1404 - Brick Façade Restoration and Period Windows Installed September 29-October 5, 2003 | March 29-April 4, 2004 HI, I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME HOME AGAIN
TO OUR BIG PROJECT
IN THE BIG APPLE.
WE'RE HERE IN DUMBO,
"DOWN UNDER THE MANHATTAN
BRIDGE OVERPASS",
AND TODAY WE'RE SPENDING
A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME
LOOKING AT OUR HISTORIC FACADE.
THE BRICKS ARE BEING
TAKEN APART AND PUT
BACK TOGETHER.
INSIDE, WE'LL GIVE YOU
A PROGRESS REPORT,
LOOK AT ALL THE STEEL
STUD WORK THAT'S
ALMOST COMPLETED,
AND ALSO SOME STEEL STAIRCASES.
STICK AROUND.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE
BY SEARS
WORKING IN AN URBAN
SETTING LIKE THIS
MEANS A LOT OF SPECIAL
CARE HAS TO BE TAKEN.
WE'RE DOING
THE FACADE RESTORATION.
THE FACADE IS NEARLY
175 YEARS OLD
AND IT'S IN VERY BAD SHAPE.
ONE OF THE KEY THINGS
THAT HAS TO BE DONE
IS TO PROTECT
ANY PEDESTRIANS.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT
THIS IRON SCAFFOLDING UP
WITH A PLATFORM OVER IT.
THE BRICK UP THERE
LOOKS PRETTY BAD
AND IT IS IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE.
BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW,
WE'VE ALREADY DONE
SOME OF THE STRUCTURAL WORK
ON THE INSIDE OF THE WALLS.
LET'S GO INSIDE AND
FIND MY SON CHRIS VILA,
WHO'S OUR
CLERK OF THE WORKS HERE,
AND FIND OUT WHAT KIND
OF PROGRESS WE'VE MADE.
HEY, CHRIS.
HOW'S IT GOING?
GOOD, DAD.
HOW ARE YOU?
THIS IS LOOKING FINE.
THE STAIRCASES ARE GREAT.
THIS JUST CAME IN
LAST WEEK.
THIS WAS FABRICATED
HERE IN BROOKLYN
ESPECIALLY
FOR THE PROJECT
AND INSTALLED
LAST WEEK.
REALLY? SO THEY'RE
ALL STEEL--
OBVIOUSLY THEY
HAVE TO BE CUSTOM.
RIGHT.
ALL CUSTOM
FOR THE JOB.
AND EVERY RUN OF STAIRS
IS DIFFERENT.
FROM THE GROUND FLOOR
UP TO THE FIRST FLOOR
IT'S A STRAIGHT RUN.
AND HERE
YOU'VE GOT--
RIGHT. AND THEN
ACTUALLY FROM
THE TOP FLOOR,
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER
RUN GOING UP TO
THE PRIVATE ROOF DECK.
I IMAGINE IN A CITY
OF STEEL SKYSCRAPERS
THERE'D BE A LOT
OF COMPANIES MAKING
STAIRCASES.
ESPECIALLY HERE
IN BROOKLYN AND
OUTSIDE OF MANHATTAN.
THESE ARE ALL
INDIVIDUAL ANGLES
THAT ARE THEN SPOT WELDED.
EXACTLY.
WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE
THIS COSTS?
ABOUT $23,000.
FOR THE WHOLE...
EVERYTHING YOU SEE HERE,
TOP TO BOTTOM.
OK. AND THEN
HOW WILL IT BE FINISHED?
WHAT WE'RE
GONNA DO
IS LAY A PIECE
OF BULL NOSE OAK
ON EACH TREAD
AND BOLT IT THROUGH
WITH A CAP ON TOP.
THE SAME THING
ON THE LANDINGS.
SO BASICALLY,
LOOK LIKE A WOODEN
STAIRCASE.
THAT'S TERRIFIC.
SO DEMOLITION
ALMOST COMPLETE.
HOW MANY DUMPSTERS
HAVE WE GONE THROUGH
SO FAR?
WE'VE ACTUALLY
GONE THROUGH EIGHT.
AND WE RAN INTO
QUITE A FEW PROBLEMS.
