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Cast
Bob Vila
Bob Vila
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1999
Plans are under way to build a house in one week with a team of Habitat for Humanity volunteers in Yonkers, NY. Included: a tour of Yonkers and of a Habitat community in Phoenix.
The walls go up at the Roxbury project, and Bob Vila tours a manufacturing facility where special structural insulated panels (SIPs) are made. Also: a look at a money-saving system for recapturing heat from drain water.
Roof framing begins and the giant ridge beam is raised. Also: a tour of the Oregon plant where I-joists are made.
Exterior trim work continues, while overlaid plywood is installed on the porch ceiling by a team of volunteers and celebrities. Included: tour of a plywood mill in Washington.
Roofing work continues with the installation of photovoltaic shingles that convert solar energy into electricity. Also: a tour of the Global Solar Plant in Arizona.
A special siding goes up, and drywall with pre-finished corners is installed in record time.
The back porch is built with help from some high school tech students, and the trim gets finishing touches.
Bob Vila explains door installation, while indoor and outdoor painting gets underway at the project house.
An entertainment center, flooring, and loft shelves are installed.
Cabinets and counter tops are installed in the kitchen, and money saving energy efficient appliances are discussed.
Carpet is laid in a bedroom and high efficiency fixtures are installed in the bathroom.
Guest B. Smith applies a colorful wainscot pattern along the wall of the children's bedroom.
Bob Vila and crew take on restoring the Virginia governor's Federal style mansion, built in 1813.
Floor restoration is underway with an acrylic injection technique.
Preparations are made to pour a concrete floor in the basement, utilizing an elaborate concrete pump system.
Paint is removed from the masonry garden walls and windows are taken down for restoration.
Framing and trim work are underway in the basement, which is being transformed to include a state-of-the-art kitchen, wine cellar, and laundry.
A dumbwaiter is installed to connect the basement kitchen with the first-floor dining room.
Baseboard is installed on the second floor to accommodate updated HVAC and electrical systems.
Preparations are made in the basement kitchen for state-of-the-art foodservice equipment and appliances.
The mantelpieces are preserved in order to restore historic features to the mansion.
Landscaping, masonry work, and painting are done on the mansion's exterior.
A small kitchen in the governor's private quarters is finished and carpet is put down in the bedrooms.
The mansion gets elaborate interior decor.
Reconstructing the ranch house's walls. Also: a visit to a Colonial-era mansion.
The first floor of the house is framed. Also: cutting rafters and techniques for hammering nails into wood.
Bob Vila visits a historic plantation in South Carolina. Also: tips for applying aluminum flashing and roofing shingles.
A staircase is constructed. Also: tips for applying asphalt shingles and properly anchoring a porch or deck.
Installing an electrical system and picture windows.
Framing a farmer's porch and installing an acrylic shower stall. Also: constructing a birch medicine cabinet.
Applying exterior trim and waterproofing the deck. Also: framing the porch roof.
Installing a double window. Also: touring Miami Beach's art deco district.
Projects include the installation of strapping and the application of drywall to the kitchen ceiling.
Installing a cathedral ceiling and a thermal-insulated kitchen door. Also: tips on wiring a security system.
Installing a shower pan and recessed lighting.
Installing a garage-door opener. Also: working with drywall and plaster.
Constructing and installing cabinets. Also: a visit to a plywood factory.
Fan detail is applied to the front facade. Also: cutting bathroom tiles.
Installing a double sink. Also: a visit to an Italian palazzo.
A pine ceiling is installed over the porch. Also: a project to convert an abandoned building into a homeless shelter.
A new custom stair rail is put in, along with new built-in bookshelves. Also: a trip to Columbus, Ohio, where the first of four visits is made to a special sister project.
Pouring a cement walk. Also: an update on the playground project.
European kitchen cabinets with granite countertops are installed. Also: working with tight paneling joints.
Tips on installing a door lock and a bedroom closet. Also: using an electrician's snake to thread wire behind a wall.
Landscaping work gets underway at the project site. Also: a discussion of the importance of safety goggles.
Building a home weather station and installing recessed lighting. Also: tips on painting.
Furniture and carpeting are selected. Also: advice for adding a shut-off valve to a sink.
A final tour of the renovated ranch-style home. Also: planting shrubbery.
2000
Bob Vila begins a brand new project in the heart of South Carolina's low country where the focus is on community living.
Work continues on the first floor, as the walls are framed throughout. Also: a tour of the Clemson University high-wind test house, built to demonstrate new building techniques for hurricane safety.
Bob tours the neighborhood of I'On, built around a myriad of architectural styles and designs. Meanwhile, construction on the roof of the project house continues.
Masons go to work constructing the fireplace, while columns are put into place on the porch.
With new windows and French doors being installed, Bob Vila helps apply exterior siding and cedar trim.
Custom-made garage doors are installed along with a skylight above the family room.
The framing inspector visits the project site, and contractors put in a pre-built stairway.
Traditional shutters go up on the front porch, and tile work begins in the bathroom.
The plasterer is hard at work and in the dining room, the carpenter is doing the trim. In the garage, insulation is put in.
