Season 13 -

Modern Colonial

Centerville, MA
This year's project focuses on the construction of a Colonial-style home built with both history and the future in mind. While this 4-bedroom, 4-bath home will have a traditional exterior and interior detailing, the plan will suit the needs of a modern family, including easy-maintenance fireplaces, a great room, master suite, sun room, 3-car garage, and a large walk-out basement with plenty of room for recreation and indoor/outdoor living.

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	Project Introduction Video Clips (HA1301) View show summary

	Review of Colonial-Style Architecture and Exurban Living Setting the stage for his 21st century Colonial project, Bob discusses the current trend toward exurban living and the renewed popularity of the Center Entry Colonial. The original Colonial-style homes ... Watch video and view full description
	Reviewing the Plans for the Foundation Bob and Ryley make their first tour of the site where the foundation is already in place. Ryley notes that with a sloping grade you want to drop the foundation ... Watch video and view full description
	Framing with Engineered Wood I-Joists Bob and Ryley meet up with framing contractor Kevin Parquette of Timberline Building Specialists. Kevin comments on the advantages of working with the 28 ft. long engineered wood All-Joists from ... Watch video and view full description
	Tour of Winslow Crocker House Bob tours the Winslow Crocker House in Yarmouthport, Massachusetts, with Peter Gittelman of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. The house, built in the 1770s, is an ... Watch video and view full description
	Framing Exterior Walls for the Center Hall Colonial Kevin Parquette's crew is making swift work of the framing using traditional practices such as 2-by-4 construction with 1/2 inch CDX plywood sheathing. The partitions are constructed on the ... Watch video and view full description


	Interior Framing, Roofing and Sheathing Video Clips (HA1302) View show summary

	Discussing Efficient Framing Materials Bob outlines the steps involved in framing up the house. Once the first floor joists were in place, the crew started in on the subfloor using ToughPly, a thicker plywood ... Watch video and view full description
	Modified Hip Roof Construction Ryley and Bob look at the Colonial's rear fa�ade and then head inside to watch as the crew frames out the modified hip roof on the sunroom. With its flat ... Watch video and view full description
	Framing a Master Closet for a Contemporary Colonial Bob and Ryley demonstrate step by step how to frame up a 6' x 12' walk-in closet for the master bedroom. The framing crew installed partition backers to receive the ... Watch video and view full description


	Shingles and Windows Video Clips (HA1303) View show summary

	Building a Pitched Roof from the Ridge Beam and Rafters to the Shake Shingling Bob opens the segment with a look at the Certainteed Landmark shingles selected for this project. Fabricated with a dragon's tooth angle, the Landmark shingles give the impression of a ... Watch video and view full description
	Window Placement and Installation on a Colonial Bob looks at the order and placement of the windows on the fa�ade of the modern Colonial. Upon closer inspection, the classically inspired fenestration � size, type, and placement ... Watch video and view full description
	Cape Cod-Style Architecture and Royal Barry Wills Bob visits Cape Cod with Dick Wills, who is carrying on the work of his father, architect Royal Barry Wills. Beginning in the 1920s, the senior Wills popularized traditional New ... Watch video and view full description
	Architectural Possibilties in a Modern Cape Dick Wills takes Bob on a tour of the interior of his Cape-style home. The house is much larger than Bob expected with a library, master suite, a large family ... Watch video and view full description


	Radiant Heating System and Ductwork Video Clips (HA1304) View show summary

	Installing a Preassembled Whole House Radiant Heating System Bob meets with Erling Andersen of AIM (Andersen International Marketing) in the basement of the modern Colonial to discuss the heating system. The Boiler Room in a Box has just ... Watch video and view full description
	Tour of the Julia Wood House in Falmouth, Massachusetts Bob visits the Julia Wood House, home of the Falmouth, Massachusetts Historical Society, and takes a tour with Carolyn Power, the society's executive director. The home was built in 1790 ... Watch video and view full description
	Running HVAC Ductwork in a New Colonial Bob meets with Peter Merianos and the crew from Coastal Heating and Air Conditioning who are fabricating the AC ductwork on site. With the Kenmore air handler already installed in ... Watch video and view full description


