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Home > Bob on TV > Home Again > LifeSpan House > Landscaping Begins > 1110 Transcript
1110 - Landscaping Begins
November 6-12, 2000 | May 6-13, 2001
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HI, I'M BOB VILA. WELCOME HOME AGAIN
TO OUR LOW COUNTRY STYLE HOUSE
HERE IN I'ON, JUST OUTSIDE OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.
TODAY WE'RE TAKING YOU ON A LITTLE TRIP
OVER TO MIDDLETON PLACE,
A FABULOUS SURVIVING PLANTATION GARDEN
FROM THE 18th CENTURY.
ALSO, HERE AT OUR JOB,
WE'RE PUTTING IN A GRANITE COUNTERTOP,
SHOWING YOU HOW YOU CUT OUT THE AREA
FOR THE SINK TO DROP IN,
AND ALSO LAYING OUT OUR OWN LANDSCAPE PLANS.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY SEARS
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE
IS PRACTICALLY COMPLETE AND I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT
THIS LITTLE CREME AND WHITE AND RED COMBINATION
WOULD BE QUITE AS ELEGANT AS IT IS.
KEVIN, IT LOOKS SUPERB.
WE'RE GETTING THERE.
YOU'RE VANDALIZING THE PLACE.
WELL, JUST TRYING TO PAINT DOWN
WHERE THE OUTDOOR PATIO'S GOING TO GO
AND OUR OUTDOOR FIREPLACE.
OK, WE GOT LANDSCAPING AND HARDSCAPING, AS THEY CALL IT, TO DEAL WITH.
THAT'S RIGHT.
SO THAT THIS AREA THAT YOU'VE SQUARED OUT HERE
IS A STONE PATIO OR IS IT CONCRETE?
IT'S CONCRETE. IT'S GOING TO BE SCORED WITH A PATTERN AND THEN STAINED.
I WAS LOOKING AT A PLAN THAT CALLED FOR AN OUTDOOR FIREPLACE?
WE ARE. IS THAT RIGHT?
WE ARE. WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MARTIN OUTDOOR FIREPLACE STAINLESS STAIN UNIT.
IT'S GONNA FIT RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT AREA RIGHT THERE.
HARD TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THIS HEAT,
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
IT IS, IT IS.
BUT I KNOW COME JANUARY OR FEBRUARY
IT GETS PRETTY CHILLY IN CHARLESTON.
IT'LL JUST BE A GREAT PLACE TO SIT OUTSIDE IN THE FALL.
YEAH. ALL RIGHT, SO THE ORANGE PAINT
IS BASICALLY MARKING OFF THE EDGES OF THE HARDSCAPE,
SO THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE
YOU'LL HAVE FOUNDATION PLANTINGS OR SHRUBS?
YES. THE FOUNDATION PLANTINGS,
AND WE'VE GOT SOME HEDGES AND THINGS GOING IN,
FLOWER BORDERS.
ALL RIGHT.
AND THEN WE'LL PICK UP OUR DRIVEWAY,
WHICH WILL COME ACROSS...
AT ABOUT THAT POINT.
RIGHT.
DRIVEWAY'S GOING TO RUN DOWN
TO WHERE THE CONSTRUCTION FENCE IS.
AND I WAS WATCHING THEM THIS MORNING WHEN THEY WERE GRADING THIS.
NOW THE FILL THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN HERE,
IS IT A HARDENER, CLAY-TYPE FILL OR WHAT IS IT?
IT'S A SANDY FILL.
IT'S A LITTLE DARKER IN NATURE
THAN WE'RE USED TO IN NEW ENGLAND.
THE COLOR'S A LITTLE DARKER,
BUT IT'S A SANDY FILL AND THEY'LL COMPACT IT DOWN,
AND THEN WE'LL DO OUR AGGREGATE CONCRETE--
EXPOSED AGGREGATE DRIVEWAY AREA.
AND BECAUSE THIS IS THE LOW COUNTRY,
WE'VE GOT FILL ALMOST EVERYWHERE, RIGHT?
YOU DO. YOU HAVE A LOT OF FILL.
YOU NEED TO BRING STUFF UP, SO WE CAN GET THE 2% DRAINAGE AWAY FROM THE
BUILDING.
SURE. WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SPRINKLERS.
ALL RIGHT. NOW THE...
THE--THE REST OF THE INSIDE CORNER, YOU HAVE TO DO BY HAND. HI.
