Prepwork and Inspiration
this old house

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.

Episode Duration: 26 minutes and 16 seconds

Episode Number: 2903

About This Old House:

America's favorite home improvement series, the Emmy Award-winning THIS OLD HOUSE, with host Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Roger Cook and master carpenter Norm Abram.


Future Broadcast times for "This Old House": (show all)

Sat, Dec 21 3:00 P.M. Nashville Vince Gill's Nashville     NH Create (11.4)
Sat, Dec 21 4:30 P.M. Nashville Shelter from the Storm     NHPBS (11.1)
Mon, Dec 23 8:00 A.M. Nashville Shelter from the Storm     NH Create (11.4)
Mon, Dec 23 2:00 P.M. Nashville Shelter from the Storm     NH Create (11.4)
Tue, Dec 24 4:00 A.M. Nashville Shelter from the Storm     NH Create (11.4)
Tue, Dec 24 5:00 P.M. Nashville Shelter from the Storm     NHPBS (11.1)
Fri, Dec 27 12:30 A.M. Nashville Southern Hospitality     NHPBS (11.1)
Fri, Dec 27 8:00 A.M. Nashville Shelter from the Storm     NH Create (11.4)
Fri, Dec 27 2:00 P.M. Nashville Shelter from the Storm     NH Create (11.4)
Sat, Dec 28 4:00 A.M. Nashville Shelter from the Storm     NH Create (11.4)
Sat, Dec 28 8:30 A.M. Nashville Shelter from the Storm     NH Create (11.4)
Sat, Dec 28 3:00 P.M. Nashville Shelter from the Storm     NH Create (11.4)
Sat, Dec 28 4:30 P.M. Nashville Southern Hospitality     NHPBS (11.1)
Mon, Dec 30 8:00 A.M. Nashville Southern Hospitality     NH Create (11.4)
Mon, Dec 30 2:00 P.M. Nashville Southern Hospitality     NH Create (11.4)
Tue, Dec 31 4:00 A.M. Nashville Southern Hospitality     NH Create (11.4)


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