Landscaping begins and a granite vanity top is installed in the first-floor bathroom. Also: a tour Middleton Place, home to exquisite gardens.
In the the kitchen, cabinets and appliances are installed, while painters work using historically accurate colors upstairs.
Workers install the reclaimed lumber living room floor, hang handmade lanterns on the porch, and install new Energy Star appliances.
Bob Vila tours the completed home, evaluating the landscaping, exterior, and decorated interior, which local designer Carolyn Griffith is on hand to explain.
Framing continues, while in the basement installers put in special wiring to make this farmhouse a "connected home". Also: a tour of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
Metal roofing installation is underway, and the redwood deck is constructed. Included: trimwork on the porch and lessons in farming.
Painting has begun on the exterior, while custom cabinets are installed in the kitchen. Also: a tour of Crown Point factory in Claremont, NH.
Trim work is completed in the living room and the fireplace is installed. A window and vanity are added to the master bath.
Exterior work continues with construction of a new stone wall. Inside the farmhouse, a staircase is built. Also: a look at the heritage of covered bridges in VT.
Work continues in the garage, while home automation solutions are explored inside the residence.
Bob Vila catches up on progress in the home's kitchen, where new appliances have been installed. In the bathroom, tile is applied.
Landscape work begins; inside, carpet is laid down and a new entertainment center is installed. Special appearance: model and designer Kathy Ireland.
Bob Vila takes a final tour of the completed farmhouse project, paying special attention to the landscaping, home automation features, and interior design.
This ambitious restoration project involves renovating a Victorian home as well as a former dairy barn also on the property.
Bob Vila focuses on the barn, a former dairy storage building that will be converted into an artist's studio and office space.
The front door is relocated to accommodate a new larger entranceway, while the design for the kitchen is determined. Also: a tour of Isaac Royall House.
Rough electrical work is in progress, framing is underway on a new addition, and a new tub and new windows are installed.
The barn's roof system gets a makeover, while the interior gets air conditioning. Shingles are added to the exterior, along with a new gutter system.
A tubular skylight is installed, along with new triangular peak windows. Also, exterior painting gets underway.
Cellulose insulation is installed, and construction of the second-floor balcony begins.
The differences between blue board and drywall are discussed, and special fencing is put in. Also: a tour of the factory where the fencing is made.
Stone pavers are installed in the driveway and deck construction begins. Plaster is applied in the bedrooms, and new barn-style doors are installed in the converted dairy storage building.
An interlocking laminate floor system being installed, along with a glass-block wall in the master bath and glass-block flooring elsewhere. The water filtration system is also established.
Landscaping gets underway on the Victorian restoration project house property.
Cabinets and countertops are installed in the kitchen. In the master bedroom, a custom closet system is designed.
The Victorian house in Medford, MA is complete, and Bob Vila guides a tour of the finished restoration, from the pergolas in the yard to the electronics in the home office.
1996
Bob Vila prepares to restore his own home by inspecting it inside and out. Also: a tour of Harvard Square with architectural historian Brian Pfeiffer provides a look at the influences on area builders.
As work begins on the project, Bob Vila offers tips on demolishing a structure. Also: a look at the architect's renovation plans and a tour of historic houses in the neighborhood.
As reconstruction begins, the crew corrects a structural flaw with a new beam and starts overhauling the plumbing. Also: a tour of what remains of the house after the demolition.
As structural changes to the roof are planned, Bob Vila presents a guide to shingles. Also: a look at shingles being made in Vancouver factory.
Work begins on turning the basement into a combination exercise room and workshop, with Bob Vila sharing tips on concrete slab floors. Also: a trip to a Georgia sawmill to see lumber being prepared.
Bob Vila evaluates progress on the Cambridge, MA, project. Also: a tour of the historic Longfellow House, onetime residence of George Washington and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Roofers replace the shingles and install copper lining to rebuild the gutters. Meanwhile, an electrician explains the project's extensive rewiring. Also: examples of fine woodwork and stained glass.
Framing begins on the backyard deck, chimney repair gets underway, and the Palladian window is installed in the third-floor family room.
Bob Vila explores the various uses of insulation products, including noise reduction. Also: building a deck with proper drainage.
Bob Vila oversees the installation of a heating, air-conditioning and ventilation unit. In the bathroom, radiant heat is installed, and around the house, the electrical work is inspected.
Bob Vila offers tips on plastering and window installation. Also: a tour of a Stanford White-designed house in Stockbridge, MA.
Bob Vila discusses ceramic tile, from design choices to installation. Also: tile shopping in New York City; digging the trench for a water main.
Work begins on the grounds as a landscape architect helps formulate plans. Meanwhile, the new deck takes shape and a parking pad is laid out near the back door.
The crew installs a staircase, then begins repairing plaster and laying in tile. Also: glass is replaced in the doors of the dining-room hutch.
Workmen start paneling the dining room and entryway. Also: a visit to the Isaac Bell House in Newport, RI.
A hardwood floor is installed; work is done on the dressing rooms in the master bedroom; and a water-purification system is installed in the basement.
The exterior paint color is chosen and the necessary prep work needed for the job is assessed. Windows are restored, and in the kitchen, cabinets are installed. Also: a trip to the Pennsylvania factory where the cabinets were manufactured.
