This Old House

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.

The front door is stripped of paint. The HVAC system is connected and tested. Floating shelves are installed. The brick steps are repaired. An herb garden is planted, and the custom wallpaper is hung.

Watch as the old porch posts are repaired, and the bathrooms get a new wall treatment. Ceiling joists are left exposed on the ceiling. Then, the homeowners choose a front door and visit Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s home.

The interior framing of the house in Atlanta is almost complete. Then, siding is installed on the exterior. The team tours a major motion picture studio, and later, the home is protected from lightning strikes. Finally, the Dracut Centre School is restored.

The new interior spaces are toured, and the HVAC ducting is installed. Kitchen location options are explored, and the old windows are restored. Then, the homeowners’ daughter creates a 3D tour of the house.

Watch as a stem wall foundation is poured and custom wallpaper is designed. The homeowner installs a vapor barrier in the crawl space and tours an outdoor school for backyard inspiration.

It’s demolition day at the project house in South Atlanta. The homeowners’ daughter learns to use power tools to build a lending library. Then, an ivy-covered oak overhanging the roof is safely trimmed back.

It’s the start of a new project in South Atlanta, GA. The house is an 1890s Victorian that once belonged to a civil rights activist. Watch as the This Old House team meets the homeowners, builder, and project manager.

‘The House That Norm Built’ is a one-hour tribute to Norm Abram, the man whose skills launched the longest-running home improvement show, This Old House.