This Old House

Tom and Kevin travel to Jamestown to tour the next project -- a 1920s bungalow which will become a larger net-zero house; Tom and Kevin meet the family and builder; Richard and Kevin visit another net-zero home; demo begins.

Shingles with asbestos are removed; Kevin visits a manufacturer in Pennsylvania that makes precast concrete walls; homeowner Donald gives Kevin a historic tour of Jamestown; after the hole is prepped, the foundation wall panels arrive and are placed.

Jeff shows Kevin how he's framing the net-zero house; Richard demonstrates heat loss and gain to design a balanced HVAC system; he and Don visit the International Builders Show; now that the house is open, Kevin can see the old wiring and plumbing.

New apprentices join the team in Rhode Island as the roof goes up; the homeowners visit a cabinet showroom to finalize their plans; the house gets sheathed; it is the finish line at Judith's house in Charleston; Kevin and Tom take the grand tour.

Insulation is crucial to a net-zero house; Kevin finds Jeff and the apprentices starting the work; Dana shops for efficient-yet-decorative lighting; Tom and Jeff work with the apprentices to build false rafter tails and install them.

Roof insulation is the next step at the net-zero house; Richard tours the basement of The Breakers in Newport; Kevin meets Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) at the house, who is also an electrician; apprentices install and flash windows.

Installing a load center at the Idea House; Tom teaches the apprentices the correct application of cedar roof shingles; adding insulation to the basement; blocking behind walls with future cabinets and wall fixtures; a pre-cut post and beam barn.

Richard watches as the home is sealed against air leaks; Jeff reviews his pre-drywall checklist; Kevin sees the landscape plan; Jeff fabricates pieces for porch columns and rails; Tommy puts on shingles as the final layer of the exterior wall system.

Dana and Don show the interior design choices at their architecture studio; Richard demonstrates how a heat pump works; Mark watches as stone veneer is applied; plumber installs a wall hung toilet tank; Don builds his powder room vanity.

Tom discusses the differences between hanging blue board and hanging drywall; Richard learns about the process to size a solar array; installing a wood ceiling; the electrician puts in a generator at the Idea House; a Newport boat building school.

Roger visits a nearby sod farm with Jenn and Kevin; Richard inspects the HVAC installation; a gas fireplace goes in the living room; Tom and Jeff attach screens to the side porch; outside, a new well is dug to provide water for the landscaping.

Kevin learns about induction cooking; Richard watches as the solar panels go on the barn roof; Jeff installs a unique lattice designed by Don; Richard demonstrates how an ERV works; Jenn finds the landscaping and hardscaping are well underway.

The Net Zero house is complete; Kevin and Tom discuss challenges with Jeff; Don gives Kevin a tour of the yard and barn; Dana shows Tom the upstairs, where he checks out the main floor with Don; Richard reviews mechanicals.

Tommy and Kevin cruise around Brookline, Mass., in a '57 Chevy before rolling up to the latest project: a lackluster 1957 mid-century modern house in need of a total overhaul; they learn about the full scope of work, and Charlie starts in on demo.

While old fixtures are salvaged and asbestos is removed at the house, Norm, Richard and Kevin head back to where it all began 40 years ago, in Dorchester, MA.; Roger starts to remove a tree that's threatening the property.

Norm teaches the apprentices how to lay a sill on the new foundation; Richard scopes the sewer to see what might be lurking inside; Kevin, the homeowners and their designer start in on a plan to create a sleek, modern space.

The foundation of the house has no footings, so Mark McCullough pours a buttress; Kevin visits the 2001 Manchester by the Sea project; back at the house, Richard solves a ductwork puzzle while Kevin and Tommy install a PVC trim overhang.

Kevin meets electrician Heath Eastman to learn about in-counter outlets; Tommy visits former apprentice Nathan Gilbert to see what he's been up to over the past year; back at the house, Norm teaches Carly how to frame a skylight.

Jenn and the homeowners select pavers for hardscape; Tommy and Norm install a skylight in the bathroom, while the sewer line and water main are completely replaced out front; the original foundation is also repaired.

Tommy teaches Kevin how to calculate the riser height for a set of stairs; the foundation is insulated with a DIY foam system; radiant heat is installed; Norm and Richard head to Santa Fe to visit the project they did 30 years ago.

Tommy shows Kevin the careful process of installing rafters for a cantilevered roof; Richard solves a venting problem for the kitchen sink before tackling the AC ductwork puzzle; Tommy and Kevin install snow cleats on the roof.

Mark rebuilds a century old pudding stone wall; Tommy and Kevin revisit the 2005 Cambridge modern project; Heath Eastman installs trimless LED recessed lights; large tanks are installed under the driveway for rain water runoff.

Kevin travels to the Midwest to see the manufacturing of plate glass and windows; back in Brookline, Mauro teaches Kevin some cold weather painting tricks; radiant heat is installed under the driveway, while the patio is installed in the front.

Laying giant porcelain tile in the main living spaces of the house; Kevin and Richard head to Key West to visit the 20th anniversary project; back in Brookline, a hanging retro fireplace and modern kitchen cabinets are installed.

Finishing touches abound as the project wraps up: closet systems, modern baseboards and a linear wall drain in the master shower are all installed; homeowner Sunil selects door hardware; Nathan Gilbert installs floating bathroom vanities.

After months of hard work, the lackluster mid-century box is a modern marvel once again; Kevin, Tommy and Richard tour the home and review all the special features that went into this beautiful space Sunil and Neha can now call home.