This Old House Season 44, Episode 16: Ipswich: Secrets Behind the Wall

1

Atlanta: Welcome to Atlanta

The crew heads South to Atlanta, GA where work on an 1890s Victorian with rich history is about to begin. They get a warm Southern welcome from the builder, project manager, and homeowners and are given a tour of the project and scope of work.

2

Atlanta: Unsafe Structures

The Atlanta house is in disrepair, so layers are peeled back to uncover the extent of the damage. The homeowner lends a hand with demolition of unsafe structures. We meet the contractor. A lending library is built. Care is taken to save an oak tree.

3

Atlanta: School of HVAC

The Atlanta Beltline is toured. A stem wall foundation replaces the existing footings, and the crawl space gets a vapor barrier. The homeowner receives a lesson on HVAC installation. An outdoor learning center is toured for backyard inspiration.

4

Atlanta: Cardboard Kitchen

New framing replaces the once termite eaten studs. Having an HVAC plan in place, the homeowner begins installing ductwork at the house. Native fruit trees are explored. Cardboard boxes make for a real kitchen feel. Old windows salvaged and restored.

5

Atlanta: Whole House Protection

Progress is made on the interior and exterior of the house. New beveled pine siding is weaved into the old. Tyler Perry Studios is toured. The house gets lightning and surge protection. In MA, The Dracut Centre School restoration is complete.

6

Atlanta: Respecting the Old While Adding the New

Care is taken in the renovation to respect the old details of the home. New porch columns are made to match the old. A bathroom gets a concrete-like finish. A reclaimed front door is installed. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth home is visited.

7

Atlanta: Repointed and Planted

It's all about finishing touches. Outside the front door is cleaned and prepped for paint, the front steps are repaired, and a medicinal garden is planted. Inside, the water heater is installed, custom shelves are built, and wallpaper is installed.

8

Atlanta: Families Meet

The renovation of the 1890s Victorian whose former owner was a pillar in the community for civil rights is complete. The family of the former owner meets the current homeowners. The crew gets a tour of the new spaces. The lending library is mounted.

9

Newburyport: Shipwrights and Sea Captains

The crew is back in Massachusetts on the Eastern Seaboard in the town of Newburyport - a middle-class neighborhood where shipwrights and sea captains once lived. They meet the homeowners, tour the project, and discuss the possible challenges.

10

Newburyport: Powering Through

Before demo begins, the main power is disconnected. The old bump out is demoed, and the present bathroom is tested for asbestos. A carpenter talks about working with Parkinson's Disease. The vinyl siding is removed to reveal the original clapboards.

11

Newburyport: Demo Find

With demo complete, the new foundations are poured, and a winding staircase replaces the old steep set. A find during demo sparks interest in the home's history. Outside, a retaining wall is built, and the old water and sewer lines are replaced.

12

Newburyport: Design Talk

Roof shingles are installed on a challenging roof line. Factory-assembled exterior window trims save time and labor. The original staircase balusters and railings are modified. The homeowners meet with their interior designer and make selections.

13

Newburyport: Off-the-Shelf Custom Look

As construction nears an end, the yard gets planted. Inside, a custom home office is built from off-the-shelf materials. The old floors are reused on the second floor. An EV charger is installed, and the front door gets a high-sheen finish.

14

Newburyport: Bed Race

With the new two-story addition built and an efficient floor plan on the interior, it's time to call it a wrap on the project; but first, the homeowners and the crew take part in a little town fun at the annual bed race. The finished house is toured.

15

Ipswich: This Really Old House

The crew starts one of their oldest projects yet, a first period home in the town of Ipswich, MA. The homeowners give them a tour of the property and the proposed changes. Tom Silva shows them how to salvage the old floorboards before demo begins.

16

Ipswich: Secrets Behind the Wall

The architect shares his vision for the property, but before plans can be completed, a bit of exploratory demo must take place. A lesson on first period homes is given. The team hopes to uncover the original timber frame during demo.

17

Ipswich: Prep-Work

Preparation for the new foundation begins. A centuries old cistern is uncovered. The original timber frame structure is assessed, and the original floorboards and roof sheathing are salvaged for later use. The sill is inspected for water damage.

18

Ipswich: Careful Considerations

The timber frame structure in the ell is carefully dismantled. A new fireplace for the original gambrel is considered. Landscape and hardscape ideas are explored. A family run lumber mill is toured. The homeowner decides on a roof shingle style.

19

Ipswich: Below Grade Plumbing

The old fireplace firebox is demolished leaving the chimney for the new fireplace. The dismantled timber frame pieces are restored offsite. Plumbing is run for a below grade bathroom. A steel beam is prepared for installation. Kevin goes clamming.

20

Ipswich: Rebuilding Centuries

The newly restored timber frame structure is reassembled on site. A Rumford fireplace is installed where the old was demolished. The steel ridge beam is craned in place. The homeowner visits a local stone yard to select a kitchen countertop.

21

Ipswich: Exposing Problems

A warm roof is installed to keep the cold out. New framing poses plumbing challenges. Rot is discovered on the original sill. Options are explored to light the new ell considering the old, exposed lumber. A roof valley is made moisture proof.

22

Ipswich: First Things First

Rotted sills are repaired before the new clapboards are installed. The challenge of ducting a first period home is solved. Old material and technique disguise a new repair. An original gunstock post is repaired. The new clapboards are installed.

23

Ipswich: Factory Built

Kevin gives a full progress tour. Rainwater management is discussed, and a harvesting system is installed. A handmade lighting factory is toured. The new boathouse, built in a factory, is assembled on site. Plants are heeled in for the winter.

24

Ipswich: New Life

A granite veneer water table is installed. The old roof boards are installed on the ceiling of the new ell. A dry laid stone wall is built. The plumbing manifold is discussed. A carpenter talks about leaving corporate and returning to the trades.

25

Ipswich: Look-Alike

Finishing touches are revealed. New wide plank floorboards mimic the look of the original flooring. A soapstone sink is fabricated offsite. The hot water system is reviewed. A wood backsplash goes in the pantry and light fixtures illuminate the ell.

26

Ipswich: A Period Restoration

The modest 1720's gambrel has been restored. From the front, not much has changed; except for the color; but towards the rear, a new ell and barn element make for a dramatic transformation. The crew gets a tour of the changes from homeowners.