	Gas Fireplaces and Cedar Shingles Video Clips (HA1305) View show summary

	Making Cedar Shingles at Maibec in Quebec Bob tours the Maibec American Classics mill in Quebec, Canada, where the cedar shingles for the center-entry Colonial house were manufactured. Maibec uses Eastern White Cedar from certified, responsibly managed ... Watch video and view full description
	Installing Cedar Shingles on a New Colonial Bob meets with Keith Ball of Maibec to learn more the shingles selected for the modern Colonial. The shingles come with either a bleaching oil finish allowing the grain of ... Watch video and view full description
	Direct Vent Fireplaces for Heat and Ambience Bob visits a Heat n' Glo showroom where Ross Morrison shows him a variety of direct-vent gas fireplaces. With a sealed glass chamber there is no interplay of of ... Watch video and view full description
	Installing a Classic Glass Fireplace The crew from The Ironhouse joins Dan DeMagistris of Heat-N-Glo to install the fireplace. The fireplace selected for the dining room is taller than it is wide, which makes ... Watch video and view full description


	Exterior Painting and Deck Railing Video Clips (HA1306) View show summary

	Durable Front Entry Columns for Colonial Home At the modern Colonial's front entry, Bob takes a look at the columns that support the overhang at the front entry. An alternative to wooden columns, these columns, supplied by ... Watch video and view full description
	Caulking and Painting Clapboard Siding The clapboard siding on the modern Colonial is being prepped and primed with Bob Vila Signature Collection paints. Bob is on hand as painter Jon Fish first sets, or recesses, ... Watch video and view full description
	Top Quality Paint and Primer for New Colonial Bob discusses the basics of quality paint with Ron Hudas, product manager for the Bob Vila Signature Collection paint line. The paint being applied has a 20-year warranty, explains Hudas, ... Watch video and view full description
	Exterior Paint Colors for Siding and Trim Color specialist Peggy VanAllen meets with Bob to discuss exterior color choices for the Modern Colonial project. In choosing a palette for a home, consider the style of the house ... Watch video and view full description
	Mahogany Deck and Railings The Mahogany railings for the elevated rear deck are being constructed, and Bob meets with Kevin Parquette who is doing the final assembly work. The deck features ample room for ... Watch video and view full description
	Building a Deck Stairway The stairway leading up to the rear deck is composed of 1-by-four-inch Mahogany treads. The distance from the ground to the top of the finished deck measures 48 inches. To ... Watch video and view full description
	Online Paint Selection Tool Bob takes a final moment to give a quick demonstration of the BobVila.com Paint Designer. Available exclusively at BobVila.com, the paint designer allows users to start with their house type, ... Watch video and view full description


	Insulation, Shutters and Interior Walls Video Clips (HA1307) View show summary

	Insulation to Conserve Heat and Reduce Noise Bob joins Buddy Loxley from MAP Insulation to talk installation in the master bedroom. The crew is using R-15 fiberglass insulation from Owens Corning in the home's exterior walls to ... Watch video and view full description
	Hanging Blue Board for a Plaster Coat Richard Roomey and the crew from Roomey Drywall are hanging blue board in the great room. An alternative to drywall, blue board has a paper facing that is specifically designed ... Watch video and view full description
	Techniques for Applying Plaster The plaster crew is hard at work in the master bedroom, applying a coat of USG Diamond Veneer Plaster. Bob gets a demonstration of the plaster application process, and a ... Watch video and view full description
	Hanging New Shutters on a Modern Colonial Bob Ryley is on hand to help hang some new Withers Industries shutters on the front of the center-entry Colonial. The shutters are made from Southern Yellow Pine, and add ... Watch video and view full description


