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Season 13 opens in Boston, where an 1850s-era Greek Revival house is to be upgraded. The homeowner would like to improve the kitchen and the third floor, where the master suite is located. The retaining walls also need work. In the second half: rust staining; the installation of a pass-through in a load-bearing wall; and the replacement of a poorly built fence gate. Also: NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio joins the fun when the guys play "What is it?"
A fix for a major problem: exterior walls that are bowing outward. Two weeks of work in the basement, meanwhile, has lowered the floor by several inches; the radiant heat-insulation system is installed; and it's shown how the roof is under-structured. Norm also revisits a Charlestown townhouse featured on the show 14 years ago. In the second half: citrus greening, a disease killing citrus trees in Florida, is discussed. Also: replacing a vinyl peel-and-stick floor with ceramic tile.
How the old chimney will be modified for gas fireplace units. The framing progress is also spotlighted, including in the breakfast area and the third-floor master suite; and rebuilding the backyard retaining walls commences. Also: a chat with a structural engineer about one of Charlestown's most iconic structures, the Zakim Bridge. In the second half: beneficial insects are discussed; a front door is resized; and an outdoor garden faucet is repaired.
The progress on the now-approved dormer is spotlighted. Elsewhere, Insulation and wallboard are put into place; and a reclaimed brick veneer is installed on the kitchen bump out. Also: the world's last wooden whaling ship is observed arriving at the Charlestown Navy Yard. In the second half: practical solutions for drought, including replacing a water-guzzling lawn with a desert-appropriate alternative; and replacing an old-fashioned toilet with a "water sense" solution.
The ductwork for the new direct vent gas fireplace units is worked on; subtle Greek Revival details are added to the interior window trim; and the exterior window trim is painted. Also: repairing structural problems in a home; and running wiring for a new ceiling fixture and switch.
A major upgrade begins: adding a Greek Revival-style front door. On the second floor, new wood wainscoting is installed; a feature wall insert for the master shower is created with marble basket weave tile; and small section of copper roof is added to the roof. In the second half: installing a natural gas line for a new grill; and hanging a heavy mirror on a masonry chimney. Also: what grows best in the shade.
A basement door is concealed; the new Cararra marble island top is spotlighted; a PVC fence is installed on top of the retaining wall; the front steps are given new life with a grinder, a router, epoxy and non-slip exterior paint; and the salvaged marble mantel and surround are installed in the sitting room. Also: the transformation of a Boston lighthouses into a summer home. In the second half: setting up a beehive; and adding lighting to a dark kitchen without running new wiring.
The Charlestown project wraps up. Included: restoring the exterior with a new dormer, windows, shutters and front entry; testing the security system; visiting the mechanical room in the basement; spotlighting the completed master suite; and touring the second floor, which features a guest room, guest bath and new living room. In the second half: harvesting honey; and adding outlets to a home.
Work on a 1966 colonial in historic Lexington, Mass., commences. The project includes adding a farmer's porch; relocating the playroom; gutting and redesigning the kitchen; and adding a mudroom. Also: adding two more bedrooms, a laundry room and a sitting area to the second floor. In the second half: building a hydroponic garden; and installing a hot- and cold-water outdoor faucet.
How the home will be renovated in stages so that the owners won't have to move out. The work begins with the back porch. Also: the framing of the first floor platform is outlined; and the building permit process is explained. In the second half: connecting a basement lighting system to one switch; and rejuvenating a crabapple tree.
The second floor's front gable wall is in place; the roof framing is underway; and the framing of the new farmer's porch is spotlighted. Also: a tour of Lexington's historic district with architect Frank Shirley highlights the front porches on colonial-style homes; and a look at how the homeowners are getting by without a kitchen. In the second half: replacing a broken window with a safer option; and rotating a toilet.
How the roofers applied new architectural shingles to the house to coordinate it and the new addition; and a look at the progress on the back deck. Also: preventing the P-trap from the second-floor bathtub from interfering with the decorative ceiling of the kitchen; and finishing up the trim and decking on the corner deck stair. In the second half: building a cover for a fire pit; and upgrading a bathroom sink.
How a small stream in the backyard affects the entire yard. Also: trees are removed; shade plants are relocated to a new bed in the side yard; a five-foot section of wall is cut away to connect the kitchen to the great room; and the kitchen's plumbing conditions are discussed. In the second half: installing interior window trim; and wiring an above-ground pool. Also: plumbing tips.