HELLO.
HI, JOSH. HOW ARE YOU?
DOING FINE, SIR.
HOW DOES THIS MACHINE WORK?
WELL, IT HAS A METAL ROTOR INSIDE HERE
THAT, UM...WORKS KINDA LIKE A VERTICALLY ORIENTED LAWN MOWER BLADE.
IT JUST CUTS INTO THE GROUND.
THE TEETH THROW THE DIRT OUT AND THE--
THE ANGLE ON THE END OF THE TEETH--
RIGHT. AND THE SHROUD HELPS CHANNEL IT OVER TO ONE SIDE OF THE TRENCH.
IT MAKES SUCH A NICE, LITTLE EVEN PILE
AND SUCH A NICE, CLEAN TRENCH IN THERE.
YES, SIR.
SO, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
WE JUST KIND OF HAVE MARKED OFF THE AREA
OF THE HARDSCAPE OF THE PATIO
AND YOU'RE PUTTING IN SPRINKLER PIPES THIS CLOSE TO IT?
YES. WE'RE RUNNING THE SPRINKLER PIPES IN
RIGHT ALONG THE EDGE OF THE HARDSCAPE.
THIS IS FOR A SPRAY ZONE
THAT WILL IRRIGATE THE SMALL TURF PANEL.
AND IT STARTS UP OVER HERE
AND COMES ON AROUND THIS WAY.
WE'VE YET TO TRENCH THIS.
YEAH. WHAT'S THE VALVE HERE FOR?
THIS IS THE CONTROL VALVE FOR THE ZONE.
WE CONNECT IT IN WITH, UM...
A HOT WIRE AND A COMMON WIRE.
IT'S LOW VOLTAGE.
LOW VOLTAGE. YES, SIR. 24 VOLT.
NOW, HOW MANY ZONES ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE IN THIS IRRIGATION SYSTEM?
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 7 ZONES IN THIS IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
WOW. OF COURSE, YOU COULDN'T DO ALL THE ZONES AT ONCE,
BECAUSE YOU'D NEVER HAVE ENOUGH WATER PRESSURE.
NOWHERE'S NEAR, BOB.
RIGHT. NOW, IT IS A CONCERN HERE
CONSERVING WATER WHEN YOU'VE GOT SUCH HIGH TEMPERATURES
AND HIGH EVAPORATION RATE, RIGHT?
YES, SIR. IT CERTAINLY IS,
NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF THE WATER.
UM...WE GET AROUND, UM...
GET AROUND THAT BY, UM...
BY SCHEDULING THE, UM...
IRRIGATION SO IT GOES OFF EARLY IN THE MORNING
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOW-WIND CONDITIONS.
RIGHT.
AND LESS EVAPOTRANSPIRATION.
YEAH.
AND, UM...WE ALSO CAREFULLY SCHEDULE, UM...
THE, UH...IRRIGATION TIMES SO THAT, UH...
MATERIAL GETS THE PROPER AMOUNT OF WATER FOR IT.
WE USE DRIP WHERE WE CAN.
DRIP IS WHERE YOU HAVE A LITTLE TUBE
THAT JUST DRIPS A LITTLE BIT OF WATER UNDERGROUND,
RIGHT AT THE ROOT SYSTEM.
RIGHT. YOU WOULD HAVE IT PLACED UNDERNEATH, UM...
THE MULCH THAT WOULD BE IN THE BED
SO THAT YOU PUT THE WATER RIGHT WHERE YOU NEED IT.
RIGHT. ONE THING WHEN YOU'RE INSTALLING THE VALVE.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE DIRECTIONAL ARROW POINTING
WITH THE FLOW OF THE WATER.
UH-HUH.
THAT WAY EVERYTHING WORKS RIGHT WHEN YOU FIRE IT UP.
YES, YES. IT WOULD BE EMBARRASSING OTHERWISE.
AND THIS IS JUST A LITTLE PLUMBING STORY.
BASICALLY YOU'RE JUST PUTTING PVC PIPE TOGETHER.
YES, SIR. THAT'S CORRECT.
IT'S BASICALLY JUST THE SAME AS YOU DO IN A HOUSE.
REGULAR PVC PIPING WITH, UH...PVC GLUE.
AND THAT'S WHAT GOES INSIDE THIS BLACK HOUSING
AND THE GREEN COVER THAT WE ALL SEE IN THE GARDENS.