In conjunction with the installation of the toilet and vanity at the Cambridge, MA, project site, Bob Vila tours the Wisconsin factory where the bath fixtures are made. Also: the master suite gets new closets.
Bob Vila demonstrates the right way to install tile. Also: a look at the prep work needed for the yard landscaping.
The landscaping begins. Retaining-wall materials are used to create an elevated terrace and the backyard patio is paved. Also: a profile of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
Landscapers begin planting on the terrace. In the kitchen, new countertops are installed before the sink and a faucet are put in. Also: a vist to the Burpee Seeds gardens.
Built-in bookshelves are added to the library. Also: a period light fixture is refurbished, a dimmer-switch system is installed, and a stairway balustrade is reconstructed.
Storm windows are installed, a faux paint finish is applied to walls in the master bedroom, and planting in the yard is completed. Also: landscape architects explain changes that were made to meet city requirements.
Bob Vila meets with the interior designers and discusses the choice of color schemes. Also: a look at the updated basement workshop.
An armoire is converted into an entertainment unit, while the kitchen and family room are completed.
A look at the fabrics, colors, and furnishings inside the completed house. Also: a lockset is installed in the powder-room door and shower doors are added in the master bathroom.
1991
A new project is introduced: the renovation of a 17-year-old ranch-style house in Plymouth, Mass. Included: a look at other homes in Plymouth.
The deck and front entryway are demolished. Also: a look at an architect's computer-generated plans for the house.
Construction begins on the front entryway; the old bathroom fixtures are removed.
Work begins on the new bathroom; a window and roof trim are added to the entryway. Also: landscaping plans.
A broken storm window is replaced; tile work is started in the bathroom; a bathroom vanity is installed. Also: a tour of a tile factory in Florida.
Installed: a bay window in the dining room; cabinet doors in the kitchen. Also: a tour of a country-style kitchen in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Installed a laminated kitchen countertop, and a vinyl floor. Also, the exterior is painted and a backyard deck is started.
Colonial-style molding and a mantelpiece are installed in the living room; the backyard deck is completed. Also: a visit to the home of John Adams (1735-1826) in Quincy, Massachusetts.
A masonry barbecue is repaired; the basement remodeling begins.
A decorator offers suggestions on choosing wallpaper; a paperhanger demonstrates his craft in the living room. Also: a floor is installed in the family room; a front door is crafted.
Wiring is installed for a Colonial-style light fixture and a the refrigerator's icemaker is hooked up. Also: a trellis is constructed in the front yard.
Bob constructs a plate rack for the dining room and shops for carpet for the living room. Outside, shrubs are transplanted, perennials are planted and the lawn is sodded.
The finished house is toured, including the basement rec room, and the designer discusses the Colonial decor. Also: a look at the outside elements such as landscaping, gutters and a trellis.
Bob goes hunting for a house to remodel in Naples, Florida. He tours the 'Cracker' cottage he plans to renovate, then looks at similar, recently revamped cottage for inspiration.
A landscaper transplants a frangipani tree. Also: termite damage is checked.
The architect presents her plans; the contractor explains the demolition process.
Included: a visit to a salvage yard in search of doors and lavatories. Demonstrated: how to wash peeling paint from exterior siding.
Demonstrated: smoothing out exterior siding using spackle; replacing an attic louver; and installing French doors in the entryway.
Included: the pool is tiled; drywall is installed in the living room; the carport is made into a garden area. Also: a visit to the development project in New York.
Installed: kitchen cabinets; screening and a ceiling fan on the porch. Also: an update on the New York tenement project.
Included: replacing porch windows and constructing a tongue-and-groove deck. Also: a shower-drain installation begins.
The pool walls are formed and reinforced and wainscoting is installed in the bathroom. Also: a visit to a development project in New York.
A look at the landscaped areas and the slat house. Also: refinishing used furniture.
2003
A new project begins in Brooklyn, NY. Bob Vila tours the abandoned warehouse slated to become a three-unit residential building with ground-floor commerical space.
Bob Vila tours the Sweeney Building, which boasts stunning views. Back at the warehouse, demolition is underway. Included: a consult with a preservation expert.
Interior work and demolition are progressing simultaneously. A new tongue-and-groove plywood subfloor is being installed and basic wall framing has begun. Also: Bob Vila takes a water taxi tour of New York harbor.
Power washing is underway on the façade and new windows are installed. Included: Bob Vila tours the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY.
Work on the roof deck continues, while Bob and Chris Vila confer with HVAC and plumbing contractors and hardwood flooring is installed indoors.
Marble tile work is started in the bathroom. In the kitchen, new cabinets are installed, along with a center island. Also: a tour of the historic Brooklyn Academy of Music.
The roof, deck, and bathroom remodeling near completion. Included: a tour of famed Coney Island.
Bob Vila and crew travel to the Berkshires, located in western Massachusetts, for the prefab construction and on-site assembly of a modular home.
Bob Vila talks on-site with contractors—and in Scranton, with Simplex Industries—about the manufacture and assembly of pre-cast foundation panels.
