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While it's been around for years, fiber cement siding currently enjoys popularity with homeowners for a number of rea...
As you plan landscaping for your yard, consider the potential of bringing it to the roof. The benefits of reduced runoff, improved insulation and longevity may b...
Next time you pull on a pair of jeans, consider this: You can use denim to keep your house cool in the summer and war...
Thinking of re-roofing your home? So-called green roofs proffer many benefits for the environment and your community—...
Tile roofs come in many styles, and each has its own preferred applications and intrinsic beauty. An exotic sense of ...
Bamboo flooring has won fans both for its look and performance, not to mention its environmental sustainability.
Exotic in look yet inexpensive to buy, sustainably harvested bamboo flooring continues to grow in popularity as an alternative to hardwoods.
There are two types of wood roofing—shingles and shakes. Neither boasts the practicality of a modern roofing material...
Durable composite roof shingles arguably improve upon the traditional slate and wood shake shingles they are engineered to mimic.
Vinyl siding is a durable, versatile, and resilient building material, but it does require some routine care and clea...
Coming up with alternatives for traditional shingle materials has proved a steep and slippery slope for a surprising ...
I’ve looked at flooring from both sides now. . . and it’s the horrors of applying polyurethane I recall. Apologies to...
My son recently asked for help installing vinyl flooring in his bathroom. So we took a trip to the local home center ...
Vinyl tile and laminate flooring is attractive, durable, and long-lasting, even under a home's highest-traffic condit...
Brick has a timeless appearance and requires little maintenance, making it a popular material for a variety of applic...
When it comes time to clean concrete, you don't need to be delicate; after all, it's a very hard material. In order t...
From asphalt to brick, basalt to concrete, this is the stuff dream driveways are made of.
A perennial budget-friendly favorite, today's laminate kitchen counters have upped their game, both in performance and style.
If you're shopping around for products to use in a budget kitchen renovation, consider buying laminate countertops, now available in more style options than ever ...
You have the desire, the energy, and the skills to beef up the insulation around your house, but the cost of material...
You can't beat the low cost and easy installation of a laminate floor. It's a great do-it-yourself project that can r...
It used to be that foam-core board was only useful to architects building models. Now that foam technology has taken ...
Sustainable, versatile cork floor options abound for today's eco- and design-conscious homeowner.
Something’s stirring underfoot—a growing interest in cork floors. Crafted from sustainable materials and available in...
Learn the truth about five common misconceptions that involve metal roofing.
Not just for barns or cabins any longer, today's metal roofs are enjoying renewed popularity. Here are ten stylish reasons why.
With styles that now imitate the look of wood, stone, and clay, metal roofing is finding renewed popularity in homes of all types.
When deciding between brands with many of the same benefits, the choice comes down to the finer details.
Beautiful, hygienic, and low-maintenance, engineered stone makes an ideal eco-friendly countertop surface.
We've narrowed down the options to include some of the very best wood types for a kitchen countertop, whether you're interested in a functional butcher block or a...
Unsure whether wood countertops are a good fit for your home? An expert weighs in.
Whether you like the classic look of slate or the long life of metal, when it’s time for a new roof, there’s somethin...
If it's time to replace your home's siding and you're looking for an alternative to wood or vinyl, it's worth looking...
Despite what the three little pigs might say, even the hardiest of brick buildings will require repair and restoratio...
60 to 70% of the homes in the U. S. contain carpeting made from nylon, polyester, or vinyl—materials dependent on non...
A couple decades ago, no one would have considered it, but one of today’s most popular flooring products is bamboo. ...
After so many years of classic chrome and nickel faucets dominating in kitchens and baths, bronze finishes are finall...
Are granite countertops right for you? Here is some expert advice.
Weathered wood floors grayed from years of wear go so well with the ubiquitous reclaimed wood and industrial furnitur...
Like it or not, working on the car, washing the dog, rinsing the lawnmower and all the other work we do on our drivew...
Of all the siding materials you could use on your home, cedar shingles are one of the most attractive and long lastin...
An environmentally friendly alternative to wood or tile, remodelers often neglect to consider cork flooring as a viable option—but it is.
Think linoleum and vinyl flooring are the same thing? Wrong. While many people mistakenly call vinyl tile 'linoleum',...
There are a lot of decisions to make when constructing a new home. Having a large production builder as our contracto...
Learn how you can maximize your DIY remodeling budget by shopping for bargains online.
For homeowners and DIY enthusiasts in search of home goods, decorative accessories, appliances, and remodeling products, the internet is certainly the place to go...
Whether you prefer ceramic tile, natural stone, or hardwoods, there's no lack of stylish options for today's kitchen flooring.
