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Private Notes
Season 10 opens with a look at a 300-year-old farmstead, targeted by its owners for two small additions and modern amenities while retaining the house's historic part. Included: inspecting the structure and antique water-pump system. Also: transplanting two trees; hooking up a washing machine.
The shrubs and plants in front of the project house are moved for safe keeping; small trees and overgrowth are cleared in order to make space for the family room addition; the front entry porch and accessibility ramp are removed; peeling and rotted clapboards are removed; a drain and sump pump system is set up. Also: repairing a faulty shower valve; rebuilding a wobbly stair banister.
Old clapboards are removed; a hole to connect the old and new basement space is made in the old fieldstone foundation; historic sashes are removed from the windows so that they can be restored; a plan to patch a rotted sill is explained; the foundation for the addition is formed out of ICFs. Also: replacing a corroded fitting on a water heater; installing a vented range hood in a kitchen.
The new roof that will overlay the existing roof is framed; the exterior chimney is repaired; the fireplace and chimney in the kitchen are removed. Also: a look at the show's 1994 rehabilatation of a 1710 Colonial farmhouse. In the second half, an overgrown evergreen hedge is trimmed; and a tile backsplash is installed in a kitchen.
The backyard is reclaimed from invasive vines and brambles; the new family room's gable wall is assembled and raised; a historic windowsill is repaired. Also: insulating a wall with fiberglass batts; repointing a fieldstone foundation.
The family-room addition is framed up and sheathed with a coated OSB product; the historic window sash is stripped, repaired and repainted; the old wall of the ell is removed, opening up the kitchen. In the second half: removing overgrown shrubs; planting perennials; quieting a noisy baseboard heater.
The existing cellulose insulation in the walls of the oldest part of the house is topped off; raised beds are built from the fieldstone of the old foundation; the new addition's roof is waterproofed with self-sealing membrane. Also: repairing a cracked asphalt walkway; removing mold from an attic.
The last of the structural work is completed; the restored historic window sashes are reinstalled; the electrical service in the garage is upgraded. Also: how the study's modern narrow strip flooring is being removed in order to show the more historic wide pine boards underneath. In the second half: fixing a kitchen sink drain; quieting squeaky hardwood floors.
Red cedar clapboards are added to the oldest part of the house; existing plumbing that's in the way of the new kitchen is removed; a horseshoe-shaped asphalt driveway is installed; a rough plumbing problem is solved with a wet vent in the downstairs powder room. Also: a porch railing is built; a stone yard is visited.
The front door surround is rebuilt to eliminate rot and create a more historically accurate entranceway; the ailing American beech tree is inspected; the home's new interior design is previewed. Also: completing a backyard pizza oven; applying Teflon tape, pipe dope and wicking to threaded pipe connections.
A front step is created from a reclaimed granite slab; new wood windows are installed in the addition; the old ductwork is sealed and insulated; the backyard is prepped for a rye grass mix. Also: installing a front-porch light; repairing a cold-water faucet; splitting firewood.
Decorative timbers are installed in the new family room; the mahogany deck boards are fastened to the front entry deck; a garden shed is installed in the backyard; closed-cell spray-foam insulation is added to the addition. Also: a visit to a largely unaltered 1863 home that's similar to the Bedford house. In the second half: installing a battery-powered back-up sump pump; repairing a rusty metal railing; storing a wheelbarrow.
Old-style bricks are used to create a path to the entry door; cabinets are installed; a zero-clearance gas fireplace is demonstrated and installed; wainscoting for the powder room is made from old sheathing boards; exterior painting begins. Also: preventing ice dams; applying closed-cell spray-foam insulation to an attic; connecting gutter downspouts; planting two trees on a busy Philadelphia street.
How the circa 1720 front door is being restored with flexible epoxy and a paint job; and the HVAC system is being upgraded from one zone to three with a plug-and-play zone damper system. Also: the 1300-pound marble island top is brought into the kitchen; sliding entry doors are created from two old doors; a raised brick hearth is installed around the gas fireplace; and rotted railings are replaced on the back deck. In the second half: installing a front door; driving rebar into the ground.
A thin layer of liquid asphalt is applied to the driveway; LED strip lighting is installed at the old fireplace. Also: a look at the single garage door, which mimics the appearance of two carriage doors; a discussion of the strategy for lighting the family room and kitchen. In the second half: upgrading a home's electrical system from 100 to 200 amps; designing a garden to attract butterflies.
The Bedford project concludes. Included: adding plant material; installing the ceramic backsplash tile; hanging the handwoven Japanese wallpaper in the dining room. Also: the design choices for the parlor and dining room are unveiled; and a tour of the entry, mudroom, powder room, kitchen and family room. In the second half: staining a cedar fence; installing window boxes.
A new project commences with a modified cape on Barrington Beach, R.I., that is in need of internal remodeling, an upgrade to the electrical system and weather-proofing to withstand the marine environment, as well as hurricanes. In the second half: water conservation is discussed, including saving water when irrigating and reusing water from a washing machine. Also: how to maintain small gasoline engines.
The Barrington, R.I., project continues with structural steel being bolted and welded into place. The work is put on hold, however, as Hurricane Irene threatens the region. Also: the challenges of living on the coast are explored. In the second half: upgrading a neglected porch; hanging a heavy mirror.
The Barrington, R.I., project continues with the installation of windows and architectural shingles. Also: a visit to the Hurricane Research Lab at the University of Florida. In the second half: installing a recirculation pump; fixing the handle on a casement window; lining a chimney.
The Barrington, R.I., project continues with a look at the house's hydronic system, which features a solar hot-water system on the roof; and the installation of spray-foam insulation. Also: why red shingles are being used instead of white. In the second half: adding vinyl trim to a window; installing a new dishwasher.
The Barrington, R.I., project continues with work on the landscape and master bedroom porch, including the installation of a custom copper gutter and scupper. Also: how the home's solar hot-water system is being installed to withstand the area's high winds. In the second half: planting drought-tolerant species in a garden; replacing a door with a window.
A hidden fastening system is used for the new deck, which features a Brazilian hardwood called garapa; red cedar shingles that were cut into a wave pattern are installed at the top of the side gable. Also: tiling a bathroom floor; weatherstripping a front door.
How the cracked asphalt in the driveway has been replaced with new concrete pavers; and why high-end cherry veneers are being used for the custom cabinets. Also: hanging the last of the wall cabinets; setting a soaking tub in freshly mixed plaster. In the second half: financing and installing solar photovoltaic panels; framing the walls for a basement remodeling project.
A retractable awning is installed over the deck; the countertops are sealed with wax instead of oil in order to provide a more durable finish; the half-walls are accented with oak caps and a scotia molding. Also: restoring old windows; installing a water filter at a kitchen sink.
Glass tile is added to the kitchen; a garage storage system is installed; the cable railing system is completed; a gas stove is installed in the living room. Also: how the lighting creates distinct spaces within the open floor plan. In the second half: installing a manual transfer switch for a portable generator; unclogging a sewer line.
The Barrington, R.I., project wraps up in the Season 10 finale. Included: a look at programmable thermostat; a tour of the home, including the master suite, daughter's bedroom and guest room. Also: refinishing worn-out items with spray paint; removing wall-to-wall carpeting and installing a prefinished wood floor.
