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in pretty good shape and beautiful intact woodwork-and the bad news-some structural issues and a disconnected, sorely outdated kitchen extensive plaster damage bathrooms in need of updating.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.
Erik lays red cedar shingles on the roof in Rupert, Vermont, homeowner Bill shows Kevin how the reproduction light fixtures the couple selected are handcrafted window installation begins salvaged doors for a pantry and dining room.
With framing in full force, general contractor Erik Kaminski walks Tommy through the first floor to show him how the house is coming together living/dining room plan raising the roof exterior trim.
An inspector arrives to approve the foundation installing the perimeter drain, which keeps groundwater away from the house precut framing lumber arrives the landscape plan starting the framing process the numbering system for the panels.
Tommy and Kevin visit the Vermont factory where the house will be built Ed Akerley drills and blasts through the rock ledge to make room for the foundation Scott McKenzy and his team build forms and pour concrete for the foundation.
On the North Shore of Massachusetts, Bill and April Harb begin building their dream home the farmhouse will look 200 years old, but use innovative building methods Bill shows Kevin and Roger the site plan and walks them around the property.
Roger installs a berm and fence Wes Wirth and Amy review the native plants they've chosen Richard shows Kevin how the house is being cooled with a split-type air conditioning system Tom Silva installs a handcrafted copper owl weathervane.
Learning more about the LEED for Homes program and how the Weston house will qualify how they build window trim kits in the Bensonwood shop and how they are installed at the project house the new industrial steel staircase.