general contractor David Lopes use low maintenance PVC decking and prefabricated railings to dress up the rear entrance decks.

• Roxbury Project 5 of 10 (#2921)

  Despite the bitter cold, landscape contractor Roger Cook works with a group of students from YouthBuild Boston to spread soil and put down sod in the backyard. Meanwhile, fence contractor Mike McLaughlin and his crew install a PVC privacy fence along the perimeter of the yard. Inside, master carpenter Norm Abram and lead carpenter Colin Paterson are adding some period charm to the bay window area by installing custom casings and paneling. The house's existing plaster ceiling medallions were beyond repair, so Norm brings back preservation plasterer Rory Brennan to replicate them on site. Fortunately, the originals were nearly identical to the medallions from the Charlestown project years ago, so Rory mixes up some plaster and pours a new medallion from the Charlestown mold. Afterward, they install a completed casting in the front parlor. At the end of the day, the fence is nearly complete and the sod is finished, thanks to our group of intrepid apprentices.

• Roxbury Project, Part 6 of 10 (#2922)

  Host Kevin O'Connor finds carpenter Zo Curet in the front parlor installing a plaster crown molding. This close reproduction of the 1870s original is a lightweight foam made with plaster and an acrylic coating which can easily be installed with nothing more than a joint compound. Homeowner Lanita Tolentino shows Kevin the colors she's considering as painting contractor Ivan Batallas paints an accent wall in the back bedroom. Master carpenter Norm Abram visits a workshop to see how the slabs for our new, eight-foot, oak front doors and sidelights are machined and pre-hung for installation as one large unit on the jobsite. Two miles down the road, Kevin visits an architectural antiques shop to find a matching marble fireplace surround for the second unit of our house. Shop owner Bill Raymer shows Kevin around and offers to donate a closely matching fireplace to the project. Back at the house, the new front doors have arrived, and lead carpenter Colin Paterson makes quick work of installing them.

• Roxbury Project, Part 7 of 10 (#2923)

  General contractor David Lopes shows Kevin the progress on the puddingstone retaining walls and front entrances at our Roxbury project. Master carpenter Norm Abram travels to Dover, N.H. to see how millwork fabricator Denis Goupil and his team fabricated custom arches for the front of the house. Back in Roxbury, stone specialist Steve Torok installs a decorative antique marble fireplace surround and mantel to match the original at the house. Upstairs, Kevin finds flooring contractor Ingo Vu laying out and installing a pre-finished, solid birch floor that is hand-scraped for an aged effect. Interior designer Tricia McDonagh shows Kevin how she took cues from the panels in the bay window and the marble fireplace surround when designing the cabinetry and countertop details for the new kitchen.

• Roxbury Project, Part 8 of 10 (#2924)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find landscape contractor Roger Cook on site with the landscape apprentices from YouthBuild Boston. The group is helping to spread new soil in the front yard and also to plant low-maintenance ground cover and an ornamental dogwood tree. General contractor David Lopes shows master carpenter Norm Abram the progress at the front entry and in the kitchen of the second unit. Next door, countertop fabricator Danny Puccio shows homeowner Lanita Tolentino how to clean and remove stains from her new marble countertops. Nearby, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey meets Massachusetts State Representative Byron Rushing to look more closely at the historical aspects of Roxbury. Finally, Richard and David Lopes install a new tankless hot water heater in the basement of Lanita's unit.

• Roxbury Project, Part 9 of 10 (#2925)

  With just one week left in Roxbury, tile contractor Angelo McRae shows Kevin how to install meshed white subway tiles with a rail cap for the kitchen backsplash. Kevin visits our Washington, D.C. project house to meet the family that moved in and see how our last venture in non-profit development turned out. Back in Roxbury, general contractor Tom Silva lends a hand to lead carpenter Colin Paterson, who is customizing and installing the stair treads and newel post for the new stairs.

• Roxbury Project, Part 10 of 10 (#2926)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives in Roxbury to find the project nearing completion thanks to the dedication of general contractor David Lopes. Landscape contractor Roger Cook and the YouthBuild apprentices plant the final tree and spread mulch in the front yard, while out back, fence contractor Mike McLaughlin installs the entry gate on the perimeter fence. Inside, designer Tricia McDonagh is readying the house for the wrap party, as the final light fixtures and window treatments are installed. Down in the basement, local HVAC contractor Abdul Barrie gives homeowner Lanita Tolentino a crash course on what she needs to know about the mechanicals in her basement. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino stops by to see how the house has progressed, and while work continues on the second unit, Lanita's unit is ready for her to move in. Upstairs, she shows Kevin the tile and fixture choices in the bathroom, and also her spacious new bedroom and walk-in closet. Downstairs, as her family arrives for the party, her grandmother gets a batch of Cape Verdean cachupa going on the new stove, as Lanita shows master carpenter Norm around her new kitchen. Norm and David Lopes reflect on how far the house has come in eight months, and as the team gathers for the wrap party, all agree that it was a successful partnership. While foreclosures remain a problem nationally, there is one less foreclosure on this street in Boston.

• A Ho-Hum House on the Charles River (#3001)

  THIS OLD HOUSE opens a brand new season by helping the Sharma family renovate their 1940s house on Boston's famous Charles River. Out front, the home's bland exterior will receive a curb-appeal makeover thanks to the creative ideas of architect Chris Chu. On the inside, the house will get a new, larger kitchen, updated baths and loads of new windows to take advantage of the spectacular views out back. General contractor Tom Silva conducts a structural investigation and cites concerns about a new EPA law affecting all contractors dealing with lead paint in 2010. Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey finds asbestos in the usual spots in the basement, but with the help of asbestos inspector Glenn Potter, it's also discovered hiding in the ceilings, walls, under the kitchen sink and even in the joint compound. Work gets underway as landscape contractor Roger Cook puts erosion control in place to protect the flood plain, while asbestos abatement contractor Brian Fitzsimons begins what will be nearly two solid weeks of asbestos removal.

• Regulations and Challenges (#3002)

  Landscape contractor Roger Cook preps for the new foundation of the entry hall by removing the old overgrown and badly pruned yews. Out back, host Kevin O'Connor finds general contractor Tom Silva and lead paint specialist Ron Peik demolishing the sun porch within the limits of the new national EPA lead law that now affects all contractors working on houses from 1978 or earlier. Master carpenter Norm Abram and homeowner Allison Sharma learn more about the grand estate that once occupied the neighborhood by visiting its original gatehouse, which is now a private home. Tom shows Kevin the progress on the excavation out front and out back, where Tom has transferred the load from the rear wall of the house, inbound, to a series of three temporary walls so work can begin. A team of concrete cutters arrives to set up and begin the process of cutting through the 10-inch thick concrete foundation walls. After the final cuts are made, they drop out a 16-foot section of the rear foundation wall to make way for the new family room addition.

• Bringing in the Structure (#3003)

  The morning starts with the arrival of a 17-foot-long steel beam that weighs 900 pounds. It will carry the load of the house over the 16-foot opening that was made in the rear foundation wall. Because the site is so hard to access, general contractor Tom Silva uses a crane to lift it up and over the house and place it carefully on a temporary wall near the installation site. Then, host Kevin O'Connor and Tom's crew lend a hand installing it. Master carpenter Norm Abram meets with product specialist Bill Gaines to see the insulated concrete forms being used not only for the foundations, but also for the above-grade walls on the new additions. Inside, Kevin welcomes Chris Kimball from America's Test Kitchen to help viewers understand the "time capsule" of a kitchen that we have from 1940 and where the new design is headed for our homeowners in 2010. Back outside, the forms are complete and the concrete truck arrives to pour the foundation and walls. At the end of the day, Tom and Kevin discuss how the new lead laws affect interior work and how to properly test for it. Using proper protocol, the kitchen is gutted and the wall to the dining room comes down.

• Fixes, Framing, and Floods (#3004)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find most of the demolition complete, and the house entirely opened up. General contractor Tom Silva shows him the progress and then they get to work taking the dip out of the old kitchen floor by working from below, down in the basement. Inside, master carpenter Norm Abram frames up the new mudroom and powder room on the first floor using Tom's preferred method of framing up new walls: cutting all of the stock to length; assembling the walls on the floor; and standing them up one at a time. Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey meets Massachusetts State Director of Flood Control, Bill Gode, to see how the Charles River has been literally formed and shaped by several major engineering projects over the years, including three major dams. Back at the project house, as Tom contends with the termite-damaged sill out front, Kevin welcomes pest control expert Todd McNamara to see his "eco-friendly" plan to address the termites and also the carpenter ants out back.

• A New Approach to the House (#3005)

  Master carpenter Norm Abram meets homeowner Allison Sharma to review progress and see the new front entry and framed up kitchen. At the garage, he helps general contractor Tom Silva turn the flat roof into a pitched roof with the help of some prefabricated trusses. Kitchen designer Donna Venegas and homeowner Raveen Sharma review the layout of the new kitchen with the help of a paper mock-up. In the backyard, landscape contractor Roger Cook and urban ecologist Peter DelTredici show host Kevin O'Connor the native and non-native species taking over the flood plain. Norm and Tom review the layout for the new back deck and walkways and get to work setting 12 new footings to support them. Later, they frame up the floor of the new sunroom using engineered lumber.

• The Artistry of Toh and Jules Aarons (#3006)

  Work continues on the Auburndale project, as general contractor Tom Silva and master carpenter Norm Abram frame the flat roof over the new sunroom. To shed water, the roof will be pitched slightly. Tom accomplishes this by tapering both the LVLs and the roof rafters. Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows Norm an expensive change order in the basement bathroom, and he also shares the news that the homeowners have decided to add air conditioning. Meanwhile, host Kevin O'Connor visits the Boston Public Library to learn about the former resident of the home, one of Boston's most famous street photographers, Jules Aarons. At the library, curator Aaron Schmidt and son Phillip Aarons share their perspectives on the man and his work. On the second floor, Richard shows Kevin the progress on the rough plumbing and explains the layout of the new back-to-back bathrooms. Out on the future roof deck, Kevin finds Tom finishing up the installment of the underlayment on the flat roof. He lends a hand gluing down the rubber membrane, overlapping the sections and caulking the joints.

• Progress On All Levels (#3007)

  In the basement, host Kevin O'Connor finds plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey finishing up the installation of the floor-warming radiant heat that will be in the slab under the new family room. A concrete pump truck arrives to pour all of the concrete on the basement level, including the footings for the new deck, and a team of concrete finishers works to create a smooth and level new basement floor. In a tile showroom at the Boston Design Center, Kevin and homeowner Allison Sharma meet interior designer Melissa Gulley to begin making aesthetic decisions for the entire project. Melissa gets a feel for Allison's style by looking at images she loves, pulled from books and magazines. Back at the house, general contractor Tom Silva is busy installing the new energy efficient, vinyl clad casement windows in what was formerly one of the darkest corners of the house. He cuts in new window and wall openings to reveal the spectacular views of the Charles River for the first time in that corner.

• Shingles, Ductwork, Lights, and a Pocket Door (#3008)

  Halfway through the renovation in Auburndale, master carpenter Norm Abram lends general contractor Tom Silva a hand patching in some sidewall shingles on the front of the house. Down in the basement, host Kevin O'Connor finds plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey installing the ductwork for the new hydronic heating and cooling system, chosen for its flexibility in duct sizes, which are installed in the ceiling over the family room to feed the sunroom above. Back upstairs, Norm meets architect Chris Chu to hear her impressions of how the project is progressing and also to review a few different aesthetic options for opening up the top of the wall that currently conceals basement stairs. The idea is to give visitors a peek at the stairway, so they will understand that there is a welcoming lower level to enjoy. Next door, in the kitchen, Kevin finds master electrician Allen Gallant finishing up the rough electrical, and also using something new - 4-inch, dimmable LED recessed light units with a light source that will last 50 times longer than an incandescent bulb. Back out in the hall mudroom, Norm and Tom accommodate another change order (and finish up the rough framing) by installing a pocket door kit you can get at a local lumberyard.

• Stucco, Kitchen Design, Roof, and Insulation (#3009)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find work on the exterior progressing in the front, while out back, general contractor Tom Silva uses an acrylic stucco system to make the new basement addition blend in with the poured concrete of the old walkout basement. Inside, Kevin welcomes Chris Kimball of America's Test Kitchen back to the show to see the final layout of our kitchen and to get his opinions on the strengths and weaknesses of the design. Back outside, Kevin finds Tom up on the roof, working to waterproof the valley where the flat roof meets the pitched roof of the new entry addition. Insulation contractor Tony Trigler arrives with crews to install four different kinds of insulation throughout the house for four different applications including, eco-friendly batt insulation, cellulose, and both open cell and closed cell spray foam.

• Landscape Decisions and a Duck Tour (#3010)

  Host Kevin O'Connor meets landscape designer Jen Nawada Evans to see her plan for opening up the front yard while also creating perennial beds that can be added to over time. Inside, plaster contractor David Crawford shows Kevin how he is blending the old work with the new. Certified arborist Matt Foti shows landscape contractor Roger Cook why the Norway maple out front cannot be saved and demonstrates how his crew is taking it down safely, being mindful of its entanglement with the power lines. Down the river from our project, Kevin and master carpenter Norm Abram take some time to see the Charles River through the eyes of its most colorful tour guides - the "conDUCKtors" over at Boston Duck Tours. They take a tour through the city streets and then "splash" into the river as the tour bus becomes a tour boat, revealing some of the best views in Boston. Back at the house, Kevin meets up with general contractor Tom Silva and painting contractor Mauro Henrique to see how his crew is removing paint from the old shingles and how they will use a solid body stain to let the texture of the cedar shingles show through.

• Planning for the Pergola (#3011)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find landscape contractor Roger Cook overseeing the crew that is setting the footings for the new pergola, while also preparing to give the concrete stoop a makeover using fieldstone veneer on the riser and a bluestone cap on the top. Inside, master carpenter Norm Abram and general contractor Tom Silva begin trimming out the first floor windows, starting with the 16-foot bank of windows in the sunroom. The trim details will match the originals, using a build up of unadorned profiles created with a moulding machine. With the pergola on the way, Roger takes homeowner Allison Sharma to the Arnold Arboretum to see several different kinds of vines and select one that is appropriate for her front yard conditions. Back at the house, Norm surveys the progress on the second floor and sees how tile contractor Rob Rapp is using pitching sticks to create a mud job at the base of the new shower.

• Making The Most of Green Products (#3012)

  On site at the Auburndale project, the transformation of the back of the house is almost complete. Up on the deck, general contractor Tom Silva is putting down a new generation of composite decking - it is made from the same recycled plastic bits and wood waste that we've used before, but this time it has a durable new proprietary finish that carries a 30-year warranty. The manufacturer also provides a hidden fastening system and a prefabricated railing. Inside, painting is underway, and we're using a product that promises richer colors, but also low VOCs - so master carpenter Norm Abram heads over to the factory to learn what goes into a quality can of paint. Painting contractor Mauro Henrique shows host Kevin O'Connor what he likes and doesn't like about how the paint performs. In the living room, Tom shows Kevin how he's making a few simple modifications to the fireplace mantel that will update its style to better fit in with the rest of the newly renovated house.

• Absolute Curb Appeal (#3013)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find landscape contractor Roger Cook getting ready to install nine tons of rustic Pennsylvania fieldstone for the new entry walkway. Inside, general contractor Tom Silva shows Kevin how to recognize a quality cabinet, and they assemble the kitchen island that has been sent in pieces from the manufacturer. Upstairs, Kevin finds tile contractor Rob Raps working in the kids' bathroom to install the new black and white tile scheme. Then Kevin lends a hand while master carpenter Norm Abram boxes in the ceiling beams in the sunroom, finishing them off with crown molding. In the front entry hall, Tom shows Kevin the interior MDF two-panel doors the architect has specified, as well as a beefier version for the front door, from the same manufacturer, just as it is being painted a color called "audacious" red.

• Front Yard Transformation (#3014)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find pergola contractor Mark Bushway and his crew installing the new custom pergola in front of the house. Inside, general contractor Tom Silva modifies the turnouts at the base of the main staircase, which are now too large given the open floor plan. He modifies the structure, tread, riser, and scotia to be both smaller and more squared-off to better match the details in the rest of the house. Landscape contractor Roger Cook preps the beds for planting as nurseryman Peter Mezitt delivers a 12-foot tall river birch tree that was grown in a 25-gallon container instead of the ground. This allows for better root system retention and seasonal availability. With proper care - teasing out the roots and using adequate compost and water - the results will be better than using field-grown specimens. Next-door neighbor Sue Hickey provides some of her extra perennials to round out the garden, and then, in the basement, Tom installs a new click-together laminate floor over the new concrete slab.

• Systems, Security and Surfaces Take Shape (#3015)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find the wood island top being installed, and fabricator Paul Grothouse is on hand to show how he achieved the distressed finish. General contractor Tom Silva installs the "his & hers" closet systems that were designed online by interior designer Melissa Gulley and picked up at the local home center. Security system specialist Jack Basset installs the new wireless security system that cannot only detect opened windows and broken doors, but also the sound of breaking glass. Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows Kevin the high-efficiency two-stage air conditioning system, and an equally efficient system for heat and hot water thanks to a condensing boiler and an indirect hot water tank. Countertop contractor Danny Puccio installs the kitchen window stool his shop made out of marble, as well as the "leathered" granite countertops - a look that's achieved by using metal brushes rather than diamond polishing pads. Tom installs the exterior hardware and shows how the new "smart lock" can be re-keyed anytime without the help of a locksmith. Landscape designer Jen Nawada Evans oversees the planting of the neighborhood trees in the community island, and the sod going down on the project, which is just about finished.

