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Home > Bob on TV > Home Again > Elmwood Neighborhood > Restoring the Front Porch > 1120 Transcript
1120 - Restoring the Front Porch
January 15-21, 2001 | July 16-22, 2001
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HI, I'M BOB VILA. WELCOME HOME AGAIN
TO ANOTHER PROJECT
HERE IN THE HISTORIC ELMWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD
RIGHT OUTSIDE OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND,
TODAY'S JOB INVOLVES A FRONT PORCH,
A BEAUTIFUL 19th CENTURY PORCH
WITH MANY DETAILS,
WHICH SADLY WAS IN BAD CONDITION.
WE'RE GOING TO BE SHOWING YOU EXACTLY
HOW ALL THE RESTORATION TAKES PLACE,
INCLUDING NEW RAILINGS,
NEW LANDSCAPING IN FRONT OF THE PORCH,
AND, OF COURSE, THE FINAL PAINT JOB.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY SEARS
THE ELMWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD IS FULL OF BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC
HOUSES
FROM THE 19th CENTURY.
THIS ONE DATES TO 1892.
SADLY, MANY OF THEM WERE REALLY NEGLECTED
BACK IN THE SIXTIES AND THE SEVENTIES.
THIS ONE BECAME A BOARDING HOUSE.
INSIDE, IT'S GOT ORIGINAL OAK ARCHWAYS,
A BEAUTIFUL STAIRCASE,
LOTS OF BUILT-INS,
LIKE A DINING ROOM BUFFET.
OUT FRONT, THE REMAINS OF A BEAUTIFUL COLONIAL REVIVAL
PORTICO
IS WHAT THE OWNERS BERRY JEAN MURRAY AND CELESTE DUCLOS
ARE ABOUT TO RESTORE.
IT TOOK 10 OR 15 YEARS
BEFORE WE DECIDED THAT WE REALLY WANTED
TO LIVE IN ELMWOOD.
IT WAS AN UP AND COMING SECTION OF PROVIDENCE.
AND THEN WE SAW THE CHARLES E. HANCOCK HOUSE.
AND WE FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.
WELL, IT'S A HISTORIC HOUSE
AND IT LOST THE HISTORIC PLAQUE
BECAUSE OF THE SHODDY WORKMANSHIP ON THE PORCH.
ONE OF THE THINGS,
THIS PORCH REALLY IS THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF THE HOUSE.
THE DECK, WHICH IS PRESSURE-TREATED WOOD,
SHOULD BE MADE OUT OF MAHOGANY.
UP HERE, WE HAVE THE BALUSTERS,
AND THEY'RE NOT SPACED CORRECTLY,
BECAUSE SOME HAD BEEN BROKEN
AND THE CONTRACTOR MISPLACED THEM.
AND ALSO THE BASE OF THE COLUMNS
IS THE SAME MATERIAL WHICH WAS USED ON THE DECK.
AND TO TOP IT OFF AT THE TOP
IS WE NEED TO REPLACE A BALUSTER.
BOB RYLEY GETS TOGETHER WITH CONTRACTOR TERRY BATES
TO GET STARTED ON DEMOLITION.
OK, SO THIS IS THE PROFILE HERE THAT WE'RE AFTER.
WE'LL BE SENDING THIS TO FORESTER MILLWORK
AND I GUESS THEY'RE GONNA BE REPLACING
ALL THESE RAILINGS HERE FOR US
OUT ON THE PORCH BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN REALLY, UH...
GOODNESS, IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE'S BEEN STICKING BUBBLE GUM
ON HERE.
THESE ARE IN REALLY TOUGH SHAPE.
THEY REALLY PATCHED THEM TOGETHER.
SO THE WHOLE RAILING IS LIKE THIS.
I GUESS THE NEXT THING WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING OFF
IS THIS FINIAL UP HERE?
THIS HALF-FINIAL HERE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WE HAVE
FOR THE TOPS OF ALL OF THE POSTS, TOP AND BOTTOM,
SO WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE IT.
THAT'S THE ONLY ONE-- OK, SO WE'LL BE SAVING THAT
AND SENDING THAT BACK TO GET REPLACED AS WELL.