Design, color, and surface are important considerations, but don't overlook comfort, durability and easy care—particularly in kitchen flooring.
The choices are many, but which kitchen countertop is the best for you? Find out here.
There are different methods for spraying different kinds of blown insulation into the walls, attics, and floors of your home.
A little TLC is all you need to keep brick walls in top shape.
Glass block floors invite more light into your home and provide a unique decorative accent.
Learn how you can get builders’ discounts, free delivery, and materials delivered on time, plus take advantage of little known payment options.
Options abound for homeowners planning to install or replace kitchen countertops.
An eco-friendly alternative to wood that does not sacrifice looks for affordability.
Gorgeous rediscovered and recovered woods will add a touch of class to any home, whether you're going for sustainability or distinction.
Learn everything you need to know about asphalt shingles—their type, style, color choices, cost and durability.
A durable and energy-efficient alternative to shingles, metal roofs are now more attractive than ever.
At a time when common sense and solid environmental values are asking homebuilders and remodelers to make educated decisions about the materials they use, wood co...
Looking to reroof your home with asphalt shingles? Check out some of today's top contenders.
Amid growing concerns about preserving older forests and increasing demand for wood products and applications, new, better wood products are being engineered to m...
Take into account these considerations when thinking about which building materials to buy.
The basic requirement of any floor surfacing material—from ceramic to wood—is that the subfloor remain free of moistu...
Home exteriors take a beating—from humidity, dry heat, rain and snow, salty air, freezing temperatures, and other unf...
Aided by ceramic coating, new insulating paint products bring huge energy savings to the market.
Protect an unfinished home from the elements by building a durable subfloor from new, improved options in engineered wood.
Bob introduces homeowner Howard Brickman. Steve Ivas, an environmental engineer, describes the area wetlands, which must be accommodated. Innovative building tech...
While the house is being dried out, fiber-cement siding is put in place, as well as a cellular PVC trim that has the look of wood boards without any of the hassles.
Work is being done on the roof—laying Deck-Armor and installing metal roofing and photovoltaic panels. Bob talks with Jeff Wolf from GroSolar about the photovolta...
A big farmer's porch will run the whole width of the house. Bob discusses the boiler, which will heat the domestic hot water, radiant floor heating, and hydro-air...
Bob talks with Robert Rainey of PJ Overhead Door as the new and improved garage door panels and tracks are installed on the Norwell home.
The walls in the new addition are just about ready for paint. The new fireplace, trimmed with fieldstone, will make this new in-law suite very cozy. Interior door...
Bob works with contractor Bob Ryley and carpenter Chris Clark installing new wood-shingle siding.
Bob meets carpenter Danny Ruffini to see how a metal stud wall is built in the basement.
Carpenters Bob Ryley and Danny Ruffini and copper-work specialist Fred Mitchell install custom fabricated copper-lined wood gutters on Bob's home.
Bob travels to British Columbia and tours the Waldun Forest Products Company shingle manufacturing plant.
Bob reviews plans for the kitchen remodeling and visits the second floor, where one of the bedrooms has been removed to accommodate his and her bathrooms. He help...
Bob helps carpenter Bob Ryley build a redwood deck. Carpenter Danny Ruffini installs a custom-made redwood-and-cedar fence on the perimeter.
The generously sized workshop has a functional layout and a unique vinyl floor designed by architect Gregory Rochlin.
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley install the restored door hardware, and artist Kim Sweet faux finishes the mantle in the den, taking as inspiration a piece of Bob’s f...
Bob meets with California Closets to review plans for his walk-in closet and checks out the careful herringbone floor installation in the library that is nearly c...
Bob quickly reviews the completed work in the kitchen, and then oversees the installation of a herringbone-patterned floor in the den, which will essentially func...
Bob discusses installation and care of the new kitchen soapstone countertop and tours the kitchen, showing the cabinetry, storage, future mudroom, and small offic...
Bob meets with Mark Marini of Schumacher Landscaping to discuss the installation of the bluestone pavers on the lower terrace.
Inspired by designs found in the Isaac Bell historic house, paneling is installed on Bob’s entrance door to the living room. Bob looks at the completed tiled show...
Bob joins carpenter David Ives, who is installing the paneling in the master bedroom closet, and then checks in on artist Kim’s faux finishing work on the walls.
Bob reviews the progress of his western red cedar custom fence, designed to provide privacy and block the carport from the neighbors’ view.
Bob reviews the work done on the existing plumbing in the basement and the replacement of obsolete brass water pipes.
Bob talks with Owens Corning experts about the basement finishing system and discusses staircase repairs.
Experts review the replication of old house moldings and the use of Western Red Cedar for house trim and boards.
Stone workers install a granite retaining wall, replace a front walkway, and build a backyard patio.
An energy-efficient door is cut down in size to replace the small exterior door leading to the new basement mud room.
Backyard landscaping has progressed with the completion of stone work, new plantings, weed control, and the installation of artificial grass.
Old gutters are replaced and external landscaping continues with the trimming of a tree, installing a front garden, and creating steps from recycled granite.
Bob talks with a fencing expert about installing a white-cedar fence in sloped areas at the Melrose house.
Bob discusses the installation of a plastic subfloor to prevent water damage and the selection of a basement dehumidifier.
Exterior stucco walls and wood trim are painted, and repaired shingles are stained.
Bob visits PGT Industries to learn what it takes to make impact-resistant windows.
Scott Lawyer makes a template for a Corian kitchen countertop and installs the sink section, Andrea Johnson discuss Corian colors.
Bob meets with Jack Ballantine to discuss and install Maple kitchen cabinets.
Bob and Anthony Lopez install porcelain tiles for a decorative look.
Cindy O'Reilly is on site with Bob to install the natural bamboo, sliding-panel shades.
Bob works with Bob and Dan Gerry to install kitchen sink fixtures. Then the ceiling fan is put in and a Square D All House Surge Arrester is installed.
Bill Jasper joins Bob for the installation of a removable Baby Barrier pool fence.
Bob watches as a pool cage is constructed. It is rated to withstand a wind load of 130 miles per hour
Jesse Bartuesek joins Bob for the installation of Brazilian Walnut floors
Interior beams, walls, and ceilings have been sandblasted, exposing raw surfaces that will become an integral part of the interior design. Reggie Ray of Georgia-P...
Dino Koukoudakis of Dino's Construction prefers using metal studs, because of their light weight and resistance to warping. Easy to cut and fasten, metal studs to...
Bob tours the multi-story luxury loft space of developer and artist Jane Walentas. Next, Bob and his son, Chris, consult with Cas Stachelberg about the history, a...
An ironworker secures the rooftop deck's safety railing to its footings. Then, Bob meets with the window installer who is putting frosted thermal glass walls on t...
Bob looks on as the window installer puts in the glass walls for the head house (the structure surrounding the stares that lead up from the penthouse).
Bob watches as flooring specialists put in red rosin paper as underlayment before installing Ash hardwood floors in the penthouse apartment.
Bob talks to Nick Tagios, of Tagios Tile and Marble, who's laying down the marble tile bathroom floor using a traditional installation technique.
Gam Danziger from Craftline Cabinets reviews the assembly of the contemporary Cherry kitchen cabinets being installed in the penthouse apartment.
Karen Brooks Hopkins, president of the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), gives Bob a peek at the restoration of the main building.
Bob consults with the project's stone and tile specialist, who explains the process of attaching the Pietra Cardosa countertops to the Cherry Craftline island cab...
Bob puts in a Mahogany windowsill that's been precut with a cleat and bevel to make the installation easier. He also helps install Poplar floor molding and observ...
Bob watches over the installation of a few bathroom fixtures, including a custom vanity countertop and undermount sinks from Toto USA, as well as an acrylic soaki...
Bob watches the ongoing installation of the roof deck, which is being built woth a sustainable tropical hardwood decking called Ipe.
Bob gets a final status update on the restoration of the façade, as the ground-floor commercial storefront undergoes construction and the bluestone steps are laid...
Bob surveys the interior decorating of the penthouse apartment, as well as the top-quality materials and appliances in the kitchen. Also, Bob learns about the dif...
Bob confronts the remodeling challenge of choosing a flooring material that will deaden sound without sacrificing the sleek, clean look of tile or stone. So contr...
Bob assists Princeton Custom Cabinetry as the crew crafts custom countertops on-site for the Miami Beach condo remodel.
Bob and interior decorator DD Allen visit a Miami apartment designed by Pierce Allen.
Chris Vila discusses the benefits of a factory-built foundation system with Mel Zimmerman of Superior Walls.
Bob tours the Simplex Industries manufacturing facility where workers are precutting the plywood as they construct the interior and exterior walls.
Bob meets with Dave Boniello from Simplex Industries to discuss the custom modular kitchen being built and installed at the factory.
Bob looks on as workers instal a solid-surface countertop called Zodiaq (from Dupont), which is made of natural silica, quartz, and polymer.
Bob talks with Mark Murphy (Owens-Corning) about a new man-made stone product for the exterior of the modular home.