	Garage Door and Generator Installation Video Clips (HA1308) View show summary

	Installing a Home Back-up Generator Ron Ford from Kohler Power Systems joins Bob to talk about the 22-kilowatt backup generator that has been installed. The generator is permanently connected to the home's main power distribution ... Watch video and view full description
	Tour of the Jackson Homestead in Newton, Massachusetts Bob takes a tour of the Jackson Homestead in Newton, Massachusetts. David Olson is on hand to talk about the Jackson family, who made their name as candle makers. The ... Watch video and view full description
	Installing Carriage-Style Garage Doors New Wayne-Dalton Carriage Doors are installed in the garage. These Equestrian style doors are made of medium density fiberboard, with a Cedar overlay. Dave Colette from Doorworks talks Bob through ... Watch video and view full description
	Heavy Duty Garage Door Opener and Features Bob takes a look at a new Sears garage door opener — a 3/4 horsepower unit that's among the strongest on the market. The unit features a keypad that allows ... Watch video and view full description


	Wood Flooring Installation Video Clips (HA1309) View show summary

	Laying Down a Cobblestone Driveway Apron Bob joins Jay Seminara of Seminara Construction who is in the process of laying down a new cobblestone apron at the edge of the driveway. The apron serves two purposes: ... Watch video and view full description
	Traditional Hardwood Flooring from Carlisle Don and Kerry Carlisle from Carlisle Restoration Lumber visit the project house to discuss the custom flooring being installed in the kitchen area. Old growth White Oak was chosen for ... Watch video and view full description
	Wideboard Hardwood Floor Installation The floor installation is underway, and Howard Brickman and crew are on site laying down the boards that extend throughout most of the first floor. Because of the home's open ... Watch video and view full description
	Moisture Content and Vapor Barrier for Wood Floors For proper installation, wood flooring should be allowed to acclimate to its surrounding environment before it is installed. Too much or two little moisture in the flooring can cause it ... Watch video and view full description


	Interior Wall Panels and Flooring Video Clips (HA1310) View show summary

	Fabricating and Installing Colonial-Style Wood Wall Panels Carpenter Bob Ryley is on location to begin work on a reproduction wood-paneled wall in the project home's formal dining area. The wall panels, which were inspired by a visit ... Watch video and view full description
	Installing Hardwood Flooring with Screws and Plugs Wood floor expert Howard Brickman is on the job site installing White Oak hardwood floors from Carlisle Restoration Lumber. Instead of blind nailing the floors to conceal the fasteners, Brickman ... Watch video and view full description
	Wide-Plank Pine Flooring Installation Bob and Howard Brickman begin the installation of the old-growth pine plank flooring in a second-floor bedroom of the modern Colonial's sister house. The Eastern White pine flooring, which was ... Watch video and view full description
	Manufacturing Antique Cut Nails Bob and crew travel to Wareham, Mass., to visit the Tremont Nail Mill. Tremont Nail, manufacturer of the cut nails used in the antique pine flooring installation in the modern ... Watch video and view full description


	Interior Door Installation and Plan Modifications Video Clips (HA1311) View show summary

	Custom Home Design Using Computer Software Inspired by the interior wall panels seen in the Winslow-Crocker house in Yarmouthport, Mass. (see tour in episode 1), Bob and crew go to work on replicating the panels in ... Watch video and view full description
	Hanging an Engineered Wood Six-Panel Door Carpenter Bob Ryley and Jim Daniels of Woodport Interior Doors join Bob on location to hang a new door in the master bathroom. The pre-hung, six-panel door being installed is ... Watch video and view full description
	Shimming, Centering, and Hanging an Interior Door Hanging the master bathroom door continues. After roughing the door into place, Ryley checks to make sure it is centered and temporarily secures it using plywood blocks. Next he checks ... Watch video and view full description
	Cutting and Installing Door Trim With the door to the master bath installed, Ryley conceals the rough carpentry work with door casings. Three boards make up the door casing � two side casings and a ... Watch video and view full description
	Cutting and Installing Baseboard Trim In the master bedroom, Bob Ryley is installing the medium density fiberboard baseboard trim. Where two pieces of trim meet in a corner, Ryley's approach is to cope the inside ... Watch video and view full description
	Installing Interior Window Casings and Sill In this segment, Bob Ryley tackles window trim in the master bedroom of the new Colonial. He begins with the windowsill, which is predrilled through its leading edge and then ... Watch video and view full description