YES, SIR.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, JOSH, WE'LL LET YOU GET BACK TO WORK.
NOW, KEVIN, THIS IS A BIGGER LOT THAN THE AVERAGE I'ON LOT, RIGHT?
ALMOST A DOUBLE LOT.
AND SO, IS THERE GONNA BE A LOT OF LAWN?
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S A GOOD IDEA
TO HAVE A LOT OF LAWN HERE WITH THIS WEATHER.
FOR A LOT THIS SIZE, THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH LAWN.
WE HAVE A LOT OF TREES, THOUGH.
WE HAVE A GROVE OF TREES THAT'S GOING TO FIT IN RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
DO YOU HAVE A LANDSCAPE PLAN? YES, SIR.
ALL RIGHT. SO, THAT BASICALLY,
ALL THAT WHITE AREA IN THE MIDDLE
IS ALL THE HOUSE, AND THIS IS THE FRONT OF THE STREET,
SO WE'RE STANDING ON THE SIDE HERE.
YOU'RE GONNA PUT A WHOLE GROVE OF TREES IN THERE, HUH?
THAT'S CORRECT. 12 MATCHING TREES.
12 MATCHING FLOWERING TREES.
AND THEN MORE FLOWERING TREES ALONG THE FRONT.
ANOTHER LITTLE TERRACE IN THE FRONT THERE, HUH?
YES, SIR.
IT'S GONNA BE VERY AMBITIOUS, YEAH.
MOSTLY SHRUBBERY AND TREES, RIGHT?
THAT'S CORRECT.
WELL, IT SHOULD MAKE FOR A VERY EXCITING LANDSCAPE PLAN, YEAH.
COMING UP NEXT,
A VISIT TO THE SPECTACULAR 18th CENTURY GARDENS
AT SOUTH CAROLINA'S MIDDLETON PLACE.
WE'RE VISITING MIDDLETON PLACE,
ABOUT 14 MILES DOWN THE ASHLEY RIVER FROM CHARLESTON
AND ALMOST 3 CENTURIES IN TIME REMOVED,
WITH CHARLES DUELL, WHO IS A DESCENDANT OF THE FAMILY
AND PRESIDENT OF THE MIDDLETON PLACE FOUNDATION.
AND, CHARLES, WHERE TO BEGIN?
IN JUST A FEW MINUTES TO TELL 300 YEARS OF HISTORY
IS NOT A POSSIBILITY, BUT GIVE US A LITTLE FEEL
FOR THE FAMILY AND HOW THIS ALL CAME TO BE.
WELL, IT REALLY BEGINS IN THE LATE 17th CENTURY
WHEN THE MIGRATION FROM BARBADOS TO SOUTH CAROLINA
BROUGHT EDWARD MIDDLETON HERE IN 1678.
YEAH.
HIS GRANDSON WAS THE FIRST MIDDLETON
TO COME TO MIDDLETON PLACE IN 1741,
ACQUIRED THIS PROPERTY BY MARRIAGE INTO THE WILLIAM'S FAMILY,
AND HAD ACQUIRED BY THEN ENOUGH WEALTH
TO REALLY WANT TO LAY OUT A GRAND HEADQUARTERS
FOR HIS SERIES OF PLANTATIONS.
BY HIS DEATH, HE OWNED SOME 20 PLANTATIONS--
THE CENTRAL FAMILY DWELLING WAS BUILT IN 1735.
THE GARDEN HE BEGAN IN 1741.
SO THE MIDDLE OF THE 18th CENTURY
IS REALLY THE HEYDAY OF THE PROPERTY.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE TIME OF THE REVOLUTION?
WERE THEY TORIES OR WERE THEY--
HENRY MIDDLETON, WHO BUILT THE PLACE,
BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.
I THINK HE WAS PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, DEBATING WHAT TO DO,
BUT HE WAS SUCCEEDED BY HIS SON ARTHUR MIDDLETON,
WHO BECAME A SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,
AND WHO WAS A VERY REVOLUTIONARY FIREBRAND
AND SIGNED THE DECLARATION.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LONG GOLDEN ERA
THAT REALLY LED UP AND INCREASED
THROUGH RICE CULTIVATION AND THEN COTTON,
UP INTO THE GOLDEN ERA BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR.
OF COURSE, AFTER THE CIVIL WAR IT ALL CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT.
