In this episode:
Kevin O’Connor looks at the kitchen progress—the base and top cabinets are in and the countertops are getting installed.
The new coffered ceiling adds a beautiful detail above as does the new random width white oak flooring.
Jeff Sweenor is installing white oak floating shelves on either side of the fireplace. A cleat on the three walls holds the two-inch dado jointed shelf. The dado joint for a wider oak mantle is a similar concept but with a heftier cleat.
Down the hallway, much of the original knotty pine from the old ranch house was saved to be used in the playroom. Jeff’s team cleaned up the pine by resurfacing, cutting, and planing the boards. Jeff shows Norm Abram how they route two different sized rabbets on each vertical side of a board to create a nickel gap edge between the boards when installed. They glue and nail each board vertically to create a 36″ high wainscoting around the room and finish it off with a horizontal cap.
Meanwhile Kevin heads up to Maine to visit the apprentices who are taking a course in homebuilding and timber framing. Former apprentice Mary is a now a timber frame intern at the institute. Gaius Hennin tells Kevin about the goals and curriculum of the courses and services offered.
Back in Westerly, Kevin visits the Babcock-Smith house museum, one of oldest houses in town, where George Washington once slept. Linda Chaffee highlights some of the notable interior architectural details.
Westerly has always been known for its coastline—where tourists used to come via steamboats and railway, staying in fancy hotels, Victorian houses and cottages. Captain Jack Spratt gives Kevin a quick old-fashioned car tour of a prominent area called Watch Hill and resident Amy Martira tells him about the draw of the popular Misquamicut Beach.
At the project house, Jon Zeyl is starting on the outdoor steps. A story pole shows the lines of level and pitch for the formal bluestone landing, walkway, and the tops of each riser for the steps. Out back he shows Jenn Nawada the Westerly granite steps being set in with a vacuum lift connected to an excavator. They check the depth with homeowner Shayla before they lower in the next heavy step.
Original Air Date: January 5, 2020 Season 41; Ep.09 23:43
Products and Services from this episode
Homebuilding Class
Side Trip: Shelter Institute
Kitchen cabinets
Manufacturer: Signature Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets
Supplier: Completely Custom
Kitchen cabinets
Supplier: Completely Custom
Kitchen counters
Manufacturer: Cambria Quartz Countertops
Landscape Contractor
Contractor: Landscape Creations of Rhode Island
Westerly Granite
Supplier: Comolli Granite
Westerly, historical house museum
Side Trip: Babcock-Smith House
Westerly, Misquamicut Beach
Side Trip: Atlantic Beach Park
Westerly, Watch Hill Hotel
Side Trip: Ocean House, Rhode Island
Westerly, Watch Hill Tour
Side Trip: Sail Trim Again
White Oak Flooring
Manufacturer: Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods