Home > Bob on TV > Home Again > Waterfront Warehouse Rehab > Roof Deck and High-Tech Bathroom Features > 1411 Transcript

Home Again
1411 - Roof Deck and High-Tech Bathroom Features
November 17-23, 2003 | May 17-23, 2004
HI, I'M BOB VILA.

WELCOME HOME AGAIN
TO OUR PROJECT HERE

IN DUMBO, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TODAY WE'VE GOT LOTS OF
INTERESTING THINGS GOING ON

IN ONE OF THE BATHROOMS.

WE'RE PUTTING IN
A MARBLE VANITY TOP,

A STAINLESS STEEL TUB SURROUND,

AND A JAPANESE TOILET
THAT IS HIGHLY INTELLIGENT.

ALSO TAKING YOU ON A TOUR
OF OLD HISTORIC BROOKLYN

AND MEETING
THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT,

THEN WHEN WE COME BACK HERE,
WE'LL BE UP ON THE ROOF,

PUTTING DOWN AN IPE WOOD DECK.

STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.

CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
SEARS

TOTO UNVEILS
THE ULTIMATE IN LUXURY:

THE NEOREST.
THE FIRST TANKLESS TOILET

AND INTEGRATED WASHLET
CLEANSING SYSTEM

WITH THE REVOLUTIONARY
CYCLONE FLUSH ENGINE.

THAT IS THE NEWS RELEASE.

LENORA CAMPOS IS HERE
TO TELL US ABOUT IT.

HI, LENORA.

HI, BOB.

A HIGH-TECH TOILET,
HUH?

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS,
ISN'T IT?

FROM THE JAPANESE.

YES. FROM TOTO.

AND THEY HAVE LED THE WAY

IN THIS KIND
OF TECHNOLOGY
FOR PERSONAL HYGIENE

FOR THE LAST
10 OR 20 YEARS.

EXACTLY. EXACTLY.

THIS IS AN INTEGRATED
TOILET AND WASHLET
FEATURE,

SO IT'S THE FIRST
EXAMPLE OF AN AWARE
PRODUCT.

NOW, IS THIS
THE TYPE OF PRODUCT

THAT'S VERY COMMON
IN JAPAN?

YES. ACTUALLY,
WASHLET PRODUCTS,

PERSONAL
CLEANSING SYSTEMS,

ARE MORE COMMONPLACE
THAN A MICROWAVE.

SO OVER 60%
OF HOUSEHOLDS IN JAPAN

HAVE A WASHLET--

MORE HOUSES
HAVE A HIGH-TECH
WASHLET TOILET,

WHICH MEANS PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE TO USE
TISSUE PAPER--

CORRECT.

THAN THEY DO
MICROWAVE OVENS.

RIGHT.

BOY, THAT'S HARD
TO BELIEVE.

TELL US HOW IT WORKS.

OK, AS I SAID,
IT'S AN AWARE PRODUCT

SO THAT'S IT'S GOING
TO INTERACT WITH
THE INDIVIDUAL,

SO IT'S EMITTING--

IT'S A SENSOR-
OPERATED PRODUCT.

CAN IT
TELL THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN A MAN COMING
TO THE PRESENCE OF THE...

ABSOLUTELY.
IT CERTAINLY CAN.

IF YOU HIT THIS BUTTON
ON THE REMOTE,

AS YOU CAN SEE,
THE LID IS RISING.

AND THEN WHAT ABOUT
MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR GALLONAGE
AND WATER CONSERVATION?

WITH THE SEAT UP,
IT RECOGNIZES

THAT THE INDIVIDUAL
USING IT--

IT'LL BE LIQUID WASTE,

AND IT WILL FLUSH AT
1.2 GALLONS PER FLUSH.

OH.

.4 GALLONS LOWER
THAN THE MANDATED 1.6,

SO YOU'RE
GETTING A MORE WATER
CONSERVATION FLUSH.

RIGHT. IF IT'S LIQUID WASTE,
IT ONLY USES 1.2 GALLONS.

IF IT'S SOLID WASTE,
IT USES THE 1.6.

AND THIS IS A TANKLESS
TOILET, RIGHT?

RIGHT.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

IT'S COMING STRAIGHT
OFF THE WATER SYSTEM

IN THE BACK
OF THE TOILET.

IT WILL
FLUSH AUTOMATICALLY

OR YOU CAN USE
THE REMOTE HERE
TO FLUSH IT.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE
OF THE CYCLONE FLUSH.

AS YOU CAN SEE, OUT
THE BACK OF THE UNIT,

IT'S SWIRLING AROUND
THE RIM.

IT'S BUILDING UP SPEED,
AND IT'S ROTATING AROUND

IN WHAT WE CALL
THE CYCLONE ACTION,

GOING DOWN LIKE THIS.

AND THEN WITH
THE COMBINATION OF
THE SIPHONIC FLUSH,

IT PULLS THE WASTE OUT,

AND YOU GET
AN ABSOLUTELY CLEAN BOWL

WITH THE 1.6 GALLONS
PER FLUSH.

EVERY TIME,
BUT WHAT ABOUT

THE PERSONAL
HYGIENE PART OF IT,

THE WASHLET FEATURE?
HOW DOES THAT WORK?

THIS IS THE WASHLET
FUNCTION.

SO THIS SMALL
COMPONENT COMES OUT,

AND IT'S ESSENTIALLY
A NOZZLE

THAT SPRAYS WATER.

RIGHT. RIGHT.

FOR THE PURPOSES
OF CONCEPTUAL FRAME,

WE TALK ABOUT IT
AS A BIDET,

BUT WHAT WE'VE REALLY
DONE IS TAKE THE BIDET

AND MOVE IT INTO
THE 21st CENTURY.

SO, AS YOU CAN SEE,

THE WASHLET WAND
WASHES ITSELF

WITH A STREAM OF WATER

BEFORE IT EMITS--
IT MOVES OUT INTO
THE BOWL...

THAT CAN BE
KIND OF SHOCKING.

IS IT WARM WATER?

YOU CONTROL
THE WATER TEMPERATURE.

IT'S A HEATED SEAT,

SO YOU CONTROL
THE HEAT TEMPERATURE.

YOU CONTROL THE DRYER.

'CAUSE AT THE END
OF THE WASHING CYCLE,

YOU'LL HAVE
A DRYING CYCLE.

SO THE DRYING CYCLE
EMITS WARM AIR?

CORRECT, SO YOU CAN--

IT WILL WASH--
REAR CLEANSE,

YOU CAN HAVE
A REAR SOFT CLEANSE,

AND IT WILL DO
A FRONT CLEANSE,
AS WELL,

SO YOU CONTROL
THE DIRECTION
OF THE SPRAY,

YOU CONTROL THE HEAT
OF THE SPRAY,

IT'S AERATED WATER,

AND THEN YOU
CAN ALSO CONTROL
THE MASSAGE FUNCTION.

IT WILL DO
AN OSCILLATING OR
A PULSATING MASSAGE,

THEN IT WILL ALSO--
YOU CAN EXTEND THE WAND

DURING A CLEANING PHASE,

WHICH WOULD MAKE IT
EASY TO MAINTAIN.

FABULOUS.

I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE
CONTINUALLY DEVELOPING

NEW FEATURES IN JAPAN,

BUT CERTAINLY
THIS IS THE LATEST

THAT WE'VE SEEN
IN AMERICA.

THANKS, LENORA.

THANK YOU, BOB.

NEXT, WORK CONTINUES
IN THE MASTER BATH

WITH A FABULOUS SOAKER TUB

AND STAINLESS STEEL
TUB SURROUND.



ANOTHER FEATURE
IN THIS MASTER BATH

IS THIS KIND OF
ANTIQUE-LOOKING SUPPORT

FOR A MARBLE SLAB WITH
TWO LAVS THAT ARE COMING IN.

JOHN SODANO, OUR PLUMBER,

IS GONNA START
BRINGING IT IN HERE,

AND I JUST WANT TO LAY DOWN
A BEAD OF SILICON

AT THE VERY BACK
JUST BEFORE THEY GET HERE,

BECAUSE WHENEVER YOU'RE
SEATING MARBLE ON WOOD

ON A WALL LIKE THIS,

IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE
A NICE, FAT GLOB OF THE SILICON.

THERE YOU GO, JOHN.

AND THESE ARE
THE NICE WHITE MARBLE...

TOPS THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN
MANY OF THE UNITS HERE IN DUMBO.

OK. ALL RIGHT.

OK.

Vila: AND THE LAVATORIES
THEMSELVES ARE ALSO FROM TOTO.

