Season 45 - Glen Ridge Generational

Kevin O’Connor and Tom Silva visit the Empire State Building in New York City.

Eleven months ago, construction began on an 1887 Victorian in Glen Ridge, NJ, to turn it into a home suitable for multigenerational living. The renovation is complete, and the crew is back for a tour.

A built-in bench is constructed using salvaged material. The primary bathroom vanity gets a new finish. A new landscape is designed, and cabinet crown molding and recessed lighting are installed.

The result of a blower door test is revealed, determining the home's airtightness. A baseboard detail becomes a focal point, and a prefabricated shower niche and interior window casing are installed.

The homeowner designs a custom stained-glass sidelight, vapor-tight electrical boxes are roughed in, and a custom jamb and threshold are built. Various types of water-resistive barriers are compared.

The new windows are installed, the home audio system is reviewed, and the Empire State Building is visited. Back at the house, the porch decking is installed, and the plumbing system is discussed.

The new two-story addition is framed, and the front porch is being rebuilt. An interior wall is framed to straighten out a sag in the upper floor, and exterior colors are chosen.

Termite damage is discovered. A local community garden is visited, an existing concrete slab is made level, and a high school works as a framer on the project. The original clay pipe is replaced.

Work begins on the 1887 Victorian to make it suitable for multigenerational living. The architect shares his plan for restoring the home, and the mayor gives a history lesson on the borough.