WE'VE TAKEN OUT
A LOT OF BRICK
THROUGHOUT
THE WHOLE PROCESS.
IT'S NOW DONE
AND UH...
WE'RE JUST CLEANING
UP THE LAST REMNANTS
OUT HERE ON
THE SCAFFOLDING.
4 WEEKS INTO THE JOB,
8 DUMPSTERS.
THAT'S A LOT OF DEBRIS.
A LOT OF
SURPRISES THERE.
WHAT ABOUT THAT ROOF?
THE ROOF ALSO PROVED
TO BE KIND OF
A CHALLENGE.
WE COULDN'T KEEP IT.
WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD
TO RIP THE ENTIRE
THING OUT.
WE'VE GOT A TEMPORARY
SEAL UP THERE RIGHT NOW.
SO JUST AS
WE PUT IN THE WINDOWS,
WE'VE GOT
A WATER BARRIER.
AND WE'RE GONNA BE
IN THE PROCESS OF
PUTTING IN
A PERMANENT ROOF
WITH ALL
THE MECHANICALS,
BULKHEADS, EVERYTHING.
THEY'VE GOT MOST OF
THE STEEL PARTITIONING IN.
THEY'RE WORKING ON
THE CEILINGS HERE.
YEP, JUST FINISHING UP
THIS WEEK.
HOW DOES THIS WORK
WITH OUR OLD, BEAUTIFUL
SAND BLASTED BEAMS?
WE'RE GONNA GET TO KEEP
ABOUT 6 INCHES OF THE BEAMS--
EXPOSED.
WE SAND BLASTED THIS.
WHAT IT WAS BEFORE,
IT'S NOW BEAUTIFUL,
SO WE WANT TO PRESERVE
AS MUCH OF THAT AS WE CAN.
YEAH. YEAH.
AND OBVIOUSLY,
WE'RE NOT FRAMED HERE
BUT THIS'LL BE
THE ENTRANCE TO
THE APARTMENT.
ENTRANCE HERE.
WE'RE GONNA RUN
A WALL OUT HERE.
RIGHT. AND THEN,
LET'S GO THROUGH
THE LAYOUT.
THIS IS ONE, BIG
OPEN ROOM
WITH THE KITCHEN
IN THIS AREA, RIGHT?
KITCHEN, LIVING AREA.
AND THEN,
THIS IS ACTUALLY--
THIS UNIT'S GOING TO HAVE
TWO BEDROOMS.
ONE, TWO.
EACH WITH
A LARGE CLOSET.
AND A BATHROOM HERE.
GOOD SIZE BATHROOM.
GOOD SIZE
NEW YORK BATHROOM.
GOOD, GOOD.
AND THEN WHAT ABOUT
THE MASONRY? THAT'S
THE BIG THING, HUH?
THIS FACADE
IS FROM 1835.
IT'S PRACTICALLY
170 YEARS OLD.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE.
WE'VE SPENT A GOOD PART
OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS
REALLY REPAIRING
AND RESTORING
UNTIL WE'VE ACTUALLY
GOTTEN TO THIS POINT.
AND THIS IS
THE OLD FASHIONED WAY.
THESE TWO
ARE STRUCTURAL.
THIS IS TAKEN APART
AND PUT BACK TOGETHER.
ALL PORTLAND CEMENT
THROUGHOUT.
YES, WITH
PORTLAND CEMENT.
AND THEN,
THE ACTUAL VENEER
THAT YOU SEE FROM
THE STREET
IS ANTIQUE.
THESE BRICKS
ARE ORIGINAL.
AND ACTUALLY,
WE HAD A REAL PROBLEM
FINDING REPLACEMENT BRICKS
THAT WERE THIS SIZE,
WHICH IS 8 1/4.
WE FINALLY FOUND A SUPPLIER
HERE IN BROOKLYN
WHO'S GOING TO HAVE THEM
TO US NEXT WEEK,
SO WE'LL BE ABLE
TO FINISH UP THAT PART
OF THE FACADE.
AND THE MORTAR,
ORIGINAL MORTAR HERE,
IS A LIME MORTAR
THAT'S MID-19th CENTURY.
