This Old House

Construction begins on the Lexington Modern project. The new architectural plan prioritizes accessibility. An accessibility solution showroom is toured. A new energy code affects the construction.

The crew starts a new project in Lexington, MA to renovate a home to be accessible for a young boy who has Muscular Dystrophy. They meet the homeowners and tour the project.

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.

Renovation on the 1902 house is done, and the homeowners are ready to move in, but first, the crew and homeowners participate in the town’s annual bed race. After, they meet at the house for a tour.

A change in season from Spring to Summer is the perfect time for landscaping. Jenn Nawada meets with homeowners Palen and Melissa to add curb appeal to their yard. Kevin O’Connor helps Charlie Silva and Tom Silva with building a custom desk using off-the-shelf material. Heath installs an electric vehicle charger. Mauro Henrique gives the secret to achieving a high gloss finish on front doors.

Watch as shingles are installed on a small roof valley. The homeowners make design selections, and exterior windows are trimmed with a prefabricated trim system. Then, the railing on the original staircase is raised.

Work is underway for the new three-story bump out, the interior is demolished, and a new wider staircase is built. A retaining wall is made, and the town wastewater treatment facility is toured.

The main power is disconnected at the Newburyport house, and temporary power is run before the demo begins. Asbestos abatement is performed, and the back bump-out is removed. Then, a carpenter talks about what it’s like working with Parkinson’s disease.

The crew is back in Massachusetts to start a new project—a modest 1902 Victorian in the town of Newburyport. They meet the homeowners, tour the project, and discuss the possible challenges.

The 1890s Victorian house in Atlanta, once owned by South Atlanta’s first black postmaster, was a dilapidated and abandoned structure. It now has been fully restored, and the crew is back on site for a tour.