This Old House

Touring the inside and outside of an 1880 Country Cape located in the countryside of Concord, Mass.

Salvaging reusable material and radiators before major demolition begins; spraying old hemlock trees to protect them from damaging insects; cutting off the garage addition.

Cutting a doorway; tying in the new foundation with the old; installing a beam to remove some of the wall abutting the front staircase.

Waterproofing the foundation; discussing exterior paint colors; newel post options; history of Cape-style homes; bracing the new foundation for backfilling.

Framing starts with leveling; stone veneer; raising the rafters on the back dormer for more headroom; shopping for tile.

Installing a five-layer flitch beam; a tree company attaches a cable on an old hemlock for support; pruning an overgrown crabapple tree; preparing a footing to support the corner chimney.

Cutting a slot in the chimney for flashing; transitioning from an old floor to a new one; laying out the kitchen.

Removing a window and framing new double hung windows; affordable housing for veterans; a new deck has living space below; new bathrooms create plumbing challenges.

Addition wall; the evolution of framing hammers and guns; planning for electric panels; inspecting new light fixtures; a ridge beam supports the addition.

Meeting with master craftsman Paul Grothouse; improving a thermal break for the front dormers of the original house; planting away from the construction.

Installing a skylight; ducts; touring a Pennsylvania range factory established 1880; repairing original wood gutters.

Installing radiant floor heating in the garage; pouring concrete.

Window repair for the Dracut School Project; dismantling an old boiler system and prepping for a new one.

Installing a composite deck with a clip system; spraying the basement with an environmentally-friendly foam insulation; HVAC zoning; installing a battery backup for the new solar system.

Applying finishing touches inside and out; installing electrical fixtures, kitchen counters and shelves; painting; the bathrooms get a unique Tadelakt treatment.

After numerous delays, the Concord Country Cape is ready for the homeowners to move in and walk through to inspect the updated, modern and light-filled space.

Discussing plans for an 1890s single family Victorian that was turned into a multifamily then back to a single family in West Roxbury, Mass.

Opening up the first floor; installing windows; replacing old rosin paper siding underlayment with a new high-tech house wrap; landscaping; selecting kitchen cabinets.

Adding an elm tree to the yard; installing new window trim and siding; possible solutions for moving a plumbing drain.

Installing IPE on a porch ceiling; installing a dual fuel HVAC system; laying out a brick patio; corbels are restored at the Dracut Centre School.

New granite stairs are installed on the front porch; brick walkway; installing a new back door; installing a cable rail system on the back stairs; visiting a trade school in Philadelphia.

Installing a tub and radiant floor heating in the upstairs bathrooms; shopping for interior lighting; installing drywall.

Installing aluminum gutters that mimic wood; adding trim around the back door; patching existing wood flooring; waterproofing the upstairs master shower and prepping for a linear drain.

Installing new kitchen cabinets and range hood; discussing the layout and boho chic; laying out large format tiles in a small space; repairing a cracked stained-glass window.

Installing a quartz countertop and hidden receptacles; matching the crown molding in the dining room; hanging interior doors; hardware installation.

Wrapping-up the 1894 Victorian in West Roxbury, Mass.; revealing the single-family Victorian's modern look, which includes a better planned living space for the family of four.

A new project in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., features a house that has been in the homeowner's family for seven generations.

Homeowners take on demo and backyard preparations; the architect presents his vision for the project; the history of the springs in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; installing an air scrubber system.

A visit to the Saratoga Race Course; addressing electrical issues; updates to framing and living plans; a temporary buttress wall supports the old foundation.

Summer garden tour; the 170-year-old basement gets an addition with insulated concrete forms, a slab and a staircase; addressing radon gas.

Repointing the old foundation; installing a steel beam in the basement; exploring trends in plumbing fixtures; truss system for the third floor living space.

A new chimney facade is made to look old with a brick veneer; selecting kitchen cabinets; cleaning the exterior of the house in preparation for paint; a hot air balloon ride.

Replacing an old flooring system; saving an old porch; exploring tile options; installing steel I-beams and trusses.

Drainpipes are hidden in the coffered ceilings; draining water from the screened-in porch; installing a diffusion vent and single staircase connecting the first to the third floor; a do-it-yourself skate rink brings neighbors together.

The old electrical service is upgraded; a cold weather inverter heat pump is introduced; an original window sash becomes an awning window; insulation.

Running new water and sewer lines; the house is brought up to code with fire sprinklers; doghouse dormers are made watertight.

Installing a low-impact automatic irrigation system; flooring; the ICF foundation gets a stucco-like finish.

Installing cabinetry in the pantry; the homeowners prepare and paint the exterior PVC trim.

It's a wrap on the multigenerational 1864 Dutch Colonial, now a two-family with an open floor plan.