AND IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO REPOINT
AND REBUILD
WITH THE SAME LOOK.
WE'LL BE DOING
EXACTLY THAT.
AND THEN THERE'S
OTHER ELEMENTS
TO THIS.
YOU'VE ALREADY
REMOVED THE CAST
IRON--
FROM THIS CAST IRON--
STILL HERE.
AND THE CAST IRON SILLS,
BOY, THEY ARE HEAVY.
AND THEY ARE
BEAUTIFUL,
AREN'T THEY?
YEAH.
SO THESE WILL BE
CLEANED UP AND PUT
BACK DOWN THERE.
AND THEN UP ABOVE,
THE CAST IRON LINTELS.
THE LINTELS WILL
ALSO BE REMOVED.
THEY WERE JUST ONE OF
THE FEW DECORATIVE
ELEMENTS
IN THE WHOLE
FRONT FACADE.
YES, THOSE WILL BE
TAKEN OFF AND CLEANED UP
AND PUT BACK ON.
AND THESE TIE RODS,
THEY'RE NOT ORNAMENTAL.
IN SOME BUILDINGS,
YOU'LL SEE THESE
MADE IN
THE SHAPE OF STARS.
RIGHT. YOU SEE IT
ALL OVER NEW YORK.
WHICH, OF COURSE,
HARKENS TO THE
FEDERAL PERIOD
IN OUR HISTORY.
BUT THEY REALLY
ARE STRUCTURAL
BECAUSE THEY'RE HELPING
TO TIE THIS FACADE
TO THE STRUCTURE.
AND USUALLY,
THEY'RE TIED IN
AS THEY ARE HERE,
TO SOME OF THE WOOD
MEMBERS THAT YOU
FIND INSIDE.
EITHER THE FLOOR
SYSTEM, OR IN THIS CASE
JUST A POST.
EARLIER IN THE WEEK,
WE HAD A FELLOW NAMED
JEREMY ARMSTRONG
WHO WORKS FOR
THE DEVELOPER
OVER HERE
EXPLAIN TO US
THE WHOLE PROCESS
OF PRESSURE WASHING.
BECAUSE BEFORE
ANY OF THIS MASONRY
WORK GOT DONE,
WE HAD A CREW
ON THE FRONT
OF THE BUILDING
WASHING IT DOWN.
WATCH.
JEREMY ARMSTRONG IS INVOLVED
WITH PROJECT MANAGEMENT
WITH THE DEVELOPERS HERE.
AND YOU'VE HAD
SOME EXPERIENCE
WITH SOME OF
THE HISTORIC FACADES.
NOW WHAT ARE WE DOING
AS AN INITIAL STAGE HERE
ON OUR BUILDING?
THE BUILDING HAS
A LOT OF DIRT AND GRIME
AND PAINT
AND STAINS ON IT.
WE WANT TO REMOVE
MOST OF THOSE THINGS.
FIRST, WE'RE GONNA
START WITH WATER,
PRESSURIZED WATER.
WE'RE GONNA START
WITH ABOUT 1,000 PSI.
WE'RE GONNA WASH
THE WHOLE FACADE
AND SEE WHAT COMES OFF.
WITH 1,000 POUNDS
PER SQUARE INCH,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT DAMAGING THE BRICK?
AND THAT POINT,
NOT REALLY.
WE WILL GRADUALLY
INCREASE THE PRESSURE
UNTIL WE GET TO A POINT
WHERE WE SEE OR WE FEEL
THAT THE BRICK IS
GOING TO BE DAMAGED,
WE WANT TO STOP
RIGHT AT THAT POINT.
WHAT IF YOU'VE
REACHED THAT POINT
AND YOU'RE SHOOTING WATER
2,000 PSI,
BUT YOU STILL CAN'T GET
THE GRAY PAINT OFF
OF THE BRICK?
THERE'S A VARIETY
OF DIFFERENT CLEANSERS
AND CHEMICALS, ACIDS.
SOME ARE BASIC,
SOME ARE NEUTRAL.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
TEST AND SEE WHAT'S
REALLY GOING TO WORK.