The work underway includes roof assembly, subfloor installation, wall framing, and drywall application in the main living areas of the home.
Work continues at the Simplex Industries plant in Scranton, PA. The interior finishes are being installed (hardwood floors, kitchen cabinets and counters, etc.), along with the windows and exterior siding.
The main sections of the modular house arrive from the Simplex factory, and the building lot quickly transforms into a home site.
The project site is buzzing with activity. As the assembly of the home's main sections nears completion, shingles are installed and stone veneer is applied to the foundation.
The metal roof system is fabricated and set into place. Included: a tour of The Mount, a lavish retreat formerly owned by Edith Wharton.
Easy-to-install crown molding is installed, along with a gas fireplace. Meanwhile, decking gets underway outside.
Progress continues to be made on the exterior of the modular mountain retreat.
Bob Vila takes a final tour of the interior. Also: a visit to one of the Berkshires' artistic centers, Shakespeare and Company.
Bob Vila makes his first visit to Elm Court, a historic home in Lenox, MA, abandoned for 50 years before restoration.
Bob Vila continues his tour of the fully-restored rooms at Elm Court in Lenox, MA.
Bob Vila takes his final tour through Elm Court, paying special attention to the fully restored sections of the exquisite historic mansion.
On the roof, asphalt shingles are installed; back on the ground, windows are put in. Included: home designs of the firm of noted 20th-century architect Royal Barry Wills.
Bob Vila surveys the HVAC ductwork and the crew installs a new radiant heating system. Also: a tour of a the Julia Wood House in Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Cedar shingles are applied to the roof and a gas fireplace unit is installed on the ground floor. Also: a trip to Canada to see how wood shingles are milled.
A generator system is installed, while new carriage-style doors make their way onto the garage. Also: a tour of the Jackson homestead in Newton, MA.
Bob takes a look at some hardscape work being done, specifically a new cobblestone driveway apron, but the real story is flooring.
Work continues in the master suite. Master carpenter Bob Ryley installs a new door and applies interior trim.
Crown moldings are added in the dining room. Bob Vila visits the North Bennet Street School to learn about its preservation carpentry program.
Bob Vila turns his attention to exterior work on the house, starting with a tour of Mahoney's Nursery led by landscape designer Ruth Foster.
Mechanical systems are being installed throughout the house.
Bob Vila tours the finished landscape at the project house before visiting the historic gardens at Glen Magna farm in Danvers, MA.
Bob Vila focuses on the work being done in the kitchen of the modern, colonial-style home.
The crew works to install the perimeter fence, while inside a custom closet system is added.
Windows are installed, paint prep is performed, and decorating is done in the bedroom. Also: a tour of the Lyman Estate.
A planter box is constructed for the sunroom. Also, Bob Vila tours Winterthur, a historic estate in Delaware, and The North Bennet Street School, an arts instruction institution in Boston.
Shelving and cabinet installation are underway. Bob Vila tours Winterthur and The North Bennet Street School.
Techniques for achieving a smooth, even finish with hardwood flooring are demonstrated. Also: a tour of the Hancock Land Company's sustainable forestry operation in Casco, ME.
Bob Vila focuses on the decorative interior finish work. Also: touring a selection of famous parlors featuring American decorative arts.
Interior design work continues. Also: Bob Vila takes another trip to Winterthur, this time to tour the Chinese Parlor.
The washer and dryer and shower hardware go in and a medicine cabinet is installed. Bob Vila returns to the North Bennet School.
1990
Construction begins on a Cape Cod-style home being built in Marstons Mills, Massachusetts. Included: the lot is cleared and cement is poured for the foundation of the house.
A recycled "ell" is added,and a first-floor deck is built. Also: tips on ordering lumber.
Bob visits Barbara Gooddale in her authentic antique Cape Cod house to get a feel for the style and practicality of this design; back at our house, the crew frames, raises, and springbraces the walls.
A staircase is built and the second floor is toured. Also: Bob Vila visits a shingle plant in Delaware.
Some demolition is done on the old ell to prepare it for renovation; ceiling joists and roof rafters go up in the new section of the house, and we see some rough plumbing work. Bob and Ryley discuss the budget.
A bulkhead is installed; a soffet, facia and drip edge are added to the front of the house. Also: asphalt shingles and a ridge vent.
The old ell is joined to the new construction, with some demolition done to make room for a shed dormer and a slider door. Bob visits the Wes-Pine wooden window factory in Hanover, Massachusetts, and comes back to install a window in our house.
Bob and Ryley install the pre-hung front door and visit Shepley Wood Products to see how it was made. Dean Fraser shows us how to apply cedar shingles, and Tom Higham demonstrates how to join copper plumbing for the bathroom lavatory.
Bob goes over the electrical wiring with John Hickey, cedar clapboards are put up, and Hand Cassidy explains insulation ratings. Our contractor Ryley puts exterior trim up around the windows.
Bob discusses the kitchen layout with designer Amy O'Haire, then visits her showroom. Claude Daigle demonstrates his drywall techniques, and John Aalto talks us through the installation of the septic system.
Our contractor Ryley shows us how to put up the pine interior paneling in the living room; Bob checks out the furnace and ducting with installer Scott Glista, and watches John Boardman apply bathroom floor tile.