	Interior Woodwork Video Clips (HA1312) View show summary

	Designing and Crafting Historical Reproduction Crown Molding Brent Hull, of Hull Historical Millwork, is on location to help with the installation of the dining room's crown molding. The WindsorONE millwork selected for this modern Colonial was patterned ... Watch video and view full description
	Installing Crown Molding Carpenter Bob Ryley visits the project house to install the WindsorONE crown molding in the dining room. The five-piece crown molding assembly requires careful measurements, and a selection of electric- ... Watch video and view full description
	History of the North Bennet Street School Bob takes a trip into Boston to visit the North Bennet Street School. The school, which focuses on training students in traditional handcraft trades ranging from preservation carpentry to violin ... Watch video and view full description
	Carpentry for Historic Homes at the North Bennet Street School Robert Adam, an instructor at the North Bennet Street School, provides a look inside one of the facility's workshops where several projects are underway. Work in progress includes a new ... Watch video and view full description
	Hand Crafting Reproduction Moldings On location at the project house, Robert Adam from the North Bennet Street School demonstrates the tools and techniques used to handcraft reproduction moldings. Using a millwork profile found in ... Watch video and view full description


	Exterior Landscaping Video Clips (HA1313) View show summary

	Recreating a Colonial Garden Bob and landscape designer Ruth Foster tour Mahoney's Garden Center, a local nursery, to discuss the elements of the project house's landscape plan. Foster's focus is on the pieces selected ... Watch video and view full description
	Designing an Elizabethan Garden and Naturalistic Landscaping Bob rejoins Ruth Foster on site to tour the landscape work in progress and see how the design has come to life. Foster outlines the major landscape features, including the ... Watch video and view full description
	Shrub Planting Techniques Landscape designer Ruth Foster gives a quick "how-to" on planting techniques using the shrubs for the Elizabethan-inspired garden as examples. A shrub is placed in a shallow hole, one inch ... Watch video and view full description
	Selecting Flowers for the Garden Bob continues his tour of the exterior with landscape designer Ruth Foster. In the Elizabethan-inspired garden in the front of the house she explains the various flowers she has chosen ... Watch video and view full description
	Garden Irrigation System Installation Jack Walters from Just Irrigation is on site putting in a RainBird sprinkler system. Bob catches up with him as he is at work in the Elizabethan-style garden. Walters uses ... Watch video and view full description


	Mechanical Systems and Basement Refinishing Video Clips (HA1314) View show summary

	Installing a Central Vacuum System Ron Boffoli from Cape Cod Vacuum Supply is on site installing the components for a central vacuum system. Bob joins Boffoli as he secures a section of the system's plumbing ... Watch video and view full description
	Cat 5 Wiring: Home Wiring for Phone and Data Bob talks with electrician Henry Jordan about the Category 5 wiring that will carry both phone and data information. Jordon outlines the configuration of both the standard electrical outlets and ... Watch video and view full description
	Baseboard Radiant Heat Installation Bob is in the basement talking with Erling Andersen from A.I.M. Radiant Heating. A.I.M.'s "Boiler Room In A Box" has been installed and the baseboard tubing is being run throughout ... Watch video and view full description
	Basement Finishing System Installation An Owens Corning "Basement Finishing System" is being installed at the sister project house. Bob takes us through the framing process, which begins with steel studs. Metal studs are used ... Watch video and view full description
	Installation of Laminated Engineered Wood Floor System Work continues at the sister project house where a new Kahrs "Linnea" laminated floor system is being installed. Tim Colgan from Kahrs is on site with Bob to explain the ... Watch video and view full description


