This Old House

Homeowner Angela Daigle shows Kevin the period feel and features of her home that she loves. Upstairs, Tom Silva shows Norm the spaces that will likely be a full gut to give Angela a better master suite with additional living space. Out back, Roger shows Kevin the sad state of the crumbling retaining walls. Norm and Tom test for lead paint before beginning demo on the first floor.

Tom builds a structural wall inbound of the brick foundation. Richard shows Kevin the result of two weeks of hand digging and rough plumbing. The radiant heat/insulation system is going in. Tom joins to get the first of two massive LVLs tucked into the pockets in the brick sidewalls. Tom shows Kevin how he's going to open up the back wall for the new bump out.

The front of the building is obscured by scaffolding. Tom shows Kevin how he'll have to modify the old chimney for the new gas fireplace units. The third floor master suite is all framed up. Mason Mark McCullough presents options for rebuilding the decaying retaining walls at different price points. Then, they dig into the demolition. Richard shows Kevin the progress on plumbing and electrical.

Richard sees the last wooden whaling ship in the world. Tom shows Norm the progress on the dormer, and its carefully waterproofed low-slope roof. Kevin notes progress: insulation went in a few days ago and wallboard is going up. Mark McCullough installs a reclaimed brick veneer on the new kitchen bump out. Norm and Tom replace fake, applied vinyl shutters with authentic, operable shutters.

Roger visits the Sullivan Square Community Garden, while Richard works with fireplace expert John Sullivan. Norm and Tom add some subtle Greek Revival details to the interior window trim package. Roger takes homeowner Angela Daigle to see the hidden gardens of Beacon Hill. Painting contractor Mauro Henrique paints the exterior window trim on our row-house.

Tom shows a new four-panel front door with glass transom and sidelights in traditional Greek Revival style. Angela's cabinets have arrived from Pennsylvania. Tom and Kevin install new wood wainscoting to replace the worn out, poorly made version that used to be there. Norm learns about Charlestown's ancient past from city archaeologist Joe Bagley.

Tom builds a hidden door to the basement. Marble specialist Danny Puccio shows Kevin the new Carrara marble island top. Fence contractor Mark Bushway installs a new PVC fence on top of the retaining wall. Norm and Tom restore the old, weather beaten exterior front steps with a grinder. Stone specialist Steve Torok installs the salvaged marble mantel and surround in the sitting room.

After five months of work in Charlestown, the exterior is nicely restored. Greg Smizer test-drives the new internet-based security system. Kathy joins Angela and Kevin to see the former dining room transformed into a sophisticated sitting room. And the new kitchen: cabinetry, tile, storage, a splashy new powder room, and the window seat addition was worth all of the hard work

This Old House kicks off the second project of their 35th Anniversary Season: an addition to a 1966 Colonial Revival in historic Lexington, Mass. With a history that extends back to the time of the American Revolution, Lexington is home to a strong tradition of Colonial-style homes that are still popular today.

Kevin discusses This Old House's history renovating Colonials. Kevin visits a concrete shop in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Norm explains the framing of the first floor platform from underneath, then climbs up on top to see how Tom is building the rear gable wall of the addition lying down. Roger gets underway with the layout and excavation for the new footings for the first floor addition.

Kevin finds the front gable wall of the second floor up, and the roof framing underway. Tom installs a 24-foot long LVL to temporarily hold up the second floor. Architect Frank Shirley shows how people have used front porches to lend character to Colonial style homes. Tom shows Kevin the framing of our new farmer's porch and then they build a small overhang to extend the look across the garage.

Norm visits the Hancock-Clarke house to see where Paul Revere stopped to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the British troops during the American Revolution. Kevin recaps how the roofers applied new architectural shingles to tie the old house in with the new addition. Richard fight to keep the P-trap from the new bathtub from interfering with the decorative ceiling of the new kitchen.