THE RUINS THAT WE SEE TODAY ARE ALL THE RESULT
OF NOT ONLY, OBVIOUSLY,
THE CIVIL WAR AND SHERMAN COMING THROUGH
AND BURNING DOWN EVERYTHING IN SIGHT BUT ALSO VINDICTIVENESS,
BECAUSE THE MIDDLETON'S HAD NOT ONLY BEEN SIGNERS
OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
BUT ALSO THE ARTICLES OF SECESSION.
EXACTLY. THEN, MIDDLETON WILLIAMS MIDDLETON WHO LIVED HERE
WAS A SIGNER OF THE ORDINANCE OF SECESSION,
SO PERHAPS THERE WAS SOME VINDICTIVENESS
WHEN THE UNION TROOPS ARRIVED HERE IN FEBRUARY OF 1865.
WE HAVE TO THINK THERE WAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF,
YOU KNOW, "LET'S GET BACK AT THEM" THAT BROUGHT THEM HERE.
JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR,
THIS MAIN HOUSE AND ACTUALLY THE WHOLE COMPLEX
WITH THE THREE PARTS OF THE HOUSE WAS PUT TO THE TORCH
AND BURNED AND GUTTED.
THE BUILDING BEHIND US WAS SIMPLY THE LEAST BADLY DAMAGED.
AND IT SURVIVED WELL ENOUGH THAT WHEN THE FAMILY CAME BACK,
THEY RE-ROOFED IT, GAVE IT RIGIDITY,
AND ALLOWED IT TO SURVIVE THE FAMOUS EARTHQUAKE
THAT CAME THROUGH CHARLESTON 20 YEARS AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, 1886.
THAT EARTHQUAKE JUST FELL THE FREE-STANDING WALLS
OF THE MAIN FAMILY RESIDENCE IN THE NORTH FLANKER
BUT SPARED THIS FLANKER THAT HAD BEEN RESTORED AND RE-ROOFED AND STRENGTHENED.
AND THE STORY OF THE 20th CENTURY MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY
IS REALLY CLOSELY LINKED TO THE IDEA OF PRESERVING THE LAND.
WE'VE GOT MANY ACRES OF BEAUTIFUL VIRGIN LAND HERE THAT YOU'VE PRESERVED.
WELL, THE 20th CENTURY STORY REALLY BEGINS IN 1925,
WHEN MY GRANDPARENTS MOVED OUT HERE UNDER UNBELIEVABLE CONDITIONS--
NO ELECTRICITY, NO TELEPHONES,
NO WATER, NO MAIL SERVICE,
AND REALLY BEGAN THE PROCESS OF RESTORING THE GARDEN,
WHICH TOOK 10 OR 15 YEARS TO REALLY UNCOVER
WHAT HAD BEEN 50 YEARS, 60 YEARS OF NEGLECT FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR.
WOW. YOU MENTIONED THE FORMAL GARDENS.
LET'S WALK IN THAT DIRECTION
SO WE CAN GET AN IDEA WHAT'S THERE TODAY.
GOOD.
SO THESE FORMAL GARDENS THAT WERE CREATED HERE
ARE A COUPLE OF CENTURIES OLD.
259 YEARS OLD.
MAGNIFICENT.
1741.
AND AS YOU WERE SAYING A MINUTE AGO,
IT'S BEEN A BIG JOB TO RECLAIM THEM
AFTER PRACTICALLY 60 YEARS OF ABANDONMENT.
EXACTLY. THE NEGLECT FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR.
THIS IS AN OCTAGONAL GARDEN THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT?
THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY GEOMETRIC FORMS
WITHIN THE OVERALL GEOMETRIC PLAN OF THE GARDEN.
AND IT'S AN OCTAGONAL SUNKEN GARDEN.
SO IT'S A SERIES OF GARDEN ROOMS.
EXACTLY. HERE IS THE OCTAGONAL GARDEN,
AND THEN WE'LL BE GOING TO THE CIRCULAR ROSE GARDEN
WITH KIND OF PIE-SHAPED PIECES.
THEN THERE'S THE MOUNT AND THEN A LONG CANAL
THAT WAS KIND OF THE PUNCTUATION
OF THE WESTERN END OF THE GARDEN.
AN INNER GARDEN, SECRET GARDENS,
PLACES WHERE-- WHERE AMUSEMENTS WOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE,
CROQUET OR TENNIS OR BOWLING.