• Transformation Complete! (#3016)

  In the last episode of the Auburndale project, master electrician Allen Gallant finishes up the exterior low-voltage lighting, while inside, lighting designer Susan Arnold shows off the installed lighting plan and how she's made a house with low ceilings look more spacious. Upstairs, host Kevin O'Connor meets plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey in the kids' bath to see the water-saving plumbing fixtures, and a bath fan that will turn on automatically when it senses humidity in the room. Interior designer Melissa Gulley shows Kevin how a small custom rug factory in Fall River, MA, is making the carpets for the house using both old and new world technology. Out front, landscape contractor Roger Cook shows master carpenter Norm Abram the hops vines that will be planted to grow on the pergola in the spring. Architect Chris Chu is on hand to review the overall effect of the changes to the front of the house and general contractor Tom Silva shows Norm the new composite shutters that add low-maintenance character to the front of the house. Inside, kitchen designer Donna Venegas shows Kevin the finished kitchen and the appliances that she specified, and then kitchen consultant Chris Kimball drops by to give Kevin his final thoughts on the space. Melissa shows Norm the challenges of furnishing an open floor plan on the main level, while upstairs, it is a master bedroom retreat, where homeowner Allison Sharma joins to reveal the master bedroom and luxurious bathroom. Down in the basement, it is all about family and function, as we see the family room, new bath, and laundry with Raveen Sharma and the kids. The entire team wraps up seven months of hard work with the traditional "wrap party" from our Auburndale project on the banks of Charles River.

• Toh Goes Hollywood, Almost (#3017)

  For the second project of the season, This Old House goes Hollywood with the first ever renovation project in the Los Angeles area. After seeing some of the local sights, master carpenter Norm Abram and host Kevin O'Connor arrive at the 1933 Spanish Colonial Revival project house in the hillside neighborhood of Silver Lake. Homeowners Kurt Albrecht and Mary Blee plan to expand and renovate the 1,500-sq.-ft. house, while keeping and extending the character of the existing house into the small addition. Changes include a major kitchen renovation, a second floor addition and reconfiguration of the back half of the first floor. Norm ventures up into the Hollywood Hills to meet general contractor Steve Pallrand at a job he's been working on that showcases the unique challenges of building in Los Angeles. Back at the house, site supervisor Angel Leon gets to work salvaging finish materials for later reuse. Project manager Joe Luttrell begins preparations to replicate the plaster "cake decorating" details on the walls, and takes some time to show Norm their salvage yard. Angel and Kevin review the plans and outline the scope of work for adding a second floor on the back of the house to gain a full master suite. In order to do that, they need to remove the roof, so roofing contractor John Dybas arrives to harvest the valuable antique clay roof tiles for future use.

• Only In La (#3018)

  Master carpenter Norm Abram and host Kevin O'Connor stop by one of LA's major movie studios to find homeowner Kurt Albrecht at work in the animation division where it can take his team up to five years to make a feature film. Back in Silver Lake, things are moving a bit quicker, as Kevin finds the front of the house intact, but the back of the house is opened up wide from demolition - no walls or roof remain. Site supervisor Angel Leon shows Kevin the result of three weeks of work - a massive foundation form for the new addition that will meet LA's strict seismic code and "hillside ordinance" regulations. Two of the biggest challenges are getting five loads of concrete delivered up the narrow winding streets, and the 3000 psi mix that tends to set up quickly in the California sun. Up in Stockton, California, Norm visits a facility where they replicate real earthquakes with the help of a "shake table" to assist them in developing ways to protect buildings - and therefore people - from damage. After a few weeks of framing, structural engineer Jeff Ellis shows Norm how the building science has been applied to the house through shear walls, hold-downs and tying off at every level. In the basement, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey reviews the rough plumbing progress while the new heating and cooling systems are being installed in the basement.

• Roof Tiles & Richard's Water Story (#3019)

  Back in Los Angeles, host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find the new clay roof tiles on site as well as the custom windows and doors, which are made of wood and single-glazed to keep a historic look. They meet the strict California energy codes with a combination of tempered glass and Low-E coatings. Roofing contractor John Dybas returns to show Kevin the plan they've come up with for the new roof: using the roof tiles from the old house for the perimeter of the new roof only where they can be seen from the street. The rest of the field will be new, manufactured two-pan tile to cut down on costs. Down in Corona, California, Kevin sees how piles of clay and sand are mixed with water and fire to produce our roof tiles. Back in Silver Lake, John shows Kevin the polypropylene underlayment he's using, the flashing details, and how his expert crew sets the tiles along the ridges using nails, mortar, and hand tools. Out on the reservoir, the director of operations for the LADWP, Marty Adams, shows plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey how the neighborhood landmark has been providing LA with drinking water, and why it is being taken offline. Up in Griffith Park, they go thirty-five feet below ground to see the new infrastructure going in that will supply the city with water in the future. Back at the house, stucco specialist Alfonso Garcia evaluates the condition of our stucco, which he'll be working on next time.

• Secrets of Silver Lake (#3020)

  Master carpenter Norm Abram arrives to find site supervisor Angel Leon wrestling with the latest challenge of the project: replicating the arch details from the front living room in various openings in the house. Outside, stucco specialist Alfonso Garcia shows Norm how the stucco system starts on the new addition with the scratch coat, and then the brown coat. The top two layers will be placed once the base is dry. On the other side of the lake, host Kevin O'Connor meets resident director Sarah Lorenzen to see architect Richard Neutra's VDL Studio and learn why the house and the architect are so important to the neighborhood and to California modern architecture. Back at the house, insulation contractor Pat McKinley shows Norm the batt insulation he's using in the basement - it's a dusty-colored fiberglass batt made with 30% post-consumer recycled bottle glass and formaldehyde-free binders. Project designer Shelby Roberts takes Kevin to a South Pasadena tile showroom to meet tile specialist Tisa Adamson and see the reproduction tile that's being selected for the project. To cut down on costs, they choose a combination of hand-made and factory-made tile. Back at the house, wallboard goes up around the main arch leading from the kitchen to the new family room.

• It Never Rains In California (#3021)

  At the project house, exterior work has been delayed due to four weeks of record setting rains in Southern California. Inside, Host Kevin O'Connor finds plaster expert Alfonso Garcia installing custom foam forms to create a tray ceiling that replicates the existing detail in the house. Once the forms are in place, they are covered with plaster. Master carpenter Norm Abram visits cabinetmaker Larry Bucklan at his shop in the nearby neighborhood of Frogtown to see how work is progressing on the kitchen cabinets. The boxes and drawers are made off site in Orange County, but Larry's crew carefully makes the doors and the custom end panel for the refrigerator. Back at the house, Larry builds a toe kick to receive the base cabinets. Upstairs, Alfonso shows Kevin the "cat face" plaster technique he is using on the walls to replicate the original plaster style. This technique provides a combination of open and closed finishes - after the finish coat is applied but before it sets up, he goes back over it with his trowel leaving closed and open patches. Some areas of the finished coat are smooth and others are rough which are known as "cat faces." In the original part of the house Kevin finds a new stain on the ceiling of the dining room and a large hole in the ceiling of the front entry. Due to leaks and damage from the rains, site supervisor Angel Leon explains that although the homeowners had been hoping to be able to keep the existing roof on the main house, it looks as if it's going to have to be replaced after all.

• Spanish Style: Stucco, Ornamental Iron, Hand Glazed Tile (#3022)

  Host Kevin O'Connor checks in with homeowner Mary Blee, whose pregnancy has kept her away from the construction dust for most of the project, but she's keeping tabs on the progress thanks to the webcams and her husband Kurt Albrecht's photographs. Stucco specialist Alfonso Garcia shows Kevin the last two steps of the stucco system going up, which includes an embedded mesh for strength and crack protection and a top layer, which has integrated color and a "sand" texture finish. Kevin goes to Orange County to see some new period-appropriate ornamental ironwork created for the house and the restoration of some existing work. Then, master carpenter Norm Abram visits a small shop in Covina, CA, to see how the reproduction tile for the project is being hand glazed piece by piece. Back in Silver Lake, Kevin meets tile contractor Carlos Sandoval to see the black and yellow tile going up in the powder room.

• Kevin Goes Hollywood (#3023)

  Host Kevin O'Connor gets a rare, up-close look at the Hollywood sign with the man in charge of preserving it, Chris Baumgart. Then, in Silver Lake, flooring contractor Luke Hiller shows Kevin how he's matching the 1930s look of the old floors using new red oak with a walnut feature strip. Out back, the new terrace is constructed and the crew is adding some prefabricated decorative corbels made from foam that are covered with the same stucco product as the rest of the house. Landscape designer Melanie Williams evaluates the existing yard and then takes Kevin to a recent job in Windsor Square to show him that low-water plants can also be attractive. At the end of the day, tile contractor Carlos Sandoval installs the California-made terra cotta tile on the back terrace.

• Spanish Plaster, Soapstone, and a Star (#3024)

  Plaster specialist Alfonso Garcia shows host Kevin O'Connor how he is wrapping the kitchen cabinets in plaster for a look that is reminiscent of those found in Mexico. He fashions an archway over the sink, a cove at the ceiling and a freehand bullnose detail at the corners. Then, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey meets with local plumbing contractor Noe Lopez to lend a hand as he installs the pedestal sink in the first-floor powder room. In the kitchen, master carpenter Norm Abram meets countertop contractor Tim Farr to see the soapstone countertops going in and learns how to care for them going forward. Custom woodworker Larry Bucklan shows Norm how he is replicating the original ceiling star from the dining room for use in other parts of the house. With the profile matched and run and the miters cut, the pieces are joined with biscuits and glue and dried with an RF glue drier. Back at the house, carpenter Josheulo Mondragon installs the star with glue and a few finish nails. Outside, ornamental iron contractor Jeff Bradley and his crew install the 400-pound Juliette balcony, while inside, his wife and designer Robin Bradley show Norm the new decorative iron balustrade that is accented with circles of amber-colored glass.

• More Spanish Style (#3025)

  Landscape designer Melanie Williams shows host Kevin O'Connor the progress in the front yard and how landscape contractor Jose Martinez uses broken concrete for the walkways at a fraction of the cost of flagstone. Then, they head to the local home center to see options for edging material for the planting beds. Inside, hardware specialist Dan Hakes shows Kevin the work he's been doing to restore the old hardware and light fixtures for the job. Dan mixes in reproductions to extend the look into the addition. Up in Malibu, Kevin visits one of the most spectacular Spanish-style houses in Southern California - the Adamson House - which is known for its extraordinary use of decorative tile. Back at the house, the Spanish theme continues with a new, custom garage door that blends seamlessly with the period of the house: wood construction and iron window grates studded with dozens of "clavos" or rustic nail heads. Ornamental iron designer Robin Bradley returns as her team installs the front gates, which were fashioned to match an original found onsite.

• So Long to Silver Lake (#3026)

  Work on the Los Angeles project wraps up with the finishing touches both outside and in. Plaster specialist Alfonso Garcia replicates the original "cake frosting" plaster detail on the walls, while plumbing and heating contractor Eric Downs shows host Kevin O'Connor the new bathroom fan system that not only takes stale air out, but also brings fresh air in through a damper in the basement. Homeowner Kurt Albrecht gets a look at the new HVAC system that will also clean the air, while landscape designer Melanie Williams shows off the finished landscape and the irrigation system that will keep the plants healthy year round. Inside, interior designer Rachel Horn and her team from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, show master carpenter Norm Abram how they've used a mix of antiques, reproductions and upholstery to create inviting spaces that are appropriate for a Spanish colonial revival. Homeowner Mary Blee introduces Kevin to her new son, who's arrived just in time to enjoy the renovated house. After a look at the master suite and the new kitchen, the family gathers on the back terrace to congratulate general contractor Steve Pallrand and site supervisor Angel Leon on a job well done.

• Bedford Project - Part 1 of 16 (#3101)

  THIS OLD HOUSE opens a new season with work on a 300-year-old farmstead that is rich in Colonial history. Homeowners Joe and Becky Titlow plan to preserve the historic part of the house while adding space and modern amenities with two small additions. Architect Dan Quaile presents the plan using a remarkable model generated from a 3-D printer, while general contractor Tom Silva inspects the structure and historic window sash, which will be restored. In the basement, plumbing and heating expert, Richard Trethewey, finds the relic of an antique water pump system, and a newer mechanical system that contains some inefficient and unsafe aspects. Master carpenter Norm Abram is concerned about the high water table, especially when it comes to excavating for the new additions. Landscape contractor Roger Cook considers the half-acre lot and what the homeowners would like to add - a storage shed, raised garden beds, a new driveway and stone walls. The bulk of the landscape work will be clearing and reclaiming nearly half of the back yard that has been overwhelmed by brambles and invasives.

• Bedford Project - Part 2 of 16 (#3102)

  Landscape contractor Roger Cook starts by transplanting the shrubs and plants from the front of the house to a place where they can be "heeled in" for safe keeping until the job is complete. Homeowner Joe Titlow shows host Kevin O'Connor how his company builds highly detailed architectural models (and a whole host of other useful items) by printing them with a 3-D printer. Then, Roger gets to work clearing the small trees and overgrowth that are in the way of the new family room addition. Near the oldest part of the house, Kevin and master carpenter Norm Abram dig in by removing the front entry porch and the accessibility ramp. Then, in accordance with the new EPA lead paint laws, they set up to begin removing the peeling and rotted clapboards. Out back, general contractor Tom Silva shows Kevin how he's laying out for the new addition, and excavation begins. As expected, water is discovered, and Roger gets to work setting up a drain and sump pump system to deal with it. Mason Mark McCullough arrives to demo the exterior parts of the 1970s-era chimney that are in the way of the new addition.

• Bedford Project - Part 3 of 16 (#3103)

  Master carpenter Norm Abram continues work on removing the old clapboards, while out back at the new addition, general contractor Tom Silva and mason Mark McCullough carefully open up a hole in the old fieldstone foundation that will connect the old basement space to the new. Inside, host Kevin O'Connor finds window restoration specialist Alison Hardy and her crew removing the historic sashes to be taken off site for rehab. Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey visits the local library to see the oldest existing flag in the country, the Bedford Flag, firsthand. Back at the project house, Tom shows Kevin a rotted sill that he found during demo and explains how he plans to patch, rather than replace, it. The footprint of the addition starts to take shape as Tom forms the new foundation out of ICFs. At the end of the day, a concrete truck arrives for the pour.

• Bedford Project - Part 4 of 16 (#3104)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find the floor and walls of the new entry addition framed up, and general contractor Tom Silva getting ready to create the connection to the main house. He lends a hand as they frame up the new roof that will overlay the existing roof. Mason Mark McCullough returns to repair the exterior chimney that was cut away to make way for the new family room addition. Mark shows Kevin how to weave in the bricks so they look like they've always been there. Homeowner Joe Titlow shows Kevin why he wants the hulking fireplace and chimney gone from his kitchen, and they get to work removing it from the top down, brick by brick. Master carpenter Norm Abram revisits the oldest THIS OLD HOUSE project to date, the Acton Project, to see how the addition there is holding up after 17 years, and what they'd do differently if they could do it all again. Back at the project house, Kevin and Joe check out some recent discoveries from the jobsite - musket balls, sleigh bells, ox shoes and silverware from the Colonial days.

• Bedford Project, Part 5 of 16 (#3105)

  Host Kevin O'Connor meets with landscape designer Jenn Nawada Evans to see her plan for the rambling site. The first order of business is reclaiming a good percentage of the backyard from invasive vines and brambles that have been encroaching on the lawn for years. Landscape contractor Roger Cook and his crew make quick work of it, using a skid steer loader with a brush hog attachment. General contractor Tom Silva and master carpenter Norm Abram assemble and raise the gable wall for the new family room addition. Then, on the front of the house, Tom and Kevin repair a historic windowsill that has collapsed, while adding new insulation, flashing and side casings to the opening. At the end of the day, Norm and Kevin demo the old, low ceiling in the ell to see if any head height can be reclaimed for the new kitchen.

• Bedford Project, Part 6 of 16 (#3106)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find the new family addition framed up and sheathed using something fairly new - a coated OSB product that has the properties of a house wrap built in. Building science expert Joe Lstiburek explains why he thinks the sheathing board, when properly installed with taped seams, beats traditional methods of keeping air and water out of a building. Inside, Kevin finds general contractor Tom Silva and a major discovery - a cast iron pipe that was run several years ago straight through two structural beams in the kitchen. The fix is a new footing and lally column in the basement and new post supports in the kitchen placed to accommodate the new stove vent hood. Master carpenter Norm Abram meets window restoration specialist Alison Hardy at her shop in Peabody, Massachusetts, to see the historic window sash stripped, repaired, re-glazed and repainted. Later at the house, they will be weather-stripped and outfitted with new hardware to increase their insulating and mechanical performance. With the structure now fully repaired, Tom and Kevin take down the old wall of the ell, opening up the kitchen to the new family room for the first time.

• Bedford Project, Part 7 of 16 (#3107)

  General contractor Tom Silva tops off the existing cellulose insulation in the walls of the oldest part of the house. Meanwhile, landscape contractor Roger Cook takes homeowner Becky Titlow to see a display of "garden to table" raised beds at Elm Bank Reservation in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Then, back at the house, landscape designer Jenn Nawada lends a hand as Roger builds raised beds out of fieldstone from the old foundation, and Becky plants the first vegetables for her family. On the roof of the new addition, Tom shows host Kevin O'Connor how he's using a self-sealing membrane on the low slope roof, and at the drip edge, to properly waterproof the roof.

• Bedford Project, Part 8 of 16 (#3108)

  General contractor Tom Silva finishes up the last of the structural work by replacing an undersized and partially rotted old post in the kitchen. Meanwhile, window restoration specialist Alison Hardy reinstalls the restored historic window sashes in the dining room, adding spring-action hardware and weather stripping to make them more efficient. In the garage, host Kevin O'Connor finds electrician Allen Gallant upgrading the electrical service to 100 amps so it can function as a workshop. Allen installs a system of metallic tubing as conduit on the inside of the building, and outside, brings the wires to the garage via a fishing system controlled by foot pedals for safety. Then, Kevin meets interior designers Dee Elms and Andrew Terrat at a house they designed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that inspired the look for the Bedford Project kitchen. Back at the house, Tom shows Kevin how he's removing the more modern narrow strip flooring in the study to reveal the more historic wide pine boards underneath. With a light sanding and clear finish, the 200-year-old patina will stay intact.

• Bedford Project, Part 9 of 16 (#3109)

  General contractor Tom Silva installs new red cedar clapboards on the oldest part of the house using a story pole to match the coursing of a later addition. Then, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey arrives to help remove some existing plumbing that's in the way of the new kitchen. Meanwhile, landscape contractor Roger Cook installs a new horseshoe-shaped asphalt driveway that will later be topped with a rustic finish to make it look like a stone driveway, without the mess or the maintenance. Then, Richard shows host Kevin O'Connor how he's solving a rough plumbing problem by using a wet vent in the downstairs powder room.