Kevin Corcoran from Englert Roofing Systems explains to Bob the benefits of the Englert environmentally-friendly maintenance-free metal roofing product.
Jeff Smith from Al Smith Gutters demonstrates the installation of a modern metal roof panel.
Bob surveys the modular home project in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts, paying special attention to the products used on the exterior of the house.
Bob meets with Joe Adams and Ralph McGrath in the media room of Elm Court. Adams and McGrath are installing a sound-attenuating grid-ceiling system from Owens-Cor...
Dave Colette from Doorworks talks Bob through the installation of the garage doors.
Ron Boffoli from Cape Cod Vacuum Supply installs the components for a central vacuum system.
Work continues at the sister project house where a new laminated floor system is being installed.
Evan Zgonis and the crew form Olympia Marble and Granite are installing the marble countertops in the kitchen.
Interior Designer Leslie Curtis takes Bob on a tour of the Lyman Estate in Waltham, MA.
Howard Brickman has begun sanding the old growth Eastern white pine floor in the bedroom of the modern Colonial.
Bob visits the McLellan House in Portland, ME, part of the Portland Museum of Art.
Furniture maker Tommy MacDonald demonstrates a few of the techniques he employs to create hand-carved furniture details.
Bob shows the Woodport medium-density fiberboard doors selected for the Manhattan Brownstone then works with the crew from Thorough Construction as they prepare t...
In a progress report, Ted Riley shows Bob the pre-primed red cedar siding , the heavy-duty metal Bilco bulkhead installation, and the Quechee home's standing seam...
Bob talks with Ron Holen from Georgia-Pacific as the finishing touches are completed on the redwood front porch deck. Bob also visits with farmers at Cedar Mounta...
Bob Ryley is on site to help carpenter Pat Cloutier construct tapered columns on the front porch.
Bob observes as carpenter Pat Cloutier finishes off installing the tapered columns on the front porch.
Bob checks out Shaw's Chateau wood flooring, which contractor David LaFosse and his crew are about to install in the great room.
Bob meets Lance Olson of Louisana Pacific as LP's Smartside lap siding is installed on a Mashpee house.
Bob talks with general contractor Ted Riley about the fireplace construction.
Bob meets up with landscape mason Hector Santos, who is building a dried-laid stone retaining wall.
Tom Sullivan of Bellawood is in one of the four Mashpee affordable homes where they have donated hardwood flooring for the living room, dining room, and kitchen o...
The mason on-site installing a retaining wall, Hector, shows Bob how to split a piece of granite that is too large and heavy to use as is.
Bob meets University of Vermont professor Tom Visser in Plymouth Notch to visit the birthplace of President Calvin Coolidge. They then go to see the Burtch-Udall ...
Bob looks at the finished wall tile from Shaw in a second-floor bathroom at the Vermont farmhouse project site.
Bob focuses on the exterior of the Manhattan Brownstone, where paint has built up over the last 100 years and now obscures the details and carvings on the facade.
Thomas Bump of Fine Custom Cabinetry shows Bob the Maple and hardwood panel cabinets that were built specifically for the Brownstone kitchen.
Bob meets general contractor Wes Lohr at the Colonial-style affordable home in Mashpee, Massachusetts.
Bob is outside the Manhattan Brownstone to show off the refurbished facade of the building and then goes inside to show us the completed living room of the floor-...
Bob experiences the Panasonic Replay TV with the show-stopper feature and he tours the master bedroom suite, admiring the space, scope, and the view.
Bob introduces Medford, MA, a city five miles north of Boston. Settled in 1630, Medford once flourished with industry, including the shipbuilding building. Today,...
General contractor Charlie Tomaszewski completes the restructuring of the kitchen/family room, having replaced a rabbit warren of rooms with a 35-foot wide-open s...
Bob tours the first floor of the house, then turns his attention to the family room addition. Demolition has taken place in the barn, where a concrete floor has r...
Much of the space on the first floor has been opened up to give the house a 21st-century lifestyle feel. The framing of the new addition is ongoing, and the Kohle...
Bob talks with Ray Adam (from Pella Windows) about the new French doors to be installed in the library. It's an active/inactive door with all hardware. The most i...
A representative from Owens Corning tells Bob about the architectural shingles that have been selected to replace the old roofing material. And Velux VSE skylight...
Bob goes up to the attic of the Victorian project house, where an ODL tubular skylight is being installed. Also, Bob looks back at the installation of windows on ...
Bob Fulmer (from Harraseeket Restoration, Inc.) joins Bob on the roof of the breezeway to install a double-lock standing seam copper roof.