AND ALL OF IT FILLED WITH STATUARY
BROUGHT OVER FROM EUROPE.
AND MANY, MANY PIECES OF SCULPTURE
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE END OF A FOCAL POINT, LAWN VISTA.
MOST OF THE SCULPTURES WERE BROKEN UP, CARTED OFF...
DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION EARLIER.
ONE IS STILL REMAINING, I UNDERSTAND.
THERE'S ONLY ONE THAT WAS AN ORIGINAL SCULPTURE.
THEN WE'VE TRIED TO RESTORE CLASSIC ITALIAN MARBLE SCULPTURES
AS WE CAN FIND THEM AND WHERE THEY'RE APPROPRIATELY PLACED.
AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S AN OAK
THAT'S KIND OF THE CHARTER OAK
OR THE MIDDLETON PLACE OAK.
WELL, WHEN THE GARDEN WAS LAID OUT,
IT DID ACCOMMODATE THE NATURAL SURROUNDINGS
THAT INCLUDED LARGE OAK TREES,
AND THE GRANDDADDY OF OUR OAKS IS,
WE CALL IT THE MIDDLETON OAK.
IT'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 900 AND A 1,000 YEARS OLD.
THAT IS A MAGNIFICENT TREE.
A 1,000 YEARS OLD, YOU SAY.
IT'S APPROACHING THAT.
AND IT'S A SPOT FROM WHICH YOU CAN REALLY APPRECIATE
THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THAT RIVERSCAPE.
THERE'S DEVELOPMENT RIGHT BEHIND IT,
AND REALLY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OUR FOUNDATION FACES
IS PRESERVING THE CONTRAST OF THAT NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
TO THIS MAN-MADE ENVIRONMENT,
WHICH REALLY MAKES THE GARDEN SING
AND IS IMPORTANT TO THE BASIC LANDSCAPE DESIGN.
IT'S A TERRIFIC GOAL FOR THE FOUNDATION THOUGH--
PRESERVING ALL THIS WILD LAND.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
ONE OF THE KEY THINGS IN THE LANDSCAPE, THOUGH,
IS THE CONTRASTS, RIGHT?
CONSTANT CONTRASTS.
AND IT REALLY EXEMPLIFIES THE PRINCIPLES OF ANDRE LE NOTRE
WHEN WE SEE HERE THE WILDERNESS BOSQUE,
WHICH WAS JUST LET GO WILD,
IN CONTRAST TO THE OCTAGONAL SUNKEN GARDEN
WITH ITS GEOMETRIC PRECISION.
AND IT'S THAT YING AND YANG
THAT YOU SEE THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN,
AND REALLY THIS IS A MICROCOSM OF THE YING AND YANG
OF THE WHOLE GARDEN CONTRASTED WITH THE NATURAL SURROUNDING OF THE RIVERSCAPE.
THE RIVERSCAPE. EXACTLY.
AND LE NOTRE IS THE CLASSICAL FRENCH LANDSCAPE GARDENER FROM THE 18th CENTURY.
NOW, THESE LONG ALLEES IN THE GARDEN, AGAIN,
ARE A FEATURE OF THE DESIGN OF LE NOTRE, RIGHT?
ABSOLUTELY.
THE LONG VISTAS WITH FOCAL POINTS AT THE END.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TURN 90 DEGREES,
THE SURPRISE THAT AWAITS YOU THERE
OR JUST SIMPLY A TUNNEL OF FLOWER MATERIAL
OR A CHANGE IN ELEVATION.
ALL OF THE VOCABULARY OF LE NOTRE'S 17th CENTURY WORK IN FRANCE.
AND, OF COURSE, THE USE OF WATER.
SO HERE YOU GOT WATER AT ITS MOST CIVILIZED, USED JUST AS A MIRROR.
AND THE TWO BIRDS THAT LE NOTRE INSISTED ON IN THE CLASSICAL GARDEN--
THE MUTE SWAN THAT WE SEE HERE AND THE PEACOCK.
OK, AND MIDDLETON PLACE IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR-ROUND, RIGHT, CHARLES?
GARDENS, HOUSE, STABLE YARDS,
THE RESTAURANT AND THE MIDDLETON INN
ARE ALL OPEN EVERY DAY ALL YEAR.
THIS IS THE PLACE TO STAY.
