Remodeling Before Baby and Insulating the House

Project: Babyproofing the House, Episode 1, Part 1



Bob is in Melrose, MA, to update a 100-year-old home in preparation for a new baby.  Since home building and remodeling can introduce hazards into the home, Bob is looking at how to reduce unwanted toxins and select healthy alternatives.  He visits the American Lung Association’s designer showhouse in West Palm Beach, FL, where EcoDecor’s Bernadette Upton reviews healthy choices like using no-VOC paints, choosing natural, washable throw rugs instead of synthetic wall-to-wall carpeting, buying natural bedding and mattresses, avoiding treated fabrics, purchasing formaldehyde-free furniture, using non-vinyl wall treatments, and airing wallpaper before applying non-toxic glues.  Back in Melrose, Bob talks with homeowner Nick Beasley about the decision to purchase a two-family home and use the upper two floors for their primary residence.  Maggie Beasley shows Bob the main living areas, the kitchen they hope to safety proof, the upstairs bedrooms that need insulation and renovating, and the original beadboard room that will become a child's bathroom.  Nick shows Bob the demolition and new partition wall for the master bath.  Joe Arrigo from Resource Development Partners explains the challenges of insulating an old house and how loose-fill fiberglass insulation is blown in to achieve an R-value of 4.25 per inch or R-30 overall.

 

Part 1: Remodeling Before Baby and Insulating the House

Bob talks with homeowner and general contractor Nick Beasley. Beasley and his family bought a two-family home in Melrose, Massachusetts. The house was originally built as a single-family home but later converted. Beasley and his wife are expecting a baby in six weeks. Maggie Beasley shows Bob the basic layout of the house, the improvements they have made, and the paint colors they have selected with the help of a colorist. She shows Bob the kitchen, which they are hoping to babyproof before the baby is born. On the third floor, there is a nursery, two bedrooms, and a small room the Beasleys will convert to a bathroom. A larger master bath will be created, with the smaller bath moving to the hall. Nick Beasley reviews the demolition of the existing small bath and the new partition wall that has been built to frame out the new space. Bob talks with Nick about insulating his 100-year-old home. Insulation contractors are installing Pro Pink blown-in fiberglass insulation. Joe Arrigo from Owens Corning talks about the challenges of insulating old houses. The spray-in, loose-fill insulation being used is effective and will translate into big savings in heating costs next winter. Coming up: projects for the baby's room including sound insulation from Owens Corning and construction of the new bathrooms.

Part 2: Learning How to Set Up a Healthy and Safe Room for Baby
Part 3: Touring a Designer Showhouse and Baby's Bathroom
In Melrose, MA, Bob Vila helps a young couple expecting their first child to prepare their home. The focus is on creating a safe place with a strong emphasis on indoor air quality and a healthy living environment. Bob reviews child safety products with industry specialists, as they outfit the home from top to bottom in preparation for the new baby.

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