This Old House Season 29 Episode 14 Newton, MA 14

In season 29 episode 14 of This Old House, titled "Newton, MA 14," the crew heads to the suburb of Newton, Massachusetts to tackle a whole-house remodel. The homeowners are a young couple with two children and a third on the way, and they're looking to update and expand their 1930s colonial-style home to better fit their growing family.

The episode begins with host Kevin O'Connor meeting with the homeowners to discuss their plans for the renovation. They want to open up the first floor to create a more modern, open-concept living space, as well as add a new master suite and expand the kids' bedrooms on the second floor. They also plan to add a garage and mudroom, which will require some excavation work in the backyard.

The first order of business is to remove a load-bearing wall between the existing kitchen and dining room to create a large, open space for cooking, dining, and entertaining. This requires installing a steel beam to support the weight of the second floor, which the crew carefully hoists into place using a crane. With the beam secured, the team works on removing the old wall and framing in a new island and pantry wall for the kitchen. They also begin to install new plumbing and electrical fixtures in the space.

Next, the crew turns their attention to the second floor, where they begin demolition on the existing master suite. The plan is to expand this space by borrowing some square footage from an adjacent bedroom, creating a larger bedroom with a walk-in closet and an ensuite bathroom. They also plan to turn the existing hallway into a laundry and storage area, which will require rerouting some HVAC and plumbing lines.

Meanwhile, outside, the excavation work for the garage and mudroom is underway. The crew removes the existing concrete slab and begins digging down to create a foundation for the new addition. They also pour footings for the garage walls and install waterproofing around the perimeter of the new foundation.

Back inside, the crew works on roughing in plumbing and electrical lines for the new addition. They also begin hanging drywall in the kitchen and dining room, which is a messy and time-consuming process. The team also tackles some unexpected problems that arise during construction, including a hidden chimney that needs to be removed and some pesky plumbing leaks.

As the episode comes to a close, the crew is making steady progress on the project, but there is still a lot of work to be done. The homeowners are excited to see their vision coming together and are looking forward to a bright future in their updated and expanded home.