THEY'RE THE WHITE PORCELAIN
DANTESCA UNDERMOUNT LAVATORIES.

THESE ARE LIKE 19 INCHES,
AND THAT'S A VERY NICE SIZE.

19 BY 15,
AND IT'S AN UNDERMOUNT,

WHICH IS WHAT
YOU ALWAYS WANT TO SPECIFY

WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH
A NICE STONE SLAB LIKE THIS,

'CAUSE IT'S A MUCH CLEANER LOOK.

NOW, THESE LEGS WILL GET
A FLANGE ON THE BOTTOM,

RIGHT, JOHN?

YES. IT'S A FLANGE. YES.

A FLANGE ON THE TOP
AND A FLANGE ON THE BOTTOM,

WHICH WILL SECURE THEM IN PLACE.

AND THE CONNECTIONS THEMSELVES
TO THE DRAIN AND THE HOT WATER,

DO WE HAVE TO USE CHROME
TRIM KITS?

YES. IT'S ALL
CHROME UNDERNEATH.

OK.

NOW, THE FLOORING THAT WE'VE PUT
DOWN IN THE MASTER BATHROOM HERE

IS A PRODUCT THAT'S MAN-MADE,
AND IT'S FROM TURKEY,

AND IT'S CALLED SIM STONE,

AND IT'S BASICALLY
A QUARTZ-BASED PRODUCT,

BUT IT'S INCREDIBLY HARD
AND INCREDIBLY RESISTANT

TO ALL SORTS OF CHEMICALS
AND, YOU KNOW, ACID STAINS,

AND THE LIKE.
IT'S A GOOD PRODUCT.

I'VE GOT A SHORT PIECE

THAT'S LATER GONNA
BE UP HERE AS A BASE,

BUT LET'S WATCH AS
NICK TAGLIOSE, OUR INSTALLER,

PUT THESE DOWN A FEW DAYS AGO.

NICK STARTED
WITH A BED OF DRY MIX:

THAT'S SAND MIXED
WITH PORTLAND CEMENT

AND BUILT UP OVER A LAYER
OF FELT PAPER AND WIRE MESH.

[INDISTINCT]

THE TILES WERE EACH BUTTERED
WITH THINSET MORTAR

USING A NOTCHED TROWEL.

THEN NICK SET THEM DOWN
OVER THE DRY MIX

AND TAMPED THEM DOWN
UNTIL THE TILES WERE SET LEVEL.

[RINGING]

THE BED
IS NEARLY TWO INCHES DEEP

TO ACCOMMODATE ANY IRREGULARITY
IN THE SUB FLOOR,

AS WELL AS THE CONSIDERABLE
SIZE OF THE TILES.

THESE ARE 20 INCHES SQUARE.

[INDISTINCT]

[RINGING]

Vila: SIM STONE
IS ACTUALLY USED A LOT

IN COMMERCIAL
AND INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS,

ESPECIALLY IN LABORATORIES
WHERE THEIR STABILITY,

HARDNESS, RESISTANCE
TO STAINING, ACIDS,

AND ALKALIZE IS CRITICAL.

[TAPPING]

NICK USED A SAWED OFF
STRIKING HAMMER

THAT HE'S ADAPTED ESPECIALLY
FOR THIS KIND OF JOB

TO GENTLY TAMP
THE TILES INTO PLACE.

SO, THAT'S A NEAT PRODUCT,
AND SO IS THIS.

THIS IS THE BALDWIN MODEL
SOAKER TUB FROM TOTO,

AND THIS IS A LUCITE
ACRYLIC CONSTRUCTION.

IT'S A 72 INCH TUB, WHICH MEANS
YOU'RE LOOKING AT A LARGE TUB.

22 INCHES DEEP--
A REAL SOAKING TUB,

AND I LOVE HOW THESE GO IN,
'CAUSE THEY'RE DROP IN,

AND YOU BUILD A PLATFORM
AND A FRAME FOR THEM,

AND HERE WHAT WE'VE DONE
IS WE'VE SET THE TUB ITSELF

IN KIND OF A DRY MIX OF CEMENT,

AND THEN WE'VE GOT THE SURROUND
BUILT FOR IT OUT OF STEEL STUDS,

AND MY FRIEND
ALAN HENRIQUEZ IS OUT HERE

GETTING READY TO BRING IN
THE STAINLESS STEEL TRIM.