I'M PRETTY SURE WE'RE GONNA HAVE THIS COME OFF
IN TWO PIECES, BUT--
UH-HUH.
I HOPE THAT'S ALL.
LOOKS LIKE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PATCHING AND--
OH, IT'S ALL PUTTY AND PAINT.
PUTTY AND PAINT MAKE THE JOB WHAT IT AIN'T.
OK, SO THAT'S GONNA BE GOING LIKE THAT.
NOW WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE BALUSTERS OUT
SO THAT WE CAN SEND THEM TO FORESTER AS WELL.
OK.
WE'LL HOPE WE DON'T BREAK THEM.
WHY THAT COME--THAT COMES RIGHT OUT.
WITH QUITE A BIT OF PUTTY.
LOOK AT THAT.
AND WE CAN SEE HOW ROTTEN THE BASE RAIL IS.
YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.
SO NOW WE'LL TAKE THIS BOTTOM RAIL
AND HAVE THAT REPLACED AS WELL.
IT HAS LIKE A SLIGHT PITCH GOING OFF OF IT.
RIGHT, AND IT'LL ALSO SHOULD BE UP OFF THE DECK
SO THAT WATER DOESN'T GET TRAPPED UNDERNEATH IT HERE.
OK.
BOB RYLEY, TERRY BATES, AND GLEN NAYLOR
REMOVE THE REST OF THE BALUSTERS AND RAILINGS
THAT'LL BE REPLICATED BY FORESTER MOULDING.
THE NEXT JOB IS TO JACK UP THE PORCH
TO REMOVE THE COLUMNS FOR PAINT STRIPPING AND REPAIR.
GONNA CLEAR.
TWIST. THERE YOU GO.
OK.
OK, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
LOOK AT THAT. IT'S A SOLID PIECE.
AHH, YOU DON'T SEE THAT ANYMORE.
IT'S GOT A HOLE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
YOU CAN PUT AN ELECTRIC LINE IN THERE OR SOMETHING IF YOU
LIKE.
IT'S SO IT CAN BREATHE UP THE MIDDLE.
UH-HUH.
WOW.
YEAH. THIS BASE IS REALLY TOO FAR GONE
TO TRY AND FIX SO THIS WILL GET REPLACED.
THIS BASE HERE...
THIS IS REALLY NOT HOW YOU WANT TO DO IT.
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SOLID PIECE.
THIS IS JUST TOTALLY INADEQUATE.
SO I GUESS THIS IS--
NONE OF THIS IS ORIGINAL EITHER,
SO THIS DECK IS ALL COMING OFF.
THE PRESSURE-TREATED DECKING WILL COME OFF.
WHOA!
IT'S GONNA HAVE TO GO OUT THAT WAY.
WELL, THERE'S NOT ONLY NO JOIST HANGER ON THIS,
THERE'S NOT MANY NAILS EITHER.
THERE'S ONLY ONE NAIL IN THIS JOIST HANGER HERE, SO...
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE PUTTING JOIST HANGERS
ON EVERYTHING FOR SURE,
BUT NOW WE CAN SEE HOW THIS WHOLE THING IS FRAMED,
AND IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE MIDDLE HERE,
THEY'VE TRIED TO BREAK THE SPAN OF THESE 2x6's
WITH THIS KIND OF JIMMY RIGGED GIRT SYSTEM.
DOWN HERE IS A PIECE OF WOOD,
WHICH--THAT'S GOTTA BE CONCRETE.
RIGHT. WE'LL PUT A NEW SONATUBE,
PROBABLY IN CLOSER TO THE FOUNDATION HERE
AND CUT OUT A BEAM POCKET OVER THERE
FOR OUR CARRYING BEAM.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO OVER HERE
WITH THE GIRT POCKET...
OVER TO A SONATUBE THERE AND SUPPORT IT ALL IN THE MIDDLE.
OK, THAT'LL DO IT.
WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'LL START REBUILDING THE PORCH.
SO DON'T GO AWAY.
CARPENTER ANTS CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE PORCH DECK.