	Mechanical Systems and Interior Finishing Video Clips (HA1315) View show summary

	Review of the Landscaping Design Bob takes a tour of the completed landscaping in this episode. Landscape designer Ruth Foster has created a Colonial-themed design. Foster chose to keep a magnificent white pine at the ... Watch video and view full description
	Tour of the Glen Magna Farm Bob visits the Glen Magna Farm in Danvers, Massachusetts, with Kathy Gianoulos from the Danvers Historical Society. Owned by the Endicott family since the late 1800's, it was named after ... Watch video and view full description
	Air Conditioning Condenser Install Kevin Callahan from Sears joins Bob to talk about the new Kenmore air conditioning condensers that will be installed. The condensers are Energy Star rated and have a life expectancy ... Watch video and view full description
	Building Wooden Stairs in the Front Hall Interior carpenter John Kiley is hard at work on the staircase in the front hall. The pre-cut risers have already been hung, and he's measured the rise and the run ... Watch video and view full description


	Kitchen Cabinetry and Countertops Video Clips (HA1316) View show summary

	Kitchen Cabinet Design Darcie Miller from Wellborn Cabinets is here today to talk about the kitchen's design. The kitchen is built around the center workstation, where the cooktop will be installed. This is ... Watch video and view full description
	Kitchen Cabinet Installation Bob is joined by John Wellborn, from Wellborn Cabinets, and carpenter Paul Anderson for the kitchen cabinet installation. Wellborn clamps cabinet sections together to insure that the joints are nice ... Watch video and view full description
	Manufacturing Marble Kitchen Countertops Evan Zgonis of Olympia Marble and Granite gives Bob a tour of the facility where the kitchen countertops are being manufactured. The marble slabs are brought in from the yard ... Watch video and view full description
	Installing the Marble Kitchen Countertop Evan Zgonis and the crew form Olympia Marble and Granite are on site, installing the marble countertops in the kitchen. The slabs weigh about 300 pounds and the crew takes ... Watch video and view full description


	Bedroom Amenities Video Clips (HA1317) View show summary

	Picket Fence Installation Jay Triandafilou and a crew from Architectural Fence are on location to install the exterior fence in this episode. The fence is a square spindle ornamental picket fence made from ... Watch video and view full description
	Features of the Personal Valet Clothes Freshening System Dave Herbert from Whirlpool joins Bob to talk about the new Personal Valet Clothes Vitalizing System that is being installed in the master bedroom closet. A chemical-free cleaning system, the ... Watch video and view full description
	Making Partitions for the Closet Bob and Ryley are busy in the garage workshop ripping 4-by-8 sheets of birch plywood for use as partitions in the master bedroom closet. Ryley has created a template to ... Watch video and view full description
	Built-In Closet Storage Installation Bob and Bob Ryley are working in the master bedroom building two storage units in the walk-in closet. Before they can start, they take a moment to hang the Whirlpool ... Watch video and view full description


	Interior Decorating Tour Video Clips (HA1318) View show summary

	Working With Pre-Finished Windows Gary Prevedini from Andersen windows is on site talking about the pre-finished windows in the great room. The window's finish is applied electrostatically, a process that allows it to seal ... Watch video and view full description
	Interior Painting Preparation Painter John Fish is beginning work on the home's interior. Fish begins by filling all the nail holes in the trim with an oil-based putty. Next, he lightly sands around ... Watch video and view full description
	Choosing Interior Paint Colors Interior designer Leslie Curtis joins Bob to discuss her paint plan for the interior of house. In the great room, she's chosen Seedling Tint from the Bob Vila Signature collection ... Watch video and view full description
	Lyman Estate Tour Interior Designer Leslie Curtis takes Bob on a tour of the Lyman Estate in Waltham, Mass. Curtis has chosen many items for the house from The Society for the Preservation ... Watch video and view full description
	Decorating the Master Bedroom Bob and designer Leslie Curtis take a quick tour through the master bedroom. Here Curtis has chosen Autumn Wheat from the Bob Vila Signature collection paint line. Bob and Curtis ... Watch video and view full description


