This Old House

In this episode: TOH TV takes on the renovation of one of its oldest houses to date, a 1720 Georgian home listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Roger Cook saves plants from the yard for future use.  Roger clears overgrowth that's in the way of the addition while  Kevin and master carpenter Norm Abram begin demo.  Roger sets up a drain and sump pump to deal with water in the excavated hole.  Mason Mark McCullough demos the chimney.

Tom Silva and Mark McCullough open a hole in the old foundation.  Richard Trethewey visits the local library to see the oldest existing flag in the country.  Tom finds and repairs a rotted sill.  Tom forms the new foundation out of ICFs.

Kevin O'Connor finds the walls of the entry addition framed up.  Tom Silva creates the connection to the main house.  Mark McCullough repairs the chimney.  The fireplace gets removed from the kitchen.  Norm Abram revisits the Acton Project.

Kevin O'Connor meets landscape designer Jenn Nawada to see the site plan.  Roger Cook removes invasive vines from the back yard.  Tom Silva and Norm Abram raise the new family room gable wall.  Tom and Kevin repair a historic window sill.  Norm and Kevin demo the ceiling in the ell.

Kevin O'Connor and building science expert Joe Lstiburek discuss OBS sheathing.  Tom Silva installs new post supports.  Norm Abram meets window restoration specialist Alison Hardy.  Tom and Kevin take down the old wall of the ell.

Tom Silva adds insulation to the oldest part of the house.  Roger Cook and homeowner Becky Titlow get a lesson in building a cook's garden.  Jenn Nawada and Roger build raised beds out of old fieldstone.  Tom and host Kevin O'Connor waterproof the new roof.

Tom Silva replaces a rotted post.  Kevin O'Connor finds electrician Allen Gallant upgrading the electrical service in the garage.  Interior designers Dee Elms and Andrew Terrat show Kevin the house that inspired our kitchen.  Tom and Kevin remove strip flooring to reveal historic boards.

Tom Silva installs new red cedar clapboards.  Richard Trethewey helps remove some existing plumbing in the old kitchen.  Roger Cook installs a new asphalt driveway.  Richard shows Kevin O'Connor a wet vent in the powder room.

Norm Abram and Tom Silva create a more historically accurate front door surround.  Certified arborist Matt Foti prescribes deep root injections for the ailing American Beech tree.  Kevin O'Connor meets Monica MacKenzie at an antique home she renovated.  Interior designers Dee Elms and Andrew Terrat share their design direction.

Roger Cook installs a granite front step.  Tom Silva installs new wood windows.  Norm Abram visits the Colonel James Barrett house.  Richard Trethewey seals and insulates the old ductwork.  Roger spreads a grass mix that will blend with the lawn but need less maintenance.

Tom Silva and Norm Abram install massive decorative timbers.  Richard Trethewey shows host Kevin O'Connor the mounting pad for the A/C condensers.  Norm visits the Parson Capen House.  Tom uses a new hidden deck fastening system.  Homeowner Joe Titlow installs a new shed.

Roger Cook creates a winding brick path.  Richard Trethewey looks at the zero-clearance gas fireplace.  Norm Abram makes wainscoting out of old sheathing boards.  Oak floor boards go down.

Tom Silva restores the c. 1720 front door.  The marble island top arrives.  Richard Trethewey shows a zone damper system.  Tom makes sliding "barn" doors for the pantry.  Mark McCullough installs the brick hearth.

Roger Cook lays the driveway finish.  Allen Gallant installs LED lights.  Tom Silva shows the new garage door.  Richard Trethewey shows the latest water heaters.  Susan Arnold reveals the family room and kitchen lighting plans.

Roger and Jenn install plants.  Roger and Tom install reproduction metalwork.  Kathy Marshall and Becky Titlow see the kitchen.  Joe Titlow shows Norm his garage workshop.  Andrew Terrat shows Kevin the new additions.  The wrap party begins.

Builder Andy Tiplady begins work on a 1925 Cape with spectacular water views.  The biggest challenge will be building to withstand the marine environment.

New foundation is in place, and framing is underway.  Andy and his crew prepare for Hurricane Irene.  The neighborhood takes a hit.  Kevin meets the Executive Director of the Coastal Resources Management Council, Grover Fugate.

Builder Andy Tiplady shows Norm Abram the custom copper pan for flashing for the windows.  Kevin visits the Hurricane Research Lab at the University of Florida.  A clambake down on the beach.

Andy Tiplady shows Kevin the red cedar shingles and flair.  Richard Trethewey shows Kevin a hydronic system integrated with a solar hot water system.  Solar panels provide electricity.  Norm tours one of Newport's famous mansions.

A sustainable coastal landscape uses native plants and local sod.  Metalsmiths install copper gutter and scupper.  Ross Trethewey takes Kevin O'Connor to a lighthouse that's also an off-the-grid bed and breakfast.  Richard Trethewey sees the solar hot water system.

Brazilian hardwood garapa for the new deck; Red cedar shingles in a wave pattern; Kevin meets designer Lisa Newman Paratore at her shop.  Norm sees the exterior decorative brackets and learns why polyurethane is a better choice than PVC.

New concrete pavers are installed in the driveway.  Norm visits a custom cabinetshop.  The refrigerator panel is scribed to fit.  The new soaking tub is set in plaster.  The painting contractor tries out a "full spectrum" paint.

A retractable awning is installed.  Soapstone countertops get sealed with wax.  Andy dresses the half-walls with oak caps and scotia molding.  Light fixtures are made by New England blacksmiths.  Floor warming goes in the master bath.  Richard explains the ERV unit.

Light green grout is used with the glass tile backsplash.  The garage gets an insulated steel door and storage system.  A cable railing system is installed.  A gas stove is installed in the living room.  The new lighting design is shown.

Norm and Kevin congratulate Andy on a job well done.  Richard shares an advanced programmable thermostat.  Solar shades are installed while the master closet now accommodates both his and hers space.  Interior designer Lisa Newman Paratore shows off the final decor choices.