TO ELIMINATE A TERMITE OR ANT COLONY
AND PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE,
MONITORING STATIONS CONTAINING PIECES OF SOFT PINE
WERE INSTALLED AROUND THE PROPERTY.
THE STATIONS ARE CHECKED MONTHLY,
AND WHEN INSECTS ARE DETECTED,
A BAIT STATION CONTAINING TERMITE GROWTH INHIBITOR
IS SUBSTITUTED FOR THE WOOD.
THE INSECTS CARRY THE BAIT BACK TO THE COLONY
CAUSING THE EVENTUAL ELIMINATION OF THE BUGS.
A PRESSURE-TREATED 4x4 POST
SET IN A POST HOLDER ON A CONCRETE FOOTING
NOW SUPPORTS THE GIRT,
WHICH IS MADE OF DOUBLED-UP 2x8 DIMENSIONAL LUMBER.
IT IS POSITIONED UNDER THE MIDDLE SPAN OF THE DECK
AND RESTS IN A GIRT POCKET,
CREATED IN THE BRICK SUPPORT WALL.
ALL OF THE NEW SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR THE PORCH DECK
IS MADE OF COPPER CHROMIUM ARSENATE PRESSURE TREATED WOOD
FROM OSMOSE.
IT IS WARRANTED AGAINST TERMITE AND FUNGAL DECAY
AND WILL BE VERY DURABLE.
OK, SO NOW GLEN IS ALREADY FIRING OFF
SOME OF THE MAHOGANY 1x4 DECKING THAT'S GOING DOWN
SO THAT IT'S STARTING TO LOOK FINISHED AT THAT END,
BUT HERE YOU'VE GOT A GOOD SHOT OF THE RESTRUCTURING.
ALMOST ALL OF IT IS PRESSURE-TREATED LUMBER
EXCEPT FOR A FEW IMPORTANT PIECES
THAT WERE STILL IN SALVAGEABLE GOOD CONDITION,
LIKE THE GIRT, WHICH IS A NICE, BIG 6x8, AND IT'S A HISTORIC
ORIGINAL
AND THIS PIECE ALONG THE FRONT,
BUT YOU CAN SEE ALONG HERE HERE
HOW WE MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM THE RECTILINEAR FRAMING TO
THIS CURVED FRONT.
AND HERE WHAT YOU'VE GOT IS A SKIRT BOARD
THAT HAS BEEN KURF CUT ON THE BACK.
LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT IT OVER HERE
WHERE TERRY AND RYLEY ARE STARTING TO FINISH PUTTING IT OFF.
TERRY, HOW WAS THIS MADE? HOW WERE ALL THESE CUTS MADE?
WE CUT THESE WITH A QUARTER INCH DADO ON THE RADIAL ARM SAW
AND THEN WHAT WE DID IS WE'D LEAVE A SOLID BLOCKING
EVERY COUPLE OF FEET SO THAT WE'D HAVE SOLID NAILING.
SO YOU DON'T DO IT EVERY 2 FEET
SO THAT YOU GOT A SOLID SECTION LEFT.
BUT THIS IS WHAT ALLOWS A PIECE OF WOOD THAT'S NORMALLY VERY
STIFF
TO TAKE THAT CURVE AND THEN ALL WE'RE DOING
IS SIMPLY PUTTING FINISH NAILS--
WHAT ARE THEY, 10--
8-PENNY GALVANIZED NAILS.
8-PENNY GALVANIZED NAILS.
UH...AND WHAT KIND OF LUMBER DID YOU USE?
WE USED FIVE QUARTER PINE
AND LAID IT DOWN TO A FULL INCH,
WHICH LEAVES US A GOOD QUARTER INCH SOLID ON THE OUTSIDE
HERE,
AND I LIKE IT, 'CAUSE IT GIVES ME 3/4 AND IT'S PRETTY STIFF.
YEAH, AND NOW, OF COURSE, THIS ALL GETS COVERED UP
WITH A MAHOGANY PIECE.
RIGHT. THE MAHOGANY RUNS AROUND THE PERIMETER,
JUST LIKE THIS,
WITH A 3/4 INCH OVERHAND.