Bob joins Joe Sheridan (from Energy Guard) to learn more about the US Greenfiber Cocoon cellulose insulation being used in the barn.
Bob joins insulation contractor Joe Sheridan to witness the process of blowing insulation in behind original plaster walls.
Fred Goode (from Brattle Works) joins Bob to view the trellis and lattice fencing, and Bob visits the Brattle Works workshop to see how the fencing is manufactured.
Bob observes as general contractor Charlie Tomaszewski finishes up the picture framing for the mahogany deck.
Workers replace the old barn doors with an oversized Ponderosa Pine door (from KML Industries in Canada).
Fred Giuggio (from QuickStep) and his crew are busy installing wood laminate flooring in the barn of the Victorian restoration project house.
Mary Lou Pace (from Circle Redmont) joins Bob to watch the installation of the monolithic glass block floor panel system custom-manufactured for this project.
Bob and Tim Colgan (from Kahrs) discuss the white oak flooring being installed in the bedroom.
Mark Van Sickle (from Merillat) installs the hardware on the cabinets destined for the kitchen in the Victorian restoration project house.
Dick Deshant (from Counter Intelligence) tells Bob about the new Silestone countertops. And while Brece Rupolt (from Northern Marble & Granite) demonstrates the t...
Bob tours the exterior of the completed Victorian restoration project house, remarking on the color scheme, breezeway, and artist's studio. Inside the house, Bob ...
Carpenter Bob Ryley meets with Jim Whiteside, construction manager with Habitat for Humanity, and Dennis Hodgrin of APA.
Bob tours the Premier Building Systems plant with general manager Steve Thompson.
The crew is using a crane to install the engineered wood flooring system.
Bob visits the Willamette I-Joist Mill in Woodburn, OR, before returning to Yonkers where the crew is assembling the second floor walls with structural insulated ...
Workers set the glulam for the roof ridge and, assisted by a crane, put down the roof panel system.
Bob meets with Dave Probst (from Louisiana Pacific) to learn about LP's Smart System Products and Lisa Francis (from the Engineered Wood Association) joins to wat...
Bob visits the Simpson Plywood plant in Shelton, WA, where Jim Langenberg shows Bob how plywood, especially MDO, is made.
Bob visits Two Harbors, MN and tours the plant where Louisiana Pacific manufactures a line of exterior trim products.
Tim Smyth, the plastering contractor, provides a drywall update and offers a few tips on quality, speedy installation.
Bob takes a helicopter tour of the major reforestation efforts underway on Mount St. Helens.
Carpenter Bob Ryley joins Steve Yates (from Pergo) to learn installation tips for, and the features of, Pergo wood laminate flooring and installation tips.
Bob visits the Perstop Flooring Factory to see how Pergo, wood laminate flooring, is made.
Carpenter Bob Ryley meets Steve Wilkinson in the kitchen to install the Corian countertops, and Bob talks with Ren Anderson (from the National Renewable Energy La...
Bob discusses the advantages of engineered wood flooring with Steve Barth (from Willamette Industries).
Bob talks with carpenter Bob Ryley and general contractor Kevin Kalman, as they lay down the subflooring.
Bob discusses the wall layout with carpenter Bob Ryley and, with Bryan Readling (from the Engineered Wood Association), the talk surrounds the use of laminated ve...
Bob helps lay rafters and the ridge pole for the vaulted roof of the Lifespan House.
Masons install the throat and flue for the Rumford fireplace in the Lifespan House.
Bob meets with the president of the Metal Roofing Alliance, who demonstrates the process of installing metal roofing panels.
Work has begun on the exterior finish. Contractors are installing the cedar trim, casing, and grounds, and continue on to begin installing the clapboard siding.
Bob gets up to speed on the progress made, before joining Kent Forsland (from Designer Doors) to discuss the new custom-made, cedar-faced garage doors, which have...
General contractor Kevin Kalman and carpenter Bob Ryley lay plywood to the soffit of the front porch ceiling.
Bob talks with contractor Tim Galvin, who is installing limestone tile over a heavy bed of mortar.
Bob looks over the shoulders of Rick and Brian (from Star Granite Interiors), as they install a granite vanity top in the first-floor bathroom.
Bob observes, and assists with, the installation of Cherry cabinets, a Northland refrigerator, and a wine storage system.
Carpenter Bob Ryley and contractor Grady Garrett install a reclaimed Yellow Pine hardwood floor.
Bob tours Virginia House, which was once an English abbey. In the 1920s, it was shipped to Richmond stone by stone.
Bob Ryley installs replica baseboard molding inside a room of the Virginia governor's mansion, which is under restoration.
