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.

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.


Watch This Old House - Clips, Episodes & Previews


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

Tue, Mar 31 2:00 P.M. Newburyport Powering Through     NH Create (11.4)
Tue, Mar 31 5:00 P.M. Suburban Victorian Foot Traffic     NHPBS (11.1)
Wed, Apr 1 4:00 A.M. Newburyport Powering Through     NH Create (11.4)
Wed, Apr 1 8:00 A.M. Newburyport Demo Find     NH Create (11.4)
Wed, Apr 1 2:00 P.M. Newburyport Demo Find     NH Create (11.4)
Thu, Apr 2 4:00 A.M. Newburyport Demo Find     NH Create (11.4)
Thu, Apr 2 8:00 A.M. Newburyport Design Talk     NH Create (11.4)
Thu, Apr 2 2:00 P.M. Newburyport Design Talk     NH Create (11.4)
Fri, Apr 3 4:00 A.M. Newburyport Design Talk     NH Create (11.4)
Fri, Apr 3 8:00 A.M. Newburyport Off-The-Shelf Custom Look     NH Create (11.4)
Fri, Apr 3 2:00 P.M. Newburyport Off-The-Shelf Custom Look     NH Create (11.4)
Sat, Apr 4 4:00 A.M. Newburyport Off-The-Shelf Custom Look     NH Create (11.4)
Sat, Apr 4 8:30 A.M. Suburban Victorian Foot Traffic     NH Create (11.4)
Sat, Apr 4 3:00 P.M. Suburban Victorian Foot Traffic     NH Create (11.4)
Sat, Apr 4 4:30 P.M. Suburban Victorian Going Through Customs     NHPBS (11.1)
Mon, Apr 6 8:00 A.M. Suburban Victorian Going Through Customs     NH Create (11.4)


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