The BEST episodes of This Old House season 25
Every episode of This Old House season 25, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of This Old House season 25!
This Old House celebrates the fusion on old world craftsmanship and modern technology. Each season features two renovation projects. Project One traditionally consists of eighteen or more so episodes and is filmed in Massachusetts. Project Two is taped in a different region of the country to highlight the variety of American architectural styles and renovation issues.
#1 - Restoring the Inn with Native Limestone - The Bermuda House
Season 25 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/19/2004
Host Kevin O'Connor and master carpenter Norm Abram open the show in Southampton at Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, the highest point in Bermuda. Back in St. George, Kevin meets architect Colin Campbell to review his design plans for the renovation and expansion of Harbour View. Norm meets fourth generation quarry man Jonathan Cumberbatch in Smith's parish to see how native limestone is quarried and cut into roofing tiles known as "slate." At the project house, lead mason Dilton Cann shows Norm how he's using the slate, mortar, and cement wash to repair the extensive roof damage caused by hurricane Fabian. General contractor Alan Burland and job foreman John Richardson give Norm a progress tour: the former kitchen and second floor bath have been removed, the cedar roof rafters have been exposed and reinforced, excavation for the new addition is complete, and the window frames are being replaced. Homeowners Andrea Dismont and Delaey Robinson begin stripping their old Bermuda cedar window sash by hand. Now all the team needs is a building permit to begin work on the addition. If the approval is delayed much longer, the job may not be finished by the time This Old House has to head back to Boston.
#2 - Turning a Garden Shed into a Home - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/11/2003
Master carpenter Norm Abram welcomes new host Kevin O'Connor aboard with a visit to one of the most ambitious This Old House jobs to date, the Manchester-by-the-Sea project. Wanting to tackle a big job like this on his first time out, Kevin instead ends up in historic Concord, Massachusetts, with a small (but sweet) 20 x 26 foot garden shed that homeowners Jeff and Janet Bernard want to convert into an in-law cottage for Janet's retired parents. Protected by local zoning laws, the shed can't be torn down and rebuilt, so general contractor Tom Silva will reframe the c. 1894 building from the inside out, and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey will face the challenges of bringing in water, sewer, and gas lines to the building for the first time ever. The cottage is one of the smallest projects in This Old House history, but everyone agrees that although there's not a lot to work with, there's still a lot to do. Janet takes Kevin to see the inspiration for her project, a small garage apartment that's part of an estate currently on the market in Concord for $7.2 million.
#3 - Nothing is as Easy as it Looks - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/25/2003
Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find the newly issued building permit affixed to the building, and work is finally getting underway. Architect Holly Cratsley is officially on board, and Kevin pays a visit to her office to see the first pass at floor plans, elevations, and a scale model of the cottage. Zoning laws only allow for a modest increase in overall volume, so the new one-bedroom cottage will be less than a 1,000-square-feet when it's done. Master carpenter Norm Abram and general contractor Tom Silva prepare to brace a bowed wall, but find a completely rotted sill that needs replacing before they can proceed. They put Kevin to work building two temporary walls, and then driving them into place, taking the weight off the compromised outside wall. The rotted sill comes out, and a new, pressure treated sill goes in. Then, Kevin visits a converted carriage house in Winchester, Massachusetts, that's full of great ideas for the project. Unexpected rain postpones the excavation for the foundation of the new addition.
#4 - It's Starting to Look Like a Cottage - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/1/2003
General contractor Tom Silva shows host Kevin O'Connor the progress on the new utility trench - a time-consuming and expensive undertaking that (with several thousand dollars in permit fees) has already eaten up $30,000 of the budget. Concrete cutting contractor Peter Dami is on site to make way for the final connections, using a diamond plated coring drill to bore holes through the 10" foundation wall. Kevin finally meets the most important person on the job -homeowner Janet Bernard's mom, Jacqueline Buckley, who will actually live in the cottage with her husband Len. Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey takes Kevin to visit master carpenter Norm Abram at the New Yankee Workshop to see how the shop is heated and cooled - he's thinking of using some of the same solutions (radiant heat, baseboard, and/or split system A/C) at the Concord cottage. Looking for an interior designer who knows how to work with small spaces, Kevin meets Tricia McDonagh in Boston's South End to see how her design firm made a 600-square-foot apartment feel more spacious and inviting. Inside the cottage, all four walls have been reinforced, old sheathing has come down, new plywood has gone up, and the new windows have been framed in.
#5 - Creating a Safe and Beautiful Home for Elders - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/20/2003
Host Kevin O'Connor finds landscape contractor Roger Cook inspecting a new shipment of select bluestone from Pennsylvania and cobblestones imported from India. Out back, Roger shows Kevin the right way to lay a bluestone patio using stone dust and cement over 3-feet of pack for drainage. Inside the cottage, general contractor Tom Silva shows Kevin how wallboard contractor Paul Landry is hanging wallboard - it' s a new product that's non-combustible, moisture resistant, and mold resistant - an important innovation as mold problems continue to plague the building industry. Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows Kevin the air-to-air heat exchanger that will bring fresh air into the building and a new radiant heat system, installed in the outside walls going up the stairs. Kevin meets up with homeowner Janet Bernard and interior designer Tricia McDonagh for a preview of her design choices for the cottage. Architect Holly Cratsley takes Kevin to Acton, Massachusetts, to see the in-law suite that she created for homeowner Sylvia Arrom's 90-year-old parents. Back in the kitchen of the main house, family friends Joanne and Jordan Lovejoy show Kevin and Janet how to turn her ripe Concord grapes into jelly.
#6 - Everyone’s Here to Get the Job Done - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/17/2004
It is wall-to-wall subs today. Everyone from the tile guy, to the fireplace guy, to the painter, to the granite-pillar guy - that would be landscape contractor Roger Cook - are at the Concord Cottage. Host Kevin O'Connor checks out Roger's latest project: installing granite bollards in front of the barn door to prevent vehicles from accidentally backing into the barn, while also adding lots of old time character. In the front hall, tile contractor Joe Ferrante is prepping the radiant deck for tile with thin set first then cement board. In the living room, chimney specialist Mark Schaub shows Kevin the new remote controlled gas fireplace that can be vented up or straight out, via an exterior wall, and installs in about one hour. At Boston's Design Center, Kevin meets interior designers Tricia McDonagh and Charles Spada to see the antiques they've selected, and are still considering, for the cottage. Then back at the site, Kevin lends master carpenter Norm Abram a hand installing the sliding windows over the kitchen sink.
#7 - Sailing the Atlantic for the Next Project in Bermuda - The Bermuda House
Season 25 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/12/2004
With their course set for historic and sunny Bermuda, host Kevin O' Connor and master carpenter Norm Abram set sail aboard the Island Raider in search of a winter project house. Once on shore, they zip through the narrow cobblestone streets of St. George on mopeds and arrive at Aunt Nea's Inn where they meet potential This Old House homeowners Andrea Dismont and Delaey Robinson - local innkeepers who want to fix up "Harbour View," a vacant and dilapidated circa 1805 Georgian-style home on their property. The house needs a lot of work, so Kevin meets up with local architect Colin Campbell at a recently renovated home in Pembroke to see if he thinks the project is viable. Meanwhile, Norm tracks down general contractor Alan Burland at a commercial job he's running in Hamilton, and Alan, an eleventh-generation Bermudian, assures Norm that he can handle the job. After weighing the pros and cons of working on a remote island 680 miles out at sea, Norm and Kevin tell Andrea and Delaey that although the renovation is going to be a challenge, This Old House is on board to help them out.
