This Old House

A new project on an 1895 Victorian in Belmont, Mass., begins with a focus on salvage and restoration by sprucing up a school garden; installing a whole house fan.  The homeowners plan to revive their 1895 Victorian with a new front porch, refurbished windows, and an open kitchen.

Roger saves plants before demolition begins; Norm tours Belmont's Victorian homes for details and helps repair window pulleys systems; using a chainsaw; improving an electrical connection to a garage.  A hidden staircase is found.

Replacing rotten lally columns.  Richard takes a tour of the Homer House and its original air conditioning and pluming; salvaging a hardwood floor; patching up a pothole in the driveway; nightstand project.

Installing flitch beams; Kevin tours a laminated veneer lumber factory.  Richard finds a rear-mounted toilet; The homeowners formulate a landscape plan; trip to Germany.

Porch piers are fitted, and the homeowners explore kitchen cabinet options.  Tommy vacuums the old insulation while Norm resizes a door for the kids' bath.

The mudroom foundation is laid.  Tommy builds a custom bay window.  Norm watches window restoration.  Tommy puts in another beam to open up the front entryway.

Richard creates an HVAC plan.  An excavation crew replaces a water line and brick is laid for the porch.  Tommy protects the mudroom against moisture and critters, while the homeowners pick a bathroom.

Kevin O'Connor and Katherine go to Brimfield Fair, an outdoor antique show to look at antiques for the Belmont Victorian.  HVAC expert Brian Palen snakes ductwork through the house.  Tommy frames the porch and shows Kevin how he built the stairs.

Kevin O'Connor and the homeowners look at samples of the Belmont Victorian exterior paint scheme.  The tub is restored.  An electrician wires the new master suite, and Tommy makes new molding.

Tom Silva lays the front at the Belmont Victorian.  Katherine selects lighting fixtures while Tommy solves the ice dam issue.  A gas fireplace and shingles are installed.

Tommy makes a mudroom-porch window.  The homeowners select paint.  Tommy clads the porch piers in shingles.  Marble tile is laid in the master bath.  Tommy builds floors in the kitchen and master suite.

Tommy finishes the front porch.  Kevin visits Vermont to see an artisan create a custom floorcloth for the kitchen.  Tommy builds the porch railings.  Kevin builds a tree house for the kids.

Norm builds a ladder for the tree house while Tommy lays decking, and Kevin fits balusters.  The shingles are prepped for paint.  Tommy fits a storm window, finishes the mudroom, and patches flooring.

Roger replants the trees and shrubs.  The backyard and treehouse are completed.  Norm meets a craftsman who carves newel posts.  Tommy and Kevin install kitchen cabinets.  The marble countertop is fitted.

Norm and Tommy build a divider for storage.  Richard reviews the mechanical systems.  A special primer is used in the kitchen.  Kevin learns about window treatments.  Tommy goes through his punch list.

Roger finishes the landscape.  Tommy makes disguised PVC floor registers.  Richard installs the storm windows.  The house is revealed, and everyone celebrates the renovated home.

A new project begins: a traditional farmhouse in Massachusetts, built in a factory 200 miles away.

Tommy and Kevin visit the Vermont factory where the house is built.  Richard meets Ed Akerley, who blasts rock to make room for the foundation.  Norm and Erik watch Scott McKenzy lay the foundation.

An inspector checks the foundation as a perimeter drain is installed.  The framing process begins.  An architect explains her landscape plan to make the property look antique.

Kevin sees the plan for the living/dining room and the roof.  After framing the house, the crew moves to the garage. Exterior trim arrives.  Kevin learns how to attach the fascia board to the rafters.

Erik lays shingles on the roof.  Kevin learns colonial roof making.  In Vermont, Kevin sees handcrafted light fixtures.  Window installation begins.  Norm heads to Maine to search for salvaged doors.

Drilling begins on a geothermal system.  Norm visits first-period homes.  Kevin tours a factory where the stairs and panels are built.  On the North Shore, he learns of a new technology to seal ductwork.

Kevin helps install clapboard siding.  Roger selects salvaged granite.  Richard discusses the insulation plan and sees how the geothermal pipes are connected.  Kevin watches the cabinets come together.

Kevin helps fit the cabinets.  Work starts on the driveway.  Granite is used for a patio.  The den gets wainscoting.  The homeowners select interior paint colors.  Erik installs the factory-made staircase.

The staircase is finished.  Richard shows the system for getting well water.  A backup generator is installed.  Kevin learns to fit a reproduction lantern.  Kim turns a mud pit to a beautiful front yard.

Kevin builds a custom closet.  Norm and Tommy see Kristina's designs.  Richard shows  Kevin the geothermal system.  Kevin gets a tour of the second floor.  The team celebrates another job well done.