Episode Descriptions
Saturdays at 1:30pm ET (check local listings)
Also in prime time exclusively on PBS Thursdays in the first half of The This Old House Hour at 8pm ET (check local listings)
This Old House Barrington Project , Part 1 of 10, Program #3117
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 1:30pm ET (check local listings)
The This Old House crew opens the Barrington, Rhode Island project
aboard the motor sailor Liberty bound for the Ocean State via scenic
Narragansett Bay. On Barrington Beach, homeowner Geoff Allen shows
master carpenter Norm Abram and host Kevin O'Connor why they
bought their 1925 modified cape—not for its 1950s and 1970s‐era
additions, but for the outstanding location. Inside, his wife, Michelle
Forcier, shows Kevin that the kitchen has not been remodeled in
decades, and how they hope to remove everything that is outdated,
and open the new space up to the beautiful water views. In the
basement, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows
Norm a fairly standard story—outdated mechanicals with low
efficiency, and a 100‐amp electrical service that should be updated.
While there appear to be no problems with the structure, the biggest
challenge will be building to withstand the marine environment, as well
as the hurricanes, wind, and sideways rain that can happen by the
water. Up in Providence, Kevin meets architect Mary Brewster to look
at the plans for the renovation with the help of a useful 3D software
program. Norm visits local builder Andy Tiplady in Bristol, Rhode Island
to see a classic new home he recently built that represents the apex of
seaside living in Rhode Island. Back at the house, Andy's crew has
loaded in, and Kevin lends a hand as they begin demo of the 1950s
porch addition, and start gutting the first floor.
This Old House Barrington Project, Part 2 of 10, Program #3118
February 4, 2012 at 1:30pm ET (check local listings)
Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find builder Andy Tiplady with the house
wide open, his foundation in place, and framing underway. The new
open floor plan requires structural steel that gets bolted and then
welded in place. With the steel installed and high winds already kicking
up, Andy and his crew button up the house for the impending bad
weather, which turns out to be Hurricane Irene. At 82 mph, Barrington
clocks the highest winds in New England, and Kevin returns to finds
roads closed, power lines down, and trees crushing houses in the
neighborhood. After some clean up, the crew gets back to work
framing the second floor using the proper structural hardware like hold
downs and hurricane clips. To learn more about the challenges of living
on the coast, Kevin meets the Executive Director of the Rhode Island
Coastal Resources Management Council, Grover Fugate, to see the long
term prognosis for our house, and also the lengths to which people will
go to live by the water in Rhode Island.
This Old House Barrington Project, Part 3 of 10 , Program #3119
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 1:30pm ET (check local listings)
Builder Andy Tiplady takes host Kevin O'Connor out on the water to
gather provisions for an authentic Rhode Island clambake. Later, back
at the project house, he shows master carpenter Norm Abram the
windows we are using and how he's installing them using a custom
copper pan for flashing—his preferred method in coastal situations.
Kevin visits the Hurricane Research Lab at the University of Florida to
see how they are protecting buildings through research, and to feel
what it's like to stand in a Category 3 hurricane with the help of the
world's largest portable hurricane simulator. Back in Barrington, Andy
installs architectural shingles with the requisite "hurricane nailing"
pattern that is required by local code. At the end of the day, it is time
for the clambake down on the beach, and Andy puts Kevin to work
pulling it all off just as family and friends arrive to enjoy the good life on
the Rhode Island shore before the cold weather sets in.
This Old House Barrington Project, Part 4 of 10, Program #3120
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 1:30pm ET (check local listings)
With the exterior shingles going up on the house, builder Andy Tiplady
shows host Kevin O'Connor why he's using red cedar instead of white,
and how he is creating the signature flair on the building between the
first and second floors. Inside, plumbing and heating expert Richard
Trethewey shows Kevin how we are heating and cooling the house
using a hydronic system that is integrated with a solar hot water system
on the roof. Solar contractor Kevin Price also helps with solar panels for
electricity now that the price of the panels has come down 50% in the
last four years. Master carpenter Norm Abram meets Trudy Coxe, the
CEO of the Preservation Society of Newport County, for a behind‐thescenes
look at one of Newport's most famous mansions. At the end of
the day, the insulation contractors arrive to install spray foam insulation
to protect the house from howling bay breezes, and the noise of the
adjacent beach.
This Old House Barrington Project, Part 5 of 10, Program #3121
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 1:30pm ET (check local listings)
Landscape restoration specialist, Kate Venturini, arrives from the
University of Rhode Island to create a sustainable coastal landscape
with the help of local landscape contractor Henry Pereira. Builder Andy
Tiplady finishes up the shingles and trim at the master bedroom porch
just in time for local metalsmiths to install the custom copper gutter
and scupper that will keep rain out of the space. Members of the URI
Master Gardener's association lend a hand installing coastal tolerant
and native plants on the site, while local sod grower Pat Hogan delivers
a freshly harvested fescue/bluegrass blend that will require less water,
less fertilizer, and less maintenance overall. Renewable energy expert
Ross Trethewey makes his debut on the series by taking host Kevin
O'Connor to see a lighthouse that is also an off‐the‐grid bed and
breakfast for sustainability enthusiasts. Back in Barrington, plumbing
and heating expert Richard Trethewey meets solar hot water
contractor Mick Dunn to see the system he's using for the house, and
how he properly installs it to withstand the high winds in the area.