I'VE LOOKED CLOSELY
AT THIS FACADE, JEREMY,
AND A LOT OF THESE BRICKS
LOOK LIKE NOT ONLY
ARE THEY LOOSE
BUT THEY'RE KIND OF
GOING AT AN ANGLE
LIKE PARTS OF
THE FOUNDATION
MAY HAVE SAGGED.
WHAT WILL THE MASONS
BE DOING TO RESTORE
THE BRICK WORK?
THE BUILDING'S BEEN
THERE FOR A LONG TIME.
THE BUILDING DATES BACK
TO ABOUT 1830,
SO THERE'S GONNA HAVE
BEEN SOME SETTLING
AND LOTS OF WORK
HAS BEEN DONE TO
THE BUILDING OVER
THE DECADES.
WE'RE GONNA REMOVE
ABOUT 25 PERCENT OF
THE BRICKS IN THE BUILDING
THAT ARE EITHER
CRACKED OR UNLEVEL
AND WE'RE GONNA
REINSTALL EVERYTHING
SQUARE, PLUMB AND LEVEL.
DOES THAT INCLUDE
THE WINDOW SILLS
AND THE LINTELS?
THE WINDOW SILLS,
THERE'S METAL HEADS.
THE THIRD STORY
WAS ACTUALLY ADDED ON
AFTER THE BUILDING
WAS FIRST BUILT.
THERE'S A DIFFERENT
TYPE OF BRICK,
THERE'S A DIFFERENT
TYPE OF HEAD.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TO USE DIFFERENT BRICKS
AND DIFFERENT HEADS,
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TO BE PRETTY CAREFUL
AND TAKE OUR TIME.
GREAT. IT'S GONNA TAKE
A COUPLE OF MONTHS,
BUT IT'S GOING TO
LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
IT IS.
THANKS, JEREMY.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
NEXT, WE'LL VISIT
AN ARTIST'S LOFT IN DUMBO
AND CHECK OUT
AN UNUSUAL PROJECT.
IN BROOKLYN, THE 20th CENTURY
SAW REVOLUTIONARY
NEW CONCRETE AND STEEL
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
THAT ALLOWED INDUSTRIAL MAGNATES
LIKE ROBERT GAIR
TO BUILD BIGGER,
BETTER FACTORIES
WITH LARGER WINDOWS.
TODAY, THEY'RE IDEAL
FOR ARTIST'S LOFTS.
THE OTHER DAY WE VISITED
NEIGHBOR JANE WALENTAS
TO GET A CLOSER LOOK
AT A PRETTY UNUSUAL PROJECT
SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON
FOR A LONG TIME.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
HOW MANY CARVED HORSES
ARE WE STANDING AMIDST
IN HERE?
48 HORSES.
AND TWO CHARIOTS.
SO WHAT KIND OF
A CAROUSEL WAS IT THEN?
THIS WAS MADE BY
THE PHILADELPHIA
TOBOGGAN COMPANY
IN PHILADELPHIA.
IN WHAT YEAR?
1922.
AND YOU SAID EARLIER,
IT'S A THREE TIER--
THREE ROW CAROUSEL.
THE BIG HORSES
WERE ON THE OUTSIDE
AND THEN THE PONIES.
ON THE INSIDE,
THERE WERE PIE-SHAPED
PANELS.
AND IT WAS IN 1922
THAT IT WAS ASSEMBLED.
I IMAGINE THIS COMPANY
THAT MADE CAROUSELS
PROBABLY HAD A LOT
OF ARTISANS FROM
ITALY OR SOMEPLACE
DOING IT.
ITALY AND GERMANY.
ALL HAND CARVED.
UH-HUH.
ALL HAND CARVED.
THIS WAS A WONDERFUL
CARVER WHO DID THIS
CAROUSEL,
FRANK CORETTA.
TELL US ABOUT SOME OF
THE FEATURES YOU'RE
LOOKING AT HERE.
THIS IS
A REALISTIC FEATURE.
I'VE BEEN TOLD,
I DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S TRUE,
THAT ONLY THE
PHILADELPHIA TOBOGGAN
COMPANY DID THIS DETAIL
ON THE HORSES,
WHICH IS INTERESTING.
