This Old House Season 15 Episode 13 The Belmont House - 13
- November 25, 1993
The Belmont House - 13 episode of This Old House's fifteenth season focuses on the renovation of a historic home located in the town of Belmont, Massachusetts. The homeowner, a young family, has owned the house for several years but never had the time or resources to update its interior and exterior.
The episode begins with host Kevin O'Connor introducing the project and discussing the challenges of updating an old house while preserving its historic charm. He explains that the house was built in the 1920s and has several unique features, including a slate roof and leaded-glass windows, that require special attention during renovation.
The first task of the renovation is to update the electrical and plumbing systems. In order to do this, the crew must remove several walls and ceilings to access the old pipes and wires. This proves to be a difficult task, as the house is over 90 years old and many of the materials used in its construction are no longer readily available. The crew must use creative solutions to update the systems without compromising the integrity of the house.
Once the electrical and plumbing systems are updated, the crew moves on to updating the interior of the house. They remove the old plaster walls and ceilings and replace them with drywall. They also install new hardwood floors throughout the house and update the kitchen and bathrooms with modern appliances and fixtures.
As the crew works on the interior of the house, they also tackle several exterior projects. They replace the old slate roof with new slate tiles and repair the leaded-glass windows. They also repair the original chimney and replace the damaged brick on the outside of the house.
Throughout the episode, the crew encounters several challenges and setbacks, including severe weather and unexpected structural issues. However, they are able to overcome these challenges with skill and determination.
At the end of the episode, the crew reveals the completed renovation to the homeowner. The young family is overjoyed with the updates and impressed with the crew's attention to detail. They express gratitude to This Old House for helping them update their beloved historic home while preserving its unique character.