1122 - Two More Porch Renovations
January 29-February 4, 2001 | July 30-August 5, 2001
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HI, I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME HOME AGAIN TO ANOTHER PROJECT
HERE IN THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD OF ELMWOOD, PROVIDENCE,
RHODE ISLAND.
TODAY'S PROJECT INVOLVES EXTERIOR RESTORATION
OF THE ORIGINAL SIDE ENTRANCE TO THIS BEAUTIFUL MANSION,
REMOVAL AND DEMOLITION OF THE ENCLOSURE,
REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL COLUMNS,
WHICH WERE STORED IN THE BASEMENT,
AND LOTS OF MILLWORK GOING IN TO CREATE NEW RAILINGS
BALUSTRADES.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY SEARS
THIS BEAUTIFUL DUTCH COLONIAL MANSION
WAS BUILT IN 1905.
IT'S A 15,000 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE
THAT EVENTUALLY SAW ITSELF CONVERTED INTO A 14 UNIT
APARTMENT BUILDING.
THE FRONT ENTRANCE WAS BOARDED UP.
THE SIDE-COLUMNED PORTICO WAS CLOSED UP INTO A NEW LOBBY.
JIM VERITY, WHO IS THE CURRENT OWNER OF THE HOUSE,
RUNS HIS INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS FROM HERE.
HE ALSO LIVES HERE.
HIS CURRENT PROJECT IS RESTORING THAT SIDE ENTRY,
PUTTING IN THE COLUMNS WHICH WERE FOUND IN THE BASEMENT,
AND RESTORING MUCH OF THE BALUSTRADES TO THE FRONT OF THE
HOUSE.
I LOOKED AT SEVERAL PIECES OF PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF
PROVIDENCE,
AND THIS WAS THE ONE THAT I REALLY SETTLED ON.
BEING IN THE DESIGN BUSINESS,
I HAD A GREAT PASSION FOR THIS HOUSE.
WHEN I SAW THE HOUSE ORIGINALLY,
IT HAD BEEN DIVIDED UP INTO 14 UNITS.
AND I HAD THEM ALL RESTORED BACK.
THEY HAD SEALED OFF THE FRONT DOOR WHEN THEY DIVIDED THE
HOUSE UP
AND USED THIS AS THE MAIN ENTRANCE.
THIS USED TO BE A CLUSTER OF COLUMNS ON EITHER SIDE
HOLDING UP THIS BAY.
THEY HAD REMOVED THE COLUMNS,
FORTUNATELY, STORED THEM IN THE BASEMENT,
AND SEALED THIS OFF AND MADE THIS THE ENCLOSURE
FOR THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE HOUSE.
FINDING THE COLUMNS IN THE HOUSE,
FOUND THE ORIGINAL CAPITALS,
THE BASES AND THE COLUMNS IN GOOD SHAPE.
YOU CAN SEE HERE THE ORIGINAL NUMBER.
THEY HAD BEEN STORED FOR, I THINK, ABOUT 30 YEARS,
AND THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THEM PUT BACK INTO
WHERE THEY USED TO BE AND HAVE THIS WHOLE SECTION REMOVED.
STEVE BARNES FROM B B & R CONTRACTING HERE IN PROVIDENCE
IS THE GC, THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR ON THE JOB.
AND ALTHOUGH IT'S KIND OF A SMALL JOB,
JUST A SMALL VESTIBULE,
HIS MEN HAVE ALREADY REMOVED A LOT OF THE WORK
THAT WAS PUT ON HERE MAYBE 30 YEARS AGO.
ALL THE CLAPBOARDS AND SIDING THAT WAS PUT ON
ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE PORCH TO CLOSE IT IN.
ON THE INSIDE, THE FELLOWS TOOK AWAY ALL THE LUAN PLYWOOD,
1/4 INCH STUFF THAT WAS PUT IN TO PANELIZE IN
AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A LITTLE FOYER.