Artisan Terry Maiche shows us two inexpensive ways to dress up a floor with paint: spattering and stenciling. Ryley builds a bathroom vanity, and Bob talks about exterior paints and stains with painter Paul Stoliker.
Bob discusses landscaping with specialist Susan Hofer--sod, a gravel driveway, brickwork, fences, perennials. We tour the smart finished exterior with Ryley, and the gorgeous interior with renowned decorator Ann Hill.
Now in Chicago, Bob takes a driving tour with realtor Catherine Caravette of our new neighborhood, Wicker Park, and of nearby upscale Lincoln Park. We check out our old greystone two-flat and visit a home that's been comparably renovated.
Bob discusses plans with local architect Bill Bauhs, and takes a tour of downtown Chicago's striking modern buildings with architectural historian Susan Benjamin. Back at our house, we meet our general contractor, Ron Gan, and begin demolition.
Bob and Ron discuss the removal and shoring up of bearing walls, to be replaced by special engineered beams. We visit Macmillan-Bloedel's Parallam Plant in British Columbia, and plumber Don McPoland shows us how water service is connected to the house.
The crew installs a Parallam beam in the living room and iron beams in the back masonry wall. Ron Gan and Bill Bauhs talk budget and convince Bob to renovate the basement as well, so we take a visit to the Pella Window factory in Pella, Iowa.
Scott Smith's excavation crew digs out the basement to make room for a basement slab. Bob discusses heating systems for the rental units with installer Kirk Rustman, and Ron Gan explains the advantages of using metal wall studs in the kitchen.
The concrete basement floor is poured, leveled, and screeded; our contractor Ron repairs a broken window pane the old-fashioned way, and Bob discusses the electrical layout for the first floor with electrician Slav Witowski.
Bob goes downtown to the Merchandise Mart to see a selection of bathroom fixtures. Back at our greystone, plumber Dan Macias replaces an old toilet and our contractor talks us through bricking in for, and installation of, a smaller bathroom window.
Drywall and plaster work is discussed. Also: a visit to a drywall plant in Delaware.
A review of the project's budget and progress. Also: a trip to an appliance showroom, and the bathroom floor is prepped and tiled.
Wooden floors are refinished and new windows are installed. Also: a visit to a light-fixtures store.
Kitchen cabinets are installed and the landscaping work begins.
Installed: a basement staircase. Also: a visit to a flooring plant.
Kitchen countertops are mounted. Also: a tour of the home with an interior decorator.
Bob and contractor Ron Gan look around our next projectan old deserted "coach house." Architectural historian Susan Benjamin gives us a tour of some of Chicago's 19th-century landmark buildings downtown.
Bob discusses plans for the coach house with our architect, Mike Morgan, and with contractor Ron Gan; demolition begins. Brick worker Dan Webb explains how the brick facade is power-washed to remove several layers of ugly paint.
Bob tours architect Frank Lloyd Wright's studio and sees some houses Wright designed in Greater Chicago. Back at the coach house, the basement is excavated and steel beams are put into the back wall to make room for a garage door.
The Eagle roofing crew strips several ancient layers of old roofing, and a section of the roof is removed to make room for a new dormer. Bob explains how the dormer will provide more living space, and visits the IKO roofing shingle plant.
Bob tours the Hill Arboretum, an apartment project adapted for the physically challenged. Back at the coach house, a fireplace dealer explains the new zero-clearance fireplace and an ironmonger constructs an entryway balcony and staircase.
Bob tours the completed living room and dining room of the coach house, then reviews work done on the heating system. We see the base cabinets installed in the kitchen and a whirlpool tub installed in the master bedroom.
Bob installs the finishing touches in the coach house kitchen, including some galvanized steel features. We go outside to plant a tree and landscape the little entryway garden, and Bob checks out the painting of the brick facade.
Bob takes the grand tour of the finished coach house exterior with Ron, our contractor. We go inside to see the decorating job that the team of Rita Miller and Bill Waggoner have done, and to watch them add a special touch to the decor.
Bob Vila
Bob Vila
1992
Bob Vila's first project of the season is introduced: an addition to a small cottage in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Bob meets with the contractor and architect and clears trees for the new addition, while demonstrating chain-saw safety. Also: a tour of a Newport, R.I., mansion.
A cinder-block foundation is laid and the framing begins on a turret of the existing cottage. Also: a tour of Victorian homes in Cape May, N.J., one of America's oldest resort towns.
Truss joints are installed in the bedroom wing, and, as the walls are raised, Bob describes the advantages of western balloon framing. Also: a tour of Lyndhurst mansion in the Hudson River valley of New York.
A chimney is built and the connections between the old and new structures are installed. Also: a visit to a wood-stove factory in Vermont.
A designer specializing in Victorian work adds elements to the exterior, and a verge board is installed on a gable end. Also: a walk through Lucy the Elephant, a tourist exhibit on the New Jersey shore, and a look at how to build PVC wastes and vents.
Work begins on the front-entry porch. Also: tips on installing windows and applying cedar roof shingles.
Installing blown-in and high-density insulation; adding railing detail to the porch. Also: tips on basic wiring and installing a septic tank.
Included: installing the kitchen pantry, wallpapering the den, and examining the wallpaper manufacturing process. Also: how Victorian doors are made.
Shingling is applied and a stamped-tin ceiling gets installed in the kitchen. Also: selecting color schemes for the house during a tour of Martha's Vineyard.
Inside a Victorian mansion with an Arabian decorating scheme. Also: adding Victorian touches to the master bath.
A plate rail is installed in the kitchen, and a designer offers ideas on Victorian interiors. Also: landscapers begin planting in the courtyard.
A tour of the completed Victorian house includes a look at the new turret and courtyard, as well as the larger addition.
Work begins on a house in Malibu, California. Also: a tour of Los Angeles by helicopter.
Bob Vila tours the Malibu, California house, talks with the architects, and observes California-Spanish architecture.
The foundation is inspected and a beam is installed in the garage.
California's building codes regarding earthquake safety are discussed and a winding staircase is constructed. Also: a visit to the home of actor Max Gail.
Included: the roof and walls are framed, and cellulose insulation is added.
Installed: a custom-made window and a sprinkler system. Also, Bob Vila takes visits Wisconsin to see how custom windows are made.
The project's environmentally sound features are discussed. Also: Bob Vila takes a trip to the home of actor Tim Allen ("Home Improvement").
Mexican tile is used for the roof. Also: Bob Vila helps comedian Tim Allen pour concrete for a garage floor.
The front door is hung. Also: adding a distressed finish to wood and building a storage wall.
Hand-painted tiles are installed in the master bath and on the staircase. Also: a trip to the Mexican workshop where the tiles are made.
A terracotta tile floor is laid. Also: security cameras, temperature controls and kitchen appliances are installed, and the courtyard is landscaped in California-Spanish villa style.
1995
A look at a house that needs enlarging, located in the Miami suburb of Kendall, Florida. Architect Laurinda Spear offers some ideas with a tropical theme.
Bob Vila inspects the Miami work site to determine the impact of the tropical climate on building methods.
The walls are constructed by stacking styrofoam forms and filling them with concrete.
The work on the roof is checked and plans for the garden are reviewed. Also: preparations are made for applying stucco to the wall of the addition.
A stucco finish is chosen for the exterior and the old interior walls are demolished. Also: a tour of a Spanish monastery transported stone by stone to Florida by William Randolph Hearst.
The new floor is integrated with the old and work is begun on a family-room partition. Also: the installation of a new air-conditioning unit and roof insulation.
After the exterior demolition, host Bob Vila helps install a glass-block window between the lanai and the bathroom. Also: he tours a restaurant kitchen at a local Cuban-American eatery.
A spa is installed on the lanai and the partition is given a wood-grain finish. Also: fabricating a stained-glass window shaped like a slice of tropical fruit.
Bob Vila helps install tile with a coral look on the lanai deck, while mosaic tile goes indoors. Also: using a finishing sander.
Bob Vila oversees the planting of palm trees, then shows how to protect work surfaces when using adhesives.
Painting stucco walls and finding the right workbench.
A shelf system is installed in the pantry and new sod is laid in the yard. Also: special blades for tablesaws.
Work on the home is completed. Host Bob Vila displays the family room, kitchen and outdoor spa. Also: tips on using radial saws for bevels, rip cuts and specialty work.
A new project, the remodeling of a Colonial Revival home, begins in Newton, MA. The owners' goal is to increase their living space while keeping to a strict budget.
Building a foundation including forming, cement pouring, inspection, sill work and backfilling. Also: Bob Vila visits a cement firm to see how the material is made to order for the job.
A course in framing partitions (including layout, measuring, cutting and assembling) as the second floor takes shape at the project in Newton, MA.
A demonstration of the way to install roofing shingles around a skylight to avoid leaks. Also: a new gutter is attached to the roof of the Newton addition.
Bob Vila discusses the appropriate way to sweat a copper joint. Also: breaking through a wall to create a door as well as correct window installation.
Work continues on the family room ceiling, and host Bob Vila demonstrates how to apply skimcoat plaster. Also: tips on attaching red cedar shingles to exterior walls.
Making the cuts for interior baseboard molding and window trim, plus constructing the steps and porch for a new entry. Also: a visit to a contractor's workshop to see how specialty molding is milled.
To save money, Bob Vila uses sections of an old deck to build a new one.
Constructing shelves, installing a window seat, and adding a sliding door.
Tips on interior painting and a visit to a paint factory to see how paint is made. Also: installing bathroom tile and pressure-washing a deck.
Low-cost landscaping, carpet installation, and choosing flooring for a family room. Also: last-minute details on the Newton project.
A look at the finished family room and master bedroom suite.
1998
In a neighborhood outside of Boston, work begins on an affordable housing unit for a person with disabilities. Included: soil decontamination and foundation excavation.
Asphalt shingles and flashing are added to the roof, and walls are prepped with special blocking for mounting safety handrails. Also: tips on paneling and working with a culturally diverse crew.
A special weather- and fire-resistant siding is installed. Also: finishing the basement work and running electrical wiring.