THANKS, BOB.
THANK YOU, CHARLES.
COME BACK. GOOD TO SEE YOU. OK.
GO TO BOBVILA.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION
ON MIDDLETON PLACE AND OTHER PLANTATIONS
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
NEXT TIME ON BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,
WE'LL TAKE YOU TO THE SPECTACULAR
18th CENTURY PLANTATION GARDENS
AT MIDDLETON, PLACE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THESE GARDENS HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY RESTORED
AFTER THE DEVASTATION OF THE CIVIL WAR,
AN EARTHQUAKE, AND YEARS OF NEGLECT.
THEN WE'LL GET STARTED ON THE LANDSCAPE PLAN
FOR OUR LOW COUNTRY HOUSE AT I'ON.
ALSO, WE'LL BE INSTALLING A GRANITE COUNTERTOP
IN THE BATHROOM AND CUTTING OUT THE AREA FOR THE SINK.
SO DON'T MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT TIME ON HOME AGAIN.
NEXT TIME ON BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,
IT'S THE 18th CENTURY GARDENS AT MIDDLETON PLACE,
A SPRINKLER SYSTEM,
AND A GRANITE COUNTERTOP. DON'T MISS IT.
WELL, LET'S MEET RICK AND BRIAN FROM STAR GRANITE INTERIORS.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY COUNTERTOPS
THAT ARE GOING INTO THIS FINE HOME.
WHAT KIND OF GRANITE IS THIS, FELLAS?
THIS IS BALTIC BROWN.
BALTIC BROWN,
AND IT LOOKS TO BE PRETTY HEAVY AND PRETTY THICK.
YEAH, IT WEIGHS AROUND 250-300 POUNDS.
OOH. WHAT'S THE THICKNESS OF IT?
IT'S AN INCH AND A QUARTER THICK.
YEAH, SO WHY HAVE YOU BROUGHT IT
TO THE SITE THIS WAY. I'VE NOTICED YOU GOT HOLES.
THIS IS WHERE TWO LAVATORIES ARE BEING PLACED, RIGHT?
RIGHT.
THE BAR'S A SUPPORT BAR.
THIS KEEPS IT STABILIZED FOR LATERAL SUPPORT.
MM-HMM.
KEEPS IT FROM FLEXING WHENEVER WE'RE CARRYING IT IN
TO LAY IT DOWN ON THE TOP.
IT KEEPS IT FROM FLEXING.
BUT THE MAIN THING IS TRANSPORTING IT IN A TRUCK OVER A BUMPY ROAD.
YOU COULD BREAK THIS EXPENSIVE PIECE OF STONE VERY EASILY.
SO BY CUTTING THE FOUR CORNERS WITH A DRILL
AND THEN JUST SCORING AND MAKING THE INITIAL CUTS,
YOU'VE STILL LEFT THE PIECE, MORE OR LESS, IN TACT.
SO THAT IT'S GOT SOME INTEGRITY.
THAT'S PRETTY THIN ON EACH END, ISN'T IT?
RIGHT. SURE IS.
OK. NOW THE SUCTION CUPS ON THE BAR JUST ADD RIGIDITY TO THE WHOLE THING.
CORRECT.
OK. WHAT'S THIS WORTH?
THIS WOULD RUN ABOUT, UH...
500-600 DOLLARS.
500 OR 600, YEAH.
OK. CAN I GIVE YOU A HAND BRINGING IT INTO THE BATHROOM?
NO. I BELIEVE WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.
OK. NOW THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT STAR MONUMENTS,
THE ORIGINAL COMPANY, WAS IN THE TOMBSTONE BUSINESS, RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU GOT TO FLIP AROUND?
YEAH. YEAH.
OK.
AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE UNDERSIDE OF IT,
WHICH IS THE UNPOLISHED SIDE,
AND THAT REALLY GIVES YOU AN IDEA
OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT COMES OUT OF THE QUARRY.
SLIDE IT A LITTLE MORE.
Bob: NOW THIS IS JUST DRY FITTING IT, RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
WHEN YOU ACTUALLY LAY IT DOWN,
WILL YOU PUT ANY KIND OF MATERIAL
BETWEEN THE GRANITE AND THE WOOD TOP OF THE CABINET?
AFTER WE GET IT IN PLACE AND KNOW IT'S GOING TO SET RIGHT,
WE'LL LIFT IT UP AND PUT A BEAD OF SILICONE
ON THE BOTTOM FOR A CUSHION.
