This Old House Season 15 Episode 7 The Belmont House - 7

The This Old House crew travels to Belmont, Massachusetts to work on the renovation of a classic colonial home. The episode begins with a tour of the home's exterior, highlighting the many challenges the team will face during the renovation process. The roof features a unique curved design, which poses a significant logistical challenge for the crew. Kevin O'Connor, host of This Old House, explains that the roof will need to be completely rebuilt, and that the team will have to carefully remove each shingle in order to preserve them for reuse.

Once inside the home, the team gets to work removing the old plaster walls. This reveals a number of surprises, including termite damage and rotting wood beams. The crew is forced to replace several of the beams, which necessitates a trip to a local saw mill to source new lumber that matches the home's original beams.

As the renovation progresses, the team discovers that the home has another major issue: poor insulation. The lack of insulation is causing the homeowners to spend a fortune on heating and cooling bills, so the crew decides to install new insulation throughout the house. This involves removing the old plaster and creating new holes for the insulation to be blown in. The team notes that this process is messy and time-consuming, but it will ultimately save the homeowners money and make the house much more comfortable.

With the insulation complete, the team turns its attention to the electrical and plumbing systems. Both systems are very outdated, so they need to be completely replaced. The crew works with a licensed electrician and plumber to install new wiring, outlets, and plumbing fixtures throughout the house. The team also installs a new HVAC system to further improve the home's energy efficiency.

Finally, the crew begins work on the home's interior finishes. They install new drywall, paint, and trim throughout the house, updating the colonial-style details with a modern twist. The homeowners are thrilled with the progress and are excited to see the finished product.

Throughout the episode, Kevin and the rest of the This Old House team provide viewers with a wealth of tips and tricks for renovating an older home. They demonstrate how to deal with unexpected surprises, work around tricky architectural features, and source high-quality materials for a reasonable price. The episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in home renovation or DIY projects.