#8 - Appreciating a Whole Different Type of Construction - The Bermuda House
Season 25 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/26/2004
Host Kevin O'Connor and master carpenter Norm Abram welcome plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey to Bermuda in front of St. Peter's Church in St. George. Next door at Aunt Nea's Inn, Norm and Kevin meet homeowner Delaey Robinson to talk about the building permit and the budget. Across the street at Harbour View, general contractor Alan Burland shows Norm how he's using a steel beam to pick up the second floor load, while lead mason Dilton Cann shows Kevin how he's building new walls of the addition out of concrete block. To see how charming an old renovated Bermuda home can be, Alan shows Norm his carefully restored circa 1750 farmhouse in Somerset. Back at the project house, master plumber Gerald Smith shows Richard how two existing cisterns or "tanks" will collect rainwater from the roof to supply the house with drinking water. Kevin meets master electrician Noel Vanputten to see how the electrical rough-in is progressing on the old house (Bermuda stone) and the new addition (concrete block). Although the progress may appear to be slow, Norm, Richard, and Kevin recall that compared with time-consuming wood construction and finishes, the masonry work at Harbour View will come together quickly.
#9 - Collecting Water - The Bermuda House
Season 25 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/4/2004
Master carpenter Norm Abram and host Kevin O'Connor open the show 120 feet below ground exploring the Crystal Caves of Bermuda. Back at Harbour View, Kevin finds project manager Alex DeCouto overseeing the prep and pour of the second floor deck on the addition. Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey meets civil engineer Keith Claridge on a neighborhood roof to see how 95% of Bermudians obtain drinking water - by collecting rainwater in roof catchments and cisterns known as "tanks." They visit a massive military fort turned catchment, as well as a modern reverse osmosis plant to see how the government supplements the water supply. Two weeks of rain might be good for the tank levels, but it's bad for the construction schedule, so foreman John Richardson shows Norm and Kevin how work has progressed on the interior of the house, despite the rain. Then, Norm visits the general contractor's mill shop and volunteers to help out by building a cedar mantel for Harbour View's dining room fireplace.
#10 - Making Way for the Custom Built Mantel - The Bermuda House
Season 25 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/11/2004
Master carpenter Norm Abram welcomes general contractor Tom Silva to the island by getting him properly outfitted in the "full Bermuda." Host Kevin O'Connor meets homeowners Delaey Robinson and Andrea Dismont at Aunt Nea's Inn to see how they are managing the renovation while operating the circa 1780 guest house and raising two young boys. They show Kevin the historic mantel they'd like Norm to replicate for their new home. Across the street at the jobsite, Kevin finds foreman John Richardson and lead mason Dilton Cann pouring the bond beam that will unify the structure of the new addition and bear the load of the new stone roof. While measuring for the job, Norm and Tom decide that the firebox needs to be rebuilt to accommodate the new mantle. Worried about time and resources, project manager Alex DeCouto reluctantly agrees to add the masonry work to his list. Kevin meets curator Hugh Davidson for a tour of Verdmont, a house that has not been altered in 300 years, that features an extensive collection Bermuda-made cedar antiques. Later at the mill shop in Hamilton, Tom and Norm get working on the fireplace mantel. Tom's final analysis of the job: there's still a lot to do, but as someone who's been in the hot seat before, he knows that the builders can move mountains during the last few weeks, and they're going to have to.
#11 - Challenges and Rewards of Island Building - The Bermuda House
Season 25 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/18/2004
There are only three weeks left on the job, and any materials and products not already aboard a ship to Bermuda are not going to make it in time. So master carpenter Norm Abram and host Kevin O'Connor head down to the docks of Hamilton to greet the "Bermuda Islander" container ship, just in from New Jersey. Back at Harbour View, Kevin meets project manager Alex DeCouto for an update: landscaping has begun in the south court, the verandah is framed in, and the second floor walls are up. In the basement, Norm finds HVAC contractor Steven Cardoza installing a new high-efficiency heating and cooling system that uses an environmentally responsible refrigerant that won' t deplete the ozone layer. Up in the kitchen, Kevin meets interior designer Michele Smith for a preview of the kitchen elevations. Then, homeowner Andrea Dismont and job foreman John Richardson show Kevin their recently discovered treasure - an 1884 gold sovereign found beneath the dining room floor. Kevin meets Dr. Ed Harris for a tour of Bermuda's Royal Naval Dockyard. Once known as the "Gibraltar of the West," Dockyard is still the largest fort in Bermuda and the largest tourist destination on the island. Kevin finds kitchen contractor Mark Henneberger unloading the kitchen cabinets that have just been cleared through customs from Canada.