AND YOU ACTUALLY
MENTIONED THE CARVER'S NAME,
SO YOU KNOW SOME OF
THE PEOPLE THAT
DID THIS WORK.
I'VE BEEN DOWN TO THE--
PHILADELPHIA
TOBOGGAN COMPANY
STILL EXISTS IN GERMANTOWN.
THEY DON'T MAKE
CAROUSELS ANY LONGER.
THEY MAKE AMUSEMENT PARK
SKI BALL GAMES
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WELL, THESE ARE
WORKS OF ART.
YEAH, YEAH.
SO THE TRAPPINGS
WERE BEAUTIFULLY
CARVED, AS YOU CAN SEE.
AGAIN, IT'S ALL WOOD.
THERE'S NO APPLIED PIECES
OR ANYTHING.
DEFINITELY NOT.
WHICH IS WHY SOME OF
THESE PIECES COMMAND
HUGE PRICES.
WHAT WAS THE CAROUSEL
WORTH WHEN YOU BOUGHT IT
ALL OF A PIECE?
IT WAS SEVERAL
HUNDRED THOUSAND,
RIGHT?
WE PAID, I BELIEVE,
$385,000.
I DON'T KNOW,
IT'S A WHILE AGO NOW.
IT WAS SOLD
PIECE BY PIECE,
THOUGH.
AND THAT WAS
THE WAY THE AUCTION
WAS STRUCTURED.
EACH HORSE WAS SOLD
OFF INDIVIDUALLY.
THEY KEPT TRACK
OF ALL THOSE BIDS.
AND THEN THEY
TOTALED ALL THOSE BIDS
AND OFFERED IT
AS A WHOLE
TO TRY AND KEEP
IT TOGETHER.
AND YOUR GOAL
IN BRINGING IT HERE
TO BROOKLYN
IS TO REASSEMBLE IT,
RIGHT?
YES, YES,
WE RODE ON THIS
CAROUSEL THE DAY
OF THE AUCTION.
IT WAS WORKING
WHEN WE BOUGHT IT,
BUT THE PARK
WAS BEING SOLD
FOR DEVELOPMENT.
I DON'T BELIEVE
IT WAS EVER--
THE WHOLE AMUSEMENT
PARK WAS BEING
SOLD OFF.
THE CAROUSEL WAS
THE CENTERPIECE
OF THE PARK.
EVENTUALLY,
YOU HOPE TO
HAVE IT HERE
IN A WATERFRONT PARK.
YES, THAT'S WHAT
IT WAS BOUGHT FOR.
YOU'VE STRIPPED
SO MUCH OF THE PAINT.
ARE THERE ANY PIECES
THAT ARE STILL
IN THE CONDITION
THAT YOU GOT IT IN?
WELL, SOME OF
THE CHARIOTS I HAVEN'T
DONE TOO MUCH ON.
DO YOU WANT TO TAKE
A LITTLE WALK OVER HERE?
SO THIS IS
A SIDE PANEL TO
ONE OF THE CHARIOTS?
UH-HUH.
THE KIDS RODE
THE HORSES.
THE YOUNG COUPLES
RODE--
RIGHT.
THE YOUNG COUPLES,
YOU'RE RIGHT.
LET'S TALK
ABOUT THAT.
THE LITTLE CUPID.
THE CHERUB?
UM...I STARTED
TO TAKE SOME PAINT
OFF HERE
JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY.
I WAS DYING TO SEE
WHAT WAS UNDER THERE.
SO THAT WHAT YOU HAD
WAS AN ORIGINAL
DARK BLUE SKY
AND OVER THE YEARS,
IT GOT PAINTED UP
WITH THIS BABY BLUE.
AND FLESH TONES
MAKE IT LOOK ALMOST
PLASTIC, DON'T THEY?
RIGHT. AND THEY
REFER TO THIS AS
PARK PAINT TODAY.
EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS
THEY JUST REPAINTED
THE WHOLE CAROUSEL.
IT WAS JUST PART OF
THE MAINTENANCE OF
THE DIFFERENT PIECES.
EXACTLY.
BUT THE ORIGINAL PAINT
WAS VERY BEAUTIFUL
AND VERY DETAILED.