Insulation work is begun and trenches are dug for the new water service. Also: Boston Mayor Thomas Menino stops by to help install the front door.
Bob Vila talks with experts to understand the difference between adaptability and accessibility when designing homes for disabled people.
The railing system is built and integrated with the front porch columns. Also: a tour of Boston's Roxbury community, making a comeback from urban blight.
Landscaping begins, the modular stair system is anchored, and the front porch ramp is built.
Recessed lighting and a cost-effective tankless water heater are installed. Also: a tour of a lighting manufacturing plant.
Drywall goes up and plumbing begins on a shower stall designed for wheelchair users. Included: a field trip to learn about new trends in community living.
The elevator is put in, and bathroom fixtures are installed along with hardware specially designed for people with disabilities.
The energy-efficient boiler is installed, and Bob Vila heads to Germany for a tour of the plant where the boiler was made.
A specially designed lock set is installed, along with an energy-efficient, side-by-side washer-dryer.
Bob Vila tours the completed unit, paying special attention to the wheelchair-accessible kitchen with energy-efficient appliances.
Conversion of an old fur storage building into a residential loft begins in Boston's Leather District. Included: a walking tour of other well-preserved antique commercial buildings in the neighborhood.
Installation of plumbing and heating begins. Included: a look at the progress of Boston's famous highway project, the 'Big Dig'.
Plastering is begun on the project, while Bob Vila takes a trip to Cambridge to meet a landscape architect who converted an industrial building into a spacious home and office.
A platform is built to raise the kitchen and bedroom above floor level. Included: a visit to a nearby finished loft.
The entryway and foyer are painted, and the plate glass windows are replaced throughout. Work on the bathroom begins with shower tile installation and lavatory plumbing.
Bob Vila addresses the challenge of framing and plastering a 48-foot wall with an almost imperceptible curve. Plus, built-in cabinets are constructed.
The bathroom progresses with the installation of an electrically powered full-body shower tower, a dual-speed pressurized toilet, and a glass lavatory.
Installation of the restaurant-style kitchen is begun, and Bob Vila tours the fabrication shop where the steel materials being used were custom-made.
Bob Vila offers tips on installing precision drywall and plastering in tricky places. Plus, a bookshelf nook is built and stainless steel appliances are installed.
Finishes are installed in the bathroom and elsewhere in the loft, track lighting is put in. Included: a tour of Lightolier's Tech Center to learn about the power of light to change the mood of a space.
Architect Greg Rochlin is on-site to oversee the fabrication of the hallway closet system-- a multicolored design pieced together in Formica laminate. Lighting designer Markus Earley returns with some snazzy fixtures and controls, and the stackable Maytag washer/dryer unit is installed in the closet.
Work on the restaurant-style kitchen continues, as the wire shelving system is built and the stainless steel range hood is installed.
A tour of the completed conversion project begins with the building's restored facade and ends with the sixth-floor residential loft.
1997
A vintage Sears kit house is restored, but historic and sentimental elements are preserved.
A closet is transformed into a bathroom, while new and old building materials are blended in the living and dining rooms.
Bob Vila oversees the reconditioning of an original window in the Sears kit house. Also: a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House.
Interior trim details are custom-milled as per the architect's specifications, and original bathroom fixtures are re-porcelainized. Also: framing continues on the back porch.
Vintage cabinetry is discovered in a salvage yard and installed in the kitchen; yellow paint is stripped off; and the facade is given a facelift.
The pool crew finishes the rebar and sprays gunnite, while French doors are installed in the master bedroom and the porch roof is repaired.
Green Indian slate is installed on the surround and porch steps. Also: the backyard entry gate is finished.
At the Sears kit house, the exterior is stripped for priming and painting. Also: a tour of the CBS studio center.
The bathroom is tiled, new kitchen cabinets are custom-made to match the vintage ones, and decking is installed on the back porch.
The electrician installs back lighting in the living room, and six stained-glass panels are cut and assembled. Meanwhile, contractors insulate the roof.
A cabinetmaker frames boxes for living-room built-ins to match existing ones in the kitchen, and the pool crew finishes the plaster.
Damaged hardwood flooring is repaired and an alder kitchen countertop is installed. Also: a tour of the Japanese Garden at Huntington Library and tips on building a Zen garden.
Bob Vila leads a final tour of the landscaped front yard and the porch addition, which features a barbecue. Also toured are the Zen garden and swimming pool.
Plans for a post-and-beam garage and boat storage project are discussed with an architect. Also: touring a marina with America's Cup champ Bill Koch.
Foundation work is begun, while Bob Vila tours an antique car museum in a Shaker-style round barn in Sandwich, MA.
As the foundation is prepared, Bob Vila explains termite-proofing and oversees the installation of a hydronic heating system.
A look at framing, and the special techniques and tools that are used for it. Also: a tour of a lumber company examines pre-cut materials for the post-and-beam plan.
New decking is installed in the loft, while Bob Vila and the crew put up the ridge beam and rafters. Also: a joinery specialist demonstrates house framing.
Insulation panels are installed and Bob Vila visits a factory where all-in-one wall product is made.
Windows, exterior trim and siding are installed. Also: a tour of the American Plywood Association lab, where quality testing is observed.