#12 - Cottage Living with the Future in Mind - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/13/2003
On one of the first cool days of autumn, host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find landscape contractor Roger Cook excavating the jobsite in preparation for the hardscape install. Roofing contractor Alex Alpert shows Kevin how his crew is installing a standing seam copper roof on the new addition. General contractor Tom Silva gives Kevin a progress tour of the interior spaces, showing how the first floor can be transformed to accommodate one-floor living, should it become necessary for the homeowners, Jackie and Len Buckley. On the second floor, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows Kevin the new 5-foot cast iron whirlpool tub, a European towel warmer that will also serve as the room's main source of heat, and a split-type air conditioner that will keep the entire second floor cool during the summer. With the new window already set in the center of the old hayloft door, master carpenter Norm Abram shows Kevin how he's making a false exterior door out of medium density overlay. On the island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, Kevin visits another small cottage, designed by architect Jeremiah Eck, for an active couple in their 70's.
#13 - Making and Installing Engineered Flooring - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/24/2004
Despite a cold winter chill, today's the day for sod - 12,000-square-feet of it to be exact. Landscape contractor Roger Cook shows host Kevin O'Connor the unloading and installation of the 48 62-foot long rolls of sod. Then, Kevin meets landscape architect Stephanie Hubbard and homeowner Janet Bernard to learn how the new plants will grow in over the years to create a lush cottage garden. Inside, Kevin finds tile contractor Joe Ferrante laying out and laying down 16 x 24 foot distressed Irish limestone tiles, and finds that general contractor Tom Silva is relying on a team from a local home center to install the engineered maple floor. Meanwhile, master carpenter Norm Abram meets plant manager John Tappan at a factory in Danville, Virginia, to see how engineered flooring is manufactured. In the master suite of the cottage, screen fabricator and installer Steve Primack shows Kevin how he can create a custom retractable screen for the balcony door on site in about one hour. In the living room, Kevin gets an "Interior Painting 101" lesson from painting contractor Jim Clark.
#14 - Residential Window Manufacturing - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/29/2003
Master carpenter Norm Abram finds general contractor Tom Silva installing exterior trim that looks like wood, but is actually cellular PVC and therefore resistant to rot. Inside, host Kevin O' Connor finds homeowner Jeff Bernard finalizing the lighting plan with master electrician Allen Gallant. In the future sunroom, Kevin lends Norm and Tom a hand installing the new clad windows that look just like homeowner Janet Bernard's traditional wood windows on the main house. At a Menomonie, Wisconsin, facility that produces more than 550 tons of glass per day, float glass expert Al Slavich shows Kevin how residential window glass is manufactured using state-of-the-art technology. Back at the Concord Cottage, with the rough plumbing complete and inspected, it's time to infill the slab. To cut costs, Tom shows Kevin how to make concrete from scratch - 3 parts gravel, 2 parts sand, 1 part cement - mixing it on site with a portable concrete mixer.
#15 - Roadblocks to Turning a Former Chicken Coop into a Cottage - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/18/2003
Work can't begin at the jobsite until permits are issued, so host Kevin O'Connor takes homeowner Janet Bernard to meet Concord building commissioner, John Minty, to see what potential roadblocks she's facing in trying to turn an accessory building into a full-time residence. Then, Kevin meets local architect Holly Cratsley to see a new home she designed to look like an old home, and an accompanying timber frame barn. Meanwhile, with flashlights, ladders, and archival photographs, master carpenter Norm Abram and preservation architect Leonard Baum reconstruct the architectural history of the shed, learning that the building started out as a one-story chicken coop with a hip roof, and that it is indeed older than the zoning law itself - a finding that's essential to moving forward with the town.