OK.
HOW DID YOU FIGURE OUT THE CURVE?
WE CAN SHOW YOU THAT OVER HERE
ON THE OTHER SIDE WHERE WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE IT.
WE'RE USING 1x10 MAHOGANY,
SO THAT THAT GIVES US ENOUGH MEAT
TO GET OUR RADIUS OUT OF IT.
Bob: RIGHT.
Glen: AND I'M USING THE SCRAP OF THE DECKING,
WHICH GIVES ME MY 3/4 INCH OVERHANG
AND I JUST SCRIBE IT LIKE SO, SO I HAVE A CURVE BIND TO CUT.
BEFORE CUTTING,
TERRY SCRIBED THE INNER CURVE 4 INCHES FROM THE OUTER CURVE
THAT HE HAD JUST TRACED.
SO, RYLEY, WHAT KIND OF NAILS WERE USED HERE?
THESE ARE STAINLESS STEEL RING SHANKS, 6 PENNY.
AND WE'VE ALSO PUT SOME GLUE UNDERNEATH,
BUT NOW THAT THIS WHOLE SIDE BAND IS APPLIED
WE'RE READY TO MAKE THE CUTS INTO THE DECKING ITSELF
AND, TERRY, HOW ARE YOU DETERMINING WHERE TO CUT?
WE JUST USE THE BACK CUT-OFF PIECE THAT'S LEFT OVER,
AND WE'LL JUST MARK THE DECKING,
AND THEN WE'LL CUT EACH PIECE AND FINE-TUNE EACH PIECE AFTER
IT'S CUT.
EXCELLENT.
THE ANCIENT PLUMB BOB IS STILL AWAITED
TO DETERMINE THE EXACT LOCATION
IN A VERTICAL SITUATION LIKE WE'RE GONNA PUT THE COLUMN
HERE.
AND NOW YOU'RE READY TO MARK OFF WHERE THE BASE ACTUALLY
GOES, RIGHT, TERRY?
YEAH, AND WE KEEP IT AN EVEN DISTANCE HERE
ON THE FRONT, AWAY FROM THE EDGE,
SO THAT OUR RAILING,
WHICH IS RUNNING BETWEEN THE COLUMNS AND THE CORNER POST,
IS IN THE SAME PLACE AS WE GO AROUND THE DECK.
AND THESE SIMPLY GET ATTACHED WITH 16 PENNY NAILS.
16 PENNY FINISH.
WE PRE-DRILL THE BASES.
OK.
OK, NOW THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL FLUTED COLUMNS
THAT ARE MADE OUT OF WHAT, PINE, DO YOU SUPPOSE?
I THINK THEY'RE PINE.
YEAH, THEY'RE NOT TERRIBLY HEAVY,
BUT THEY DO HAVE SOME WEIGHT.
AND THEY'VE BEEN PREPARED TO GO BACK ONTO THE NEW CAPITALS.
OK.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO JACK JUST A LITTLE BIT
IN ORDER TO FIT THIS ONE--THERE WE GO, THERE WE GO.
DOES THAT LOOK GOOD?
YEP. WE'RE CENTERED ON BOTH OF THEM.
ALL RIGHT, SO NOW THE JACK AND--
COME DOWN SLOWLY.
COME SLOWLY DOWN AND LET THE WEIGHT BACK ON TO THE COLUMNS.
NEXT, WE'LL REPLICATE THE PORCH BALUSTERS
AT FORESTER MOULDING. STICK AROUND.
NEXT TIME ON BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN.
WE'LL RESTORE THE PORCH ON THIS LATE 19th CENTURY HOME
IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.
THE OWNERS PLAN TO REVERSE YEARS OF NEGLECT
AND POOR WORKMANSHIP BY REBUILDING THE DECK,
REPLACING THE BALUSTERS AND RAILINGS
WITH CUSTOM REPRODUCTION MILLWORK,
AND RETURNING MISSING DETAILS.
THEY'LL ALSO POLISH UP THE BRASS ON THE FRONT DOOR
AND RESTORE THE VICTORIAN LANDSCAPE.
