Why Heartbreak Hill is a challenge for runners of the Boston Marathon prepping the exterior of the house for paint the progress on the bluestone patio and massive bluestone stairs spray foam insulation.
Roger Cook is building the fieldstone and mortar sitting wall treatment to stop the termite activity Tom Silva shows a new dowel fastening system Richard shows high velocity mini-duct systems feeding air to the lower floors.
Roger digs up a large, established shrub by the front walkway to be transplanted in the backyard and shows Kevin how work on the new fieldstone sitting wall is progressing a replacement window radiant heat panels under the entry hall.
Progress on the porch, kitchen, and master bath installing new windows update on the mechanical systems Treff LaFleche takes Kevin to see how the pink granite was used on the Boston Public Library Roger installs the new Milford Pink granite.
Kevin O'Connor learns what colors might be appropriate for the Shingle-style house building the 12-foot wall of the new kitchen bump out that will contain a built-in bench restoration of the home's four historic windows.
Roger installs 200 feet of pre-cast concrete to create a retaining wall Richard Nylander helps Kevin date and evaluate the historic wallpaper Tom frames a new window Harvard Law School construction project.
Removing the temporary support beam holding up the back corner of the house new framing materials used in the new kitchen removing the old kitchen walls and installing a new 16-foot beam to open up the space unsafe conditions and code violations.
Prepping the footings for the new porch columns civil engineer Mike Kosmo does the perc test a stunning neighborhood shingle-style house removing a rotted red maple from the side yard with a tree crew and crane.
Landscape architect Stephanie Hubbard's plan for major work in the back to re-grade and create a large new patio Norm Abram and homeowner Paul Friedberg begin demolition in the basement, Kevin learns how to loosen a stuck sewer cap.
Reviewing the "new" house: the good news-an exterior in pretty good shape and beautiful intact woodwork-and the bad news-some structural issues and a disconnected, sorely outdated kitchen extensive plaster damage bathrooms in need of updating.
The team partners with Rebuilding Together Boston to repair a deck, construct a patio and install landscape lighting and new plantings.
Babyproofing a house by replacing old receptacles and installing cabinet locks and baby gates the basics of caring for houseplants how a septic system works and how to maintain it.
Mark Roentsch shows Kevin how the assemblies are joined together Pete Favat shows Kevin the new kitchen space Norm travels to New Hampshire to see the kitchen being finished first floor exterior walls are craned into place.
The crew begins craning in and setting the basement level fabricating the floor panels and adding radiant heating and insulation in a controlled environment the completed floor systems are craned into place.
Host Kevin O'Connor opens the show at Bensonwood in New Hampshire prefabricated wall systems pre-wiring the building with a new wiring system the crew gets ready for the dramatic house raising that will take place over the next three weeks.
As work winds down, Kevin and Roger assess the exterior transformation a custom closet from off-the-shelf piping a walk through the mudroom and living room new geothermal heating and cooling system celebrating another job well done.
Finishing the staircase with a maple newel post connecting a reproduction antique light fixture to a granite lamppost the systems for getting water from the well installing the backup generator installing a reproduction lantern.
Kitchen cabinets are delivered work on the driveway begins Kim Turner shows Roger how she's installing reclaimed granite as a rustic patio the den gets some formal wainscoting selecting interior paint colors factory-made staircase.
Erik Kaminski shows how he installs clapboard siding selecting salvaged granite for the yard the insulation plan for the house Richard sees how the geothermal pipes are connected Kevin sees the kitchen cabinets coming together at the factory.
Drilling begins on a geothermal system that will reduce the energy bill by almost half local first-period homes the factory where the stairs and wall panels are being built learning about a new technology to seal ductwork.