This Old House

The crew is charged to make a 1960 mid-century modern home in Lexington, Mass., accessible for an active family of five with a son who has Duchenne, a rare form of muscular dystrophy.

Rebuilding the interior; the architect explains the new accessible design; an accessibility showroom is toured for mobility solutions; a new energy code affects the renovation.

A block wall tunnel connects the old and new mechanical room; HVAC ducting is buried underground; framing begins for residential elevators.

Engineered beams create an open floor plan; previewing the new landscape; ideas for creating an accessible bathroom.

Framing a zero-threshold entry; geothermal energy is chosen to heat and cool the home; an exposed steel beam gives the exterior a new look.

The fully framed front of the house is revealed; work continues on the geothermal system; the connection to the interior is made; blocking is installed in the framing; replacing and rewiring old receptacles.

Repairing the original brick; building a DIY ramp; touring a modern accessible home; adding trim to the exterior.

A walking tour of the roof reveals its various pitches; installing a built-in gutter system; rough-in begins on the interior; energy-efficient windows are installed.

Work on the house is divided into phases for efficient workflow; the back foundation gets a stucco finish; kitchen cabinet selection; installing siding; the back patio gets proper drainage.

The slab-on-grade foundation is built up; accessible AV solutions are explored; prep begins for a curbless shower; installing an automatic zero threshold door.

Copper bonding is installed before the therapy pool is craned in; tile selections are revealed; the integrated entrance ramp gets snow melt and a final layer of concrete; elevator disconnects are installed.

Building the elevator cab; using leftover flooring to make a modern feature for the kitchen island; exploring AV solutions for accessibility; installing new solar panels.

Work on the internal geothermal systems begins; installing in-wall lighting to illuminate the entrance ramp; installing an offset p-trap; a visit to a glassblowing studio; grab bar installation begins.

Landscape planting begins with screen trees and rose bushes; the children pitch in on a painting project; the homeowners discuss Duchenne muscular dystrophy; a modern staircase is installed in the foyer.

Geothermal is in; kitchen appliances are installed; the new HERS score is revealed.

The completed renovation of the 1960 mid-century modern home accommodates a family of five, including a child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; the crew returns to go through the changes with the family.

The crew heads to New Jersey for the renovation of an 1897 Victorian in Glen Ridge, restoring some original details.

Demolition begins; the chimney is demolished; reframing the roof; asbestos is abated.

Termite damage leads to construction changes; new footings are needed in the basement; touring a historic community garden; a 15-year-old student talks about working on the project; replacing the old sewer line.

Installing helical piers for the new porch; prepping new windows for installation; protecting plumbing pipes from cold weather.

Installing flangeless windows; preparation begins for in-ceiling speakers; visiting the Empire State Building; installing porch decking; hybrid plumbing system.

Vapor barrier electrical boxes take air tightness to the next level; custom lead glass sidelight; exploring various types of weather-resistant barriers; installing drip edge flashing and exterior window trim.

The new staircase is assembled; installing a new brick walkway; exploring wood fiber insulation and the new HRV system; interior trim details.

A blower door test reveals the home's airtightness; a baseboard trim gets a radius detail; discussing the borough's effort to maintain its tree-lined streets; installing a prefab tile niche; prepping interior trim for paint finish.