• Bedford Project, Part 10 of 16 (#3110)

  Master carpenter Norm Abram and general contractor Tom Silva rebuild the front door surround to eliminate rot and also to create a more attractive and historically accurate entranceway. Certified arborist Matt Foti inspects the ailing American beech tree, and finding die back and root compaction, prescribes deep root injections that will both amend and aerate the soil. Host Kevin O'Connor meets nurse-turned-general contractor Monica MacKenzie at an antique home she recently renovated in Hingham, Massachusetts. Back in Bedford, interior designers Dee Elms and Andrew Terrat show Kevin and homeowner Becky Titlow where the design for the new space is headed - a sophisticated blend of modern and rustic elements that will be comfortable and low maintenance for the family.

• Bedford Project, Part 11 of 16 (#3111)

  Landscape contractor Roger Cook installs a 3,000-pound slab of reclaimed granite for the front step. Meanwhile, general contractor Tom Silva installs new wood windows in the addition that come with exterior trim already attached and finished in the factory. In the next town over, in Concord, Massachusetts, master carpenter Norm Abram stops in to see the progress on the period restoration of the Colonel James Barrett house, a little known house that played a big role in the American Revolution. Back in Bedford, host Kevin O'Connor finds plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey and local HVAC contactor Kevin Doran sealing and insulating the old ductwork and fabricating new ductwork for the addition. Meanwhile, in the backyard, Roger and his crew have prepped the soil and are broadcasting a rye grass mix that will blend with the old lawn but require less maintenance.

• Bedford Project, Part 12 of 16 (#3112)

  General contractor Tom Silva and master carpenter Norm Abram install the massive decorative timbers in the new family room. Meanwhile, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows host Kevin O'Connor the location for the new A/C condenser and how to set it on a prefabricated concrete mounting pad. Then, Norm visits the Parson Capen House in Topsfield, Massachusetts - a house similar to the Bedford house from 1683 that's been largely unaltered over the years. Back in Bedford, Tom shows Kevin the progress on the new front entry deck and how he's fastening the mahogany deck boards with a new hidden fastening system. It consists of a tool that serves as both a spacer for the boards and a jig for the proprietary screws. In the backyard, homeowner Joe Titlow works with family and friends to install a new garden shed that he ordered online from the home center. At the end of the day, the insulation crew arrives to add closed cell spray foam insulation to the new addition.

• Bedford Project, Part 13 of 16 (#3113)

  Landscape contractor Roger Cook uses old-style bricks made in Massachusetts to create a winding path to the new entry door. He uses half-bricks strategically placed to cheat the joints just enough to make the turns. Inside, wallboard and plaster are up, and the cabinets are going in. Kitchen designer Kathy Marshall shows host Kevin O'Connor the challenges of fitting a modern kitchen into an ell from the 1700s, and the solutions she came up with, along with general contractor Tom Silva, to hide some of the imperfections. Then, in the family room, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey unpacks the zero-clearance gas fireplace to show Kevin how it works before it is installed. Next, master carpenter Norm Abram helps Tom make and install wainscoting for the powder room out of old sheathing boards. Then, outside, Tom gives Kevin the news that the red farmhouse will no longer be red - the homeowners liked the gray primer so much that the finish color has been switched to a similar gray-blue. Painting contractor Mauro Henrique uses an airless sprayer to begin the transformation. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, the eleven-inch-wide white oak floor boards go down with staples, glue to prevent cupping and cut nails for historic effect.

• Bedford Project, Part 14 of 16 (#3114)

  General contractor Tom Silva shows master carpenter Norm Abram how he's restoring the circa 1720 raised panel front door with flexible epoxy and a new paint job. Countertop installer Danny Puccio is on hand as the 1,300-pound marble island top is hefted into the kitchen, and kitchen designer Kathy Marshall shows how the hole in the marble will accommodate a concealed compost bin. Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows host Kevin O'Connor how he's upgrading the ducted HVAC system to go from one zone to three with the help of a plug-and-play zone damper system that makes retrofits and zoning a hot air system easy. In Plainville, Massachusetts, furniture maker Steve Staples shows Norm how he's making the custom farm table top out of reclaimed floor joists. Back in Bedford, Tom shows Norm how he is using two old doors found in the house to make sliding "barn" entry doors for the new walk-in pantry. Mason Mark McCullough installs the new raised brick hearth around the zero-clearance gas fireplace using the bricks from the old kitchen chimney. Homeowner Joe Titlow takes on yet another project himself, this time composite decking and replacing the rotted railings on his back deck.

• Bedford Project, Part 15 of 16 (#3115)

  Landscape contractor Roger Cook oversees the finish going down on the driveway - a thin layer of liquid asphalt and stone that ends up looking like a gravel driveway, without the maintenance. Inside, master electrician Allen Gallant installs a new LED strip light at the old fireplace to give the brick surround a warm glow. Decorative painter Tony Bevilacqua shows host Kevin O'Connor how he created a bright custom canvas wall covering for the new powder room. In nearby Concord, Massachusetts, master carpenter Norm Abram meets blacksmith Carl Close to see how he's making a Colonial-inspired boot scraper and doorknocker for the house. General contractor Tom Silva shows Kevin the new single garage door that's made to look like two carriage doors thanks to a false post down the center. Kevin meets with realtor Ron Phipps to discuss why antique homes can be challenging to sell, and how THIS OLD HOUSE addressed the major concerns with the renovation. In the basement, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows Kevin the latest offering in hot water heaters - a hybrid type that functions like an instantaneous hot water heater, but with a heat exchanger and small storage reservoir that eliminates the wait for hot water and also improves efficiency. Then, lighting designer Susan Arnold reveals her strategy for lighting both the high-ceilinged family room and the low-ceilinged kitchen, and how she's controlling everything with a new system that can be operated via an app on a smart phone or tablet.

• Bedford Project, Part 16 of 16 (#3116)

  As the Bedford project wraps up, landscape contractor Roger Cook and landscape designer Jenn Nawada Evans install both the new and old plant material, adjusted at the nursery for the change in the color of the house. In the kitchen, tile contractor Mark Ferrante installs the ceramic backsplash tile with a crackle finish that requires sealing three times to prevent seepage and staining through the cracks. In the dining room, interior designer Dee Elms is on hand as wallpaper hanger Mike Bradshaw starts installing the new hand-woven paper from Japan. The front yard design is complete with the arrival of sod, and Roger installs the reproduction boot scraper in the granite step by the front door, while general contractor Tom Silva adds the doorknocker. As furniture is delivered, host Kevin O'Connor meets kitchen designer Kathy Marshall and homeowner Becky Titlow to see the finished kitchen and the appliances and fixtures they've chosen. Homeowner Joe Titlow shows master carpenter Norm how he's managed to get a good workshop space in the garage, despite budget constraints. Then, Dee reveals the design choices they've made in oldest part of the house - brightening up the parlor and transforming the dining room with color and texture. In the new addition, Dee's design partner, Andrew Terrat, gives Kevin a grand tour of the new spaces, including the new entry, mudroom, powder room, kitchen and dramatic new family room. The entire crew of THIS OLD HOUSE gathers for a party to wish the Titlows well in their "new" old house.

• Barrington Project, Part 1 of 10 (#3117)

  The THIS OLD HOUSE crew opens the Barrington, Rhode Island, project aboard the motor sailor Liberty bound for the Ocean State via scenic Narragansett Bay. On Barrington Beach, homeowner Geoff Allen shows master carpenter Norm Abram and host Kevin O'Connor why they bought their 1925 modified cape - not for its 1950s and 1970s-era additions, but for the outstanding location. Inside, his wife, Michelle Forcier, shows Kevin that the kitchen has not been remodeled in decades, and how they hope to remove everything that is outdated and open up the new space to the beautiful water views. In the basement, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows Norm a fairly standard scene - outdated mechanicals with low efficiency and a 100-amp electrical service that should be updated. While there appear to be no problems with the structure, the biggest challenge will be building to withstand the marine environment, as well as the hurricanes, wind, and sideways rain that can occur by the water. In Providence, Kevin meets architect Mary Brewster to look at the plans for the renovation with the help of a useful 3D software program. Norm visits local builder Andy Tiplady in Bristol to see a classic new home he recently built that represents the apex of seaside living in Rhode Island. Back at the house, Andy's crew has loaded in, and Kevin lends a hand as they begin demo of the 1950s porch addition and start gutting the first floor.

• Barrington Project, Part 2 of 10 (#3118)

  Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find builder Andy Tiplady with the house wide open, his foundation in place and framing underway. The new open floor plan requires structural steel that gets bolted and then welded in place. With the steel installed and high winds already kicking up, Andy and his crew button up the house for the impending bad weather, which turns out to be Hurricane Irene. At 82 mph, Barrington clocks the highest winds in New England, and Kevin returns to finds roads closed, power lines down and trees crushing houses in the neighborhood. After some clean up, the crew gets back to work framing the second floor using the proper structural hardware like hold downs and hurricane clips. To learn more about the challenges of living on the coast, Kevin meets the executive director of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, Grover Fugate, to see the long term prognosis for the house, and also the lengths to which people will go to live by the water in Rhode Island.

• Barrington Project, Part 3 of 10 (#3119)

  Builder Andy Tiplady takes host Kevin O'Connor out on the water to gather provisions for an authentic Rhode Island clambake. Later, back at the project house, he shows master carpenter Norm Abram the windows he's using and how he's installing them using a custom copper pan for flashing - his preferred method in coastal situations. Kevin visits the Hurricane Research Lab at the University of Florida to see how they are protecting buildings through research and, with the help of the world's largest portable hurricane simulator, to feel what it's like to stand in a Category 3 hurricane. Back in Barrington, Andy installs architectural shingles with the requisite "hurricane nailing" pattern that is required by local code. At the end of the day, it is time for the clambake down on the beach, and Andy puts Kevin to work pulling it all off just as family and friends arrive to enjoy the good life on the Rhode Island shore before the cold weather sets in.

• Barrington Project, Part 4 of 10 (#3120)

  With the exterior shingles going up on the house, builder Andy Tiplady shows host Kevin O'Connor why he's using red cedar instead of white, and how he is creating the signature flair on the building between the first and second floors. Inside, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows Kevin how he's heating and cooling the house using a hydronic system that is integrated with a solar hot water system on the roof. Solar contractor Kevin Price also helps with solar panels for electricity, now that the price of the panels has come down 50 percent in the last four years. Master carpenter Norm Abram meets Trudy Coxe, the CEO of the Preservation Society of Newport County, for a behind-the-scenes look at one of Newport's most famous mansions. At the end of the day, the insulation contractors arrive to install spray foam insulation to protect the house from howling bay breezes and the noise of the adjacent beach.

• Barrington Project, Part 5 of 10 (#3121)

  Landscape restoration specialist Kate Venturini arrives from the University of Rhode Island to create a sustainable coastal landscape with the help of local landscape contractor Henry Pereira. Builder Andy Tiplady finishes up the shingles and trim at the master bedroom porch just in time for local metalsmiths to install the custom copper gutter and scupper that will keep rain out of the space. Members of the URI Master Gardener's association lend a hand installing coastal tolerant and native plants on the site, while local sod grower Pat Hogan delivers a freshly harvested fescue/bluegrass blend that will require less water, less fertilizer and less maintenance overall. Renewable energy expert Ross Trethewey makes his debut on the series by taking host Kevin O'Connor to see a lighthouse that is also an off-the-grid bed and breakfast for sustainability enthusiasts. Back in Barrington, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey meets solar hot water contractor Mick Dunn to see the system he's using for the house, and how he properly installs it to withstand the high winds in the area.

• Barrington Project, Part 6 of 10 (#3122)

  Builder Andy Tiplady uses a less-expensive Brazilian hardwood called garapa for the new deck, and installs it with a hidden fastening system. Carpenter Chris Aguiar uses a jig to cut straight red cedar shingles into a wave pattern designed by the architect, then passes them up to George Duarte for installation at the top of the side gable. Inside, Andy shows master carpenter Norm Abram the progress on the flooring, which is four-inch strip red oak, and the simple details on the interior trim that will let the water views take center stage. Host Kevin O'Connor heads to Providence to meet designer Lisa Newman Paratore at her design shop to see her sense of style and what she is pulling together for the project. Back in Barrington, Norm meets architectural millwork specialist Mark White to see the decorative polyurethane brackets he's brought for use on the exterior, and he explains why polyurethane is a better choice than PVC stock for this application.

• Barrington Project, Part 7 of 10 (#3123)

  On a rainy day in Barrington, builder Andy Tiplady shows host Kevin O'Connor how he's replaced the old cracked asphalt with new concrete pavers in the driveway. Master carpenter Norm Abram visits a custom cabinet shop in Smithfield, Rhode Island to see how they are using high-end cherry veneers for the project to make a kitchen with true character. Back in Barrington, installer Rick Jutras hangs the last of the wall cabinets and scribes the refrigerator panel to fit the space. In the master bathroom, plumber David St. Angelo sets the new soaking tub in a bed of freshly mixed plaster. Painting contractor Al Girard tries out a "full spectrum" paint that relies on other pigments to deepen the colors, rather than the industry standard of black, to achieve more reflective and rich colors.

• Barrington Project, Part 8 of 10 (#3124)

  Awning specialist Mike Cornell installs a new retractable awning over the deck that should stand up to the weather due to a wind sensor and fade-resistant fabric. Inside, the Saratoga soapstone has arrived, and countertop contractor Alyssa St. Gelais shows host Kevin O'Connor how she's sealing the surface with wax, not oil, to give it a more durable finish that will last longer than an oil application. Master carpenter Norm Abram and builder Andy Tiplady dress up the half-walls at the stair with oak caps and a scotia moulding. Then, Kevin visits Castleton, Vermont, with lighting designer Evelyn Audet to see how light fixtures for the project are being made one-by-one by New England blacksmiths. Back in Barrington, Andy shows Norm the electric floor warming system he's using in the master bathroom. It gets mudded directly into the tile bed, which holds 12"x12" porcelain tile that will also make up the front apron of the tub. In the side alley, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows Kevin where he's tucked away the A/C condensers, and then, inside, shows him the ERV in the attic and explains why it is possibly the most important piece of mechanical equipment in the house.

• Barrington Project, Part 9 of 10 (#3125)

  Builder Andy Tiplady sets 4"x4" glass tile in the kitchen using a light green grout (mixed with a latex additive) as the adhesive to set the tile and give a depth of color to the backsplash that thinset would not allow. Outside, the new insulated steel garage door is up; inside, host Kevin O'Connor works with Andy to install a garage storage system from the home center to keep the space organized. At the front deck, carpenter Chris Aguiar finishes up the cable railing system. The frame is white powder-coated aluminum, with stainless steel cables making up horizontal "balusters." The cables are strung with Teflon washers and grommets that separate the dissimilar metals in order to prevent corrosion. Fireplace specialist Mark Galenski installs a gas stove in the corner of the living room that will become a focal point at night, when the water views are no longer visible. Electrician John Butterfield installs a new LED down light in the front hall that's perfect for retrofit applications, and lighting designer Evelyn Audet shows how she's used layers of light to create distinct spaces within the open floor plan.

• Barrington Project, Part 10 of 10 (#3126)

  As the project winds down in Barrington, Rhode Island, master carpenter Norm Abram and host Kevin O'Connor congratulate builder Andy Tiplady on a job well done, while plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows homeowner Geoff Allen an advanced programmable thermostat with a 7" LCD screen. Window treatment specialist Ian Gibbs installs solar shades on the first floor, which will give some privacy and UV protection, while still allowing in light and views. Upstairs, closet designer Erin Hardy shows Kevin how she divided up the shared master closet to accommodate both "his and hers" spaces. Interior designer Lisa Newman Paratore shows off the final decor choices - a daughter's suite that employs timeless pieces and colors that allow the accessories to change as tastes change with age. The guest room will do double-duty as an "away" space for adults, while the master suite is all about luxury and making the most of the ocean views. Downstairs, the homeowners' eclectic art and casual furniture groupings make for a comfortable home filled with character. Homeowner Michelle Forcier settles in to the finished kitchen as a group arrives to celebrate the conclusion of another great THIS OLD HOUSE project.

• Cambridge Project, Part 1 of 15 (#3201)

  Homeowners John Stone and Sally Peterson want to turn an 1887 Victorian-era two family house in Cambridge, Massachusetts, into a one-family home. Landscape contractor Roger Cook finds a few surprises in the yard, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey uses an eye-opening energy audit to demonstrate the need for efficiency upgrades, and general contractor Tom Silva brings in a deconstruction expert to remove all of the old and unneeded house parts.

• Cambridge Project, Part 2 of 15 (#3202)

  The crew removes a central chimney brick-by-brick so the bricks can be re-used on another job, host Kevin O'Connor visits an "eco" resale store, and landscape contractor Roger Cook removes a sick Norway maple with the help of an arborist.

• Cambridge Project, Part 3 of 15 (#3203)

  With the interior opened up, master carpenter Norm Abram shows host Kevin O'Connor the bones of the building. On the first floor, general contractor Tom Silva relocates a load-bearing partition wall and takes the dip out of the floor. Out front, Kevin and homeowner Sally Peterson learn about the appropriate colors for the outside of her Victorian-era house. Later, Sally takes Kevin to a nearby shop to see the style she's after for the interior of the house.

• Cambridge Project, Part 4 of 15 (#3204)

  The crew starts the ceiling work on the first floor, host Kevin O'Connor learns more about Swedish Style, and general contractor Tom Silva lets some light into the master suite with the help of a new skylight.

• Getting Around In Cambridge (#3205)

  Kevin joins the legions of Cambridge locals by biking to work on a vintage bicycle restored locally. Tom shows Kevin how he's gotten rid of the steps to the roof deck. Roger arrives to tackle the giant stump left over from the old Norway maple. Richard shows Kevin how they've kept the ducts out of the roof rafter bays to preserve that space for insulation, and on the second floor, how they've hidden the air handler at the top of a hall closet.