Roger meets landscape designer Tim Lee to see how the small stream in the backyard affects all other areas of the yard. Roger shows Kevin the valuable shade plants that could be damaged in the process. Tom and Kevin cut away a five-foot section of wall to connect the new kitchen to the old great room. Richard shows Kevin two common rough plumbing conditions in the kitchen.

Tom shows the new mudroom door and the new clapboards which match the old around it. Two weeks of rough electrical is coming to a close as the subs call for their inspection. Kevin meets electrician Allen Gallant and inspector Alix Berube to see what goes into a rough electrical inspection. Tom shows Kevin how he's using a hybrid railing system that has cedar posts and railing caps.

Norm and Tom install reinforced fiberglass columns to support the new farmer's porch. Richard meets plumbing contractor Brian Bilo and local plumbing inspector Donald "Duke" LaConte to see what he's looking for at our rough plumbing inspection. Kevin and Tom meet building commissioner Fred Lonardo to see what goes into the rough mechanical and rough framing inspections.

Gutter fabricator Mike Vidulich installs one-piece covered gutter. Roger shows Kevin the native plants he's using to turn a patch of lawn back to nature. Master electrician Allen Gallant shows Kevin the existing aluminum wiring in the old part of the house and how he's update the recessed light fixtures. Norm visits Londonderry, NH to see how they're testing two types of windows for our project.

Norm recaps progress on mudroom and kitchen Tile contractor Mark Ferrante installs a porcelain plank floor tile that is made to look like wood. Master electrician Allen Gallant shows Kevin how to properly abandon an old electrical box, and how to fish wires to a new one. Kevin shows how to patch in the huge holes where the old recessed lights were.

Kevin finds the second floor sanded, stained and sealed. In the kitchen, the cabinets are mostly installed. In Lexington Center, just steps from the Battle Green, Kevin meets local designer Robin Gannon to see how she decorated 22 rooms of a historic inn. In the temporary garage workshop, Norm shows Kevin how he's turning a chest of drawers into a sink base for the new powder room.

Roger starts the new bluestone front walk despite some significant challenges. Norm finds tile contractor Mark Ferrante installing porcelain tile made to look like slate. Kevin meets Richard to see the sink and faucet set. Roger visits a stone salvage yard to see fabricating antique granite for the front walk. Kevin sees the granite steps in place and lends a hand as Roger sets the house marker

Master electrician Allen Gallant shows Kevin the new LED ribbon strip lights he's using under the cabinets. Norm and Tom build the new mudroom storage system. Richard and Tom review the critical need for ventilation. Wallpaper hanger Mark Pehrson shows Kevin his technique for applying wallpaper to a ceiling. Painting contractor Mauro Henrique sets up to paint the accent wall.

Roger and landscape designer Tim Lee place the first new plants in the planting plan. Richard uses two kinds of radiators to bring heat to the garage and upstairs sitting room. Bob Young shows the new insulated steel garage doors. Tom shows Kevin the progress on the upstairs laundry room. Master electrician Allen Gallant shows how he's installing a massive wrought-iron chandelier with 52 bulbs.

Roger and sod grower Pat Hogan install a new variety of turf. Plumbing contractor Kevin Bilo and plumbing inspector Duke LaConte do the final plumbing inspection. Designer Robin Gannon and Matt Allen turn design into reality, including the sliding barn door hardware to hang salvaged interior doors. Richard shows Kevin the finished mechanical room and makes final heating and cooling decisions.

Norm and Kevin observe the transformation that has taken place. Kitchen designer Michele Kelly shows Richard the design and technology smarts built into the Kieval's new kitchen. Interior designer Robin Gannon shows Norm the creative and strategic updates she made. Kevin and Jody join Jeremy and Tom in the kitchen to see the finished space, the new breakfast area, screen porch, and back deck.

Over three special episodes, This Old House is partnering with Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) to build a house from the ground up for one Army veteran and his family, as a way to highlight the heroes who have given so much for their country.