A look at the mudroom door; the work required to patch in new clapboard; the back deck's hybrid railing system; and the layout and design choices for the kitchen. Also: what goes into a rough electrical inspection; and what's trending in kitchens. In the second half: replacing overgrown shrubs with an edible landscape; snaking drains; and replacing damaged pieces of vinyl siding.
Rough mechanical and rough framing inspections are discussed; reinforced fiberglass columns to support the farmer's porch are installed; and the storm window system for the screen porch is spotlighted. Also: electric radiant floor heat. In the second half: installing a whole-house ductless heating and cooling system; and repairing a sagging plaster ceiling. Also: tips on hearing protection.
A covered gutter is installed; the infiltration system to disperse water from the gutters into the ground is detailed; native plants that will return part of the lawn back to nature are discussed; and how existing aluminum wiring is being worked with while updating recessed light fixtures and installing sconces over the mantel. Also: the making and testing of two types of windows for the project. In the second half: transforming an old backsplash; and installing a new kitchen faucet.
The progress on the mudroom and kitchen is recapped; porcelain plank floor tile is installed on treads and risers of the garage stairs; the holes for the recessed lights in the great room are patched; shutters are painted; and how the arched doorway was squared off is explained. Also: abandoning an old electrical box and fishing wires to a new one. In the second half: repairing broken sash cords; and planting bulbs. Also: historian Doris Kearns Goodwin guests in the "What Is It?" segment.
With the second floor sanded, stained and sealed, the crew commences work on the first floor; the custom refrigerator panels are spotlighted; and a chest of drawers is re-purposed as the sink base in the powder room. Also: local designer Robin Gannon shows how she decorated 22 rooms of an historic inn. In the second half: building a basic entry shelf from poplar and plywood; and wiring a room for outlets and lighting.
The bluestone front walk is started despite significant grade challenges; porcelain tile made to look like slate is installed in the screen porch; and the vanity project is recapped. Also: selecting and fabricating antique granite for the front walk and custom house marker. In the second half: replacing a ceiling fan; and visiting a bonsai nursery to learn how to sculpt trees.
A look at the LED ribbon strip lights being used under the cabinets in the kitchen and butler's pantry. Also: the mudroom storage system is built; the ventilation system is reviewed; wallpaper is applied to the ceiling in one bedroom; and decorative stripes are painted on an accent wall in another bedroom. In the second half: Lightning is discussed with meteorologist Jim Cantore; and a visit to Orlando shows a lightning-protection system being installed.
New plants are added to the landscaping plan; and a wrought-iron chandelier with 52 bulbs is installed. Also: the radiators being used in the garage and upstairs sitting room; the upstairs laundry room; and the insulated steel garage doors that should help keep the heat inside the garage. In the second half: installing landscape lighting; and replacing a water main shutoff valve.
Installing tall fescue, which needs less water and fertilizer than other varieties; and designing the great room's entertainment center. Also: the finished mechanical room; and the final heating and cooling decisions. In the second half: replacing a mailbox damaged by a snowplow; and reusing an old door in a new opening. Also: window anatomy.
The transformation of the 1966 Garrison Colonial is reviewed. Included: the technology built into the new kitchen; the customization of the spaces over the garage; and the updates made to the older parts of the house. In the second half: quieting a noisy baseboard heating system; and adding light to a kitchen by installing three new recessed cans. Also: kitchen island dimensions.
The team helps with a Home for Our Troops project. In the second half: planting an indoor tropical garden with plants from Jamaica; changing the temperature on water heaters; and building an American flag out of reclaimed wood.
Work on the HFOT home continues. Included: the requirements for ADA-approved and Energy Star-rated homes; the technology behind touchless faucets and toilets; and the technology behind the automatic-door opener that's being used on many of the doors. Also: using a beveled piece of marble to create an ADA-compliant threshold in the shower. In the second half: installing an electric vehicle charger next to a house; and installing a new kitchen sink.
Work on the HFOT house wraps up; and the family moves into its new home. Also: the importance of community involvement, which in this case finds more than 150 volunteers laying down sod, mulching the beds and planting; and the designs for the master closet and dining-room table. In the second half: mowing a lawn; installing a thermostat that interfaces with a smartphone; and installing a photovoltaic solar array on a barn.