• Exterior Improvements (#3206)

  Mason Mark McCullough shows Norm how he's repointing the old brick foundation. Then Norm and Tom repair the sagging front porch. Kevin visits Community Rowing on the Charles River to see how they make the Cambridge pastime of rowing available to everyone. Back at the project house, Tom and Kevin re-build the rotted historic porch railing to meet conservation district standards. Tom details the fire blocking and fire caulking as spray foam insulation begins in the balloon frame house.

• Old and New In Harmony (#3207)

  Roger replaces the existing concrete front walk with a beautiful new bluestone design. Tom shows Kevin the modifications he specified on the replacement windows. On the third floor, tile contractor Mark Ferrante uses a shower waterproofing system. Architect Michael Kim shows Kevin how he planned a modern house inside the shell of an old one in Brookline, Massachusetts. Painting contractor Mauro Henrique starts paint prep and shows Kevin the shades of yellow the homeowner is considering for the exterior.

• Melting Pot (#3208)

  Kevin and Richard get a taste of culturally diverse Cambridge by visiting what's known locally as "Japan Town." Norm shows how Tom has matched the exterior trim details and how the clapboards are going on over an underlayment that will let them dry out. Then, up on the roof deck, he lends a hand as Tom creates a staggered shingle pattern on the half walls to match what is on the existing house. Kevin heads to Boston's South End to visit interior designers Andrew Terrat and Dee Elms. Back at the house, Richard and project plumber Abe Bilo add floor warming radiant heat to the first floor from below and a state-of-the-art condensing boiler to fuel both the radiant and the hydro air systems.

• Cambridge 2012/Hot Stuff (#3209)

  Kevin and Norm find the painters spraying the house a sunny yellow, while Tom trims out the windows with a custom detail specified by the architect. Custom copper half-round gutters and a Danish wood-burning fireplace go in, and homeowner Sally Peterson explores what commercial-grade cooking appliances can do for her kitchen.

• Cambridge 2012/Swedish Details (#3210)

  Tom shows Kevin how he's installing Southern yellow pine board accents in key spots for architectural interest and to coordinate with the prefinished maple flooring that Norm is installing. Tile's going in the master bath, and the roof deck gets PVC porch boards and a custom rail treatment.

• Cambridge 2012/Window Seat, Stairs, Knee Walls (#3211)

  Landscape contractor Roger Cook installs new granite steps, and host Kevin O'Connor helps general contractor Tom Silva build a timeless window seat and some MDF doors cleverly disguised as wainscoting. Master carpenter Norm Abram works on the treads and newel cap on the stairs, and the pine ceiling accents get whitewashed and lacquered.

• Cambridge 2012/Rounding The Corner (#3212)

  After a visit to "this old record store," Kevin helps Roger install plastic drywells to keep the yard from flooding in heavy rains and checks out the sleek new cabinets with kitchen designer Kathy Marshall. Learn about thermostats that program themselves and Ipe deck tiles that go right over an old deck.

• Cambridge 2012/Hearthstone, Waterfall Island Top (#3213)

  Roger is getting the plants in despite the rain; the hearth and woodbox are lined with rustic sandstone. Norm visits Paul Grothouse in Pennsylvania to see how he's fabricating the huge butcher block countertop with waterfall edge and dovetail key detail. Richard installs wall-mounted lavatory faucets.

• Cambridge 2012, Secondary Spaces (#3214)

  Finishing touches are coming together: the driveway, walk-in closets, home automation and some remarkable wallpaper in the powder room. Norm visits local glass artist Carrie Gustafson to see how she's making the foyer light, and Tom's helping the homeowner John Stone build a quick and easy workbench with one trip to the home center.

• Cambridge 2012, The Big Finish (#3215)

  The last details come together for the Cambridge project finale: granite posts set off the landscape and the revived vintage doorbell crowns the foyer. Designers Dee Elms and Andrew Terrat bring exquisite punches of color that make the sleek, white Scandinavian modern interior come alive from top to bottom. Homeowners Sally Peterson and John Stone are delighted, as the crew gives a final salute!

• Essex 2012/13, A Cottage in the Wood (#3216)

  Kevin and Norm tour scenic Essex, Massachusetts, and roll up to the new project: a 1935 English-style cottage in the woods that homeowners John and Julie Corcoran hope to turn into an accessible in-law residence for aging parents. Architect Sally DeGan and Tom use a 3-D model to preview the plan for aging in place, and work begins.

• Essex 2012/13, Human Centered Design, and Demo (#3217)

  Kevin visits the Institute for Human Centered Design and one of architect Sally DeGan's accessibly designed projects; the bad shed dormer is removed at the house, and work starts on a barrier-free entry.

• Essex 2012/13, One-Level Living (#3218)

  Correct flashing and water table techniques keep water out of the house while preserving a level grade. Landscape architect Jade Cummings shows how she's designed that grade for a barrier-free entry, and Norm visits the Bucksport, Maine, home of Jessica Russell that she and her father, architect John Gordon, designed so she could live independently despite her physical challenges.

• Essex 2012/13, Liquid Assets (#3219)

  Lots of groundwork today, as Roger helps aquatic systems specialist Yorgos Gregory revive a neglected water feature, and drilling expert Roger Skillings is drilling for both a new water well and for geothermal wells. Master electrician Allen Gallant shows Kevin how he bends PVC conduit to run the new electrical service underground over hill and dale.

• Essex 2012/13, Cottage Style (#3220)

  Digging for energy: geothermal bore holes are filled and grouted. General contractor Tom Silva shows how to weave shingles around a corner for a cottage look, and Norm helps him mill and install custom PVC window trim with standard stock from the home center.

• Essex 2012/13, Clam Flats & Lightning Rods (#3221)

  Kevin and Roger dig for clams, then finish up the barrier-free walk that leads to the house, using both granite and bluestone, but no steps. The standing-seam metal roof goes on, and Richard's creative ducting and plumbing will minimize the number of holes that need to go through it. A non-reactive lightning protection system is installed.

• Essex 2012/13, Rustic Plaster, Advanced Septic (#3222)

  Wallboard installer Brian Jones shows how he uses a panel lift to install ceilings singlehandedly. Rustic plaster and old beams complete the Old World look of the walls. Richard surveys what's new in the world of septic systems, and installs a self-contained membrane bioreactor system in the basement. A granite and cobble border adorns the driveway.

• Essex 2012/13, Wooden Ships & Shiplap Boards (#3223)

  Norm visits Essex's last shipyard. Kevin and Tom build shiplap barn board walls and a mantel. Landscape architect Kellie Connelly and Roger show off the finished yard, and project architect Sally DeGan gives a tour of a home with accessible retrofits. Designer Keith Musinski lays out the reclaimed tile hearth.

• Essex 2012/13, from Our House to Daryl's House (#3224)

  Kevin points out the exterior details that bring the outside into the sunroom, like the slate floor tile installer Mark Ferrante is laying. Parged plaster, salvaged hearth tile and carefully stained quarter-sawn oak floors all work to revive the look of the original cottage. Norm visits music icon and old house buff Daryl Hall at his antique home and studio.

• Essex 2012/13, Design for Everyone (#3225)

  Richard and son Ross Trethewey recap the geothermal system's installation with Norm. Tile installers Mark and Erik Ferrante lay reclaimed marble tile in the foyer and designer Keith Musinski's custom-ordered hand-painted border tile in the kitchen. Kevin learns about universal design touring the Seattle home of architect Emory Baldwin.

• Essex 2012/13, A Home for Mom & Dad (#3226)

  After a little antiquing at The White Elephant, Norm and Kevin help Tom install interior screens and a Dutch door. Electrician Allen Gallant shows off the exterior lighting and generator, and homeowners John and Julie Corcoran give a grand tour of the beautifully decorated "English cottage" with interior designer Keith Musinski.

• Jersey Shore Rebuilds 2013/Sandy and The Jersey Shore (#3301)

  Months after Superstorm Sandy wreaked historic destruction on the Jersey Shore, Kevin, Norm and Richard find three homeowners determined, despite the seemingly insurmountable challenges, to stay and rebuild: stronger, smarter and up out of harm's way. In Bay Head, Point Pleasant, Manasquan and communities like them along this hard-hit barrier island community, there's nowhere to go but up.

• Jersey Shore Rebuilds Drastic Measures (#3302)

  Norm tours the Bay Head, New Jersey, revetment project with Thacher Brown; the Bay Head house is raised from the second floor structure. Kevin finds Carlos amid some setbacks trying to get the Point Pleasant house off the ground, and Richard helps Rita say goodbye to her Manasquan house before it's torn down. Norm gets a lesson on FEMA zones and foundations from structural engineer Pat Cronin.

• Jersey Shore Rebuilds Getting to Work (#3303)

  Kevin gets a look at decimated Mantoloking, New Jersey with Chris Nelson in a beach rescue vehicle. The Bay Head home's new first floor is framed, four feet in the air. Helical pull-down micro-pile technology literally screws the Point Pleasant house in place, as timber piles are driven into the ground for Rita's new modular home. Bay Head's oldest bakery has rebuilt: It's time to make the crumb cake!

• Jersey Shore Rebuilds Built for Speed (#3304)

  Seaside Heights, New Jersey, in a race for survival, is scrambling to bring the pier and boardwalk back; at the Bay Head project, mechanical roughs and new mahogany decking on the porch. In Point Pleasant, a compact Italian concrete crusher makes quick work of an old slab for new fill onsite. Richard learns how the Manasquan house is built in the factory - in less than a week!

• Jersey Shore Rebuilds Lines in the Sand (#3305)

  A Texas contractor explains how they're dredging sand shoaled in Barnegat Bay after Sandy; structural hardware and windows are installed in Bay Head. The Point Pleasant garage, now 10 feet in the air, becomes the new dining room; Rita's modular home gets trucked in and craned onto timber piles in Manasquan; Kevin visits the 19th-century Great Auditorium and tent city in Ocean Grove, New Jersey.

• Jersey Shore Rebuilds Go with the Flow (#3306)

  Roger learns about barrier island ecology, while the Bay Head job is in limbo waiting for FEMA. Breakaway walls and flood vents are installed in Point Pleasant, and Rita's modular cape is steaming along. Alex Burke shows Roger which plants and trees survived Sandy's salty onslaught, which didn't, and how to landscape for the future on a barrier island.

• Jersey Shore Rebuilds Stories from Sea Level (#3307)

  Kevin surfs with pro Sam Hammer and cruises the bay with marine biologist Chris Wojcik. Sea-level foundation footings go in in Bay Head, while stone veneer, fiber cement siding and composite decking dress up the Point Pleasant exterior. Richard takes a victory lap in Manasquan as flooring and fixtures are in and Rita's house is finished.

• Jersey Shore Rebuilds One Year Later (#3308)

  One year after Sandy, three projects conclude on the Jersey Shore. Richard visits the "Mantoloking Miracle": garage doors, designing a planter, and an interior design that repurposes what was once a garage. Kevin, Norm, Richard and Roger all meet up at a wharf-side wrap party to celebrate new friends determined to restore the shore!

• Arlington Italianate Project 2014/A New Project in Arlington, MA (#3309)

  Kevin and Tom introduce us to the popular suburb of Arlington, Massachusetts, and to a new project: the first Italianate Style home THIS OLD HOUSE has tackled in years. Malcolm and Heather's 1872 home has seen some changes over the years, leaving it with an awkward layout. Now it's time to polish it and make it work for this century's busy family. Richard and Roger are on site to help the demolition work get started.

• Arlington Italianate Project 2014/Old House Discoveries (#3310)

  Richard tours a neighborhood curiosity: a water tank disguised as a Greek temple. Tom and Kevin make some dramatic discoveries while demolishing the kitchen and baths, Roger moves a massive rhododendron and Norm checks out one of the finest surviving examples of the Italianate Style: the over-the-top Victoria Mansion in Portland, Maine.

• Arlington Italianate Concrete Jungle (#3311)

  Working around the antique fieldstone foundation, Kevin and Norm find Tom and mason Mark McCullough replacing the inadequate foundation under the addition and pouring a new slab in the basement with a concrete curb to bolster the walls. Breaking through the living room ceiling, they discover a lot more headroom, along with the original plaster molding and medallion, almost completely intact.

• Arlington Italianate Project 2014/Quest for a Dry/Quest for a Dry Basement (#3312)

  Tom marries the addition's new roof to the old by graduating the rafters. Architect David Whitney explains how just 200 additional square feet will transform this house. Masonry repairs with a new mortar additive provide a waterproofing solution for the fieldstone basement. Roger tours the Italianate Garden at Elm Bank; Norm and Tom perform surgery to re-open a door in the foyer.

• Arlington Italianate Getting to Level (#3313)

  Tom shows Kevin the systems he's devised for leveling out both the ceiling in the new open kitchen and the floor in the new finished basement, and he and Norm cut a hole for a new window. Landscape architect Cricket Beauregard shares her solutions for the shady front yard with Roger and homeowner Heather Faulds, taking them to see some of her work in other gardens around Arlington.

• Arlington Italianate Project 2014/Additional Details (#3314)

  Kevin appreciates the new windows from inside the new eat-in kitchen, while outside, Tom installs vertical beaded siding. Norm catches up with a former THIS OLD HOUSE carpentry apprentice, while Tom replicates 150-year-old corbels. Richard shows Kevin a time-honored way to connect cast iron waste pipes - with a lead and oakum joint.

• Arlington Italianate Project 2014/Arlington Heights (#3315)

  Arborist Matt Foti does some selective tree pruning, while Richard revisits the benefits of using PEX instead of copper for the water supply lines. Norm tours an 1872 Stick Style home in the neighborhood, and Tom shows Kevin how to convert a former doorjamb into a cased opening.

• Arlington Italianate Project 2014/Italianate Inspiration (#3316)

  Paint color consultant Bonnie Krims presents exterior color schemes, while Norm and Tom patch old oak veneer floors. Richard presents a new solution to the ugly PVC intake and exhaust pipes that come out of a typical boiler. Kevin tours an 1870 Italianate style home in Dedham, Massachusetts. Tom shows Kevin some of his favorite applications for radiant heat.

• Arlington Italianate Project 2014/Deadliest Old House (#3317)

  THIS OLD HOUSE welcomes Edgar Hansen from Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch." To assess his skills, Tom puts Edgar to work patching cracks in the plaster walls, then Richard shows him how to "fish" water lines through the building. Norm and Tom raise the height of the railing on the second floor landing. Roger and Edgar remove the concrete stairs at the front entry.

• Arlington Italianate Project 2014/Old World New World (#3318)

  Roger sets granite steps on a bed of ice to melt them into place. Plaster contractor Bob Bucco repairs plaster by hand, while 3D printing specialist David Kempskie shows how the repairs can also be made in a computer, thanks to state-of-the-art technology. Norm and Tom review the design options for the front porch railing, then get to work fabricating the balustrade, which features a flat stock baluster that is custom-made on site.

• Arlington Italianate Hydrangeas and Hail Storms (#3319)

  Roger removes a hydrangea with roots are undermining the foundation. Painting contractor Mauro Henrique offers strategies for working with potentially messy red paint. Kevin sees the damage hail can do to a house when IBHS conducts the first-ever indoor hailstorm. Tom goes the extra mile to keep water at bay in the basement.

• Arlington Italianate Project 2014/Water Water Everywhere (#3320)

  Local historian Richard Duffy offers a look at Arlington's Spy Pond. Richard installs a new water line to the house. Tom installs the new pre-finished Brazilian chestnut flooring. Fiberglass gutters made to look like historic wood gutters are fabricated and installed.

• Arlington Italianate Project 2014/Brick, Trim and Tile (#3321)

  Roger installs a new front walk in a running bond pattern. Tom runs a custom profile for the chair rail and both copes and miters the corners as it is installed. Interior designer Christine Tuttle makes tile selections at a local showroom. Norm and Tom work to fit a new four-panel interior door into an old doorjamb. As the cabinet installation finishes up, kitchen designer Steve Jackowski offers a preview of the countertops, tile and striking copper vent hood that are on their way to the kitchen.

• Arlington Italianate Project 2014/Soapstone, Marble, Oval Picture (#3322)

  Countertop contractor Michael Parodi creates final edge detail for soapstone countertops. Tile contractor Mark Ferrante cuts down 12-inch marble tiles to make a crisp-looking wainscoting. Norm visits the oldest continuously operated mill site in America where David Graf makes an oval mirror frame for the Arlington house using 150-year-old power tools. Tom scribes new oak stair treads to the old fieldstone foundation wall. Soapstone countertops are darkened using carnauba wax and walnut oil.

• Arlington Italianate Project 2014/Made in the Shade (#3323)

  Fence contractor Mark Bushway installs a custom PVC fence and arbor. Tile contractor Eric Ferrante creates a marble herringbone pattern in the powder room, while his brother Mark presents the grout color options for the faux slate floor in the mudroom. Tom builds a sliding barn door using salvaged antique wood from the attic. Horticulturist Laurie Sullivan presents alternatives to the usual, run-of-the-mill shade plants.

• Arlington Italianate Project 2014/Decorative Details (#3324)

  Paul Grothouse installs a teak island top in the kitchen, while Jim Snyder installs a solid surface vanity top in the master bath. Designer Christine Tuttle reviews how the vision for the house evolved from fabric, paint and light fixture choices. Tom builds a small but handy electronics nook. Tile contractor Mark Ferrante grouts the pebble tiles on the shower floor. Wallpaper hanger Warren Reeb hangs handmade wallpaper. Norm and Tom install a new front door.

• Arlington Italianate Sod, Garbage Disposers, Crown Molding (#3325)

  Roger rolls out a truckload of fresh sod. Tom installs a replica ceiling medallion made using a 3D printer; then he installs a custom copper vent hood. Richard selects the right garbage disposer at a local home center. Norm gives a lesson in crown molding, while Richard installs a pedestal sink in the powder room. Closet designer Mary Cool shows Kevin how she's customizing the master closet for maximum storage.

• Arlington Italianate Project/Italianate Renaissance (#3326)

  Arlington Italianate Project finale: Landscape designer Cricket Beauregard completes the exterior with a pair of classically inspired urns. Tom details how he modified the master bath to accommodate a steam shower. Malcolm and Richard check out the newly finished basement spaces. Heather shows Norm the finished bedrooms, baths and laundry spaces. Designer Christine Tuttle shows Kevin the decor choices that give the home a period inspired but unfussy feel. The whole group gathers in the new eat-in kitchen to celebrate the renaissance of this Italianate home.

