This Old House Season 20 Episode 2 The Watertown House - 2

The popular home renovation show, This Old House, returns with its twentieth season and its second episode titled "The Watertown House - 2". The episode continues the renovation journey of the historic Watertown house in Massachusetts, which was built in the early 1900s. The episode plans to showcase the changes made to the interior and exterior of the house.

The host and general contractor, Tom Silva, begins the episode by giving a brief overview of the house's restoration, discussing some of the house's most significant challenges. The house's exterior was softened and given a facelift to remove the gaudy paint and stucco that it used to have. The team also created a new foundation along one of the sides of the house to prevent it from moving and bring it up to code. This allowed them to work on rebuilding an area that had been severely damaged by water from the roof.

Next, Tom introduces the exciting work that will happen in this episode. They will start working on the house's interior and turn a small bathroom into a beautiful and functional space that is part of the kitchen area. The team will also work on the staircase to give it a more elegant style to match the rest of the house.

The first task for the team in the interior is to work on removing the plaster on the second floor. To do this, the team uses a technique called "floating," which involves mixing thin layers of drywall compound with water. The team members then spread the mixture on the wall and used a drywall trowel to smooth it out and create a smooth surface. This process is challenging but necessary to achieve a level surface for painting and attaching wall trim.

The next task addressed in the episode's plot is the installation of the stairs' newel post. A newel post is the vertical post that supports a handrail or banister at the top or bottom of a staircase. The stair's decorative balusters had already been installed, but the existing newel post needed replacing. Tom Silva demonstrates how to install the newel post using a combination of glue and screws and provides tips on how to make sure it is level.

Finally, the episode highlights the addition of the wet room to the living area. A wet room is a multi-purpose room that, as its name suggests, is waterproof throughout and designed to accommodate a shower. The team discusses the layout of the wet room and its plumbing and drainage issues. The host also provides some tips on choosing the right tiles to use in a wet room, considering factors like slip-resistance, durability, and water-resistance.

As the episode progresses, we see the team's expertise and dedication to this renovation project's success. They provide a glimpse into the care and effort needed to restore an old house to its former glory. Tom Silva explains to viewers that the project will have some hiccups as they work, but he encourages them to be patient and confident in the process.

To wrap things up, This Old House season 20 episode 2, "The Watertown House - 2," promises to leave viewers inspired and ready to start their own home renovation projects. It showcases how a perfectly executed renovation can make a significant impact on an old house's beauty, functionality, and value, and how it can preserve its history and character.