YOU CAN SEE
THE GORGEOUS COLORS
ON THE BACK
OF THIS HORSE.
GOSH, THESE ARE
ORIGINAL COLORS?
YEAH. AND ALL
THE LEAFING.
WE'LL RESTORE
ALL THAT LEAFING.
YOU MEAN, THERE WAS
GOLD LEAF AND SILVER LEAF.
YEAH, BUT
THE COBALT BLUES--
AND THEN
ALL THIS STRIPING
WILL BE RESTORED.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT
THE ACTUAL PROCESS
OF RESTORING THIS.
OK, FIONA'S THE BEST.
SHE DOES A GREAT JOB.
FIONA WESTPHAL.
HI, FIONA.
FIONA'S A SCULPTRESS
IN HER OWN RIGHT.
I'M LUCKY TO HAVE HER
HELPING HERE.
SO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE?
YOU CAN'T PUT
PAINT STRIPPER
ON THESE PIECES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE
DO THAT.
AND I WAS LUCKY
THAT TIME WASN'T
AN ISSUE, SO UM...
IT REALLY RUINS
THE HORSES.
IT DOES.
TO STRIP ALL
THE PAINT OFF.
SO THE APPROACH
IS TO SCRAPE
IT ALL OFF
WITH A SHARP BLADE?
YEAH, THAT'S ACTUALLY
THE BEST WAY TO DO IT
BECAUSE YOU CAN BE
REALLY CAREFUL
AND STUDY THE
ORIGINAL PAINT.
AND YOU CAN MUCH CONTROL
THE LAYERS OF PAINT
AND FIND THE
ORIGINAL LAYERS.
NOW WHEN YOU POKE
THROUGH AND YOU
SEE WHITE,
IS THAT PLASTER OR--
THAT'S ACTUALLY
THE GESSO,
WHAT THESE HORSES
WERE PRIMED WITH
ORIGINALLY.
SO BEFORE THEY EVER
GOT ANY OF THIS
ORIGINAL PAINT--
AND I GUESS
THIS HORSE WAS
A PALOMINO--
FIRST THEY EVENED
EVERYTHING OUT
WITH GESSO.
IF YOU COULD JUST
MOVE YOUR HAND A LITTLE.
THIS IS ROSIER HERE.
THERE'S SUBTLE PAINTING.
THESE ARE REALLY
BEAUTIFULLY DONE.
AND THE COLORS
BLEND AND MIX
AND IT'S ALSO
A VERY UNUSUAL
COLOR PALATE.
I THINK AT THE TIME,
TO SEE THE OLD COLORS.
THEY'RE OIL-BASED
PAINTS, RIGHT?
I BELIEVE THEY ARE.
SO, JANE,
YOU'VE GOT 48 HORSES.
WHAT'S THE TIME TABLE?
WELL, WE'RE GONNA
START TO PAINT IN
A FEW MONTHS.
WE'RE ALMOST DONE
WITH THIS PHASE
OF DISCOVERY.
IT'LL TAKE WHAT,
A YEAR,
TO GET THEM ALL
RESTORED AND
PAINTED AGAIN?
I THINK WE CAN DO IT
IN LESS THAN A YEAR.
IT SORT OF BREAKS DOWN
TO PEOPLE COMING IN
AND DOING THE LEAFING
AND PEOPLE DOING
THE HORSE SKINS
AND--
SO IT'S IN THE FUTURE.
A YEAR WOULD BE GREAT.
IN THE FUTURE
FOR DUMBO.
THANKS FOR SHARING.
THANKS, BOB.
THANKS FOR VISITING.
WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'LL BE INSTALLING WINDOWS
AT OUR LITTLE PROJECT
IN DUMBO.
STICK AROUND.
NEXT TIME ON...
WE'LL BE BACK IN DUMBO,
"DOWN UNDER THE MANHATTAN
BRIDGE OVERPASS"
WE'LL HAVE A PROGRESS REPORT
ON THE FACADE RESTORATION
AT OUR LITTLE PROJECT.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE BEST WAY
TO POWER WASH A BUILDING
THAT'S ALMOST
TWO CENTURIES OLD.
INSIDE, WE'LL SEE SOME
CUSTOM-FABRICATED
STEEL STAIRCASES
AND THE INSTALLATION
OF NEW WINDOWS.
AND FINALLY, WE'LL VISIT
A LOCAL ARTIST'S LOFT
TO CHECK OUT AN UNUSUAL
RESTORATION PROJECT.
SO DON'T MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT TIME
ON HOME AGAIN.
NEXT TIME ON...
WE'RE POWER WASHING
THE FACADE,
INSTALLING WINDOWS,
AND VISITING AN UNUSUAL
RESTORATION PROJECT.
DON'T MISS IT.
ALL RIGHT.
SO WE'RE BACK
TO THE BUILDING NOW.
WE'VE GOT QUITE AN INTERNATIONAL
CAST OF CHARACTERS HERE.
RENALDO, WHO WORKS FOR--
DINO, OUR GENERAL CONTRACTOR--
I HAVE TO GET
OUR EYE PROTECTION OUT--
IS DEMOLISHING
THE WINDOW SURROUND.
AND UH...
WE'VE GOT BRIAN KALEY HERE
AND TIM McFADDEN
FROM PELLA,
WHO ARE GOING TO TELL US
A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE FEATURES
OF THE WINDOW.
TIM, THIS IS
A REPLACEMENT WINDOW
THAT'S BEEN
CUSTOM MADE FOR US,
RIGHT?
ACTUALLY, NO, BOB.
THIS IS A FULL
TEAR OUT.
OH, IT IS?
YEAH, IT'S A FULL
TEAR OUT COMMERCIAL
DOUBLE HUNG
THAT PELLA
MANUFACTURES.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN,
A FULL TEAR OUT?
IT'S BASICALLY
INCLUDING THE FRAME,
EXTERIOR CASING.
WE HAVE AN EXTERIOR
SUB-SILL.
OK.
AND WHAT WE LIKED
ABOUT IT IS IT HAS
THAT 6 OVER 6 FORMAT
THAT GOES WITH
THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
OF AN 1830s, 1840s
CITY BUILDING.
IF YOU LOOK AT
THE BOTTOM RAIL,
WE HAVE A 3 1/2 INCH
BOTTOM RAIL
WHICH MIMICS
THE HISTORIC
OF THE WINDOW.
RIGHT. BUT IT STILL
HAS A THIN PROFILE.
WE USED A 7/8s BAR
WITH A NARROW
CHECK RAIL, AS WELL.
NOW, BRIAN, YOU'RE HERE
TO ADVISE ON THE
INSTALLATION, RIGHT?
YES.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY
PUTTING IN A NEW WINDOW
INTO THESE OLD OPENINGS.
WHAT'S THE FIRST THING
THESE GUYS HAVE TO DO?
BASICALLY,
TEAR OUT THE EXISTING
WINDOW COMPLETELY.
WE'LL FRAME IT ALL,
BRING IT RIGHT DOWN
TO THE EXISTING
MASONRY OPENING.
FROM THAT POINT ON,
THEY'LL MAKE A BOX
TO FIT IT WITHIN
THE MASONRY OPENING.
AND THAT BOX WOULD BE
WITH--
2 X 6 MATERIAL.
FRAMING STUFF.
FRAMING MATERIAL,
EXACTLY.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, DINO'S GETTING
THE JACKS CUT RIGHT NOW.
AND WE'VE GOT
THE BASIC BOX IN PLACE.
NOW, BRIAN,
WHAT ELSE HAS
TO HAPPEN HERE?
YOU HAVE TO
CENTER THIS,
DON'T YOU?
YES, WE DO.
THE BOX THAT
YOU SEE HERE,
BOB,
IS BASICALLY STRUCTURAL,
JUST TO GET IT INTO
THE EXISTING MASONRY
OPENING.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO
TAKE MEASUREMENTS
ON THE BOX,
THE CENTER
OF THE WINDOW,
AND TO GIVE IT
TWO JACKS ON
EITHER SIDE.
Bob: AND THESE ARE
JUST BLOCKS TO SPACE
IT OUT TO THE RIGHT SIZE.
NICE.
AND SO THESE ARE
THE JACK STUDS,
THEN, RIGHT?
YES.
WHAT DO YOU THINK,
DINO? SHOULD WE
TRY IT OUT?
YES.
ALL RIGHT,
GIVE ME A HAND.
GOT SOME PACKAGING
TO REMOVE, GUYS,
ON THE BOTTOM?
HEY, FIT.
Bob: HEY, YOU DID
THE MATH RIGHT.
THAT LOOKS GOOD ALREADY.
NOW, BRIAN, WHAT'S
THE KEY HERE
IN TERMS OF
THE FINAL
INSTALLATION?
WELL, ACTUALLY,
JUST CHECKING TO SEE
IF IT'S SPACED OUT PROPERLY,
WHICH IT IS.
WE HAVE MASONRY CLIPS
TO APPLY TO THE OUTSIDE
JAM OF THE WINDOW
TO WRAP AROUND THE FRAMING.
WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT
TO WRAP UP
THE WINDOW INSTALLATION.
DON'T GO AWAY.
OK, SO NOW WE'VE GOT
THE MOUNTING STRAPS ON
AND WE'RE READY TO
PUT IT IN, RIGHT?
YES, WE ARE.
OK.
AS LONG AS YOUR
FRAMED OPENING IS
PLUMB AND TRUE,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO
WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
WITH THE WINDOW.
EXACTLY, BOB.
BUT WE STILL HAVE
TO SHIM AT CERTAIN
LOCATIONS.
WE GOT OUR
SHIM SHINGLES READY.
BEFORE WE DO
ANY KIND OF FASTENING,
WE'LL CHECK TO MAKE SURE
THE WINDOW'S PLUMB.
GOOD.
BEAUTIFUL.
ALL RIGHT.
ONCE THAT'S DONE,
YOU CAN BEND OVER
THE STRAPS AND...
THEY'RE PLIABLE ENOUGH
SO THAT YOU CAN
BEND THEM BY HAND.
YES, YOU CAN.
AND FASTEN THEM
TO THE ROUGH OPENINGS.
THE WINDOW COMES
AS A PACKAGE
WITH THE TRIM ALL READY
FOR THE EXTERIOR, RIGHT?
YES. ACTUALLY,
WE SHIPPED
THE FLAT CASING
AND SOME SILL NOSE
CASING FOR THE
EXTERIOR LOOSE
BECAUSE WE WERE
DEALING WITH
AN EXISTING OPENING
THAT WAS
OUT OF PLUMB
AND OUT OF SQUARE.
WE REALLY NEEDED
TO CUT THAT ON-SITE.
YEAH. AND I KNOW,
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING MASONRY
IT'S ALWAYS
A DIFFERENT BALLGAME.
YES.
NOW, SHOULD
WE USE INSULATION
IN THE SPACES THERE?
YES, WITHOUT A DOUBT.
ONCE WE GET
THE CASING ON
AND SO FORTH,
BEFORE WE CLOSE UP
THE INSIDE WITH SOME
INTERIOR CASING,
WE FILL UP
ALL THE VOIDS
WITH SOME INSULATION.
EVEN IN THE REAL TIGHT
SMALLER VOIDS?
YES, ABSOLUTELY.
I ALWAYS LIKE
TO PUSH IT IN THERE
WITH A SHIM SHINGLE.
WELL, FELLAS,
THANKS FOR COMING OUT.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
COME HOME AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
WE'LL BE TALKING WITH
EDDIE FISHER, OUR ELECTRICIAN
AND WE'RE ALSO TAKING YOU
ON A TOUR
OF THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD.
UNTIL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
HOME AGAIN.
Additional Bob Vila Showrooms Sears - Vinyl Siding, Eaves and Overhangs Chadsworth's - Columns, Pillars, Pilasters & Balustrades Western Red Cedar Lumber Association - Real Cedar for Siding, Decking and Outdoor Projects InsWeb - Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Bill up to 25% Online ETO Doors - Shop for Interior & Exterior Doors - Lowest Price Guaranteed Renovation Experts - Put your home in good hands. Get FREE estimates on your project.
Doors & Windows Pella - Full Tear-Out Commercial Double-Hung Windows