• Lexington Project 2015/Colonial Roots (#3409)

  THIS OLD HOUSE kicks off the second project of the 35th Anniversary Season: an addition to a 1966 Colonial in historic Lexington, Massachusetts. Homeowners Jeremy and Jody Kieval would like a makeover that includes more sunlight and a new farmer's porch. Inside, the overflowing playroom needs to be relocated. Jeremy wants his dream kitchen to become the new heart of the home, so the old kitchen will be gutted and redesigned. A new addition will include a mudroom and access to the garage. The upstairs plan includes two more bedrooms, a laundry room and a sitting area over the garage. Roger shows Kevin how the small stream in the backyard will be protected during construction.

• Lexington Project 2015/Footings & Framing (#3410)

  The Lexington homeowners want to stay in the house during the renovation, so Tom shows Kevin how he's going to demo in phases, keeping the kitchen intact for as long as possible. Today, they'll tackle exterior demo only, starting with the back porch. Norm explains the framing of the first floor platform. Roger gets underway with the layout and excavation for the new footings for the first floor addition. The new prefab footings are unloaded into the backyard, set, leveled and plumbed. Kevin explains the building permit process and the role of the building commissioner, Fred Lonardo, as he comes in to make his first inspection.

• Lexington Project 2015/Colonial Curb Appeal (#3411)

  At the Lexington project, Kevin finds the front gable wall of the second floor up and the roof framing underway. In Lexington's historic district, architect Frank Shirley shows Norm how people have been using front porches to lend character and charm to Colonial style homes for hundreds of years. Back at the house, Tom shows Kevin the framing of the new farmer's porch. Inside, Kevin sees how the homeowners are getting by without a kitchen, which has been gutted. Later, Tom presents a solution to the ceiling height challenge in the old part of the kitchen.

• Lexington Project 2015/Smart Solutions (#3412)

  Kevin recaps how the roofers applied new architectural shingles to tie the old house in with the addition. Tom shows Kevin the progress on the new back deck. Kevin finds Richard and plumbing contractor Kevin Bilo fighting to keep the P-trap from the new bathtub on the second floor from interfering with the decorative ceiling of the new kitchen. They use a new German bath waste and overflow kit that allows for the flexibility needed to solve the problem. Kevin and Norm finish up the trim and decking on the new corner deck stair.

• Lexington Project 2015/Making Connections (#3413)

  Roger meets landscape designer Tim Lee to see how the small stream in the backyard affects all other areas of the yard, including a stand of trees in front that can be removed after careful consideration by the Conservation Commission. Before the trees come down, Roger shows Kevin the valuable shade plants to be relocated to a new bed in the side yard to provide screening from the neighboring house. Tom and Kevin cut away a five-foot section of wall to connect the new kitchen to the old great room. Richard shows Kevin two common rough plumbing conditions in the kitchen: a main sink that has a traditional drain and vent configuration, and an island prep sink, which requires a bow vent in order to work properly. Kevin meets building inspector Fred Lonardo to learn how a GC can call for a "partial framing inspection" to keep the job moving. Arborist John Marquis shows Roger the proper preparation, safety precautions and procedures for doing a "take down" of the 12 trees in the front yard.

• Lexington Project 2015/Exterior Details (#3414)

  Tom shows Kevin the new mudroom door and the work required to patch in new clapboards. Kevin meets electrician Allen Gallant and inspector Alix Berube to see what goes into a rough electrical inspection. At the back deck, Tom shows Kevin a hybrid railing system that has cedar posts and railing caps, with stainless steel cable "balusters." Kevin visits kitchen designer Donna Venegas to see the neutrals, textures and metallics that are currently trending in kitchens. Then, project designer Michele Kelly and homeowner Jeremy Kieval show Kevin the layout and design choices for the new family kitchen. Paint color expert Bonnie Krims gives Kevin and homeowner Jody Kieval a range of options for the exterior.

• Lexington Project 2015/Inspections (#3415)

  Norm and Tom install reinforced fiberglass columns to support the new farmer's porch. Richard meets plumbing contractor Brian Bilo and local plumbing inspector Donald "Duke" LaConte. Kevin and Tom meet building commissioner Fred Lonardo to see what goes into the rough mechanical and rough framing inspections. After Fred signs off, insulation begins. Tom shows Kevin the storm window system he's using to enclose the screen porch, and Russell Parrot shows how to heat the space: electric radiant floor heat.

• Lexington Project 2015/Conservation Concerns (#3416)

  Gutter fabricator Mike Vidulich installs a one-piece covered gutter that should never have to be cleaned. In the backyard, Roger shows Kevin the native plants he's using to turn a patch of lawn back to nature, as required by the local Conservation Commission. Master electrician Allen Gallant shows Kevin the existing aluminum wiring in the old part of the house and how he's safely working with it to update the recessed light fixtures and add new sconces over the mantel. Norm visits a factory in Londonderry, New Hampshire, to see how they're making and testing two types of windows for the project. Roger shows Kevin the infiltration system that is going to disperse the water from gutters into the ground.

• Lexington Project 2015/Old to New (#3417)

  Norm recaps progress on the mudroom and kitchen. Tile contractor Mark Ferrante installs a porcelain plank floor tile, made to look like wood, that he's using on the treads and risers of the stairs to the garage. Master electrician Allen Gallant shows Kevin how to properly abandon an old electrical box and how to fish wires to a new one. In the great room, Kevin shows how to patch the holes where the old recessed lights were: rigid insulation, strapping, wallboard and plaster. In the backyard, contractor Mauro Henrique shows Norm a smart, efficient way to paint shutters. Richard explains the thinking that goes into the logical layout of a mechanical room and Tom shows Kevin how he's turning an arched doorway into one that's squared off to match the rest of the openings on the first floor.

• Lexington Project 2015/Designer Details (#3418)

  Kevin arrives to find the second floor sanded, stained and sealed, and Tom overseeing the crew as they start on the first floor. In the kitchen, the cabinets are mostly installed, and carpenter Chuck Parker shows Norm the custom refrigerator panels. In Lexington Center, just steps from the Battle Green, Kevin meets local designer Robin Gannon to see how she used her modern and eclectic style to decorate 22 rooms of a historic inn. Norm shows Kevin how he's repurposing a chest of drawers for a sink base for the new powder room.

• Lexington Project 2015/New Walk, Old Stone (#3419)

  Roger starts on the new bluestone front walk despite some significant grade challenges. Around back, tile contractor Mark Ferrante is installing porcelain tile made to look like slate in the screen porch. Kevin recaps the vanity project and meets Richard to see the sink and faucet set. In nearby Acton, Roger visits a stone salvage yard to see how Gavin Johnston is selecting and fabricating antique granite for the front walk and custom house marker. At the end of the day, the granite steps are in place and Roger sets the house marker.

• Lexington Project 2015/Mudroom, Ventilation, Kids Rooms (#3420)

  Master electrician Allen Gallant shows Kevin the new LED ribbon strip lights he's using under the cabinets in the kitchen and butler's pantry. Norm and Tom build the new mudroom storage system. Richard and Tom review the critical need for ventilation in the modern, super insulated building. Wallpaper hanger Mark Pehrson shows Kevin his technique for applying wallpaper to a ceiling in one girl's room. In another daughter's bedroom, painting contractor Mauro Henrique is setting up to paint decorative stripes on an accent wall.

• Lexington Project 2015/Finishing Details (#3421)

  Roger and landscape designer Tim Lee place the first new plants in the landscaping plan. Richard is using two kinds of radiators to bring heat to the garage and the upstairs sitting room. Tom shows Kevin the progress on the upstairs laundry room, outfitted with simple cabinets and a small countertop. Installer Bob Young shows Norm the new insulated steel garage doors that should help keep the heat inside the garage. In the great room, master electrician Allen Gallant is installing a massive wrought-iron chandelier with 52 bulbs.

• Lexington Project 2015/Down to the Wire (#3422)

  Kevin arrives to see the installation of tall fescue that needs less water and fertilizer than other varieties. Interior designer Robin Gannon tells Kevin how she designed the great room entertainment center; then Matt Allen shows how he's turning the design into reality. Later, Kevin checks on the salvaged interior doors that will conceal the TV. In the basement, Richard shows Kevin the finished mechanical room and closes the loop on the final heating and cooling decisions.

• Lexington Project 2015/Garrison No More (#3423)

  Norm and Kevin review the transformation that has taken place in the 1966 Garrison Colonial. Kitchen designer Michele Kelly shows Richard the design and technology smarts built into the new kitchen. Kevin meets homeowner Jody and her designer brother to see how he customized the spaces over the garage to reflect each daughter's personality. Interior designer Robin Gannon shows Norm the updates she made to the older parts of the house. Kevin and Jody join Jeremy in the kitchen to see the finished space, the new breakfast area, screen porch and back deck.

• The Veteran's Special House Project (#3424)

  Kevin meets Mike Duckett in New Hampshire to see the plans for the DeWitt family's specially adapted home from HFOT. Norm, Tom and Kevin join builder Ken Dionne and his team to help with framing the exterior walls. Kevin then travels to Florida to meet Justin Gaertner, another veteran who also received a HFOT home. Kevin rejoins the project in New Hampshire and finds that all the exterior walls are secured and the truss roof is going up.

• Adaptation & Accessibility (#3425)

  Richard meets HFOT project manager Mike Duckett at the jobsite to understand some of the 150 requirements implemented on ADA-approved and Energy Star-rated homes. He travels to a plumbing manufacturer to see the technology behind touchless faucets and toilets. At the house, Mike shows Norm how tile contractor Steve Collette is using a beveled piece of marble to create an ADA-compliant threshold in the shower. Then they check out the technology behind the automatic door opener being used on many of the doors in the house. Cat DeWitt reveals how the hybrid styled faucet will make life more manageable for Matt and the rest of the family.

• A Home for Matt & Cat (#3426)

  Kevin meets HFOT community outreach coordinator Chris Mitchell, who explains why community involvement is important. More than 150 local volunteers are laying down the sod, mulching the beds and planting. Closet builder Brian McSharry has been working with the DeWitts on a special design for the master closet, and Norm and Kevin work with Matt to design and build a table for the new dining room. At the end of a long journey, the DeWitts move into their new home.

• Dude, Where's My Victorian (#3501)

  A new project begins in Belmont, Massachusetts, with a focus on salvage and restoration. Homeowners Katherine and Murat Bicer plan to revive their 1895 Victorian by building a front porch, refurbishing the original windows and opening up the kitchen.

• The Kitchen Came Tumbling Down (#3502)

  Roger saves the plants that are removed to make way for the porch. Tom starts demo to open up the kitchen and determine how he'll support the weight of the house. Norm learns about Victorian details. The window pulley systems are repaired.

• Bracing The Basement (#3503)

  Tommy replaces rotten lally columns in the basement. Norm removes the marble sink and claw-foot tub from the guest bath to restore them. Richard discovers a historic house with 19th-century air conditioning and plumbing. Tom saves hardwood floors.

• It's All About The Beams (#3504)

  Tommy installs flitch beams in the kitchen. Kevin goes to West Virginia to see how laminated veneer lumber is made. Richard finds a rear-mounted toilet on the 3rd floor. Landscape designer Jenn Nawada works on a plan for the shade-covered backyard.

• It's Foundation Time (#3505)

  Work begins on the mudroom foundation. Kitchen designer Linda Cloutier imagines cabinets in the dream kitchen. A giant vacuum removes 100-year-old insulation from the attic. Norm and Tommy resize an existing door to fit a smaller opening.

• Opening The Entry (#3506)

  Kevin meets mason Mark McCullough as he starts laying blocks for the mudroom foundation. Tommy builds a bay window in the kitchen. Norm visits the shop where the original windows are undergoing restoration. The front entryway is opened up.

• Victorian 2 (#3507)

  Kevin meets Richard in the basement to discuss the HVAC plan. Tommy's excavation crew replaces the old steel main water line at the front of the house. Katherine and interior designer Amanda Reid select tile for the bathrooms.

• Antiques for An Antique House (#3508)

  Framing begins on the front porch. HVAC expert Brian Palen solves the puzzle of snaking ductwork through a house designed in the age of coal. Kevin heads to Brimfield, the world's largest outdoor antique show, where Katherine searches for furnishings.

• True Colors (#3509)

  Kevin finds Tommy framing the mudroom. The homeowners consider colors for the exterior of their house. Richard learns the process of refinishing the clawfoot bathtub. Tommy replicates 120 Victorian molding.

• Victorian Warmth (#3510)

  Tommy lays down the flooring for the new front porch. Interior designer Amanda and homeowner Katherine select light fixtures. Richard learns about the new fireplaces going in on the first floor. Tommy and Kevin install the porch roof shingles.

• Grinding Out The Details (#3511)

  Kevin helps Tommy convert a storm door into a window for the mudroom porch. Interior designer Amanda and homeowners Katherine and Murat select interior paint colors. Tommy shingles the porch piers. Mark Ferrante lays tile in the master bath.

• This Old Tree House (#3512)

  Tommy creates an arched shingle design for the front porch gable. Kevin learns the process of creating a custom floor cloth for the kitchen. Tommy builds the porch railings. Kevin begins a labor of love- a tree house for the kids.

• What's Old Is New Again (#3513)

  Work continues on the tree house. The refurbished windows are installed. Tommy installs wainscoting in the front entryway, and then gets to work on restoring the parquet flooring.

• Inside Out Restoration (#3514)

  Roger brings back the plants he removed before construction began. Norm sees how a craftsman carves two newel posts to match the existing. The refurbished clawfoot tub and marble countertop are installed. Kevin reveals the treehouse to the kids.

• The Final Countdown (#3515)

  The kitchen counters are installed. Tommy builds a columned divider between the eating area and mudroom. Richard points out the mechanical improvements in the basement. Mauro applies a special magnetic paint for messages and notes in the kitchen.

• Goodbye Tired Old House (#3516)

  Kevin watches artist Pauline add historical texture to the master suite wall. The end of the project reveals many improvements: a new Victorian front porch, restored windows, relaxing master suite, functional living space and gorgeous open kitchen.

• This Old New House (#3517)

  On the North Shore of MA, homeowners Bill and April Harb begin building their dream home on a plot of raw land. The traditional farmhouse will look as though it's been there for 200 years, but the building methods are at the forefront of innovation.

• The North Shore Is A Blast (#3518)

  Tommy and Kevin visit the factory where the house will be built, as general contractor Erik Kaminski watches the first shipment of framing parts leave. Richard visits the property as blasting of the rock ledge begins. The foundation is poured.

• Truck in the New House (#3519)

  Kevin sees how Erik installs the perimeter drain. An inspector arrives to approve the new foundation. The first shipment of pre-cut framing lumber arrives on site. Kim Turner explains her landscape plan to Richard and the homeowners. Framing begins.

• North Shore Framezilla (#3520)

• Up on the Roof (#3521)

  Erik lays red cedar shingles on the roof. Kevin travels to Vermont to see reproduction light fixtures handcrafted. Window installation begins. The pre-built cupola is lifted to the top of the garage. Homeowner April searches for a barn door.

• 400 Years of Home Technology (#3522)

  Drilling begins on a geothermal system. Norm tours local 1st period homes. Kevin travels to the factory to see the stairs and wall panels being built. Back on the North Shore, Kevin learns about a new technology to seal ductwork.

• Making New Look Old (#3523)

  Erik installs clapboard siding. Roger and landscape architect Kim select salvaged granite for the yard. Richard sees how the geothermal pipes are connected in the basement. At the factory in Vermont, Kevin sees the kitchen cabinets coming together.

• House Requires Some Assembly (#3524)

  Landscaping begins with a backyard patio. The den gets some formal wainscoting. The homeowners meet with designer Kristina Crestin to select interior paint colors. The factory-made staircase is installed.

• A Race to the Punch List (#3525)

  Erik finishes the staircase with a maple newel post. Kevin helps connect a reproduction antique light fixture to a granite lamppost. Richard shows the systems for getting water from the well. Scott Caron shows how the backup generator is installed.

• What's New Is Old Again (#3526)

  As work winds down and winter winds up, Kevin and Roger assess the exterior transformation. Erik builds a custom closet from off-the-shelf piping. The guys walk through the house, noting the craftsmanship, systems and interior details.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts Arts and Crafts Class Begins (#3601)

  In Arlington, homeowners Nick and Emily plan to restore and expand their early English-style Arts and Crafts home, built in 1909. On the first floor, Kevin checks what has been preserved. Richard talks about plans for mechanical and plumbing systems.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts A New Look, Inside and Out (#3602)

  Homeowner Emily sorts through colors and wallpaper ideas for the living room. The old plaster walls are demolished. Landscape architect Kim Turner presents her plan to Nick and Emily and a certified arborist begins removing the old silver maple.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts Make Way for the Family Room (#3603)

  The heavy lifting and dirty work are underway: installing a new steel beam to provide support for the addition, removing an oil tank and digging for the new foundation. Meanwhile, Norm visits local examples of English-style Arts and Crafts houses.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts Foundation Fundamentals (#3604)

  A new foundation is built using insulated concrete forms and precast stairs, while the old exposed foundation is reinforced and waterproofed. The homeowner goes shopping for specimen trees.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts A Steely Den (#3605)

  Tommy and Kevin follow steel beams from fabrication to installation on the addition. Richard works on the HVAC plan for the 2nd and 3rd floors. After the front porch is removed, new footings are placed. Kevin learns how to size a new firebox.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts One Brick at a Time (#3606)

  The homeowner apprentices with the mason on the fireplace. Kevin joins the homeowners at a custom cabinetry shop in Maine as they begin to design their new kitchen. Tommy changes the pitch of the two small dormers in back.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts To Paint Or Not to Paint (#3607)

  A custom range hood is fabricated, and on the roof a rebuild of the original chimney. The homeowners meet with the designer to talk about options for the first floor, including the living room panels.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts A New Look to Match The Old (#3608)

  Norm and Charlie open up a hidden doorway to the kitchen. Richard uses some creativity to drain the new master bath shower and the electrician starts work in the new powder room. Tommy and Charlie replace the living room windows.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts Make Way for the Family Room (#3609)

  Tommy frames up a new Arts & Crafts style front porch using custom cut pieces. Richard visits a marble quarry in Vermont. Emily considers new color combinations for the exterior while Mark McCullough shows Kevin how to fix the original stucco panels.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts Shedding the Old Look (#3610)

  A new shed is built on site in one day. Copper is installed on the front porch and the windows trimmed with a PVC product. Richard looks at the new boiler being installed and then checks out an energy-efficient home built by This Old House Magazine.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts Underground Energy (#3611)

  Electrician Scott Caron starts the process of burying electrical cables. Norm and Charlie build the porch base columns. Roger lays a new brick patio. The first row of kitchen cabinets is installed. Tommy and Kevin work on trimming the front gable.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts Changes Start to Show (#3612)

  The house gets new shingles. After the hardwood goes down, radiant tubing is installed on the entire first floor. The large existing fireplace gets a makeover. Outside, the side decks and rails are built.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts Decorative Touches Make the Difference (#3613)

  The architect plans call for exterior decorative features on all sides of the house: a roof detail over the bank of windows, a refinished front door and evergreen trees along the edges of the property. Kevin learns to lazure paint in a bedroom.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts Ship Lap for a Ship Shape House (#3614)

  The homeowners have chosen ship lap, the hottest wall covering right now, for the third floor. Reclaimed granite is used for steps, and a marble slab is cut for the kitchen island. A cast stone mantel is built around the fireplace in the family room.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts Details Make the House Beautiful (#3615)

  The kitchen island countertop is installed and the crew starts on a fieldstone wall in the front yard. Wallpaper covers a new secret door in the upstairs foyer. In the basement, Richard checks the finished heating, cooling and ventilation systems.

• Arlington Arts & Crafts An Arts & Craft for the Ages (#3616)

  Tour the completed project house, including the new addition at the back of the house, updated front hall, dining room and pantry, expanded master suite, spacious new bathroom and new front porch, and outside, new plantings and hardscape.

• Detroit Rebuilding Motor City (#3617)

  A new series begins in Detroit, Michigan, where terms like "bankrupt" and "deserted" are out and "revitalization" is in. Meet the Polks, who plan to renovate an abandoned home themselves. After a full tour of the house, work begins on the leaky roof.

• Detroit Ready for Rehab (#3618)

  Kevin meets Detroit's mayor, Mike Duggan, to learn about the city's efforts to eliminate blight. Back in Russell Woods, Scott Caron installs a security system, while Tommy helps Frank blow in insulation from the outside.

• Detroit Down The Rehab Rabbit Hole (#3619)

  Richard snakes a camera down the main plumbing stack to rule out any major blockages to the street. Frank asks Tommy for help with the leaky parapet at the front of the house. The kitchen is opened up.

• Detroit Windows of Detroit (#3620)

  Tommy works with the family to remove peeling paint. While Richard begins rough plumbing using PEX, Tommy shows Kevin the issues with the leaded stained glass windows in the living room as glass artist, Ann Baxter, begins the repairs.

• Detroit Plumbing Road Trip (#3621)

  Tommy uses a modern solution for some traditional decorative molding. Homeowners Frank and Tamiko travel to Wisconsin to select their plumbing fixtures. Tommy works with Frank to install new kitchen ceiling strapping.

• Detroit Fixing The Fascia (#3622)

  Rough wiring is installed in the kitchen. A new HVAC system goes in. Richard heads to Flint, MI, to learn about their ongoing water crisis. Back at the house, Tommy installs new fascia.

• Detroit A Mason Steps Up (#3623)

  Tommy uses a clever fix for some damaged oak flooring. Mark McCullough repairs the front steps. Kevin heads to a famous Detroit ceramic studio to see how they've been making tile for a century.

• Detroit Stain Glass Revival (#3624)

  The restored leaded glass bay windows are installed and modern wood-grain tile goes down in the kitchen. Kevin and Roger explore urban farming in Detroit. Roger installs a drywell and Tommy leads the kitchen cabinet installation.

• Detroit Going Old School for Tile and Molding (#3625)

  Frank, Tamiko, their kids and Kevin start interior painting. Tommy repairs decorative molding using a putty knife. Tommy and Frank install interior doors and the tile installer gives the fireplace a much needed facelift.

• Detroit Rebirth In Detroit (#3626)

  After seven months of hard work, the project is complete. Tour the interior and exterior of the house to see the major areas of improvement and preservation. Celebrate the beautiful transformation with Frank, Tamiko and everyone who pitched in.

• A House for the Next Generation (#3701)

  A new season focuses on the next generation. A homeowner inherits her childhood home but with her husband makes changes to accommodate their children and inlaws. Mike Rowe visits to discuss the need for a new generation of skilled tradespeople.

• A Few Good Landscapers (#3702)

  Tom finishes the forms for the new foundation and pours the concrete with a new intern. Richard gets the house safe for demolition. Roger and his apprentice save roses and lilacs from being trampled by construction. Mold is found in the basement.

• Generation Next Arrives (#3703)

  Tom's crew and intern install a beam to support a new opening to the kitchen. The homeowners select finishes with their interior designer. Three apprentices arrive and build the essential tool belt. Their first job is to tackle the front porch.

• Construction Gets A Jumpstart (#3704)

  Kevin and Tom build a new floor. Richard, the homeowners and the designer hunt for an old clawfoot tub. Tom shows the apprentices how to level the front porch and build a hip roof. Kevin visits Baltimore to learn about a training program.

• All Decked Out (#3705)

  The apprentices learn the basics of framing a deck, while around the corner the chimney is demo-ed. The homeowners work with their interior designer to create a custom pattern for the tile floor. The flue for the wood-burning stove is installed.

• This Old House U. (#3706)

  It's a big day for the apprentices as they learn how to frame a wall in the master bedroom, build a drain stack for the master bath and lay decking on the front porch. Meanwhile, the homeowners visit their kitchen cabinet designer.

• Approaching Half Way (#3707)

  Dining room flooring is used to make a barn door. Roger teaches a horticulture class in the field. Tommy and Charlie break through the basement wall to find uninsulated crawl space. Garage floor gets radiant heat and front porch gets new columns.

• Duct Dynasty (#3708)

  While the apprentices get a lesson in roofing, Kevin visits Rhode Island to watch how an elaborate Chippendale railing is put together. A new slab of concrete goes in the basement to keep the moisture out. Richard shows how ductwork is put together.

• Tommy's Flair for Flares (#3709)

  Tommy builds a shower seat made of foam. Richard connects steel piping. Tommy teaches how to install replacement windows. Tommy shows Kevin and Joe how he makes a jig for the exterior shingled flair detail.

• Time for Trim (#3710)

  Granite goes down for wood stove. Nathan installs the porch ceiling. Kevin visits a home in Rhode Island where the exterior trim is pine. Richard reviews the placement of components at mechanical wall. Mauro shows how to repair holes in old plaster.

• Homeowners Pitch In (#3711)

  Tommy trims the rough interior columns. Liz makes a stained glass window. Kevin tours a flooring factory in Pennsylvania. Richard visits a voc-tech school plumbing class. Norm shows Kevin a few new tricks he's learned for installing stair treads.

• Salvage Helps The Bottom Line (#3712)

  Norm installs an old door in the hallway. Roger watches a stone wall being installed in pre-made sections. Kevin visits a career day for the trades. In Rhode Island, twin built-in beds are made. Tommy re-installs a corner cabinet in the dining room.

• Graduation Day (#3713)

  Roger explains why some preventative tree work is needed. Homeowner Liz gets a lesson on tiling. The original black newel post is found to be walnut. The apprentices graduate after 10 weeks of hard work.

• Homeowner Going The Distance (#3714)

  Liz helps Norm lay composite decking. Charlie makes exterior decorative brackets. Kevin watches quartz countertop installation. Roger's crew makes a new front walk. Liz puts in her stained glass window. Dry wells are needed for storm water runoff.

• Final Touches (#3715)

  Tommy and Charlie install a fireback on a kitchen wall. Roger returns the roses and lilacs he saved and brings in some new plants. The island countertop goes on. Kevin watches a crew install a garage door. The wood stove finally arrives.

• Move In Day (#3716)

  It's the wrap of another great project. Kevin tours the renovated house with the homeowners. What was once Liz's childhood home has been transformed into a house for the next generation. Their kids and Joe's parents arrive to check it out.

• Charleston Rough Plumbing (#3722)

  Richard works on rough plumbing at the Elliotborough house while Kevin, Judith and Julia meet a kitchen designer. The rotting porch is assessed. A new floor is made to look old at the Single House. Tommy and Mark snake wires through a brick wall.

• This Old House (#3801)

  Tom and Kevin cross the bridge from Newport, Rhode Island to Jamestown, where they tour the next project -- a 1920s bungalow which will become a larger net zero house. They meet the family and builder, and demo begins.

• This Old House (#3802)

  Shingles with asbestos are removed. Kevin visits a manufacturer in Pennsylvania that makes precast concrete walls. Homeowner Donald gives Kevin a historic tour of Jamestown. After the hole is prepped, the foundation wall panels arrive and are placed.

• This Old House (#3803)

  Jeff shows Kevin how he's framing the net zero house. Richard demonstrates heat loss and gain to design a balanced HVAC system. He and Don visit the International Builders Show. Now that the house is open, Kevin can see the old wiring and plumbing.

• This Old House (#3804)

  New apprentices join the team in Rhode Island as the roof goes up. The homeowners visit a cabinet showroom to finalize their plans. The house gets sheathed. It's the finish line at Judith's house in Charleston. Kevin and Tom take the grand tour.

• This Old House (#3805)

• This Old House (#3806)

• Jamestown Modern Barn Raising (#3807)

  The electrician installs a load center. Tom and apprentices put up cedar roof shingles. Kevin and Jeff add insulation to the basement. Tom shows apprentices how to block behind walls with future cabinets and wall fixtures. The barn gets raised.

• Jamestown Air Tight House (#3808)

  Richard watches as the home is sealed against air leaks. Jeff reviews his pre-drywall check list. Kevin sees the landscape plan. Jeff fabricates pieces for porch columns and rails. Tommy puts on shingles as the last layer of the exterior wall system.

• Jamestown Designing Their Dream Home (#3809)

  Dana and Don show Kevin design samples at their studio. Richard demonstrates how a heat pump works. Mark watches as stone veneer is applied. The plumber installs a wall hung toilet tank inside the wall. Don builds his powder room vanity with Tom.

• Jamestown Powering Net Zero (#3810)

  Tom discusses difference between blueboard and drywall. Richard learns about the process to size a solar array. Jeff and Tom install a wood ceiling. The electrician puts in a generator at the Idea House. Richard visits a Newport boat building school.

• Jamestown Roger's Nod to Sod (#3811)

  Roger visits a nearby sod farm with Jenn and Kevin. Richard inspects the HVAC installation. A gas fireplace goes in the living room. Tom and Jeff attach screens on the side porch. Outside, a new well is dug to provide water for the landscaping.

• This Old House (#3812)

• Jamestown Net Zero Comes Together (#3813)

  The Net Zero house is complete. Kevin and Tom discuss challenges with Jeff. Don gives Kevin a tour of the yard and barn. Dana shows Tom the upstairs. He checks out the main floor with Don. Richard reviews mechanicals. All gather in the kitchen.

• Brookline Mid-century Modern House Mid-century Modern Makeover (#3814)

  Tommy and Kevin cruise around Brookline in a '57 Chevy before rolling up to the latest project: a lackluster 1957 mid-century modern house in need of a total overhaul. They learn about the full scope of work, and Charlie starts in on demo.

• Brookline Mid-century Modern House Next Generation Demolition (#3815)

  While old fixtures are salvaged and asbestos is removed at the house, Norm, Richard and Kevin head back to where it all began 40 years ago, in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Later, Roger starts to remove a tree that's threatening the property.

• Brookline Mid-century Modern House Apprentices in Sill School (#3816)

  Norm teaches the apprentices how to lay a sill on a new foundation, while Richard scopes the sewer to see what might be lurking inside. Kevin, the homeowners and their designer start in on a plan to create a sleek, modern space.

• This Old House (#3817)

• This Old House (#3818)

• This Old House (#3819)

• This Old House (#3820)

  Tommy teaches Kevin how to calculate the risers for a set of stairs. The foundation is insulated with a DIY foam system. Radiant heat is installed, and Norm and Richard head to Santa Fe to visit the project they did 30 years ago.

• This Old House (#3821)

• Brookline Mid-century Modern House What's the Miter with the Corner (#3822)

  Mark McCullough rebuilds a century-old Puddingstone wall. Tommy and Kevin revisit the 2005 Cambridge modern project. Electrician Heath Eastman installs trimless LED recessed lights. Large tanks are installed under the driveway for rainwater runoff.

• Brookline Mid-Century Modern House See Glass (#3823)

  Kevin travels to the Midwest to see the manufacturing of plate glass and windows. Back in Brookline, Mauro teaches Kevin some cold weather painting tricks. Radiant heat is installed under the driveway, while the patio is installed in the front.

• Brookline Mid-century Modern House Attack of the Giant Tile (#3824)

  Mark Ferrante lays giant porcelain tile in the main living spaces of the house. Kevin and Richard head to sunny Key West to visit the 20th anniversary project. Back in Brookline, a hanging retro fireplace and modern kitchen cabinets are installed.

• Brookline Mid-century Modern House Finally Finishes (#3825)

  Finishing touches abound as the project wraps up: closet systems, modern baseboards and a linear wall drain in the master shower are all installed. Homeowner Sunil selects door hardware and Nathan Gilbert installs floating bathroom vanities.

• This Old House (#3826)

• Westerly A Ranch Out Westerly (#3901)

  Tom and Jeff admire the knotty pine paneling. Kevin and homeowners look at architect renderings. Norm visits California Ranch style homes. Richard tours garage and basement. Jenn and Roger walk property to consider options. Salvage and demo begin.

• Westerly Chimney Down and Walls Up (#3902)

  Mark and Jeff take down the chimney. Scott and Shayla window shop. Jeff and Richard visit a convention to discover new plumbing products, while back at the ranch the exterior walls come down. Jeff will reuse the original rafters for new wall framing.

• Westerly The Open Concept (#3903)

  The crew places a center beam to support the second story. A hole is cut in the original foundation for a basement window. The homeowners look at staircase designs. Kevin visits an engineered lumber factory in Canada. Tommy and Jeff raise the gable.

• Westerly Raise A Second Story (#3904)

  Roof cheeks are pre-assembled and raised. Then the crew stands up the second floor walls. New apprentices arrive as part of the Gen Next program. Tom shows them how to cut roof rafters. Richard works with an engineer who is designing a septic system.

• Westerly Decking for Beginners (#3905)

  Tommy teaches the new apprentices to frame a deck. Jeff's crew frames the exterior flair detail. Jenn learns about Westerly granite. Jeff teaches the apprentices to install a window. Richard and Jeff look for a path for the drain stacks.

• Westerly Return to Paradise (#3906)

  Tom and Jeff work on the main staircase at Jeff's shop and then they bring it to the house. Kevin looks at new siding at the Idea House. Richard tours a factory to see how a furnace is built and then watches one being installed at the project house.

• Westerly The Doors (#3907)

  Tom and Jeff build a section of a coffered ceiling. Jenn watches as local granite is cut to size. Richard reviews the complex septic system as it goes in. In Ohio, Kevin learns how the interior doors are built. Back in Westerly, a door is installed.

• Westerly Tanks for the Propane (#3908)

  The new propane tank gets buried in the yard. Norm advises an apprentice in composite decking. Jeff and Tom add final touches to the coffered ceiling. A shelving system goes into the new office. Outside Mark applies a stone veneer to the new chimney.

• Westerly Rockin' The Granite (#3909)

  Jeff shows Kevin how he installs a floating oak mantel. Norm panels the playroom using the original knotty pine boards. Kevin visits the apprentices at a timber framing school, then he takes a tour of Westerly. Jenn uses Westerly granite for steps.

• Westerly Pining for Old Pine (#3910)

  Norm uses old pine from a local sawmill to make a table. Mauro and Kathryn whitewash the knotty pine paneling. Tom and Jeff build a pergola for the deck. Kevin helps with a shutter assembly. Electrician Ben shows De'Shaun how to light the pergola.

• Westerly Save The Flagpole (#3911)

  As the project winds down, TVs are mounted and the blinds and curtains get installed. Richard takes a look at the new water heater. Jenn watches the final plants go in and helps install outdoor lighting. The old flagpole comes down for a touch up.

• Westerly Seaside Transformation (#3912)

  The old ranch is transformed into a Dutch Colonial thanks to Jeff's team. The homeowners give Kevin and Tom a tour. Norm brings the pine table he made. Jenn hydroseeds out back. Everyone meets at the refurbished flagpole to raise the flags.

• Paradise Paradise Lost (#3913)

  A year after California's worst wildfire, the people of Paradise are still clearing the devastation. About 90% of the homes were lost. Kevin, Tom, and Richard meet three families determined to rebuild according to the wildland urban interface codes.

• Paradise Out of the Ashes (#3914)

  Joe the homeowner fabricates a stone hearth. Richard learns about automatic sprinkler systems. Kevin sees a simulator that shows how the Camp Fire spread. Tom inspects a vent that's designed to resist embers. Another project gets the green light.

• Paradise No Pain No Gain (#3915)

  Luke and Crystal are moving in. Kevin visits a fire test lab. Jose and Anna's house gets roof shingles. Mark installs a stone veneer at Avonlea and Joey's house. Kevin tours farms around Paradise. Jenn meets an architect who designed a town memorial.

• Paradise Paradise Strong (#3916)

  Tom inspects engineered siding and fire-rated sheathing. Richard looks at a solar backup battery. Former Paradise fire chief discusses advanced preparation with Kevin. At the Hope Plaza Memorial ground-breaking, the heroes and survivors are honored.

• Cape Ann Cape Ann Shingle Style (#3917)

  Homeowners John and Molly plan to put the history back into their 1890s Shingle-style home. They'll remove '70s carpet, repair cracking balusters and transform the front entry, restoring the home's original beauty and updating it for modern living.

• Cape Ann Between A Rock and Hardwood (#3918)

  Tommy and Kevin start laying subfloor in the new dining room. Charlie shows Jenn how he's drilling granite to make way for the new garage and driveway. Kevin tours Cape Ann before heading back to the house to see Tommy move an interior doorway.