AND NOW, WE'RE KIND OF AT THE FINAL STAGE OF SOME OF THE
DEMOLITION.
AND STEVE, WHAT IS IT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO UP THERE?
UH, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY THIS
BAY WINDOW IS SAGGING, BOB.
AH-HA.
THE INSIDE OF THE BAY, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE SASHES,
THE HOMEOWNER HAD THEM CUT,
THEY HAD TO BE CUT FROM AN INCH TO 3 INCHES ON THE OTHER
SIDE,
SOME OF THE CEILINGS HAVE CRACKED.
THAT'S A LOT OF SAGGING.
AND YET, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY EVIDENCE DOWN HERE
OF ROTTING WOOD OR FOUNDATION SETTLEMENT
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THAT'S CORRECT.
YOU'RE THINKING MAYBE THERE'S DAMAGE TO THE TIMBER UP THERE?
UH, I HOPE NOT.
WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
OK.
I DON'T KNOW, STEVE, IT LOOKS PRETTY CLEAN FROM HERE.
NO ROT OR ANYTHING.
NO VISIBLE ROT AT ALL.
NO VISIBLE ROT.
THIS IS ALL LUMBER THAT'S MAYBE--
WHATEVER, 30 YEARS OLD WHEN IT WAS ENCLOSED.
SO IF THERE'S NO ROT AND THERE'S NO FOUNDATION DAMAGE,
WHY DO YOU THINK IT SAGGED?
I THINK IT WAS JUST UNDER-FRAMED.
UM, PROBABLY NEED A HEADER IN THE CENTER OF THE UNIT OVER
HERE
ONCE WE TAKE OFF THE TONGUE AND GROOVE CEILING.
YEAH. NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT UP HERE
IS BASICALLY A 6 INCH MEMBER...
YES.
AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING IN THAT DIRECTION
UNDERNEATH ALL THE WAY TO THIS WALL.
SO I GUESS THE NEXT THING TO DO
IS TO REMOVE THE PORCH CEILING.
ALL RIGHT. THAT'S CORRECT.
WE'LL LEAVE STEVE BARNES AND HIS CREW
TO FINISH UP THE DEMOLITION ON THE SIDE PORCH.
MEANWHILE, WE'LL CHECK IN ON SOME OF THE OTHER EXTERIOR
PROJECTS
HERE AT THE MANSION.
IN ADDITION TO THE PORCH RESTORATION WORK,
WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE DOING A LOT OF LANDSCAPING.
THE FIRST STEP IS TO POWER RAKE THE YARD
BEFORE RECEDING AND REPLANTING.
FIRST, WE UNLOAD THE BOBCAT WITH THE POWER RAKE ATTACHMENT.
BECAUSE THIS IS A LARGE LAWN,
A POWER RAKE IS MORE ECONOMICAL FOR PREPARING THE SOIL
THAN A ROTO-TILLER.
THE POWER RAKE IS MUCH WIDER AND LARGER THAN A ROTO-TILLER
AND JOHN FERRUCCI FROM GREENSKEEPER
IS ABLE TO COVER THIS LARGE YARD VERY QUICKLY.
WHILE THE POWER RAKING CONTINUES,
LET'S GET TOGETHER WITH THE ARCHITECT AND BUILDING INSPECTOR
TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF OUR SAGGING BAY WINDOW.
ANYTIME YOU FIND YOURSELF WITH A STRUCTURAL QUESTION
IN THE MIDDLE OF A HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT,
IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO BRING IN THE PROFESSIONALS.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GONNA TALK WITH DAVID TIDWELL
WHO'S A CONSULTING ARCHITECT... HI, DAVID.
HOW ARE YOU, BOB?
...AND ED PAXON, WHO'S...
YOU'RE ALSO AN ARCHITECT,
BUT YOU WORK WITH INSPECTIONAL SERVICES HERE IN THE CITY.
YES, I'M EMPLOYED BY THE CITY AS A BUILDING INSPECTOR.