Bob: OK.
Bob: WHAT DO YOU THINK?
LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TILE COMING DOWN ON THE SIDE.
MM-HMM. ALL RIGHT. WELL, GET THE SILICONE THEN.
AND SILICONE IS THE BEST PRODUCT TO USE, I UNDERSTAND,
'CAUSE IT'S GONNA MAINTAIN ITS ELASTICITY FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
THAT'S RIGHT. SILICONE'S A GOOD CUSHION.
AND THE SILICONE BONDS A LOT BETTER
THAN YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD.
WE CAN'T GET THIS BACK UP AFTER WE SILICONE IT DOWN
WITHOUT A LOT OF HARD WORK.
PUSH BACK FIRST AND THEN LAY IT DOWN.
THAT BULLNOSE EDGE IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
NOW THE HARD PART, RIGHT?
'CAUSE ONCE YOU'VE TAKEN THE, UH...
THE, UH...REINFORCING OFF, YOU'RE GONNA START GRINDING AND CUTTING IT?
THAT'S RIGHT. WE'RE GONNA CUT THE SINK HOLES OUT.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S WATCH.
NOW, WHAT KIND OF TOOLS AND WHAT KIND OF BLADE
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?
WE GOT A DIAMOND TIPPED SAW BLADE
WITH DIAMONDS TO CUT THE GRANITE.
Bob: OK.
WE'RE USING A VACUUM CLEANER NEXT TO THE SAW BLADE
TO KEEP THE DUST DOWN AND THE SURFACE CLEAR
SO THE TECHNICIAN CAN SEE WHAT HE'S DOING.
WE USE THE SUCTION HANDLE TO LIFT OUT THE PIECE WE'VE CUT
FOR THE FIRST LAVATORY.
NOW WE'LL GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY
ON THE SPACE FOR THE SECOND LAVATORY.
LET'S LET THESE GUYS FLY WITH THAT SAW.
WE'LL FINISH UP OUR COUNTERTOP INSTALLATION
IN A MOMENT, SO DON'T GO AWAY.
OK. THE SUCTION CUP MAKES IT EASY TO PICK UP
THAT SECTION THAT'S BEEN CUT OUT.
YES, IT DOES.
IT PROBABLY WEIGHS 40 POUNDS.
THAT WOULD MAKE A NICE LITTLE TABLETOP.
I'M ALWAYS WONDERING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MUCH WASTE INVOLVED IN THIS.
WHY WOULDN'T AN ARCHITECT JUST SPECIFY
THAT YOU PUT A LONG STRIP WITH A BULLNOSE ON THE FRONT,
STRIPS ON THE SIDE, A SOLID PIECE IN THE MIDDLE, YOU KNOW.
PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE SEAMS IN IT.
IT WOULD BE LESS EXPENSIVE AND EASIER ON US, BUT--
IT WOULD BE.
IT WOULD BE. BUT THE SEAMS--PEOPLE SEEM NOT TO LIKE THAT.
WELL, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. LET'S SEE WHAT OUR LAVATORY WILL LOOK LIKE IN HERE.
THIS IS A NEW DESIGN CALLED "MEMOIR"
THAT KOHLER HAS BROUGHT OUT,
AND IT'S IN A COLOR THAT THEY CALL SAND BAR.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW IT FITS IN.
OBVIOUSLY, THE PLUMBER WILL HAVE TO COME AND DO THIS PROPERLY...
FROM DOWN BELOW...
AND...OH, THAT'S NICE.
VERY NICE COLOR CONTRAST BETWEEN THE SAND BAR AND THE GRANITE.
WELL, THANKS, FELLAS, IT'S GORGEOUS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, BOB.
THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW. WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
COME HOME AGAIN NEXT TIME.
WE'RE GONNA BE-- WELL, WE'LL HAVE RYLEY HERE
PUTTING TOGETHER THE WHOLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM HERE IN THE FAMILY ROOM.
WE'LL ALSO HAVE THE PAINTERS ON BOARD
AND WE'RE PUTTING ALL SORTS OF BEAUTIFUL COLORS
UP IN THE UPSTAIRS BEDROOMS,
AND WE'VE GOT A WONDERFUL REFRIGERATION SYSTEM--
ACTUALLY, TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS TO SHOW YOU.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
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