• Cape Ann Losing Our Truss (#3919)

  Tommy and Charlie create a cathedral ceiling on the third floor. Mark McCullough breaks through the foundation to make space for mechanicals. Kevin learns about sun tunnels at the idea house. Back on Cape Ann, Richard creates a plan for cooling.

• Cape Ann Hard Work Ahead (#3920)

  Mark McCullough finds granite on the property to match a new stone wall to the old. Heath buries the electrical underground. Kevin, homeowner Molly and her kitchen designer Michele look for design inspiration. Tommy creates a barrel ceiling.

• Cape Ann Shingled Out (#3921)

  Tommy and Charlie install rounded-top windows in the breakfast room. An easy-install roof shingle goes down. Roger and Kevin go fishing. Tommy adds a custom diamond detail with the siding. Radiant heat goes in somewhere unexpected: the ceiling.

• Cape Ann Tiling Is A Family Affair (#3922)

  Tommy repairs 130-year-old pocket doors. A new type of solar goes in. Jenn works with landscaper Fred to build a boulder wall. Richard gives a lesson on the modern furnace. Father Mark and son Erik Ferrante showcase the art of mosaic tile installation.

• Cape Ann Window On Restoration (#3923)

  Original leaded glass windows are repaired. Jenn and Fred plant a bed of perennials along the new driveway. Mini splits solve a ductwork problem. Homeowner Molly and her designer Shelby make design decisions. Tommy tackles tricky original trim.

• Cape Ann Don't Rip It, Restore It (#3924)

  Richard learns about one of the most important plumbing inventions: the Stillson wrench. Mauro repairs 130-year-old plaster. Norm and Wayne repair broken balusters. Heath installs a new panel. Venetian plaster is applied to the dining room ceiling.

• Cape Ann Master Craftsmen (#3925)

  A custom brass handrail is fabricated. Molly and Mauro create a chalkboard finish in the playroom. The repaired balusters are reinstalled. Richard gives a lesson in make-up air. Work begins on a custom dining table. Heath talks smart electricity.

• Cape Ann Move In Day (#3926)

  Work is finally complete on the Cape Ann Shingle Style project. The team tours the finished home, celebrating all of the historic details that were repaired and the new elements that are in keeping with its original style.

• Designing Kitchens (#4201)

  We take a tour of kitchens - from fireplaces used for cooking in colonial times to marble counters of modern days. Follow the evolution of appliances from white to avocado to stainless as well as cabinet finishes from natural to painted.

• Factory Made (#4202)

  From large scale industry to small town makers, over the years This Old House has explored the places that provide building and finishing materials for our projects. We look back at some fascinating factories we've visited.

• Memorable Makers (#4203)

  This Old House features talented makers. From young blacksmiths metalworking to a woodworker who finds centuries-old lumber under water, we visit people and places all over the country who make beautiful household items.

• Anatomy of a Kitchen (#4204)

  From demo day and design, to selecting the finishing touches, we follow every step as the homeowners decide on the components and the crew converts a decades-old butler's pantry kitchen into an up-to-date kitchen for the future.

• Project Interrupted (#4205)

  Five months ago this 1887 Queen Anne Victorian in Narragansett, Rhode Island was falling apart. The day after filming, Covid changed everything. But the restoration will continue, and we're here to return this old house back to its Gilded Age beauty.

• New Light In Old Windows (#4206)

  Decorative Queen Anne style barge rafters are reproduced for the garage addition. The antique windows get restored and primed in the shop, re-glazed, and then returned to the house for installation.

• Chimney Straightener (#4207)

  The original chimney inside the Queen Anne Victorian was built with a slant at the top. It had to be removed but the bricks will be cleaned and repurposed for a new, straight chimney. Mark McCullough travels to Narragansett, RI to follow the story.

• Back to Narragansett (#4208)

  The updates to the 1887 Seaside Victorian Cottage in Rhode Island were reviewed by the historical commission. The original exterior has been preserved where possible and the addition replicates the original structure. Inside is a different story.

• Upgrading Old School (#4209)

  Original house exterior details such as the Yankee gutters and corbels are installed. Kevin catches up with the electrician's apprentice. Richard looks at the new tankless hot water system.

• Outside Details (#4210)

  Mark shows off a cobblestone apron at the driveway. The crew reinforces old floor joists. Tom helps hang a drop finial on the exterior and then he and Jeff install a swinging window. Kevin meets with paint experts to discuss choosing exterior colors.

• Design Elements (#4211)

  Tom watches ceiling mounted speakers disappear. Richard oversees the startup of a new HVAC system. Kevin learns about garage door side mounts. The pool arrives and is lowered into place. The homeowner and designer walk Kevin through design choices.

• Pizza Time (#4212)

  Inside, the work is busy with flooring and finish carpentry. Along with designer Kristen, the homeowner shows Kevin her plan for the master bathroom. Outside, a custom pizza oven and fireplace arrives by truck and is installed in sections.

• Narragansett Windows (#4213)

  Tom assists with elaborate interior window trim and custom storm windows. Richard checks out an updated electric meter and panels. Mark follows work on the limestone hardscape in the backyard. Kevin watches the assembly of a Victorian style shed.

• Cold Weather Landscape (#4214)

  Trees and sod are transplanted out front with Jenn, while a custom deck hatch is installed out back to access the basement. Inside, Kevin and Jeff assemble a smart lock system and Tommy helps mount a unique range hood.

• Tommy's in the Kitchen (#4215)

  The end of the project is quickly approaching and there is still much to be done. Tommy helps hang the pantry door. Tiling and backsplash work continue as the crew creates a custom surround for the gas fireplace. Appliances arrive.

• A Queen Anne Revival (#4216)

  The once rotting Seaside Victorian Cottage is restored to its original beauty under the guidelines of the Historic Commission. A new addition matches the existing architectural details. New hardscape and landscape anchor it to the corner lot.

• Return to Dorchester (#4217)

  The Boston neighborhood of Dorchester has always been a special place to This Old House, as it's the home of the first project. This season, the show will follow the renovation of a triple decker that was burned from illegal fireworks.

• 3 Decker Heaven (#4218)

  Kevin finds Ron Peik's team removing asbestos. Plumber Ronnette Taylor will tackle the dormant pipes. Jenn and the homeowners visit a community garden. Architectural Historian Arthur Krim talks about 3 deckers. Tom pulls off the melted vinyl siding.

• House Fire Reclamation (#4219)

  The back porches on the triple decker are brought to code. Ice blasting is used to get rid of the fire odor. New vinyl gets installed on the entire house while homeowner Carol considers new accent colors to match the siding. Framing begins inside.

• Urban Oasis (#4220)

  Jenn brings together a team to create an urban patio. Heath rewires part of the house with intact plaster ceiling. Charlie and Tom hang a new fire rated door. Richard explains how a new tub is fitted in. Kevin and Tom install a replacement window.

• A Project for Every Floor (#4221)

  Kevin finds Tom working with the new apprentices on the front door. Tom and Charlie teach them about mineral wool insulation. Homeowner Carol looks at kitchen cabinets and counters. Richard works with James on the three separate HVAC systems.

• Three of Everything (#4222)

  Kevin finds Mauro working with the apprentices to fix the plaster damage. Richard meets plumber Ronnette to learn about the new sprinkler system. Kevin joins Carol and her sister Willie to shop for appliances for all three levels of the house.

• Finish Work Begins (#4223)

  Tom and Kevin reinstall upper cabinets that survived the fire. HVAC contractor James shows Richard the plan for hot water and heating. Kevin joins Carol and her sister to shop for appliances. Tile installation and window trim.

• Roof University (#4224)

  Kevin joins the apprentices as they take a two-day roofing class. Back at the project, Tommy and Charlie install French doors to divide the living room from a bedroom in the second-floor unit.

• Almost Home (#4225)

  After nearly two years since the fire, the triple decker is just about ready for the homeowners to return. Kevin checks out what's left to do in all three units.

• Our 3 Decker (#4226)

  Illegal fireworks caused a fire in the Dorchester triple decker and then COVID-19 happened. Charlie Silva and a team of local contractors put this house back together, and after a long wait, Carol and her family can now move back into their home.

• Concord New England Cape (#4301)

  This 1880 Country Cape started as a small house on a large piece of land but was added on to over time. The crew meets the new homeowners and their architect and gets a tour both inside and outside to learn about their future plans.

• Concord Saving What We Can (#4302)

  Appliances, building material and radiators are salvaged from the house before the major demolition begins. Outside, an arborist sprays the old Hemlock trees on the property to protect them from damaging insects. Time to cut off the garage addition.

• Concord Fix The Foundation (#4303)

  The old foundation gets modified for the new basement with an opening for a doorway, and the new foundation has to be tied into the old. On the first floor, the crew installs a beam in order to remove some of the wall that abuts the front staircase.

• Concord Solid Foundation (#4304)

  The foundation is waterproofed. Mauro and homeowners discuss exterior paint colors. Tom and the designer look at newel post options. Kevin talks to architectural historian about Cape style homes. The new foundation is braced for backfilling.

• Concord Dormer Day (#4305)

  Kevin helps Tom to adjust where the old house is out of level with new addition. Then he meets Mark to look at stone veneer. Charlie needs to raise the rafters on the back dormer for more headroom. Kevin and the homeowner and designer look at tile.

• Concord Tree Dr. House Call (#4306)

  Kevin, Tom, and Charlie install a five-layer Flitch beam. Jenn watches a tree company attach a cable on an old Hemlock for support and then prune an overgrown Crabapple tree. Tom and Charlie prepare for a footing to support the corner chimney.

• Concord Masonry Lesson (#4307)

  Kevin and Mark cut a slot in the chimney for flashing to keep moisture out. Homeowners get a tiling lesson. The Silva crew transitions from old to new floor and hide the evidence. Kevin finds Charlie and the kitchen designer laying out the kitchen.

• Concord Roughing It (#4308)

  Tom and Charlie remove a window and frame for new double hung windows. A non-profit creates affordable housing for vets by renovating an old school. A new deck has living space below. New bathrooms in an old house creates plumbing challenges.

• Concord Focus On Framing (#4309)

  Kevin finds walls going up at the addition. Tom shows the evolution of framing hammers and guns. Richard and crew dismantle the old boiler. Heath plans for electric panels and inspects new light fixtures. A new ridge beam supports the addition.

• Concord Planting for the Future (#4310)

  Kevin takes a trip to Pennsylvania to meet with master craftsman Paul Grothouse. Charlie has an idea to improve a thermal break for the front dormers of the original house. Jenn and landscape designer Maria begin planting away from the construction.

• Concord Smaller Is Better (#4311)

  Kevin and Tommy install a skylight. Richard talks about ducts. The homeowner's mother shares her craft for the house. Kevin tours a range factory in Pennsylvania established 1880. Charlie and Tom repair the original wood gutters on the house.

• Concord Toasty Cars (#4312)

  Richard talks about the importance of radiant floor heating in the garage and walks through the installation process with plumber Abe Bilo. Next, Richard and Mark discuss the concrete pour. Mark discusses the steps as his team takes over the pour.

• Concord Race to the Finish (#4313)

  Kevin talks about the Dracut School Project and visits Alison Hardy at her shop to discuss her work of repairing windows on the historic building. Richard finds Abe Bilo and his crew as they dismantle the old boiler system and prepare for a new.

• Concord Sunshine Power (#4314)

  A composite deck is installed with the ease of a clip system. The basement is sprayed with environmentally friendly foam insulation. HVAC zoning for this home's complicated layout is discussed. A battery backup is installed for the new solar system.

• Concord All in the Details (#4315)

  Only one more week to go and the house is busy with activity. Electrical fixtures are installed, as are the kitchen counters and shelves. Painting is happening everywhere, and the large bathroom receives a unique Tadelakt treatment.

• Concord Fabulous Cape (#4316)

  After months of setbacks including bad weather and material delays, the Concord Country Cape is ready for the homeowners to move in. They walk through their updated modern and light-filled space with Richard, Jenn, Tom, Kevin and Charlie.

• West Roxbury Small Town in a Big City (#4317)

  A small town in a big city, West Roxbury, MA is the home of our new project-an 1890s Victorian once a single family turned multi-family and back to a single family. Our crew meets the homeowners and builder and discuss future plans for this gem.

• West Roxbury Pruning 101 (#4318)

  Construction is underway. The first floor is opened up, windows are installed, and the old rosin paper siding underlayment is replaced with a new high tech house wrap. Outside, it's landscaping and Pruning 101. Kitchen cabinet selections are made.

• West Roxbury Drain Pipe Puzzle (#4319)

  Elms are subject to Dutch Elm Disease; but not the one purchased from a local nursery for our home. Back at the house, new window trim and fiberboard siding is installed. Moving plumbing drain could be a puzzle. Possible solutions are discussed.

• West Roxbury Outdoor Oasis (#4320)

  At the house, out front we get to know the contractor while Ipe is being installed on the porch ceiling. Out back, a brick patio is laid. Inside, a dual fuel HVAC system is installed and ducts ran. At the Dracut Centre School, corbels are restored.

• West Roxbury Exploring Flooring (#4321)

  The front porch gets a new set of granite stairs and a brick walkway. A new backdoor seals the house. The homeowners decide on a finish for the floors. A cable rail system is installed on the back stairs. A trade school in Philadelphia, PA is visited.

• West Roxbury Father and Son (#4322)

  Work on the exterior of the home is almost complete. A tub and radiant floor heating are installed in the upstairs bathrooms. The homeowners shop for interior lighting. The homeowner and his son install drywall in their new mancave.

• West Roxbury A Match Made Perfect (#4323)

  Aluminum gutters that mimic wood are beginning to get installed. Inside, trim goes around the new back door and the existing wood flooring is patched. Upstairs the master shower is waterproofed and prepped for a linear drain.

• West Roxbury Boho Chic (#4324)

  New kitchen cabinets and range hood are installed. The homeowners' daughter talks Boho Chic with an interior designer. The challenges of laying out large format tiles in a small space are discussed. A cracked stained-glass window is repaired.

• West Roxbury Focus On Finishes (#4325)

  A quartz countertop and hidden receptacles are installed in the new modern kitchen, while original crown molding is matched in the dining room. It's time to hang the interior doors. Hardware installation marks the beginning of the finishing details.

• West Roxbury A Modern Victorian (#4326)

  It's a wrap on our West Roxbury Project. A single-family turned two family and back to a single-family Victorian has a new modern look with a better planned living space for the family of four. The whole crew is present for the reveal.

• Saratoga Springs Toh In Saratoga Springs (#4327)

  It's off to the races on a new project in Saratoga Springs, NY; but first, the crew gets a history of the bustling city. They meet new homeowners Evan and Whitney and Evan's mother Susan. The house has been in Evan's family for seven generations.

• Saratoga Springs New Vision (#4328)

  Working with a tight budget, the homeowners take on demo and backyard preparations. The architect shares his vision for the project, and a local docent shares the history of the springs of Saratoga Springs. The builder installs an air scrubber system.

• Saratoga Springs Old Woes (#4329)

  From no wiring to BX wiring, electrical in the 1864 house is addressed, but first a visit to the tracks. Unfortunate demo discoveries mean changes to framing and living plans. A temporary buttress wall supports the old foundation.

• Saratoga Springs Secret Gardens (#4330)

  Saratoga is home to secret summer gardens and mansions. The old 170-year-old basement is getting an addition with ICFs, a new slab, and a concrete bulkhead staircase, but first the radon gas must be addressed.

• Saratoga Springs Raise The Roof (#4331)

  The original foundation needs repointing. A steel beam is installed in the new basement. Trends in plumbing fixtures are explored. A truss system is the solution for the 3rd-floor living space, which leads to a visit to the manufacturer.

• Saratoga Springs Up and Away (#4332)

  At the Dracut Centre School, a new chimney facade is made to look old with a brick veneer. In Saratoga Springs, the homeowners select kitchen cabinets. The exterior of the house is cleaned in preparation for paint. Kevin takes a hot air balloon ride.

• Saratoga Springs Old House New Supports (#4333)

  The old flooring system is replaced with a new one using ledgers and Ijoists. The homeowners explore tile options. An old porch is saved and is tied into the new construction. A web of steel I-beams and roof trusses are installed.

• Saratoga Springs Neighbors On Ice (#4334)

  Drainpipes are hidden in the coffered ceilings. A method is developed to drain water from the screened-in porch. A diffusion vent and a single staircase connecting the first to the third floor are installed. A DIY skate rink gets neighbors together.

• Saratoga Springs Amped Up (#4335)

  The old electrical service is upgrade. Cold weather inverter heat pumps will heat and cool the house. An original window sash becomes an awning window. A vocational student has a welding project for the backyard. Various types of insulation are used.

• Saratoga Springs Watertight Doghouse Dormers (#4336)

  New water and sewer lines are run. The house is brought up to code with fire sprinklers. A new slate hearth is installed. Original 1890s chalkboards are restored and reinstalled at the Dracut Centre School. Doghouse dormers are made watertight.

• Saratoga Springs Smooth Finish (#4337)

  Vocational school students build a table for the Dracut Centre School. An alternative to wide plank hardwood flooring is used at the project house. An automatic low impact irrigation system is installed. The ICF foundation gets a stucco-like finish.

• Saratoga Springs Pantry Problems (#4338)

  An entryway landing in the walk-in pantry poses a problem for installation of the cabinets. The builder comes up with a custom solution. The homeowners shop for paint supplies and get a lesson on preparing and painting the exterior PVC trim.

• Saratoga Springs A Legacy Restored (#4339)

  It's a wrap on the multigenerational 1864 Dutch Colonial. Once a singlefamily, then expanded and cobbled together into a three-family, the home has been reconstructed into a two-family with an open floor plan. The crew gets a tour of the finish.

• Atlanta Welcome to Atlanta (#4401)

  The crew heads South to Atlanta, GA where work on an 1890s Victorian with rich history is about to begin. They get a warm Southern welcome from the builder, project manager, and homeowners and are given a tour of the project and scope of work.

• Atlanta Unsafe Structures (#4402)

  The Atlanta house is in disrepair, so layers are peeled back to uncover the extent of the damage. The homeowner lends a hand with demolition of unsafe structures. We meet the contractor. A lending library is built. Care is taken to save an oak tree.