OK. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THE BUILDING INSPECTOR SAYS
FIRST.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE STRUCTURE?
I'VE COME HERE PREVIOUSLY AND TAKEN A LOOK AT IT.
ON THE WAY IN, I NOTICED WE HAVE A PERMIT IN THE WINDOW,
WHICH IS REQUIRED.
WE CHECK FOR EXCESSIVE SETTLEMENT OR ANY EVIDENCE OF
SETTLEMENT.
I WENT INSIDE, LOOKED AT THE FLOOR, THE PLASTER.
THE BELIEVE THE PLASTER HAS BEEN REDONE,
SO I DIDN'T FIND ANY DIAGONAL CRACKS TO SPEAK OF.
RIGHT.
THE OWNER, JIM, TOLD ME THAT
THERE HAD BEEN SOME OPENING OF THE FLOORBOARDS,
BUT THEY HADN'T MOVED IN FIVE YEARS.
SO THAT'S EVIDENCE THAT THE SETTLEMENT HAS STOPPED.
OK. BUT HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE FOUNDATION, FOR EXAMPLE?
WE HAVEN'T EXCAVATED TO LOOK AT THE FOUNDATION.
FIRST WE WANT TO KNOW IF WE HAVE A REAL REASON
TO LOOK AT THE FOUNDATION.
AND IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WHEN THE ORIGINAL COLUMNS WERE TAKEN
OUT
AND THESE STUDS WERE PUT IN,
THERE WAS SOME SETTLEMENT AT THAT TIME.
WE FOUND NO CRACKS IN THE BRICKS BELOW US IN THE BRICK
PIERS.
WE FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF RACKING OF THOSE PIERS
OR THEIR RELATIONSHIP OF PERPENDICULAR TO THE BUILDING.
RIGHT.
SO, MOST LIKELY, WHEN THEY TOOK OUT
THOSE BIG, SOLID BEAUTIFUL COLUMNS
AND PUT UP SPINDLY 2 X 4s HERE--
WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK, DAVID?
WELL, UH, I THINK PROBABLY WE HAD A LITTLE SETTLEMENT AT
THAT TIME.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN ARRESTED NOW.
SO I THINK ONCE WE TAKE CARE OF PUTTING SOMETHING BACK IN
PLACE
AND BEEFING UP SOME OF THE STRUCTURE
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT INADEQUATE NOW, WE'LL BE OK.
WHAT WILL YOU RECOMMEND?
UM, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND
IS THIS IS A SOLID PIECE OF LUMBER NOW--
WE'LL TAKE THAT OUT AND REPLACE IT WITH SOME MANUFACTURED
LUMBER
KNOWN AS LAMINATED VENEER LUMBER OR LVLs.
WE'LL PLACE THAT WITH TWO NEW PIECES THERE.
AND THEN THESE PIECES THAT ARE RATHER SHALLOW UP HERE
THAT FRAME UP THE FLOOR,
WE'RE GOING TO PUT A, WHAT WE CALL, SISTER NEXT TO EACH OF
THOSE.
SO WE'LL PUT ANOTHER MEMBER NEXT TO EACH OF THE SINGLE
MEMBERS UP HERE.
AND THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM.
THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
NEXT, WE'LL BUILD A NEW BALUSTRADE ON THE FRONT PORCH
USING CUSTOM REPRODUCTION MILLWORK.
STEVE IS NOTCHING OUT THE EXISTING JOIST UP THERE
SO THAT WE CAN FIT IN THE SECOND LVL.
THE FIRST LVL IS ALREADY IN PLACE
AND BEING HELD UP TEMPORARILY BY A COUPLE OF
DOUBLED-UP 2 X 4 STUDS.
THE MAIN JOB OF HOLDING UP THE UPSTAIRS
IS BEING DONE BY THIS TEMPORARY WALL.
AND WHEN WE FINISH DOUBLING UP UP THERE,
WE'LL DO THE SAME THING ON BOTH SIDES.
STEVE, THE WEIGHT-BEARING PART
OF THE WHOLE DECK STRUCTURE
IS RIGHT AROUND HERE, ISN'T IT?
THAT'S CORRECT.
DO YOU THINK THIS IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CARRY
THE WEIGHT OF THIS UPPER STORY?
NO. WE'VE PRECUT SOME NEW FLOOR JOISTS,
PRESSURE TREATED FLOOR JOISTS THAT ARE COMING IN HERE
TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF THE OVERHANG.
SO THAT YOU'RE FILLING UP THE WHOLE AREA.
AND WE'LL HAVE NICE, SOLID BEARING
FOR BOTH THE COLUMNS.
AND THEN JUST ADD SOME SHIMS AND NAIL IT INTO PLACE.
HOMEOWNER JIM VERITY IS HELPING LANDSCAPER JOHN FERRUCCI
FROM GREENSKEEPER.
THEY'RE PLANTING FOUNDATION SHRUBS CALLED BURNING BUSH
FROM WARWICK NURSERIES.
OCEAN STATE LAWN SPRINKLER
IS BUSY INSTALLING AN AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM.
FIRST, A VIBRATORY PLOW DRAGS A ONE INCH BLACK POLYETHYLENE
PIPE UNDERGROUND.
THE PLOW CAN INSTALL ALL OF THE PIPING IN ONE STEP,
WITHOUT DIGGING UP THE LAWN.
SPRINKLER HEADS ARE ATTACHED TO THE PIPE
TO CREATE ZONES IN THE YARD.
THE PIPE IS FED THROUGH A LARGE PVC TUBE IN THIS AREA
BECAUSE A BRICK WALKWAY WILL BE BUILT OVER IT.
THE BLACK PIPE CAN BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED IN THE FUTURE
BY RE-THREADING IT THROUGH THE PVC,
MAKING IT UNNECESSARY TO DIG UP THE WALKWAY.
HUNTER VALVES WILL CONTROL THE ZONES
AND PROVIDE A MANIFOLD SYSTEM FOR THE SPRINKLER.
THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM IS ATTACHED TO THE WATER SUPPLY
WITH A BACKFLOW PREVENTER FROM FEBCO.
THIS KEEPS THE WATER FROM THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM
FROM CONTAMINATING DRINKING WATER WITH LAWN CHEMICALS
IF THERE SHOULD EVER BE A DROP IN PRESSURE TO THE SYSTEM.
THE FRONT PORCH, AT SOME POINT,
ACQUIRED A WROUGHT IRON RAILING
WHICH IS BEING REMOVED BY BRIAN WIGGINS AND HIS HELPER HERE.
AND IT'S TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE TO THE ARCHITECTURE,
SO WE'RE GONNA BE RESTORING IT AS WELL.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT BILL HOPKINS FROM FORESTER
MOULDINGS
WHO HAS HELPED US OUT.
NOW, YOU'VE RECREATED WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE, RIGHT?
YES, BOB.
HOW DO YOU TAKE THE APPROACH
OF TRYING TO DO THE DETECTIVE WORK TO REPLACE THIS?
WELL, FIRST OFF, WE TRY TO SCRAPE SOME OF THE PAINT OFF HERE
OF THE ORIGINAL-- UH--RAIL.
AND FROM THAT, WE START TO DRAW OUT
DIFFERENT PARTS OF IT.
AND, AS YOU START TO LOOK AT IT,
YOU CAN SEE HOW IT'S PUT TOGETHER.
IN THIS CASE, THIS RAIL WAS MADE UP OF FOUR DIFFERENT
PIECES.
YOU'VE GOT A TOP RAIL, TWO SIDE RAILS,
AND THEN A BOTTOM RAIL
THAT RECEIVES THE BALUSTERS.
AND ALL OF THEM HAVE RECEIVED SOME SORT OF BLADE CUT
TO CREATE THESE EFFECTS, RIGHT?
RIGHT.
EVEN ON THIS HOUSE HERE,
THERE ARE TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT PROFILES.
SO WHAT WE DID IS WE PICKED THE ONE THAT WENT THE BEST
WITH WHAT SEEMED TO BE ORIGINAL.
AND I CAME IN AND STARTED DOING SOME DRAWING.
SO YOU JUST TAKE A SCRIBE TO IT.
YES, WE TAKE THIS TEMPLATE GAUGE
AND JUST VERY CAREFULLY SLIDE IT IN
AND THAT GIVES US PRETTY MUCH A GOOD PART OF THE PROFILE.
THAT'S THE PROFILE THAT YOU WANT TO REPRODUCE RIGHT THERE.
ONCE WE HAVE THE PROFILE THERE,
I TAKE IT AND REDRAW IT
AND THEN IT GOES INTO OUR OFFICE
AND THEY DRAW THIS OUT IN A CAD PROGRAM.
AND THEN EVERYTHING IS BROUGHT RIGHT TO SIZE, CHECKED OUT.
AND THEN WE MAKE A PLASTIC TEMPLATE
WHICH BECOMES THE TEMPLATE FOR THE TOOLING.
AND THAT--I COME BACK HERE TO CHECK IT
TO MAKE SURE IT'S CORRECT.
AND THEN, IF THAT'S OK,
THEN IT GOES INTO THE TOOL ROOM
AND THE KNIFE IS MADE.
CUT A KNIFE, AND THEN WE CAN MAKE THE MOULDINGS.
EXACTLY.
AND OF COURSE, WE ALREADY HAVE THE MOULDINGS.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, BRIAN, ARE YOU GONNA HAVE TO TAKE
ALL OF THE WROUGHT IRON OUT,
OR CAN YOU LEAVE THAT IN PIECE?
I'M GONNA LEAVE ALL OF THE POSTS IN HERE, BOB,
BECAUSE THEY'RE INTO THE ROCK
AND THEY'RE REALLY SOLID.
SO I CAN MAKE A SLEEVE RIGHT GOING OVER IT.
THE WOOD WILL FIT RIGHT OVER IT.
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
NOW, CAN YOU SHOW US HOW THESE ACTUAL PIECES
THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN CUT WILL FIT TOGETHER?
OH, SURE. THESE BALUSTERS SET INSIDE OF HERE.
THOSE ARE BEAUTIFUL. THEY'RE MAHOGANY, AREN'T THEY?
OH, THEY'RE GORGEOUS.
AND THEY ARE SUCH A GOOD FIT.
THEY'RE SNUG.
YES, THEY ARE.
OK, NOW, THAT'S UPSIDE DOWN.
BUT THE FIRST THING YOU'LL BE DOING IS PUTTING
ALL OF THESE IN PLACE TO CREATE A WHOLE LENGTH.
YES, I WILL. FLIP THIS RIGHT OVER.
AND THEY ARE SNUG.
THAT'S SO NICE.
AND THOSE ARE THE SIDES.
YES.
WITH THE PROFILE CUT.
MIKE, YOU CAN JUST SLIDE THAT RIGHT OVER.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY BUILDING THIS
YOU'LL HAVE A STUD IN HERE, A 2 X 4.
YES. YES, I WILL.
THAT WILL BE VERY NICE.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, BEFORE YOU DO ANY OF THIS WORK
ASSEMBLING IT OUT HERE, YOU WANT TO PRIME ALL OF IT?
YEAH, I'M GONNA TAKE IT BACK TO THE SHOP,
PRIME EVERYTHING, AND THEN I'LL BRING IT BACK ON SITE
AND PUT IT TOGETHER.
IT WILL WORK.
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CUSTOM AND HISTORIC REPRODUCTION
MILLWORK AT...
NEXT TIME ON...
WE'LL RESTORE THE SIDE ENTRANCE
OF THIS BEAUTIFUL MANSION IN THE ELMWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD
OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.
WE'LL RESTORE THE ORIGINAL COLUMNS THAT WERE FOUND IN THE
BASEMENT
AND WE'LL USE LOTS OF REPRODUCTION MILLWORK
TO CREATE A NEW BALUSTRADE FOR THE FRONT ENTRANCE.
ALSO, WE'LL LANDSCAPE THE YARD,
INSTALL AN AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER,
HYDROSEED THE LAWN, AND ADD A SECURITY SYSTEM.
DON'T MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT TIME ON HOME AGAIN.
NEXT TIME ON...
WE'LL USE LOTS OF REPRODUCTION MILLWORK
TO CREATE NEW RAILINGS AND BALUSTERS
FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL MANSION.
DON'T MISS IT.
THE LANDSCAPING CONTINUES AT OUR EXTERIOR RESTORATION
PROJECT.
A ROW OF ARBORVITAE FROM WARWICK NURSERIES
IS PLANTED ALONG THE DRIVEWAY.
THEY'LL MAKE A NICE SCREEN WHEN THEY FILL OUT AND MATURE.
ON THE SIDE ENTRANCE,
THE ORIGINAL COLUMNS ARE BACK IN PLACE
AND ARE NOW SUPPORTING THE LOAD OF THE ROOF AND BAY WINDOW.
THE ROOF RESTRUCTURING IS NOW COMPLETE
WITH BEEFED UP FRAMING USING DIMENSIONAL LUMBER
AND LVLs FROM GEORGIA PACIFIC.
WITH MOST OF THE WORK DONE ON THE PORCH,
NOW ONE OF THE LAST THINGS TO DO
IS TO PUT AN ALARM SYSTEM IN THE HOUSE
AND ON THIS SIDE ENTRY.
AND MIKE CROWE'S HERE FROM ADT.
MIKE, I'M GONNA INTERRUPT YOU NOW.
WHAT ARE YOU INSTALLING HERE?
I'M INSTALLING A DOOR/WINDOW SENSOR.
WHAT DOES THAT DO?
THIS IS ONE OF 12 THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE
THAT'S PROTECTING THE PERIMETER.
WHAT'S INSIDE HERE?
A TRANSMITTER.
SO IT'S A MINI, MINI, MINI WIRELESS TRANSMITTER
WHICH WILL SEND A SIGNAL FROM HERE
BACK TO A CENTRAL CONTROL PANEL, RIGHT?
YES.
IF THAT WAS TRIPPED,
IT WOULD SET OFF THE SIRENS
AND REPORT TO THE CENTRAL STATION
AND HAVE THE POLICE RESPOND.
SO HOW BIG A SYSTEM IS IT?
THIS IS A BIG HOUSE.
ABOUT A DOZEN OR SO PERIMETER CIRCUITS
AND A MOTION SENSOR.
SO THE PERIMETER CIRCUITS ARE PLACED AT DOORS
AND AT WINDOWS THAT ARE AT GROUND LEVEL, FOR EXAMPLE?
YES. AND THEN MOTIONS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE FOR INTERIOR
PROTECTION
FOR ANY BREAKING GLASS.
TERRIFIC. I'LL LET YOU GET IT FINISHED. THANKS, MIKE.
JOHN FERRUCCI FROM GREENSKEEPER
IS FINISHING UP THE LANDSCAPING PROJECT
BY HYDROSEEDING THE LAWN.
IT'LL TAKE ONLY A FEW WEEKS
FOR THE NEW LAWN TO GROW.
ON THE FRONT PORCH,
BRIAN WIGGIN AND HIS CREW FROM REGAL HOME IMPROVEMENT
ARE INSTALLING THE NEW CUSTOM REPRODUCTIONS BALUSTERS
AND COMPOSITE RAILING FROM FORESTER MOULDING.
THE PIECES ARE ALL PRE-FIT TO ACCOMMODATE THE IRREGULARITIES
IN THE EXISTING STRUCTURE.