THEIR HOPE IS TO RECOVER THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION
OF THEIR HOME. DON'T MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT TIME ON HOME AGAIN.
NEXT TIME ON BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN.
WE'LL RESTORE THE ORIGINAL DETAILS OF THIS 19th CENTURY
PORCH
AND RECREATE ITS VICTORIAN LANDSCAPE.
DON'T MISS IT.
IN ADDITION TO THE PORCH RESTORATION,
A FEW OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO UNDERWAY,
LIKE THIS HOME SECURITY SYSTEM FROM ADT.
THE NEW LANDSCAPE PLAN INCLUDES A PATIO
IN THE BACKYARD MADE OF RIVEN STONES FROM J&J MATERIALS
IN REHOBOTH, MASSACHUSETTS.
RIVEN STONE IS A CONCRETE PRODUCT.
IT COMES IN UNIFORM THICKNESS AND SIZE
WITH COLOR PIGMENT THROUGHOUT
AND IT'S MOLDED TO LOOK LIKE BLUESTONE
BUT AT HALF THE COST.
STEVE MOORE FROM ARCHITECTURAL BRASS
IS REMOVING THE ANTIQUE HARDWARE FROM THE FRONT DOOR
FOR POLISHING AND RESTORATION BACK AT HIS WORKSHOP.
WE'RE ALSO ADDING AN AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM
FROM GREEN LAWN.
OUR LIGHTING DESIGNER, MARCUS EARLEY,
HAS FOUND THESE BRONZE EXTERIOR LIGHT FIXTURES
FROM LUMIERE.
THEY ARE RECESSED IN THE PORCH DECK
TO PROVIDE UPLIGHT ILLUMINATION FOR THE COLUMNS
AND THE PORCH CEILING.
AND ALL OF THE STONE AND BRICK
FOR THE FRONT LANDSCAPE RESTORATION
ALSO CAME FROM J&J MATERIALS.
AND HERE, A VICTORIAN FRONT WALKWAY IS BEING BUILT.
THE NEW BRICK WALK TO THE FRONT DOOR
HAS BEEN LAID OUT IN A HERRINGBONE PATTERN
USING THESE BOSTON CITY HALL PAVERS
THAT ARE A BEAUTIFUL BRICK FOR LANDSCAPE USE
AND HERE WHAT YOU'VE GOT IS A VERY COMPLICATED LAY-OUT
BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT A HERRINGBONE,
WHICH IS LAID AGAINST EACH OTHER AT 90 DEGREES,
BUT IT'S A CURVED WALK.
IT'S RISING, IT'S NOT FLAT.
AND IT GETS REAL COMPLICATED.
LOU PALSENO, WHO'S WORKING ON THE OTHER END OVER HERE,
STARTED HERE AT THE MID-POINT OF THE FRONT STEPS,
RIGHT HERE,
AND WHAT HE HAS TO DO IS SET A 45-DEGREE ANGLE,
AS YOU SEE RIGHT HERE,
AND THAT IS THE KEY TO GETTING THE HERRINGBONE STARTED,
ON THIS SIDE, YOU CAN SEE HE'S ALREADY TRIMMED IT OUT,
AND THAT IS ALL FINE CUTS.
AND, LOU, LET ME INTERRUPT YOU JUST A SECOND.
HOW DO YOU MAKE THE CUTS HERE
AND HOW DO YOU LAY OUT THESE ODD SHAPED ONES?
WELL, USUALLY, I CUT THE BRICK WITH A CHISEL,
BUT SEEING THAT THIS PARTICULAR BRICK HAS A HOLLOW BOTTOM,
WE CUT THE BRICK ON A WET SAW.
OK, SO HOW DO YOU MARK IT OFF?
WELL, BASICALLY, I PUT THE BRICK IN POSITION
ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN...
YEAH.
AND LAY IT IN--
AND JUST MARK IT THAT WAY.
GET MY STRAIGHT EDGE AND MAKE THE MARK.
OK.
THAT'S IT.
THEN OFF TO THE SAW.
OFF TO THE SAW.