YOU SEE, WE'VE GOT
SHEET STAINLESS STEEL,

WHICH I BELIEVE IS 16 GAUGE?

16 GAUGE.
THAT'S RIGHT.

RIGHT, 16 GAUGED, THAT
IS MOUNTED ON PLYWOOD.

AND THESE PANELS...
FIT TOGETHER

AND THEN ARE TRIMMED OUT
WITH A MOLDING.

I'VE GOT IT. YEAH. GO AHEAD.

AND THE BEAUTY HERE

IS THAT SINCE IT'S NOT
A WHIRLPOOL TUB,

IT DOESN'T REQUIRE
ANY KIND OF A MOTOR THERE,

WE CAN CLOSE IT IN,

AND WE CAN ADD
THE MOLDINGS TO DRESS IT UP.

THIS HAS TO BE TRIMMED
A LITTLE BIT MORE.

OH, NO, THERE IT IS.

YEAH, YOU GOT IT
IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

SO THAT EFFECTIVELY,

IT'S A VERY,
VERY FINE FINISH.

NOW, DID YOU GUYS
CUT THIS ON SITE?

NO, THIS WAS ACTUALLY
MANUFACTURED FOR US.

WE SENT OUT--

SO IT WAS FABRICATED

AT A JOB SHOP
HERE IN BROOKLYN.

THAT'S RIGHT.

GOOD. VERY ELEGANT.

THANKS, AL.

COMING UP NEXT, A VISIT
TO BROOKLYN'S CONEY ISLAND,

AMERICA'S FIRST AMUSEMENT PARK.

STICK AROUND.



NEXT TIME ON "BOB VILA'S
HOME AGAIN,"

WE'LL BE WORKING
ON THE MASTER BATH

AT OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT
A HIGH-TECH JAPANESE
WASHLET TOILET

THAT INTERACTS WITH THE USER.

WE'LL ALSO INSTALL
A MARBLE VANITY TOP

AND A SOAKER TUB WITH
A STAINLESS STEEL SURROUND.

WE'LL VISIT BROOKLYN'S HISTORIC
CONEY ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK

AND TALK WITH
THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT.

FINALLY, WE'LL PUT DOWN
AN IPE WOOD DECK UP ON THE ROOF.

SO DON'T MISS IT.

THAT'S NEXT TIME ON
"HOME AGAIN."



NEXT TIME ON "BOB VILA'S
HOME AGAIN,"

IT'S A HIGH-TECH TOILET,

A LUXURIOUS SOAKER TUB,
AN IPE ROOF DECK,

AND A TRIP TO CONEY ISLAND.

DON'T MISS IT.



CONEY ISLAND'S FAME AS
THE PLAYGROUND FOR NEW YORKERS

STARTED IN THE LATE 1800s,

BUT THINGS REALLY
GOT ROLLING AROUND HERE

WHEN THE SUBWAY CONNECTED IT
TO MANHATTAN IN 1920.

SUDDENLY, ANYONE WITH A NICKEL
COULD MAKE IT OUT TO THE BEACH

FOR A SWIM OR A RIDE
ON THE ROLLER COASTER

AT WHAT WAS REALLY AMERICA'S
FIRST AMUSEMENT PARK.

AS MANY AS A MILLION PEOPLE
A DAY FLOCKED OUT HERE

TO GET AWAY FROM THE CITY HEAT,

AND CONEY ISLAND WAS DEVELOPED
TO ENTERTAIN THEM.

WELL, WE'RE TAKING A STROLL NOW
ON THE CONEY ISLAND BOARDWALK

WITH BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT
MARTY MARKOWITZ,

AND BEFORE YOU WERE THE BROOKLYN
BOROUGH PRESIDENT, MARTY,

YOU WERE A STATE SENATOR
FOR NEW YORK FOR HOW MANY YEARS?

FOR 23 LONG WINTERS
IN ALBANY.

HA! WELL,
YOU'VE HAD A LONG

AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER
IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

THANK YOU.

YOU GREW UP COMING
TO CONEY ISLAND,
THOUGH, RIGHT?

OH, THIS WAS
THE PLAYGROUND
OF ALL OF US

IN BROOKLYN AND ACROSS
NEW YORK CITY.

IT WAS AMONG--
I STILL THINK OF IT,

REMEMBER IT
AS EXCITING DAYS.

