Episodes

A little over a year ago, renovation began on the 1720 first period home. Restoration is now complete. Tremendous care went into preserving the home's history while making modern improvements.

Wide floorboards are installed to match the existing wood in the house. A sink is fabricated out of soapstone, and a backsplash is constructed from an old board. Lighting installation is completed.

A granite water table is installed on the 1720 house. Original roof boards are installed on the ell ceiling. A fieldstone wall is built, and a young carpenter talks about his return to the trades.

The 1720 Cape Ann project home is halfway through construction. A water harvesting system is installed in the yard. The old barn is replaced with a new boathouse built in a factory and assembled onsite in one day.

HVAC ducts are hidden in the gambrel. A cinderblock enclosure is covered to mimic the old stone foundation. Damage to an original gunstock post is repaired. New clapboards are weaved into the old.

The roof is insulated from the outside. Framing presents a challenge for running pipes. A lighting solution for the new ell is devised, and a lesson is given on how to properly waterproof a roof.

The old ell has been reassembled, and the new fireplace is constructed. A steel beam is craned into place to carry the weight of the roof in the new ell. The homeowner shops for a kitchen countertop.

A fireplace is demoed; but the chimney is saved. Restoration of the timber frame begins. A sewer ejector is installed. The steel ridge beam for the new ell is prepped. Kevin goes clamming.

The timber frame structure of the ell is disassembled to be rebuilt later. A clapboard manufacturer in Maine is visited. Fireplace designs are discussed. The homeowner considers a new house color.

The house is supported while the foundation is demoed. A plan is devised to raise the timber frame in the ell. An old cistern is examined. Drainage issues are addressed. A book from 1826 is found.

The architect explains the architectural features of a first period gambrel and shares his plans for improvement. Demo starts in the ell. The town historian gives a tour of a 1717 first period home.

The crew takes on a first period home in the town of Ipswich, MA. A brief history on heating first period homes is given. The homeowners get a lesson on how to properly salvage the old floors.