WHILE LOU PALSENO FINISHES UP THE BRICK WALKWAY,
IT'S TIME TO CHECK IN ON THE STATUS
OF OUR REPRODUCTION BALUSTERS AND RAILINGS.
ALL OF THE WORK IS BEING MILLED HERE
HERE AT FORESTER MOULDING IN LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS.
ONE OF THEIR SPECIALTIES IS REPRODUCING
HISTORIC MILLWORK.
TO REPRODUCE THE RAILING FOR OUR HOUSE,
A PIECE OF THE ORIGINAL IS SCANNED INTO A COMPUTER
AND A PROFILE IS CREATED IN HIGH-DENSITY PLASTIC
USING A COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN PROGRAM.
A GRINDER IS USED TO CREATE KNIVES FOR THE MOLDER.
IN A PROCESS SIMILAR TO COPYING A KEY,
THE STEEL ASSUMES THE SHAPE OF THE PROFILE.
TO MILL THE CURVED GOOSENECK RISERS,
PIECES OF WESTERN RED CEDAR ARE GLUED TOGETHER
WITH AN EXTERIOR POLYURETHANE GLUE
TO FORM THE APPROPRIATE THICKNESS.
THE PIECES ARE CLAMPED UNTIL THE GLUE IS SET.
THE KNIFE IS PLACED INTO THE HEAD OF A TILTING HEAD MOLDER.
THE MOLDER CAN POSITION THE KNIFE AT ANY ANGLE.
A TEMPLATE IS SCREWED ONTO THE CURVE OF THE WESTERN RED
CEDAR.
IT'LL GUIDE THE PIECE THROUGH THE MOLDER
AND KEEP THE CUTTING KNIFE IN THE CORRECT POSITION.
IT'LL TAKE SEVERAL PASSES THROUGH THE MOLDER
TO CUT THE PROFILE.
A DIFFERENT KNIFE MUST BE USED FOR EACH PASS.
FIRST, THE BACK NOTCH IS CUT,
THEN THE TOP PROFILE IS CUT,
AND FINALLY, THE SIDES ARE CUT
WITH A MOLDER HEAD SLIGHTLY TILTED
IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION TO MATCH THE PROFILE.
ONLY ONE PASS IS NEEDED TO MAKE STRAIGHT PIECES OF RAILING.
THIS MULTI-HEAD MOULDING MACHINE
ACCOMMODATES ALL OF THE KNIVES NEEDED
TO CREATE THE PROFILE.
A TEST PIECE IS RUN TO CHECK THE ALIGNMENT OF THE KNIVES.
AS A QUALITY CONTROL CHECK,
THE TEST PIECES ARE COMPARED WITH THE ORIGINAL PROFILE
UNTIL ALL OF THE ADJUSTMENTS ARE CORRECT.
THEN THE REQUIRED LENGTH OF RAILING FOR OUR JOB IS RUN.
TO CREATE THE BALUSTERS,
A PLASTIC PROFILE IS MADE,
USING AN ORIGINAL BALUSTER AS A MODEL.
THE PROFILE IS PLACED IN A COPY LATHE.
THE OPERATOR MAKES SURE THAT THE PIECE OF MAHOGANY STOCK
IS CENTERED AND SECURE IN THE LATHE.
A PIN FOLLOWS THE PROFILE
AND ADJUSTS THE KNIFE ON THE PIECE BEING TURNED
TO DUPLICATE THE BALUSTERS.
NOW IT'S TIME TO INSTALL ALL OF OUR MILLWORK
AND SEE HOW IT LOOKS.
SO TERRY'S DRIVING IN SCREWS THROUGH THE BOTTOM RAIL.
THESE ARE STAINLESS STEEL, AREN'T THEY?
GALVANIZED.
GALVANIZED.
AND THIS IS THE PREFERRED WAY
OF FASTENING ALL OF THE BALUSTERS TO THE BOTTOM RAIL,
'CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SPLITTING.
IF YOU TRY TOE NAILING FROM THE TOP,
YOU COULD END UP SPLITTING THE BOTTOMS
OF THESE BEAUTIFUL TURNED BALUSTERS.