MY MOTHER USED
TO TAKE ME AND MY
YOUNGER SISTERS HERE,

AND FOR
A VERY INEXPENSIVE
AMOUNT OF MONEY,

YOU'D HAVE
A FULL DAY HERE.

UH-HUH,
AND THE BIG RED TOWER

THAT WE SEE
OFF IN THE DISTANCE,

NOW THIS IS
A HISTORIC STRUCTURE

THAT DATES BACK TO
THE WORLD'S FAIR IN '39.

DID YOU EVER
JUMP OFF OF THAT THING?

LET ME SAY I WENT THERE
MANY, MANY TIMES.

MANY OF MY FRIENDS
WOULD GO ON THAT
PARACHUTE JUMP

WHEN IT WAS WORKING,

AND I USED TO ALWAYS
WAVE AT THEM.

ALWAYS.
WHEN THEY CAME DOWN,

I ASKED THEM HOW IT WAS,
BUT NEVER, NEVER

DID I EVEN IMAGINE
FOR ONE MOMENT

GOING ON THAT RIDE.
THAT'S FOR SURE.

BUT THAT DID INVOLVE
A PARACHUTE?

IT DID HAVE
MORE THAN ONE.

THERE WERE 4 PARACHUTES,
IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.

IT TOOK ABOUT 20
WORKERS TO MAKE SURE

THAT THE RIDE
WAS OPERATIONAL.

AND, OF COURSE,
IF THE WEATHER WAS OFF,

THE RIDE WAS NOT ABLE
TO TAKE PLACE.

WE HOPE
THAT THAT'LL BECOME

BROOKLYN'S EIFFEL
TOWER.
REALLY.

AND THAT'S WHAT
WE HOPE IN THE FUTURE.

A LIGHT--A MAGNIFICENT
LIGHTING STRUCTURE,

AND EITHER A RIDE AGAIN,

OR MAYBE A CAFE
AND RESTAURANT.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL,
BEAUTIFUL LOCATION.

WELL, THERE'S A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY HERE.

'CAUSE, I MEAN,
AS YOU SAID A MINUTE AGO,

THIS IS CONEY ISLAND,

WHICH WAS THE PLAYGROUND
OF NEW YORK CITY

GOING BACK
TO THE 1880s AND '90s,

AND THEREABOUTS,
AND THE FAMOUS HOT DOGS,

AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

PEOPLE WOULD RIDE HERE
FOR A NICKEL ON THE SUBWAY.

IN THE LAST 2 OR 3 DECADES,
THINGS HAVE CHANGED HERE.

WELL,
I HAVE TO TELL YOU,

IN THE LAST
NUMBER OF YEARS,

IN THE LAST
4 OR 5 YEARS,

CONEY ISLAND IS GETTING
TO BE BETTER THAN EVER.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT

IS THE BOARDWALK
IS REPAIRED,

THE WATER IS CLEAN,

THE BEACHES
ARE BEING TAKEN
CARE OF EXCELLENTLY,

WE HAVE A NEW
INVIGORATED AMOUNT
OF BUSINESS PEOPLE

THAT HAVE REALLY
MADE THIS

A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION.

IT'S CLEAN, IT'S SAFE,
WELL-LIT, WELL-POLICED,

AND ALONG WITH OUR NOW,

THE NUMBER ONE MINOR
LEAGUE TEAM IN AMERICA,

THE BROOKLYN CYCLONES,

TOGETHER WITH
ALL OF THE ATTRACTIONS,

THE WONDER WHEEL
AND THE ROLLER COASTER

THAT DEFINED AMERICA,
THE CYCLONE--

THE ATTRACTIONS
ARE HERE.

YEAH, EVERYTHING
IS HERE,

SO THIS MAKES NOT ONLY
FOR NEW YORK CITY
RESIDENTS,

BUT WHEN TOURISTS
COME INTO NEW YORK,

I ENVISION THAT
THEY'LL GO FROM MIDTOWN,

TAKE THE FERRY, COME
RIGHT TO CONEY ISLAND,

AND HAVE A GREAT
DAY TRIP RIGHT HERE,

BECAUSE WE'VE GOT
THE ORIGINAL RIDES,

AND WE REPRESENT
SOME OF THE PAST

AND SOME OF THE FUTURE

RIGHT HERE
IN CONEY ISLAND.

