This Old House Season 41, Episode 14: Rebuilding Paradise: Out of the Ashes

The Westerly Ranch House: A Ranch Out Westerly

Salvage and demo begin in the transformation of a 1940s Rhode Island ranch to a Dutch Colonial; a look at architect renderings; visiting California ranch style homes.

The Westerly Ranch House: Chimney Down and Walls Up

The chimney and walls are taken down; window and fixture shopping; new plumbing products; reusing the original rafters for new wall framing.

26 min

The Westerly Ranch House: The Open Concept

The crew places a center beam in the old ranch house to support the second story. A hole is cut in the original foundation for a new basement window. Kevin visits an engineered lumber factory in Canada. Back at the project, Tommy and Jeff raise the end gables.

26 min

The Westerly Ranch House: Raise a Second Story

The gambrel roof profiles are pre-assembled and raised. Then the crew stands up the second floor walls. Three new apprentices arrive as part of the Generation Next program. Tom Silva, shows them how to measure and cut roof rafters. Richard Trethewey works with an engineer who is designing a septic system for the project.

26 min

The Westerly Ranch House: Decking for Beginners

Tom Silva teaches the new apprentices to frame a deck. Jeff Sweenor’s crew frames the exterior flair detail. Jenn Nawada learns about Westerly granite. Jeff teaches the apprentices to install a window. Richard Trethewey and Jeff look for a path for the drain stacks.

The Westerly Ranch House: Return to Paradise

Working on the main staircase; siding; touring a factory to see how a furnace is built; installing a furnace.

The Westerly Ranch House: The Doors

Building a section of a coffered ceiling; cutting granite; septic system; how interior doors are built; installing a door.

The Westerly Ranch House: Tanks for the Propane

The propane tank is installed; composite decking; adding final touches to the coffered ceiling; adding shelving to the office; applying a stone veneer to the chimney.

The Westerly Ranch House: Rockin' the Granite

Installing a floating oak mantel; paneling the playroom using knotty pine boards; timber framing school; using Westerly granite for the steps.

The Westerly Ranch House: Pining for Old Pine

Using old pine to make a table; whitewashing knotty pine paneling; building a pergola for a deck; assembling shutters; lighting the pergola.

The Westerly Ranch House: Save the Flagpole

Mounting televisions and installing curtains; water heater; installing outdoor lighting; refurbishing a flagpole.

26 min

The Westerly Ranch House: Seaside Transformation

Touring the completed Dutch Colonial; pine table; hydroseeding; flying the refurbished flags.

Rebuilding Paradise: Paradise Lost

Three families rebuild after they lost their homes to a wildfire.

Rebuilding Paradise: No Pain No Gain

A visit to a fire testing lab; adding roof shingles; installing a stone veneer; touring farms; an architect designs a town memorial.

Rebuilding Paradise: Paradise Strong

Engineered siding and fire-rated sheathing; solar backup battery; the Hope Plaza memorial ground-breaking.

26 min

The Cape Ann House: Cape Ann Shingle Style

Homeowners John and Molly plan to put the history back into their 1890s shingle-style home. They’ll remove ‘70s carpet, repair cracking balusters and transform the front entry, restoring the home’s original beauty and updating it for modern living.

26 min

The Cape Ann House: Between a Rock and Hardwood

Tom Silva and Kevin O’Connor start laying subfloor in the new dining room. Charlie Silva shows Jenn Nawada how he’s drilling granite for the new garage and driveway. Kevin tours Cape Ann, and Tom moves an interior doorway.

26 min

The Cape Ann House: Losing Our Truss

Tom and Charlie Silva create a cathedral ceiling while Mark McCullough breaks through the foundation to make space for mechanicals. Kevin O’Connor learns about sun tunnels and Richard creates a plan for cooling.

The Cape Ann House: Hard Work Ahead

In this episode, Mark McCullough finds granite on the property to match a new stone wall to the old. Heath Eastman buries the electrical underground. Kevin O’Connor, homeowner Molly and her kitchen designer Michele look for design inspiration. Then, Tom Silva creates a barrel ceiling.

The Cape Ann House: Shingled Out

In this episode, Tom and Charlie Silva install rounded-top windows in the breakfast room, and an easy-install roof shingle goes down. Roger Cook and Kevin O’Connor go fishing while Tom adds a custom diamond detail with the siding. Radiant heat goes in somewhere unexpected: the ceiling.

The Cape Ann House: Tiling Is a Family Affair

In this episode, Tom repairs 130-year-old pocket doors, and a new type of solar goes in. Jenn works with landscaper Fred to build a boulder wall. Richard gives a lesson on a modern heating system, and father Mark and son Erik Ferrante showcase the art of mosaic tile installation.

The Cape Ann House: Window on Restoration

In this episode, the original leaded glass windows are repaired, and Jenn and Fred plant a bed of perennials along the new driveway. Mini splits solve a ductwork problem, and homeowner Molly and her designer Shelby make design decisions. Then, Tom tackles tricky original trim.

26 min

The Cape Ann House: Don't Rip It, Restore It

Richard learns about the invention of the Stillson wrench, and Mauro repairs old plaster. Norm then repairs broken balusters, and Heath installs a new panel. Venetian plaster goes on the dining room ceiling.

26 min

The Cape Ann House: Master Craftsmen

A brass handrail is created. Mauro paints a chalkboard finish, and repaired balusters get reinstalled. Richard gives a lesson in make-up air, and work begins on a custom table. Heath talks smart electricity.

The Cape Ann House: Move In Day

Work is complete on the Cape Ann Shingle Style project. The team tours the finished home, celebrating all of the repaired historic details and the new elements that keep with its original style.