This Old House Season 21 Episode 2 The Billerica House - 2

In season 21 episode 2 of This Old House, titled "The Billerica House - 2," the team continues their work on a 300-year-old home in Billerica, Massachusetts. The homeowners, Dave and Carole, purchased the house with the intention of preserving its historic charm while bringing it up to modern standards.

The team begins by tackling the exterior of the home, which includes repairing some of the old clapboards and restoring the home's original windows. They also work on repairing the roof, which involves removing the existing asphalt shingles and replacing them with wooden shingles that more closely resemble the home's original roofing material.

Inside the home, the team finishes up some of the work they started in the previous episode. This includes installing insulation in the attic space and working on the master suite. The master suite was originally two smaller rooms, but the team has removed the dividing wall to create a more spacious bedroom.

The team also begins work on the home's second floor, which includes the guest bedrooms. The team discovers that the floor joists in one of the rooms are sagging, which means they need to be reinforced before they can proceed with any further work. This involves sistering new joists to the existing ones and securing them with metal connectors.

In addition to structural work, the team also focuses on some of the finer details of the home. They install custom-built bookshelves in the living room and work on refinishing some of the home's original woodwork.

Throughout the episode, the team faces a number of challenges, including dealing with a massive hornets' nest in the attic and having to maneuver some of the large wooden shingles up to the roof. However, they remain determined to restore the home to its former glory while ensuring that it meets the needs of modern-day living.

Overall, season 21 episode 2 of This Old House is a must-watch for anyone interested in historic home restoration. The team's attention to detail and dedication to preserving the home's original character is both impressive and inspiring.