	Workshops and Woodworking Video Clips (HA1319) View show summary

	Building Planter Boxes Bob Ryley is in the garage workshop in this episode helping Bob build a planter box for the sunroom. Using a compass to draw intersecting circles, Ryley creates a simple ... Watch video and view full description
	The Dominy Workshop at Winterthur Garden Bob takes us on the first of many visits to the Winterthur Garden and Museum in Delaware's Brandywine Valley. Winterthur was the vision of Henry Francis DuPont, who researched and ... Watch video and view full description
	Door Lock Installation Bob Ryley is on to his next project, installing the new lockset from Baldwin Brass on the front door. Ryley's advice for getting started: find a clean open space to ... Watch video and view full description
	Locksmithing at the North Bennet Street School At Boston's North Bennet Street School, Bob visits the locksmithing classroom. The school's program is structured around both classroom work and apprenticeships, with students in class in the morning and ... Watch video and view full description


	Classic Interiors and Cabinet Install Video Clips (HA1320) View show summary

	Tour of the Port Royal Parlor at Winterthur Bob returns to Winterthur, industrialist Henry Francis du Pont's country estate, which is now a museum, in Delaware's Brandywine Valley. The museum's Port Royal Parlor display was originally part of ... Watch video and view full description
	Installing Corner Cabinets Carpenter Paul Anderson joins Bob to hang the Wellborn corner cabinets in the kitchen. The cabinets have some interesting features such as the tambour which can be used to store ... Watch video and view full description
	Installing Molding on the Corner Cabinets Paul Anderson is attaching the pre-finished crown molding around the Wellborn kitchen cabinets. Each section is miter-cut, and then dry-fit to ensure a tight joint before it is secured with ... Watch video and view full description


	Wood Floor Finishing Video Clips (HA1321) View show summary

	Sanding Wood Floors In the sunroom, Howard Brickman is at work sanding the floors. Starting with a drum sander, he begins by sanding the floor at a 20-degree angle to get the surface ... Watch video and view full description
	Sustainable Forestry Bob takes a visit to Casco, Maine to learn more about the Hancock Land Company's sustainable forestry operation. Patrick Moore from Greenspirit Enterprises joins Bob to explain how the forests ... Watch video and view full description
	Harvesting Lumber Within an Ecologically Sensitive Forest On the next stop on tour of the Hancock Land Company, Bob and Patrick Moore are joined by Peter McKinley, Hancock's staff ecologist. McKinley's job is to look for ecologically ... Watch video and view full description

Modern Colonial

Project Introduction Video Clips

Interior Framing, Roofing and Sheathing Video Clips

Shingles and Windows Video Clips

Radiant Heating System and Ductwork Video Clips

Gas Fireplaces and Cedar Shingles Video Clips

Exterior Painting and Deck Railing Video Clips

Insulation, Shutters and Interior Walls Video Clips

Garage Door and Generator Installation Video Clips

Wood Flooring Installation Video Clips

Interior Wall Panels and Flooring Video Clips

Interior Door Installation and Plan Modifications Video Clips

Interior Woodwork Video Clips

Exterior Landscaping Video Clips

Mechanical Systems and Basement Refinishing Video Clips

Mechanical Systems and Interior Finishing Video Clips

Kitchen Cabinetry and Countertops Video Clips

Bedroom Amenities Video Clips

Interior Decorating Tour Video Clips

Workshops and Woodworking Video Clips

Classic Interiors and Cabinet Install Video Clips

Wood Floor Finishing Video Clips