AND THE WONDER WHEEL,
THAT YOU SEE THERE,

IS ONE OF THE LARGEST
IN AMERICA,

OWNED BY
THE VOUDERIS FAMILY,

AND THE ALBERTS
OWN ASTROLAND.

AND THESE TWO
REPRESENT THE STATES

OF ALL THE OTHERS
IN AMERICA

THAT TRY TO COPY,
THEY EMULATED,

THEY TRIED THEIR BEST,

BUT THESE
ARE THE ORIGINALS.

RIGHT.

YOU CAN NEVER REPLACE
THE ORIGINALS.

THIS IS WHERE
THE AMUSEMENT PARK

WAS INVENTED; ABSOLUTELY.

SO, DO YOU THINK
IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS

YOU WILL BE ABLE
TO DRAW TOURISM

AND THE HOTEL INDUSTRY
AND SUCH?

I'LL TELL YOU
WHY I'M CONFIDENT.

WHEN I GO ON A CRUISE
EVERY NOW AND THEN,

ONE OF THE STOPS
THEY MAKE AT KEY WEST,
FLORIDA.

NOW, DON'T GET ME WRONG,

KEY WEST
AND MARGARITAVILLE
AND JIMMY BUFFETT

AND HEMINGWAY
AND KEY LIME PIE,

I'LL GRANT YOU THAT.

THEY GOT
GOOD KEY LIME PIE.

BUT BROOKLYN'S GOT
BETTER CHEESECAKE,

BUT THAT'S
ANOTHER STORY.

AND THEY GOT
THE NATHAN'S HOT DOGS.

WE GOT THE NATHAN
HOT DOGS, FOR SURE,

BUT BROOKLYN REPRESENTS
SUCH A RICHNESS
OF DIVERSITY,

MEANING YOU
CAN COME TO BROOKLYN

AND VISIT RUSSIA
RIGHT HERE, BY THE WAY,

IN THIS COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE OF THE IMMIGRANT
POPULATION HERE?

ABSOLUTELY. AND YOU
CAN VISIT POLAND,

YOU CAN VISIT GREECE,
AND SPAIN,

AND PUERTO RICO,
AND THE DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC, AND CHINA.

YOU CAN VISIT PAKISTAN,
THE CARIBBEAN.

YOU GOT SO MANY
GREAT COUNTRIES
THAT YOU CAN VISIT,

AND HISTORICAL AFRICAN-
AMERICAN COMMUNITIES,

AMONG THE LARGEST
IN AMERICA,

AS WELL AS BEAUTIFUL
BROWNSTONE COMMUNITIES.

SO--AND GREAT
CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS

WITH THE BROOKLYN
MUSEUM OF ART,

AND THE BROOKLYN
ACADEMY OF MUSIC,

AND THE BROOKLYN
PHILHARMONIC.

SURE.

ACTUALLY, BROOKLYN
WAS A CITY,

IT WAS UNTIL 1898.

IT WAS ONE OF
THE LARGEST CITIES
IN AMERICA.

I DON'T KNOW HOW
THAT VOTE GOT AWAY
FROM US BACK THEN

TO BECOME PART
OF THE REST OF
"NEW YORK CITY,"

BUT EVEN IF WE WERE
A CITY TODAY,

IN MY MIND,
WE'RE STILL A CITY,

WE'RE ONE OF
THE LARGEST IN AMERICA.

COME ON, MARTY.
I'LL BUY YOU A HOT DOG.

GREAT.

WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'LL BE UP ON THE ROOF

PUTTING DOWN AND IPE WOOD DECK
AT OUR PROJECT IN DUMBO.



WELL, WE'RE BACK IN DUMBO,
AND WE'RE BACK ON THE ROOF.

IT'S A NOISY PLACE,
'CAUSE LOTS OF ACTIVITY--

NOT JUST HERE IN OUR BUILDING,
BUT ALSO IN THE STREET.

DOWN BELOW, WE'VE GOT
A CREW OF WELDERS

THAT ARE CREATING
AN ACCESSIBILITY RAMP

FOR THE BUILDING
ACROSS THE STREET,

WHICH IS THE SAME
VINTAGE AS OURS.

IT'S MID-19th CENTURY.

YOU CAN SEE THE ANTIQUE
PATINA ON ALL THE BRICKS,

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP,

YOU CAN SEE THE SAME
KIND OF PICKETT RAILING

THAT WE HAVE HERE
THAT WE BUILT A FEW WEEKS AGO.