Bob looks at the old doors, then meets with local artist Elaine Havaland, who demonstrates a faux-finishing technique.
Carpenter Bob Ryley and Bob George (from New England Window) install a bronze aluminum replacement window in an arched-top masonry wall.
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley review the interior construction, which must satisfy stringent fire codes.
Joel Trepitti (from Pergo) talks Bob through the installation of the wood laminate flooring.
Bob checks in with Greg Rockland, the plumber installing a marble countertop in the loft conversion unit.
Bob visits a stainless steel fabrication shop to see how the kitchen counters for the loft project unit are made.
Bob observes Bob Watts weld together the stainless steel kitchen countertops on-site.
Bob meets with Joel Scanlon, who installs legs on a butcher block top and explains how to care for the wood surface.
Bob observes Bill Brody (from Classic Glass) installing a large mirror, a glass shelf, and a glass partition wall.
Bob highlights the long curved wall in the loft's hallway. The wall provides a great deal of storage, and serves as a divider between the private and public space...
Carpenter Bob Ryley installs plantation shutters against a bedroom wall.
Bob explains the engineering and construction of the truss system supporting the roof of the accessible home.
Roofing contractor Jack Viera demonstrates installing three-tab asphalt roof shingles.
Bob meets with plumbing contractor, who demonstrates how all the waste lines come together in a residence and how they exit the house.
Carpenter Bob Ryley continues to fashion a wooden bracket for the exterior of the accessible home.
Installer Juan Gonsalves shows Bob how to install steel stair stringers.
Bob talks with factory representative Chris Hoff and heating contractor Peter Lydon during the installation of a Buderus high-efficiency boiler.
A Northern White Cedar picket fence is discussed and installed.
The first Elmwood project concerns remodeling a Gothic Carpenter-style home, built in 1871.
The old flooring in the Gothic Carpenter-style home in Elmwood has been removed. Bob outlines the process of installing the new floor and discusses the new suppor...
Bob Riley and Howard Brickman install a reclaimed hard pine floor. The orientation of the boards is explained, and the moisture content of the subfloor is checked...
Bob talks with contractors Jim Azerroe and Mike Burk. Jim is installing a granite kitchen countertop, while Mike puts in the new cabinets and drawers.
Carpenter Bob Ryley works on the mahogany deck, while new kitchen appliances are installed and the lighting and cabinets undergo examination.
Joe Murphy installs a direct vent gas-driven fireplace, and Howard Brickman refinishes the hardwood floor.
The second home in the Elmwood project, a Colonial Revival, is complete, after the second-floor bathroom gets a new vanity, new doors for the laundry closet, and ...
The mahogany roof deck is complete, with the hot tub sturdily supported. Bob takes a final tour of the residence, the third Elmwood project house.
Porch restoration continues on the fifth Elmwood project house, with Forester Moulding and Lumber re-milling many porch elements.
The restoration of the front porch continues with workers putting the decking down and replacing the old columns. In addition, anti-termite control stations are p...
Homer Earl (from the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau) explains what makes a quality shingle. The group takes a look at Sikkens Cetol shingle stain products, and Bo...
The home's side entry will be restored using the original columns, which homeowner Jim Verity found in the basement. On the front porch, new support beams and rai...
Landscaping work continues, as the new security system is installed and the reproduction railing is going into place on the front porch.
Bob points out that the side porch is nearly complete and remarks on the landscaping, before he meets homeowner Jim Verity on the completed front porch.
The front porch is undergoing full restoration, due to excessive water and pest damage to the columns and other structural elements. Demolition begins and repair ...
Front porch restoration continues with the roof being replaced and new red cedar shingles being applied on the porch wall. Bob demonstrates the shingle weaving pr...
Contractors put the finishing touches on the front porch by adding new Yellow Pine shutters and a coat of Sherwin Williams latex paint to the exterior.
Owners of the tenth Elmwood neighborhood project house, Peter Haraty and Brent Bachelder, want to create one large space on the attic level, a change requiring wa...
Homeowner Don DeSantis is transforming the attic level into an exercise space. The floor structure is being shored up in order to hold the wieght of excercise equ...
A granite tub surround is installed, as well as an in-floor heating system and unique fiber optic lighting.
As part of a Miami kitchen renovation, Bob frames a partition wall made to resemble a banana leaf. He also pours concrete to patch a floor.
Bob tours the heavy-duty, no-nonsense kitchen of Yuca, a Cuban-American restaurant in Miami.
Bob helps demonstrate the installation of man-made slate roof shingles.
Bob and contractor Cortney Lofton discuss the Indian slate tile being installed on the pool deck and back porch.