#16 - Charming Touches for the Cottage - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/6/2003
General contractor Tom Silva shows host Kevin O'Connor how the red cedar sidewall shingles are installed in decorative courses, designed by architect Holly Cratsley, in a classic turn-of-the-century pattern. Tom shows Kevin the most complicated part of the job, braiding the shingles to cover both the outside and inside corners. Master carpenter Norm Abram uses a template and router to cut holes in the old barn door for the new windows. Kevin lends him a hand reinforcing the back of the door, and then setting the first window, which is inserted from the back, in order to maintain a low front profile. Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows Kevin the compact wall-mounted condensing boiler that will save space, energy, and virtually eliminate boiler noise - it's quieter than most refrigerators. In Spring Green, Wisconsin, insulating glass expert Tom Kaiser shows Kevin how residential window glass is coated with silver for energy efficiency, then sandwiched together and injected with argon to form insulating glass panels. Back in Concord, homeowner Jeff Bernard meets with landscape contractor Roger Cook and landscape architect Stephanie Hubbard to see the first pass at the landscape plan, and to discuss the practical aspects of executing it.
#17 - Electrifying the Little Cottage - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/8/2003
Master electrician Allen Gallant installs PVC conduit 2 feet below the surface of the driveway to allow the 200-amp service to reach the cottage. Using a "mouse," a string, a pull rope, and a vacuum (known to the trade as a "fishing system"), his crew hauls the heavy electrical lines underground from the street to the cottage, a span of over 200 feet. Architect Sarah Susanka shows host Kevin O'Connor a 3,000-square-foot house that illustrates the fundamental design principles outlined in her best-selling book, The Not So Big House. On the second floor of the cottage, carpenter Jason Wood sisters new two-by-eights to the existing two-by-four rafters, and cuts a hole in the roof to accommodate the new dormer. Master carpenter Norm Abram and general contractor Tom Silva push the old roof section out, and let the light in upstairs for the first time in almost 100 years.
#18 - One Installation After Another - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/31/2004
Host Kevin O'Connor meets architect Holly Cratsley for a look at the exterior details of the Concord Cottage - including a pressure treated southern yellow pine roof shingle that carries a 30-year warranty. In the kitchen, Kevin meets countertop installer Dimitri Kampouris to see the new honed `Black Zimbabwe' granite countertops going in. Upstairs, Kevin finds a crew from a local home center installing a stain resistant carpet that is both durable and soft -a combination that's tough to create. Downstairs in the living room, lead carpenter Jason Wood shows Kevin a few tricks to installing hardware on a rail and stile closet door. Then, Kevin meets stained glass artist Jim Anderson to see the custom windows he's created for the cottage, including one small design that bears an important date - that of the original barn - 1894. Upstairs, Kevin meets John Jawarski, owner of an online custom closet company that lets homeowners design and install their own closet systems. As the day winds down, general contractor Tom Silva clears the decks and puts Kevin to work sealing the stair treads with polyurethane, while master carpenter Norm Abram meets finishing expert Bruce Johnson at a plant in Flora, Illinois, to see how polyurethane and stain are manufactured.
#19 - Once a Barn, Now a Beautiful Home - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/7/2004
It's the big day, and host Kevin O'Connor arrives at the completed cottage in style (circa 1894) on a horse named "Daisy." Landscape contractor Roger Cook and master carpenter Norm Abram help him tie up at the new hitching post. Then Kevin catches up with homeowner Janet Bernard for a brief reflection on why the end of the project is bittersweet for her family, and is now more important than ever. Upstairs in the laundry area, home economist Lucinda Ottusch shows Kevin the latest in laundry technology: a washer that can sense how dirty the clothes are while handling 16 pair of jeans at once. Kevin meets lighting designer Susan Arnold to see her interior and exterior lighting choices and to get a demo of a new high-tech radio frequency lighting control system. Plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey shows Norm the finished bathrooms and mechanical room, including a central vacuum system that will help keep the air clean inside the house. Window treatment specialist Kara Roberts shows Kevin the simple white linen panels selected for the cottage windows, and an alternative way to dress them up. Next door in Janet's basement, Kevin meets furniture specialist Debbie McKirihan for a look at the semi-custom furniture her company created for the cottage. Architect Holly Cratsley shows Kevin and homeowner Jackie Buckley the finished kitchen and explains the universal design elements that will make the kitchen easy for people of all ages and abilities to use. Moments before the wrap party begins, interior designer Tricia McDonagh shows Kevin how her design elements work together to evoke the comfortable, classic feeling of an old carriage house. At the wrap party, the crew congratulates general contractor Tom Silva on a job well done - and one that proves that small houses can be big on charm, especially when delivered on time and on budget.
#20 - Custom Details Give the Cottage Personal Touches - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/10/2004
Host Kevin O'Connor arrives just in time to see the installation of the new fence, trellis, and gate. Then, landscape architect Stephanie Hubbard gives Kevin an update on the landscape plan, explaining how new plantings will help conceal the utility shed in the back corner of the Cottage. Kevin surveys the progress on the first floor and finds a new custom front door in place, as well as a built-in hutch in the dining room made off-site by local cabinetmaker Jon Sammis. General contractor Tom Silva shows Kevin coping techniques -traditional and new-fangled - as he works to build, and fit a cap for the crown molding in the dining room. Kevin stops off at the historic Noah Brooks Tavern in Lincoln, Massachusetts, to see the Junior League of Boston's Show House - an annual event that brings in more than 30,000 visitors to see the work of some of the best interior designers in Boston. Then, Kevin makes a trip to The New Yankee Workshop to see master carpenter Norm Abram's progress on the frame for the interior sliding window unit.
#21 - Beautiful Finishes Create Beautiful Spaces - The Bermuda House
Season 25 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/25/2004
After welcoming landscape contractor Roger Cook to Bermuda, host Kevin O'Connor and master carpenter Norm Abram meet with project manager Alex DeCouto in the North court to see the scaffolding down, the old building painted and the landscaping well underway. Inside, Alex shows Norm the new cedar French doors and oiled bronze hardware - an ideal combination for this seaside location. Kevin finds kitchen contractor Mark Henneberger finishing up the countertop install - it' s a new quartz material that is non-porous, two times stronger than granite, maintenance free, and carries a 10-year warranty. In the upstairs hall, Kevin finds interiors specialist Jennifra Gray installing a faux Bermuda stone - it's closed cell polymer that gives the look of natural limestone without the maintenance issues or cost. Then, Alex and Norm meet tiling contractor Gene Aitkin to see his work in the boys' bathroom, and the progress on the master bath, which has been slow due to last-minute changes and additions. In the dining room, Kevin meets painting contractor Paul Mathias for a lesson in applying a 3-coat latex paint that results in a "brushed suede" decorative finish. Landscape contractor Jeff Sousa shows Roger the local flora at private nursery only open to the trade, and on a challenging (and dramatic) finished lot in Paget. Back at Harbour View, Jeff shows Roger how his crew is installing Mexican river rocks and Turkish travertine pavers to create a courtyard for two outdoor spa units. The end of the day brings the flooring installers, and this time it's Randy Stafford putting down a hand-scraped engineered floating floor in the master suite.
#22 - Finishing the Project, Bermuda-Style - The Bermuda House
Season 25 - Episode 26 - Aired 4/1/2004
It's the day before the wrap, and host Kevin O'Connor finds homeowner Delaey Robinson believing in miracles, standing in his new state-of-the-art kitchen, which was a water-damaged storage room only four short months ago. He shows Kevin a stainless steel task sink, professional style range, and 48" refrigerator, as well as a snap-together indoor/outdoor hardwood floor for the entryway. Upstairs, Kevin finds homeowner Andrea Dismont setting up a custom closet system in the master suite. Then, she shows Kevin another space saver - a stackable front-loading washer and dryer in the new laundry closet. Master carpenter Norm Abram meets exterior shutter expert Fritz Brenner to see the new pulltruded fiberglass Bermuda shutters -they're custom made, factory-finished, and resistant to rot. Window treatment installer JC Lehren shows Kevin the interior plantation shutters going up in the master bedroom. Then, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows Kevin the progress in the master bath that's really more "spa" than a bathroom - featuring a soak tub, steam shower, and foot whirlpool. Outside, landscape contractor Roger Cook meets project manager Alex DeCouto for a closer look at the swim spa, hot tub, and composite decks that have just gone in. Then, it's our last day in Bermuda and interior designer Michele Smith shows Kevin the completed living room, dining room, and master suite. Up on the roof, the team assembles for a traditional Bermuda "roof wetting" - a ceremony celebrating the end of the project with rum and good wishes. Making their way down to King's Square, the crew departs Bermuda, once again aboard the Island Raider, bound for Boston and the 25th Anniversary season.