This Old House Barrington Project, Part 6 of 10, Program #3122
Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 1:30pm ET (check local listings)
Builder Andy Tiplady uses a less‐expensive Brazilian hardwood called
garapa for the new deck, and installs it with a hidden fastening system.
Carpenter Chris Aguiar uses a jig to cut straight red cedar shingles into a
wave pattern designed by the architect, then passes them up to George
Duarte for installation at the top of the side gable. Inside, Andy shows
master carpenter Norm Abram the progress on the flooring, which is
four‐inch strip red oak, and the simple details on the interior trim that
will let the water views take center stage. Host Kevin O'Connor heads
to Providence to meet designer Lisa Newman Paratore at her design
shop to see her sense of style, and what she is pulling together for the
project. Back in Barrington, Norm meets architectural millwork
specialist Mark White to see the decorative polyurethane brackets he's
brought for use on the exterior, and he explains why polyurethane is a
better choice than PVC stock for this application.
This Old House Barrington Project, Part 7 of 10, Program #3123
Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 1:30pm ET (check local listings)
On a rainy day in Barrington, builder Andy Tiplady shows host Kevin
O'Connor how he's replaced the old cracked asphalt with new concrete
pavers in the driveway. Master carpenter Norm Abram visits a custom
cabinet shop in Smithfield, Rhode Island to see how they are using highend
cherry veneers to make a kitchen for the project with true
character. Back in Barrington, installer Rick Jutras hangs the last of the
wall cabinets, and scribes the refrigerator panel to fit the space. In the
master bathroom, plumber David St. Angelo sets the new soaking tub
in a bed of freshly mixed plaster. Painting contractor Al Girard tries out
a "full spectrum" paint that relies on other pigments to deepen the
colors, rather than the industry standard of black, to achieve more
reflective and rich colors.
This Old House Barrington Project, Part 8 of 10, Program #3124
Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 1:30pm ET (check local listings)
Awning specialist Mike Cornell installs a new retractable awning over
the deck that should stand up to the weather due to a wind sensor and
fade‐resistant fabric. Inside, the Saratoga soapstone has arrived, and
countertop contractor Alyssa St. Gelais shows host Kevin O'Connor
how she's sealing the surface with wax, not oil, to give it a more
durable finish that will last longer than an oil application. Master
carpenter Norm Abram and builder Andy Tiplady dress up the half‐walls
at the stair with oak caps and a scotia moulding. Then, Kevin visits
Castleton, Vermont with lighting designer Evelyn Audet to see how
light fixtures for the project are being made one‐by‐one by New
England blacksmiths. Back in Barrington, Andy shows Norm the electric
floor warming system he's using in the master bathroom. It gets
mudded directly into the tile bed, which holds 12" x 12" porcelain tile
that will also make up the front apron of the tub. In the side alley,
plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows Kevin where
he's tucked away the A/C condensers, and then, inside, shows him the
ERV that is in the attic, and why it is possibly the most important piece
of mechanical equipment in the house.
This Old House Barrington Project, Part 9 of 10, Program #3125
Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 1:30pm ET (check local listings)
Builder Andy Tiplady sets 4" x 4" glass tile in the kitchen using a light
green grout (mixed with a latex additive) as the adhesive to set the tile
and give a depth of color to the backsplash that thinset would not
allow. Outside, the new insulated steel garage door is up, and inside,
host Kevin O'Connor works with Andy to install a garage storage
system from the home center to keep the space organized. At the front
deck, carpenter Chris Aguiar finishes up the cable railing system. The
frame is white powder‐coated aluminum, with stainless steel cables
making up horizontal "balusters". The cables are strung with Teflon
washers and grommets that separate the dissimilar metals in order to
prevent corrosion. Fireplace specialist Mark Galenski installs a gas stove
in the corner of the living room that will become a focal point at night,
when the water views are no longer visible. Electrician John Butterfield
installs a new LED down light in the front hall that's perfect for retrofit
applications, and lighting designer Evelyn Audet shows how she's used
layers of light to create distinct spaces within the open floor plan.
This Old House Barrington Project, Part 10 of 10, Program #3126
Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 1:30pm ET (check local listings)
As the project winds down in Barrington, Rhode Island, master
carpenter Norm Abram and host Kevin O'Connor congratulate builder
Andy Tiplady on a job well done, while plumbing and heating expert
Richard Trethewey shows homeowner Geoff Allen an advanced
programmable thermostat with a 7" LCD screen. Window treatment
specialist Ian Gibbs installs solar shades on the first floor, which will
give some privacy and UV protection, while still allowing in light and
views. Upstairs, closet designer Erin Hardy shows Kevin how she
divided up the shared master closet to accommodate both ‘his and
hers' spaces. Interior designer Lisa Newman Paratore shows off the
final decor choices—a daughter's suite that employs timeless pieces
and colors that allow the accessories to change as tastes change with
age. The guest room will do double‐duty as an "away" space for adults,
while the master suite is all about luxury and making the most of the
ocean views. Downstairs, the homeowners' eclectic art and casual
furniture groupings make for a comfortable home filled with character.
Homeowner Michelle Forcier settles in to the finished kitchen as a
group arrives to celebrate the conclusion of another great This Old House project.
