This Old House Season 17 Episode 14 The Salem House - 14
- December 30, 1995
The Salem House - 14 is the fourteenth episode of the seventeenth season of the home improvement television series This Old House. This episode focuses on the extensive renovations being made to a historic house located in Salem, Massachusetts.
The show's hosts, Kevin O'Connor, Tom Silva, and Richard Trethewey, are joined by expert contractors and designers as they work to update and modernize the nearly 200-year-old home while preserving its historic charm.
The episode begins with a tour of the home's exterior, including a look at the new cedar shingle siding being installed and the front porch being repaired and repainted. The team also works to replace the old asphalt shingle roof with a new metal roof that will better withstand the harsh New England weather.
Inside the house, the focus is on updating the outdated and inefficient heating and cooling systems. The team installs a new hydronic heating system that will be much more energy-efficient and provide more consistent heating throughout the house.
Next, attention is turned to the kitchen, which is completely gutted and redesigned to create a more open floor plan and modern amenities. The team installs new cabinets, countertops, and appliances and even creates a custom built-in coffee bar.
One of the most interesting aspects of this episode is the team's work on the home's original, hand-carved staircase. The staircase had been damaged over the years and was in need of extensive restoration. The team carefully removes each piece of the staircase, restores it, and replaces it, ensuring that the historic details of the home are preserved.
Throughout the episode, the homeowners are interviewed, providing insight into their vision for the home and their experiences working with the This Old House team. The episode ends with a look at the stunning transformation of the home and a tour of the finished space.
Overall, The Salem House - 14 is a fascinating look at the challenges involved in renovating and preserving an historic home. The This Old House team's expertise and attention to detail are on full display in this episode, which is sure to be of interest to fans of home improvement and architecture.