#23 - Adding to the Project - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/15/2003
Host Kevin O'Connor arrives at the project house fresh from a jog around the track at Emerson Field - several acres of playgrounds, tennis courts, and ball fields - right in the Bernard's backyard. Homeowner Janet Bernard asks general contractor Tom Silva to relocate the porch stairs on the main house, which now seem too close to the future parking court, and too imposing. Tom suggests some options, but advises Janet to consult her architect, Holly Cratsley, before they proceed. Landscape contractor Roger Cook shows Kevin a 100-year-old Concord grape vine that's growing right in the middle of the work zone. Chances of the vine surviving a transplant are slim, so Roger opts to leave the vine as is, protect it, and propagate it in place. Out back by the future sunroom, master carpenter Norm Abram shows Kevin how to set 2 x 6 foot pressure treated sills squarely on the new foundation using sill seal foam insulation and fasteners. In nearby Lincoln, Massachusetts, Kevin meets park ranger Lou Sidiris for a look at Minuteman National Historical Park and the Hartwell Tavern, a 1733 building that was the typical country inn of the Revolutionary War period. With an approved plan, from the architect and an excavator on site, Tom digs the footing for the new porch stairs.
#24 - The Beauty and Challenges of Creating Small Living Spaces - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/22/2003
Host Kevin O'Connor visits the Concord Museum, which houses one of the oldest collections of Americana in the country - including one of the lanterns that hung in the church on the night of Paul Revere's ride, and several items relating to the life of local Concord resident Sam Staples, the man who built our project house. General contractor Tom Silva and master plumber Ron Coldwell show Kevin the progress on the rough plumbing and how adding a shower at the last minute affected the layout of the first floor powder room. In search of more elegant small spaces, Kevin travels to Nantucket, Massachusetts, to meet homeowner Harvey Jones for a look at his charming North Wharf boathouse, and two recently renovated guest cottages near the center of town. Back at the Concord Cottage, master carpenter Norm Abram discovers that the stairs to the second floor are too steep for older residents to navigate, and that headroom is tight on the landing. Tom suggests eliminating a step to reduce the rise, allowing him to both shorten and lower the landing platform to free up the necessary headroom. Then, Kevin lends Norm and Tom a hand building the new staircase.
#25 - Access to and Visions of a Beautiful Yard - The Concord Cottage
Season 25 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/27/2003
Host Kevin O'Connor and master carpenter Norm Abram arrive at the jobsite to find the base coat of the driveway down, and the new fancy cut shingles finally up on the gable end of the cottage. Landscape contractor Roger Cook shows Kevin how he's laid out the new brick walkway, and raised the grade by the front door to allow for a comfortable 6-inch stair rise. The homeowners have already secured permission to add a ramp for increased accessibility, should it become necessary in the future. In the kitchen, Kevin's surprised to find there's no outside cabinet company on this job - the kitchen's so small that general contractor Tom Silva's crew is building everything on site. Tom and Norm build the base cabinet for the pantry out of veneer plywood, while Roger takes Kevin to see a recently renovated garden center that's currently growing plants on more than 650 acres. They meet owner Wayne Mezitt to select, tag, and dig some of the plants for the Concord project, including Japanese tree lilacs, stewardia, and several spectacular pink diamond hydrangea. Back at the Concord Cottage, in the first floor bathroom, tiling contractor Joe Ferrante shows Norm and Kevin the challenge he' s facing in pitching the whole bathroom floor to a corner drain, while incorporating radiant tubing into the mud job. With just over eight weeks to go on the project, Kevin and Norm check in with Janet and her mom on the status of the job.