• Atlanta School of Hvac (#4403)

  The Atlanta Beltline is toured. A stem wall foundation replaces the existing footings, and the crawl space gets a vapor barrier. The homeowner receives a lesson on HVAC installation. An outdoor learning center is toured for backyard inspiration.

• Atlanta Cardboard Kitchen (#4404)

  New framing replaces the once termite eaten studs. Having an HVAC plan in place, the homeowner begins installing ductwork at the house. Native fruit trees are explored. Cardboard boxes make for a real kitchen feel. Old windows salvaged and restored.

• Atlanta Whole House Protection (#4405)

  Progress is made on the interior and exterior of the house. New beveled pine siding is weaved into the old. Tyler Perry Studios is toured. The house gets lightning and surge protection. In MA, The Dracut Centre School restoration is complete.

• Atlanta Respecting the Old While Adding the New (#4406)

  Care is taken in the renovation to respect the old details of the home. New porch columns are made to match the old. A bathroom gets a concrete-like finish. A reclaimed front door is installed. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth home is visited.

• Atlanta Repointed and Planted (#4407)

  It's all about finishing touches. Outside the front door is cleaned and prepped for paint, the front steps are repaired, and a medicinal garden is planted. Inside, the water heater is installed, custom shelves are built, and wallpaper is installed.

• Atlanta Families Meet (#4408)

  The renovation of the 1890s Victorian whose former owner was a pillar in the community for civil rights is complete. The family of the former owner meets the current homeowners. The crew gets a tour of the new spaces. The lending library is mounted.

• Newburyport Shipwrights and Sea Captains (#4409)

  The crew is back in Massachusetts on the Eastern Seaboard in the town of Newburyport - a middle-class neighborhood where shipwrights and sea captains once lived. They meet the homeowners, tour the project, and discuss the possible challenges.

• Newburyport Powering Through (#4410)

  Before demo begins, the main power is disconnected. The old bump out is demoed, and the present bathroom is tested for asbestos. A carpenter talks about working with Parkinson's Disease. The vinyl siding is removed to reveal the original clapboards.

• Newburyport Demo Find (#4411)

  With demo complete, the new foundations are poured, and a winding staircase replaces the old steep set. A find during demo sparks interest in the home's history. Outside, a retaining wall is built, and the old water and sewer lines are replaced.

• Newburyport Design Talk (#4412)

  Roof shingles are installed on a challenging roof line. Factory-assembled exterior window trims save time and labor. The original staircase balusters and railings are modified. The homeowners meet with their interior designer and make selections.

• Newburyport Off-The-Shelf Custom Look (#4413)

  As construction nears an end, the yard gets planted. Inside, a custom home office is built from off-the-shelf materials. The old floors are reused on the second floor. An EV charger is installed, and the front door gets a high-sheen finish.

• Newburyport Bed Race (#4414)

  With the new two-story addition built and an efficient floor plan on the interior, it's time to call it a wrap on the project; but first, the homeowners and the crew take part in a little town fun at the annual bed race. The finished house is toured.

• Ipswich This Really Old House (#4415)

  The crew starts one of their oldest projects yet, a first period home in the town of Ipswich, MA. The homeowners give them a tour of the property and the proposed changes. Tom Silva shows them how to salvage the old floorboards before demo begins.

• Ipswich Secrets Behind The Wall (#4416)

  The architect shares his vision for the property, but before plans can be completed, a bit of exploratory demo must take place. A lesson on first period homes is given. The team hopes to uncover the original timber frame during demo.

• Ipswich Prep-Work (#4417)

  Preparation for the new foundation begins. A centuries old cistern is uncovered. The original timber frame structure is assessed, and the original floorboards and roof sheathing are salvaged for later use. The sill is inspected for water damage.

• Ipswich Careful Considerations (#4418)

  The timber frame structure in the ell is carefully dismantled. A new fireplace for the original gambrel is considered. Landscape and hardscape ideas are explored. A family run lumber mill is toured. The homeowner decides on a roof shingle style.

• Ipswich Below Grade Plumbing (#4419)

  The old fireplace firebox is demolished leaving the chimney for the new fireplace. The dismantled timber frame pieces are restored offsite. Plumbing is run for a below grade bathroom. A steel beam is prepared for installation. Kevin goes clamming.

• Ipswich Rebuilding Centuries (#4420)

  The newly restored timber frame structure is reassembled on site. A Rumford fireplace is installed where the old was demolished. The steel ridge beam is craned in place. The homeowner visits a local stone yard to select a kitchen countertop.

• Ipswich Exposing Problems (#4421)

  A warm roof is installed to keep the cold out. New framing poses plumbing challenges. Rot is discovered on the original sill. Options are explored to light the new ell considering the old, exposed lumber. A roof valley is made moisture proof.

• Ipswich First Things First (#4422)

  Rotted sills are repaired before the new clapboards are installed. The challenge of ducting a first period home is solved. Old material and technique disguise a new repair. An original gunstock post is repaired. The new clapboards are installed.

• Ipswich Factory Built (#4423)

  Kevin gives a full progress tour. Rainwater management is discussed, and a harvesting system is installed. A handmade lighting factory is toured. The new boathouse, built in a factory, is assembled on site. Plants are heeled in for the winter.

• Ipswich New Life (#4424)

  A granite veneer water table is installed. The old roof boards are installed on the ceiling of the new ell. A dry laid stone wall is built. The plumbing manifold is discussed. A carpenter talks about leaving corporate and returning to the trades.

• Ipswich Look-Alike (#4425)

  Finishing touches are revealed. New wide plank floorboards mimic the look of the original flooring. A soapstone sink is fabricated offsite. The hot water system is reviewed. A wood backsplash goes in the pantry and light fixtures illuminate the ell.

• Ipswich A Period Restoration (#4426)

  The modest 1720's gambrel has been restored. From the front, not much has changed; except for the color; but towards the rear, a new ell and barn element make for a dramatic transformation. The crew gets a tour of the changes from homeowners.

• Lexington on a Mission (#4501)

  In Lexington, MA the crew is charged to make a 1960 mid-century modern home accessible for an active family of five with a son who has Duchenne, a rare form of muscular dystrophy. They meet the family and tour the house.

• Lexington Shore We Can (#4502)

  The interior is demoed, and rebuilding has begun, including shoring up the rear foundation. The architect explains the new accessible design, and an accessibility showroom is toured for mobility solutions. A new energy code affects the reno.

• Lexington The Big Dig (#4503)

  Accessible features integrated into the design begin at construction. A new mechanical room connects to the old via a block wall tunnel, HVAC ducting is buried underground, and after learning about residential elevators, framing begins for one.

• Lexington Engineered for Accessibility (#4504)

  A lally column stands in the way of the new open floor plan. As a solution, it is removed, and the ridge beam is replaced with a trio of engineered beams. The new landscape is previewed in 3d, and tips are shared for creating an accessible bathroom.

• Lexington Gone Geo (#4505)

  A new wall of windows with a zero-threshold entry to the patio is framed. Geothermal energy is chosen to heat and cool the home. The new system is explained and digging begins for the wells. The exterior gets a new look with an exposed steel beam.

• Lexington Reworked and Rewired (#4506)

  The fully framed front of the house is revealed. Work continues on the geothermal system, and the connection to the interior is made. Blocking is installed in the framing. Old receptacle boxes in the original brick walls are replaced and rewired.

• Lexington Ramping Up (#4507)

  Like the exterior, the interior of the home, including the new walkout basement, is taking shape. New repairs to the original brick are made to look old. A DIY ramp is built, and a modern accessible home is toured. Trim is added to the exterior.

• Lexington Drop in the Gutter (#4508)

  A walking tour of the roof reveals its various pitches. A built-in gutter system is installed. Rough-in has begun on the interior. A home originally built and remodeled by the same architects is toured. New energy-efficient windows are installed.

• Lexington Phased Out (#4509)

  Work on the house is divided into phases for efficient workflow. The back foundation gets a stucco finish. Accessibility drives the decision for the kitchen cabinet selection. Siding is installed, and the back patio gets proper drainage.

• Lexington Seven Layer Floors (#4510)

  To meet new energy codes, the new slab-on-grade foundation is made up of various layers. The last layers are installed. Accessible AV solutions are explored. Prep begins for a curb-less shower, and an automatic zero threshold door is installed.

• Lexington Electrical Bond (#4511)

  The therapy pool is getting craned in; but first, copper bonding must be installed for safety. Inside, tile selections are revealed. The integrated entrance ramp gets snow melt and the final layer of concrete. The elevator disconnects are installed.

• Lexington Upcycled (#4512)

  The elevator cab is built. Leftover flooring is used to make a modern feature for the kitchen island. The homeowner visits an audio-visual showroom to explore AV solutions for accessibility. Back at the house, the new solar panels are installed.

• Lexington Install with Care (#4513)

  Work begins on the internal geothermal systems. In-wall lighting is installed to illuminate the entrance ramp. An offset p-trap is installed for accessibility. A glass blowing studio is visited. Back at the house, grab bar installation begins.

• Lexington All in the Family (#4514)

  Landscape planting begins with screen trees and rose bushes. The children pitch in on a painting project. The homeowners give a sit-down interview on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. A new modern staircase is installed in the foyer.

• Lexington Judgement Day (#4515)

  The project is in the home stretch. The geothermal equipment is in, and a final review is given. A fire-rate door with zero threshold is installed, and the last pieces of the kitchen appliances are installed. The new HERS score is revealed.

• Lexington Accessible Made Modern (#4516)

  The renovation of the 1960 mid-century modern home is complete. It is now a fully accessible home to accommodate a family of five, including a child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The crew is back for a tour of the changes with the family.

• Glen Ridge Multi-Generational (#4517)

  The crew heads to New Jersey for the second project of the season - an 1897 Victorian in the Borough of Glen Ridge that's being renovated for multi-generational living. The homeowners give the crew a tour and explain how the new spaces will be used.

• Glen Ridge Vintage (#4518)

  Demo has begun uncovering 150-year-old wine bottles in the walls. A chimney is demolished, and the roof is reframed. The architect shares his inspiration for the project, and the mayor gives a tour of the Borough's gas lamps. Asbestos is abated.

• Glen Ridge, Nj Small But Mighty (#4519)

  Termite damage has caused major construction changes. New footings are needed in the basement. A historic community garden is toured. A 15-year-old student talks about working on the project. The old sewer line is replaced without trenching.

• Glen Ridge, Nj Qr Construction (#4520)

• Glen Ridge, Nj Roughed In (#4521)

  The new flangeless windows are installed water and air tight. Preparation begins for in-ceiling speakers. The Empire State Building is visited. Porch decking is installed to minimize waste, and a hybrid plumbing system is chosen for the house.

• New Jersey Next Level Tight (#4522)

  Air tightness is taken to the next level with vapor barrier electrical boxes. The homeowner designs a custom lead glass sidelight. Various types of weather-resistant barriers are explored. Drip edge flashing and exterior window trim are installed.

• New Jersey A Breath of Fresh Air (#4523)

  The new staircase is manufactured in a shop and assembled on-site. The shop is toured. The homeowner installs a new brick walkway. Wood fiber insulation and the new HRV system are explored. The architect talks about the interior trim details.

• New Jersey Tested and Approved (#4524)

  A blower door test reveals the home's airtightness, and a baseboard trim gets a radius detail. The borough's effort to maintain its tree-lined streets is discussed. A prefab tile niche is installed. Interior trim is prepped for paint finish.

• New Jersey Spring Forward (#4525)

  A custom mudroom bench is built from reclaimed wood. The primary bathroom gets a custom paint finish. The homeowners start thinking ahead to spring landscaping, and kitchen crown molding above the cabinets and recessed lighting are installed.

• New Jersey Next Generation Victorian (#4526)

  Renovation of the 1887 Victorian is complete, and the homeowners are ready to move in; but first - one last detail. The builder installs the custom lead glass sidelight designed by the homeowner. The crew gets a tour from the homeowners.

• Nashville Welcome to Music City, USA (#4601)

  The team arrives in style to Music City, USA and kicks off the season at a rundown brick cottage in a quaint neighborhood of East Nashville. .. but first, they make a stop at a local music venue to see a special performance.

• Nashville Moving Day (#4602)

  Kevin and Tommy watch a team of house moving experts lift a brick house off its foundation and slowly roll it to the backyard where it will sit on cribbing to wait for a new foundation. The architect discusses the renovation challenges.

• Nashville Grounded (#4603)

  Prefabricated walls are set in place. The house is moved off temporary cribbing back into place over its new foundation. A structural engineer is onsite to solve a problem. Kevin and Tommy try Nashville's famous hot chicken.

• Nashville A Grand Time at the Opry (#4604)

  The crew tours the Grand Ole Opry and meets a country music star. At the project house, framing has begun and HVAC plans are revealed. Plumbing penetrations on the roof are sealed and covered, and a pocket door frame is installed.

• Nashville Sustainable Siding (#4605)

  Special guests fly to Nashville to lend a hand. The crew visits a factory where siding is made from rice hulls, then it is installed at the project house. Brick repairs are done on the interior.

• Nashville Vince Gill's Nashville (#4606)

  Country music legend Vince Gill gives Tommy a tour of his favorite spots in Nashville. At the project house, kitchen island legs are fashioned from recycled cedar posts and exterior paint colors are selected.

• Nashville Shelter from the Storm (#4607)

  The final push is on at the Nashville house to finish the renovation on time. A composite deck is installed and landscape plans are revealed. A safe room is constructed in the basement and a FEMA official gives tips on how to stay safe in a tornado.

• Nashville Southern Hospitality (#4608)

  It's moving day in Nashville, as the renovation of the 1920s brick cottage wraps up. The crew tours the interior, which doubled in livable space, and the new front yard, designed for Southern living. The location of the next project is revealed.

• Ridgewood Ridgewood Revival (#4609)

  Zack is back! The team is back in New Jersey for another project with builder Zack Dettmore. They meet homeowners Peter and Kay in their 1930s colonial and discuss plans to modernize the home and add an extension to the back to enhance their kitchen.

• Ridgewood Swiss Mix (#4610)

  Zack heads to Switzerland to get a first look of how the project's house wrap is made. Back at the house, designer Jeff Jordan tells Kevin what the owners' goals are for the design plan. Jenn looks at the rainwater management system.

• Ridgewood Colonial Revival Revived (#4611)

  Zack takes Kevin through the process of framing a wall in the new addition. Richard comes up with a solution to a major plumbing issue in the kitchen. Later, Zack installs specialty hardware designed to keep the addition from wracking.

• Ridgewood Walled In Science (#4612)

  Building science expert Christine Williamson gives Kevin a lesson in vapor and condensation. Homeowner Peter and Jenn tour the James Rose Center with Dean Cardasis. Zack creates a vent that will blend in with the wall in the primary bedroom.

• Ridgewood All Quiet on the Kitchen Front (#4613)

  The homeowners make choices about the exterior. Zack visits a factory to learn how wood fiber insulation is made. Back at the project house, sound engineer Mike DiSalvo explains the components of sound proofing a room to Kevin.

• Ridgewood Flooring Features and a Rocking Fountain (#4614)

  Homeowners pick a large tile for the curbless shower, and tile setter Gary Moreland shows Kevin how he makes it work. Kevin joins contractor Bill Verone installing the kitchen floors. Jenn and Mark team up to install a water feature for the patio.

• Ridgewood Sugar Maple Revival (#4615)

  With the build coming to an end the whole gang comes down to help Zack and the homeowners. Richard meets with Kordian Rak who's finishing up the boiler installation. Upstairs, Tommy and homeowner Kay's mom put up tiles in the pantry.

• Ridgewood Colonial Revival with Modern Flair (#4616)

  Its moving day in Ridgewood, as the renovation of the 1930s colonial revival wraps up. The crew tours the house, which has a brand-new back extension and a new patio with water feature. The location of the next project is revealed.

• Westford Welcome to Westford (#4617)

  The team meets up with Charlie for their new project in Westford, Massachusetts. They meet homeowners Dianne, Charlie, Emily and Ethan who plan to restore a historic colonial that was damaged by a fire in 2016.

• Westford Updates Under A New Roof (#4618)

  Tommy and Charlie work on restoring the roof to match the original house. Building-science expert Joe Lstiburek talks about insulation issues in old walls. Later, Ben Doherty slices through stone to create a garage in the existing basement.

• Westford Heavy Metal (#4619)

  Kevin and Richard discuss plans to design the perfect HVAC System. Tommy meets with Fire Chief Terrence Baudin to explain how fire moves through balloon framed houses. Roofer Tommy Santos and Kevin install a new metal roof.

• Westford Abating The Old, Seeding The New (#4620)

  Kevin and Ron Peik discuss restoring the main staircase. Jenn and Kevin visit an orchard where Jenn gets a gift for the homeowners. Charlie, Kevin and Tommy install roof hatch to the widow's walk.

• Westford Septic, Stairs and Subs (#4621)

  Richard talks about the installation of the new and improved septic system. Tommy and Charlie demo and repair the portion of the staircase that was burned in the fire. Brian Bilo explains rough plumbing is underway.

• Westford Side Hustle (#4622)

  Kevin helps Charlie install the new siding. Kitchen designer Kaytlyn Constantinou discusses choices with the homeowners. Mark uses stone to make the addition more cohesive with the house. Kevin goes to Switzerland to visit one of their trade schools.

• Westford Gutted & Rewired (#4623)

  Kevin meets with solar expert Dan McCarthy overseeing the beginning stages of the backyard solar install. Tommy and Kevin install fiberglass gutters. Heath visits Keith Cambell to check in on the rewiring of an antique chandelier.

• Westford A Family Affair (#4624)

  Mauro gives the homeowners guidance on painting one of their rooms. Tile installer Mike O'Neil retiles the fireplace on the second floor while repairing cracks. Kevin heads to Williamson College of the Trades to hear how some graduates are doing.

• Westford Mural, Mural on the Wall (#4625)

  Kevin meets with stained glass expert Cathryn Blackwell, plumber Brian Bilo and artist Lisa C Mair to touch base on their progress. Heath begins installing pendant lights including a rewired antique chandelier. Solar finishes up in the backyard.

• Westford A Historical Gem Once Again (#4626)

  It's moving day in Westford, as the renovation of the fire-damaged historic home wraps up. The crew tours the house, which has sat vacant for several years and has finally been returned to its former glory. Season 47 first project is revealed.