THE FOUR PIECE TOP RAILING
IS BUILT AROUND A TRIMMED 2 X 4 CORE.
FIRST THE BOTTOM PIECE IS SCREWED TO THE BALUSTERS
USING 1 5/8s INCH STAINLESS STEEL DECKING SCREWS.
SOME OF THE SCREWS ARE LEFT PROTRUDING 3/8s OF AN INCH
TO BRACE THE CORE.
THE SIDE PIECES ARE ASSEMBLED AROUND A PRE-FIT FILLER PIECE.
THE PIECES ARE NAILED TOGETHER
WITH GALVANIZED FINISHED NAILS.
THE CORE IS SCREWED TO THE COLUMN FOR STABILITY.
THE BRACED FILLER ALLOWS THE CAP TO FIT
FLAT ON THE TOP OF THE COMPOSITE RAILING.
THE CAP IS TACKED IN PLACE WITH FINISH NAILS.
AFTER A COAT OF PRIMER,
THIS SECTION OF THE BALUSTRADE WILL BE FINISHED.
HOWEVER, THE BALUSTRADE ON THE STAIRS
PRESENTS A DIFFERENT SET OF CHALLENGES.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THIS CONNECTS TO THE POST,
AND NOW WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL RUN OF BALUSTRADE
DOWN TO GRADE AND A RETURN
SO THAT WHAT YOU'RE CREATING IS A REAL CLASSICAL
APPROACH TO THE FRONT DOOR OF THIS HOUSE.
BUT LET'S LOOK AT HOW IT'S GOING TOGETHER.
BRIAN, HOW DID YOU FIGURE THE ANGLES FOR THIS BOTTOM RAIL?
WELL, BOB, WE PUT A COMPASS ON THE BOTTOM,
ANGLED IT OUT FROM THAT TO FIND THE RADIUS,
AND THEN WE HAD TO TWINK IT A LITTLE BIT
BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS OFF A LITTLE BIT.
BUT IT CAME OUT TO ABOUT A 31 DEGREE ANGLE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP HERE?
CHAMFERING THIS IN TO GO INSIDE OF THE MOULDING HERE.
SO YOU'RE CREATING A TEMPLATE BEFORE YOU CUT THE TOP RAIL?
FITS RIGHT IN.
LOOKS LIKE A FIT.
THERE YOU GO.
EACH BALUSTER IS INDIVIDUALLY CUT
TO ACCOMMODATE THE ANGLE OF THE STAIRS
AND TOENAILED IN PLACE.
THE COMPOSITE TOP RAILING FOR THE STAIRS
IS ASSEMBLED AROUND A TRIMMED DOWN 2 X 4 CORE
ACCORDING TO THE SAME PROCEDURE AS THE STRAIGHT BALUSTRADE.
HOWEVER, EACH PIECE IS PRE-FIT AT AN ANGLE TO THE STAIRS
AND THEN TACKED INTO PLACE
WITH GALVANIZED FINISH NAILS.
WHEN WE COME BACK,
THE PORCH BALUSTRADE IS FINISHED
AND WE'LL TAKE A GRAND TOUR WITH THE HOMEOWNER.
WELL, THIS PROJECT STARTED OUT
JUST AS THE REPAIR AND RESTORATION
OF THE SIDE PORCH AND THE BAY ABOVE IT,
AND DUE TO UNFORESEEN DELAYS
THIS PART OF THE PROJECT WON'T BE TOTALLY FINISHED
BY THE END OF OUR SHOOTING TIME HERE.
HOWEVER, YOU CAN SEE HOW IT'S COME TOGETHER.
THE STRUCTURE HAS BEEN CARRIED ANEW BY THE OLD COLUMNS
WHICH WERE STORED IN THE BASEMENT FOR SO MANY YEARS.
AND ALL THAT'S MISSING RIGHT NOW
IS A LITTLE BIT OF TRIM
AND OF COURSE, THE RAILINGS THAT GO ON THE SIDES AND ALONG
THE FRONT.
