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Private Notes
The new season begins with a renovation of a 1940's house on Boston's famous Charles River. Out front, the home's bland exterior will receive a curb-appeal makeover thanks to the creative ideas of architect Chris Chu. On the inside, the house will get a new, larger kitchen, updated baths and loads of new windows to take advantage of the spectacular views out back. Also, connecting water supply and drain lines for a kitchen island sink and rescuing improperly planted trees.
Prepping for the new foundation of the entry hall; demolishing the sun porch to the specifications of the new national EPA lead law; a visit to the original gatehouse, which is now a private home; and cutting through 10-inch thick concrete foundation walls to make way for a new family room addition. Also, installing balusters on a staircase and laying a stone footpath.
The arrival of a 17-foot-long steel beam - it will carry the load of the house over the 16-foot opening that was made in the rear foundation wall; insulated concrete forms being used not only for the foundations, but also for the above-grade walls on the new additions; Chris Kimball of America's Test Kitchen stops by to discuss the kitchen and the updates to it; and a discussion abot how the new lead laws affect interior work and how to properly test for it. Also, creating storage space in an attic and repairing a broken doorbell.
Most of the demolition is completed; taking the dip out of the old kitchen floor; framing up the new mudroom and powder room on the first floor; Massachusetts State Director of Flood Control, Bill Gode, shows how the Charles River has been literally formed and shaped by several major engineering projects over the years, including three major dams; and pest control expert Todd McNamara shares his "eco-friendly" plan to address the termites and the carpenter ants out back. Also, repairing a rotted windowsill and installing an outdoor faucet.
The new front entry and framed up kitchen; at the garage, turning the flat roof into a pitched roof with prefabricated trusses; the new kitchen design; in the backyard, the native and non-native species taking over the flood plain; Norm and Tom review the layout for the new back deck and walkways; and framing up the floor of the new sunroom using engineered lumber. Also, building a wheelchair accessible raised garden bed and fixing a leaky roof.
Framing the flat roof over the new sunroom; an expensive change order in the basement bathroom - the homeowners have decided to add air conditioning; Kevin visits the Boston Public Library to learn about the former resident of the home, one of Boston's most famous street photographers; the progress on the rough plumbing in the new back-to-back bathrooms; and installing the underlayment on the flat roof. Also, choosing groundcover and installing hydronic baseboard heaters.
Installation of the floor-warming radiant heat that will be in the slab under the new family room; pouring all of the concrete on the basement level, including the footings for the new deck; making aesthetic decisions at the Boston Design Center; and installing the new energy efficient, vinyl clad casement windows. Also, building a circular patio and fire pit, and repairing brick stairs.
Patching in some sidewall shingles on the front of the house; installing the ductwork for the new hydronic heating and cooling system; reviewing a few different aesthetic options for opening up the top of the wall that currently conceals basement stairs; in the kitchen, finishing up the rough electrical work; and installing a pocket door kit you can get at a local lumberyard. Also, installing a new energy-efficient storm door, how to cut up solder copper plumbing pipes and fittings, and reducing the size of an overgrown privet hedge.