AND LET'S STAND IT UP SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT.
AND THE TOPS ARE NAILED ONTO A LATTICE
AND THE LATTICE THEN WILL FIT...
ONTO THE RAILING SYSTEM...
AND GET ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF THE RAILING.
PUT A COUPLE OF WEDGES UNDER IT.
YEAH.
THERE YOU GO.
GOOD.
BOY, THAT LOOKS HANDSOME,
AND IT IS A GENUINE RECREATION
OF WHAT WAS HERE ORIGINALLY.
NOW HOW WILL YOU INSTALL THE LAST THREE BALUSTERS HERE?
WE'LL CUT THEM FOR THE RISER HERE.
WE'LL MARK THEM, WE'LL MAKE A PATTERN.
AND WE USE THE BAND SAW IN THE SHOP
AND THEN WE'LL TOE NAIL THEM IN THE BACK.
EXACTLY, 'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET THAT EXACT SECTION OF CURVE
AT THE TOP OF EACH BALUSTER.
RIGHT. AND WE LAY OUT EACH RISER IDENTICALLY
SO THE BALUSTER THAT'S GOING TO FIT HERE
WILL ALSO FIT THE REST OF THE ONE-STEP RISERS.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HISTORIC REPRODUCTION MILLWORK AT...
THE FINAL DELIVERY OF DWARF BOXWOODS
FROM PRIDE'S CORNER NURSERIES IN LEBANON, CONNECTICUT
WILL COMPLETE THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN.
STEVE MOORE FROM ARCHITECTURAL BRASS
REINSTALLS THE RESTORED AND POLISHED BRASS HARDWARE ON THE
FRONT DOOR.
THE FRONT PORCH RESTORATION IS COMPLETE
AND IT REALLY DOES RETURN THE VICTORIAN GRANDEUR
OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE.
THE RESTORED BALUSTRADE WITH THE GOOSENECK RISERS
AND TURNED BALUSTERS IS PAINTED OUT
AND TOPPED WITH REPRODUCTION URNS FROM FORESTER MOULDING.
BUT THE REAL CROWNING TOUCH
IS THE RECREATION OF THE MISSING BALUSTRADE.
THIS GRACEFUL CURVED RAILING REALLY BALANCES OUT
THE PROPORTIONS OF THE HOUSE.
ROSEBUSHES ARE ALWAYS APPROPRIATE IN THE FRONT GARDEN,
ESPECIALLY IN FRONT OF AN OLD VICTORIAN HOUSE,
AND HERE WE'VE GOT THIS BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION
OF ABOUT A DOZEN THAT'LL CREATE A BIG MOUND
IN FRONT OF CELESTE AND BERRY'S
NEWLY RESTORED FRONT PORCH,
AND LOU PALSENO WHO'S DONE ALL THE WORK HERE
IS A REMARKABLE INSTALLER BECAUSE HE MADE THE PLAN.
HE DID A BEAUTIFUL DRAWING,
AND HERE IN THE DRAWING
WE CAN SEE THAT THE NEW LANDSCAPE
HAS RESPECTED THE BONES OF THE ORIGINAL VICTORIAN DESIGN.
AS THE PLANTS MATURE,
THE HOMEOWNERS WILL HAVE A VERY LOVELY FRONT YARD.
WELL, CELESTE AND BERRY,
WHAT'S IT FEEL LIKE TO HAVE NOT ONLY YOUR FRONT PORCH
BUT THE WHOLE FRONT GARDEN RESTORED?
OH, IT'S GREAT.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
THE HERRINGBONE WALKWAY AND THE RIVEN STONE TERRACE IS--
THEY'RE LOVELY.
AND THE NEXT THING IS TO TRY
TO GET YOUR HISTORIC MARKER BACK, RIGHT?
YES, THAT'S IT.
THAT'S IT.
THAT'S IT, BOB.
CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
COME HOME AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
WE'RE GONNA BE STARTING A WHOLE NEW PROJECT JUST DOWN THE
ROAD.
THIS TIME IT'LL BE A BEAUTIFUL SHINGLE-STYLE HOUSE.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
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