AND THEY ARE GOING TO MOVE THOSE STEPS
YOU SEE THERE TO PUT THEM SYMMETRICALLY IN THE MIDDLE.
BUT LET'S GO AROUND TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE A MINUTE
AND TALK WITH THE HOMEOWNER.
AND LIKE SO MANY HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ON A BIG SCALE,
THIS ONE GREW TO INCLUDE THE FRONT PORCH
AND EVEN THE LANDSCAPING.
WHEN YOU'VE GOT A HOUSE THIS IMPORTANT,
A COLONIAL REVIVAL HOUSE LIKE THIS,
SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE ANYTHING YOU DO IS A DROP IN THE
BUCKET.
BUT RE-LANDSCAPING IT IS ALWAYS A VERY WISE INVESTMENT.
IN THIS CASE, THEY'VE PUT IN NICE ARBORVITAES
WHICH WILL GROW TO FILL IN AS A HEDGE.
AND THEY'RE ALL KIND OF GROUNDED AT THE CORNERS BY THESE
NICE CYPRESSES.
LET'S SAY HI TO JIM VERITY
WHO'S PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON HIS OTHER FRONT
PORCH.
WELL, JIM, CONGRATULATIONS.
THIS LOOKS VERY, VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU.
NOW WHEN YOU STARTED OUT YOU HAD NOT PLANNED
ON RESTORING THE FRONT PORCH AS WELL.
UH, NO, BUT WE FIGURED SINCE WE WERE STARTING ON THAT,
HAVING ALL THE CUSTOM MILLING DONE,
THAT WE WOULD TAKE OUT THE OLD WROUGHT IRON THAT WAS HERE
AND REPLACE IT WITH ALL THIS UH--
AND BRIAN FROM REGAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS
DID A GREAT JOB ON RESTORING THIS BACK,
AS WELL AS THE TURNINGS FROM FORESTER LUMBER.
THAT'S THE KEY THING.
WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO RESTORE A FRONT ENTRANCE
THAT HAS CLASSICAL TURNINGS LIKE THIS, ETC,
THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT RIGHT
IS TO GET A PROFESSIONAL MILLWORK TO REPRODUCE WHAT'S HERE
AND THEN TO GET A REALLY TOP-NOTCH CRAFTSMAN
TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER FOR YOU.
IT LOOKS GREAT.
NOW I NOTICED-- IT IS THE END OF SUMMER--
BUT YOU'RE FURNISHING THE FRONT PORCH, HUH.
RIGHT. WE ADDED A COUPLE OF STEAMER CHAIRS,
TEAK STEAMER CHAIRS,
THAT WE GOT AT PLOW AND HEARTH.
THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL.
SOLID TEAKWOOD WITH BRASS TRIM.
LASTS A GOOD LONG TIME.
YEP, THEY CAN STAY OUT HERE IN THE WEATHER FOR A LONG TIME.
AND THEN THE LANDSCAPING, AS I WAS COMMENTING A MINUTE AGO,
MAKES SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE
IN THE OVERALL LOOK OF THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.
WELL, WE'VE GOT TWO BEAUTIFUL PORCHES,
SO WE NEEDED TO GIVE IT A LITTLE LANDSCAPING.
SO, SPRINKLER SYSTEMS WENT IN.
JOHN FROM GREENSKEEPERS CAME AND LEVELED IT,
PUT IN SOME SEED, CUT AWAY ALL THE BEDS,
AND WE'VE GOT SOME BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY PLANTS
FROM WARWICK NURSERY.
WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.
I HOPE THAT YOU GET A LOT OF ENJOYMENT OUT OF THE PLACE.
VERY MUCH SO.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
COME HOME AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
WE'RE GONNA BE STARTING ANOTHER FACADE AND PORCH RESTORATION
PROJECT
ON ANOTHER ONE OF THESE WONDERFUL
SHINGLE STYLE HOUSES HERE IN HISTORIC ELMWOOD.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
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