Bob confers with carpenter Cortney Lofton, as he lays the redwood decking for the back porch.
Bob learns the process of creating stained glass windows. Designs begin on paper before they are traced onto glass using a light table. A variety of glass types a...
Bob and homeowner Gavin repair and refinish a 75-year-old oak floor. Because the new patch floor panels have a different thickness from the original, a belt sande...
Bob meets with Donald Young for a tour of the home's Zen garden. Donald discusses the plant choices and lighting requirements in a garden of this size. Slate tile...
Bob meets with the contractor to inspect the poured footings and discuss the pouring process. Next, Bob helps install the sill plate and explains the various type...
Bob reviews the framing for the new addition. Homeowner Linda points out the corner notches, which add architectural interest. And a large opening punctuates one ...
Bob assists the crew installing sidewall on the second floor of the addition.
Bob joins carpenter Bob Ryley, who is putting sidewall shingles onto the exterior of the new addition.
Bob visits the Georgia Pacific pressure-treated lumber plant in Sterling, GA to discover how pressure treated lumber is made to resist weather and rot.
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley continue working on the backyard deck. Once they've finished theframing, they begin laying the deck boards.
Bob and Bob Ingram (from Rover Tile) discuss the tile that's going into the master bath and children's bathroom. The tile is a combination of marble chips, Veneti...
Flooring specialist Mary Docker introduces Bob to Amtico. A flooring product from England, Amtico is vinyl that mimics the look of wood and marble. It's water-res...
Bob meets with restoration contractor Richard Marks and roofer Joe Wells to go over the proper techniques for installing slate roofing.
Alongside restoration specialist Richard Marks at the Federal-style home in Charleston, Bob watches painter David Snyder scrape and sand old wood siding.
Bob chats with painter Rick Snyder in the dining room of the Federal-style home, while Rick experiments with color on intricate wood detail.
The architect pays a visit to check on progress, while Bob and contractor Bob Ryley begin installing the Paralam rafters. Ryley goes into depth discussing these m...
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley install sloped glazing on a greenhouse with the help of Mark Santos.
The wood has arrived for the perimeter benches, so Bob and contractor Bob Ryley begin constructing the architect-designed benches for the greenhouse. The wood is ...
Contractor Bob Ryley shows off the greenhouse's motorized windows. At the touch of a button, or via a thermostat, the windows open and close. Bob helps Ryley asse...
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley install 4x10 douglas fir floor joists, and also put in 2 x 6 spruce tongue-and-groove decking on the second floor.
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley tour the exterior of the cabin, whose exposed wood surfaces will pose some problems for the builders. The plumber installs a drain li...
Contractor Bob Ryley installs tongue-and-groove yellow pine flooring, as Gary D'Lessio (from Pergo) installs high-pressure laminate flooring.
Contractor Rick Davenport demonstrates the installation of wet-spray cellulose insulation. Jets of water moisten the insulation as it leaves the blower hose nozzl...
The Malibu beach house gets a pair of Cantera stone columns in the entry foyer. The pieces are fit together and Bob learns what to odo when they don't come togeth...
Bob and interior decorator Robyn Peterson tour the master bedroom and bath. The 'antiqued' wood carpentry adds warmth to the bedroom, as does the use of unbleache...
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley join exterminator Dean Bailey (of Fowler and Sons) to discuss termite control in and around the garage. Also, concrete contractor Sha...
Bob confers with Paul Pacella (from Maine Post and Beam of Cape Cod) about framing the barn. Eastern white pine is being used; this type of pine is a popular lumb...
Bob tours the Ralph A. Esty & Sons Lumber Corporation in Groveland, MA. Operations Manager Ken Monaco explains the process of aquiring and milling the lumber. The...
Bob and Paul Pacella (of Maine Post and Beam) discuss the cutting and placement of the engineered wood glulam ridge beam for the garage.
Bob visits the Willamette Industries glued laminated timber facilities in Eugene, OR to learn first-hand how glulams are manufactured.
Bob travels to Canada for a tour of the Ainsworth oriented strand board (OSB) mill, one of the most modern OSB factories in the world.
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley install a salvaged door on the side of the dream garage, which is undergoing construction.
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley create an overhang detail with eyebrow returns and cedar plywood siding.
Bob tours the American Plywood Association testing facilities with Tom Williamson, the Executive Vice President of Engineered Wood Systems. Tom explains the diffe...
Bob oversees the installation of a Velux skylight in a standing-seam metal-shingled roof.
Bob looks on as the roofing crew installs a standing-seam metal-shingled roof.
J & G Lightning Protection, Inc. installs a lightning rod system that will draw lightning toward the two copper rods, which perch on the garage roof. The copper p...