Metal roofing is installed and drywall is put up around the skylights.
Bob Vila takes a look at such safety features as motion detectors, a fire-suppression unit and a lightning rod.
A horticulturalist shares general landscaping tips and offers special advice on the use of native plants and trees. Also: building a staircase to the loft.
A garage-door opener is installed, the heated-floor system is activated, and interior paneling is stained. Also: track lighting goes in.
The interior of the barn is stained and a workshop is assembled. Also: race-car driver Lyn St. James helps Bob Vila set up the automotive garage with new tools.
Workbenches are completed and metal shelves are installed in the loft, before Bob Vila leads a tour of the finished barn.
2004
Bob Vila zeroes in on the Miami condominium market and, with help from architect Michael Pierce, lays out plans to achieve a fresher, airier look and feel in this one-bedroom unit.
The crew proceeds to remove carpets and cabinets, while Bob Vila tours a recently remodeled condo in the same complex to gather ideas about small-space design.
Bob Vila surveys the condo in its post-demolition state. Plumbing work is underway, and pocket doors are installed. Also: a tour of Lincoln Road in Miami Beach.
Semi-custom cabinets are installed in the condo's kitchen, and contractors complete the shower stall with vitreous glass tile.
Bob Vila confronts the remodeling challenge of choosing a flooring material that attenuates sound while retaining a sleek, clean look. In the kitchen, counter tops are installed.
The bathroom gets a contemporary update, as contractors install a suite of new. Also: the HVAC unit is set up in a closet, and Bob Vila tours a Pierce Allen designed Miami apartment.
The inset bar is completed; art glass is selected for the pocket doors; and the original aluminum sliders to the balcony are completely refurbished to work, and look like new.
Bob Vila tours the completely remodeled Miami Beach condo, which has been transformed into a light filled and stylish vacation getaway.
Bob Vila reviews the history of Manhattan Brownstones and tours the project space Also: a tour of Central Park in New York City.
Cornice molding is discovered intact, and brickwork is removed to accommodate the installation of a new fireplace in the Manhattan Brownstone.
Bob Vila heads to Mashpee, MA, where a state law is helping to put higher-density, affordable housing in place for families in the community.
Bob Vila tours an affordable housing development in nearby Falmouth, MA.
At the Mashpee, MA, project site, foundation and framing work is underway. Included: how nail guns revolutionized the building industry.
Bob Vila returns to New York City's Upper West Side, where trades of all kinds are continuing work on the Brownstone floor-through apartment.
At the Cape Cod affordable home, contractors are at work on interior framing, window installation, and roof building.
It's time for doors, windows, ceilings, and mechanicals to be added at the Manhattan Brownstone; Bob Vila looks on.
Bob Vila returns to the affordable housing project in Mashpee, MA, where he learns more about the town's creative zoning relief strategies.
A new deck goes in at the Mashpee, MA, project house, while contractors drywall the interior.
Workers lay down sod, install hardwood flooring, and hang interior and exterior doors at the Mashpee, MA, project house.
The affordable housing development is nearly complete; Bob Vila tours.
At the Manhattan Brownstone, tiles are set in the bathroom, and a pedestal sink is installed.
The exterior of the Manhattan Brownstone gets a facelift, while custom cabinetry is installed in the kitchen.
The finishing touches are added at the affordable housing development in Mashpee, MA. Included: energy-saving products for any home.
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1994
Bob Vila takes a carriage tour of Charleston, South Carolina to bserves the historic architecture and discuss restoration techniques.
Putting an addition onto a house. Also: restoring a plaster cornice.
Repairing a slate roof. Also: a garden tour in historical Charleston, South Carolina.
Applying plaster details to a restored cornice. Also: a tour of a Georgian mansion in Charleston, South Carolina.
The restoration of an antique plaster cornice is finalized. Also: a tour of a Civil War-era mansion.
Projects include stripping siding, repainting and shutter installation. Also: a look at Georgian architecture.
Restoring a fireplace, installing a mantel, and constructing a portico.
The final touches are put on the restored Federal-style mansion.
A tour of the solarium at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston kicks off a greenhouse project. Included: the architect discusses the construction plans.
Insulation is installed in the greenhouse. Also: a look at two Boston solariums.
Bob Vila visits two greenhouses at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN.
Heating and ventilating systems are installed in the greenhouse. Also: an Indiana limestone factory is toured.
Stucco is added to the walls of the greenhouse, and a blue stone floor is installed. Also: landscaping ideas for the surrounding yard.
Guest Martha Stewart tours the completed greenhouse and helps the owner select plants during a visit to a nursery.
The foundation is laid for a small weekend getaway cottage in the woods, and a septic system is installed.
Bob Vila tours Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater house near Uniontown, PA.
A chimney is built. Also: a Connecticut brick factory is toured.
Windows are installed in the cabin and the staircase is framed.
Skylights and doors are installed in the cottage.
Electricity and plumbing are installed in the cottage. Also: a cabin in New York's Adirondack Mountains is toured.
New technology in the building industry.
An energy-efficient kitchen is installed in the cabin, while landscaping begins outside.
The weekend getaway cottage is completed.