AND IF YOU LOOK DOWN
THE END OF THE BLOCK,

THAT'S THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE,

WHERE THEY CREATED A BOARDWALK
FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS

ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO
USING A BRAZILIAN HARDWOOD

KNOWN AS IPE.

AND IT'S A SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT.

AND ONE OF THE INTERESTING
THINGS ABOUT IT,

FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD,

IS THAT THERE ARE ACTUAL
MINERAL PARTICLES IN THIS WOOD

THAT MAKE IT UNPALATABLE
TO ANY KIND OF INSECTS.

SO, ANYWAY, WE'RE PUTTING
IT DOWN FOR THE DECKING HERE

ON OUR EXTERIOR SPACE,
AND ALAN HENRIQUEZ,

WHO'S DOING THE COUNTERSINKING
AND THE DRILLING,

IS DOING PROBABLY ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS

OF WORKING WITH IPE,

'CAUSE YOU CAN'T
DRIVE NAILS THROUGH IT.

IT'S SO HARD THAT IF YOU
TRY TO DRIVE NAILS THROUGH IT,

YOU'RE JUST GONNA BEND
YOUR NAILS ALL THE TIME,

SO WHAT YOU SEE IS
THE TWO-MAN TEAM HERE, AND...

PRE-DRILL THE HOLES WITH ONE
DRILL USING JUST A REGULAR BIT,

AND THEN HE'S GOT
ANOTHER CORDLESS DRILL

THAT'S USING
A COUNTERSINKING BIT.

AND THAT WAY, WHEN YOU CREATE
THE HOLE AND THE COUNTERSINK,

ALL OF THE SCREWS
WILL BE DRIVEN FLAT

SO THAT THEY, YOU KNOW,

ARE FLUSH WITH
THE SURFACE OF THE WOOD.

AL, THESE ARE NOT
GALVANIZED, ARE THEY?

NO, THEY'RE COATED,

SPECIAL COATED
FOR OUTDOOR USE.

UH-HUH. AND THEY LOOK LIKE
THEY'RE 2 1/4 NUMBER 9s,

AND THIS PROBABLY
IS A VERY GOOD PRODUCT

TO USE WITH THE IPE.

THERE'S NO--LESS CHANCE
OF SPLITTING,

AND THIS IS SUCH A HARD WOOD

THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT THAT TOO MUCH.

SO, WE'RE JUST CUTTING 1/4 INCH
SPACERS FROM THE WOOD

THAT YOU CAN SPLIT SO THAT
YOU CAN GET 2 OR 3 OUT OF THEM.

THAT'S ONE WAY
OF MAINTAINING UNIFORMITY

THROUGHOUT THE DECKING.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THIS IS GONNA
BE MAJOR OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE.

TAKE A LOOK AT
THE ACTUAL DECKING JOISTS,

WHICH ARE PRESSURE-TREATED,

BUT THEY'VE BEEN
RIPPED AT AN ANGLE

TO CORRESPOND WITH
THE SLOPE OF THE ROOF,

AND THEY'RE
JUST SHIMMED WITH CEDAR,

WHICH YOU CAN LEAVE IN PLACE,
'CAUSE IT'LL LAST FOREVER.

AND THEN, OVER HERE,
YOU'VE GOT THE FIRST STEP.

BECAUSE OF THE NATURE
OF THE SLOPE OF THE ROOF,

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE ONE STEP HERE,

THEN THE DECKING CONTINUES
FOR ANOTHER 10 FEET,

AND THERE'LL BE
AN ADDITIONAL THIRD LEVEL

ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF IT,
SO THEY STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO,

BUT WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

COME HOME AGAIN. NEXT TIME,
WE'RE GONNA BE DEALING

WITH SOME OF THE INTERIOR
FINISHES IN THE TOP-FLOOR UNIT.

WE'LL SHOW YOU
A PLASTERING PROCESS

THAT'S KNOWN AS MARMORINO,
IT INVOLVES MARBLE DUST,

AND WE'LL ALSO
MEET THE YOUNG FELLOW

WHO'S GONNA BE DOING SOME
OF OUR INTERIOR DESIGN WORK

AND ACTUALLY TOUR
HIS LITTLE STUDIO IN SOHO.

TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
HOME AGAIN.

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