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley install southern yellow pine plywood on the interior of the garage. On the exterior, Bob talks with Greg Binford about adding a stain...
Bob helps painting contractor Milo Moran roll solid stain over the yellow pine plywood walls on the boat storage side of the garage. Though not often applied insi...
Bob pays a final visit to the garage for a tour of the full building and a review of all the features installed. Along the way, he details the construction techni...
Bob tours the lavish interior of Chateau-sur-Mer in Newport, RI. The entrance walls are painted canvas and the ceiling is adorned by a fresco. Hand-carved walnut ...
Having reviewed their work on preparing the site, Bob and contractor Bob Ryley begin laying the first-floor decking by using glue and nails to attach the plywood ...
Bob tours Lyndhurst mansion, a testament to high living during the Victoria era in New York's Hudson River Valley. The 40-odd rooms include a Gothic dining room w...
Bob tours the Vermont Castings factory in Randolph, VT in order to learn about the manufacturing process for the type of wood-burning stove being used in the Mart...
Bob and Tom Moran (from Pella) discuss the anatomy of the doors chosen for the Martha's Vineyard Victorian project, and contractor Bob Ryley demonstrates the proc...
Bob reviews progress in the kitchen, which includes the installation of a pantry, and contractor Bob Ryley demonstrates how to build a door into a wood-paneled wa...
Landscape designer Ruth Foster visits the project site to explain her choice of plantings for the formal courtyard garden.
Bob meets with a project manager for the restoration of the U.S.S. Constitution, "Old Ironsides", dry-docked in Boston Harbor. They review the 21-inch-thick hull ...
Bob takes a tour of the Georgia Pacific plywood plant near Savannah, GA to see how birch veneer plywood is made.
Contractor Larry Landers installs V-groove pine on the ceiling of the new front porch and demonstrates how to stagger and miter boards for an attractive, old-fash...
Flooring contractor Leo Boudreau shows Bob how to recycle hardwood flooring. First, the floor must be salvaged. A pry bar is used to lift and remove the wood, pie...
Bob and the contractor discuss the concrete walkway, with the contractor giving Bob tips on how to make concrete cure harder and have less cracks. Also discussed ...
Bob helps carpenter Bob Ryley replace the storm windows on the Plymouth project house, and the newly designed bathroom needs tiles.
As tiling begins on the bathroom floor and in the shower, Bob takes a field trip to the factory where the tiles being used in the project house were made.
Work continues in the kitchen with the resurfacing of old counters. Tips on using contact cement are imparted.
Bob observes as workmen create a template that's used to cut vinyl sheet goods for an exact fit on the floor.
Bob helps carpenter-contractor Bob Ryley build an insulated floor so as to extend living space into the basement.
Due to flood plain regulations, the deck cannot be attached to the house-- it has to be free-floating. Bob helps the contractors set up the posts and joists, and ...
Bob helps install cultured marble panels in a bathroom. The tile professional on the job, Jack Miklaus, shares information on fabricating the panels and tips on i...
Bob observes as gunite is poured over rebar to form the bottom and sides of the swimming pool cavity.
General contractor Ron Gan talks through the process of bricking in a window in the new kitchen. Ron also addresses the installation of a smaller bathroom window.
Bob visits Shepley Wood Products to discuss what to look for when ordering lumber.
Bob takes us on a tour of the IKO roofing shingle plant in Wilmington, DE.
Bob helps carpentry contractor Bob Ryley and his crew install a wooden window at the Cape Cod project house.
Bob goes over the electrical wiring with John Hickey. Also, cedar clapboards are put up on the exterior.
Carpentry contractor Bob Ryley demonstrates how to put up the pine interior paneling in the living room.
Bob looks on as tile setter John Boardman applies bathroom floor tile at the Cape Cod project house.
Bob and general contractor Ron Gan review the demolition and discuss replacing the bearing walls with special engineered beams.
Bob joins David Parker at Macmillan-Bloedel’s Parallam plant in Vancouver, BC to see how the special engineered beams are manufactured.
The crew installs a Parallam beam in the living room along with iron beams on the back masonry wall.
Contractor Carleton Bergere explains the advantages of vinyl siding and demonstrates how to install it.
Bob finds an authentic iron fence for the front yard and watches as the welder installs it using the arc welding process. Next, Bob heads inside to join general c...
Installer Ed Janecek demonstrates how to add a creative touch to vinyl flooring, while painter Dirk Van Kinette rolls high-gloss paint onto the master bathroom wa...
Bob joins architectural historian Susan Benjamin for a tour of some of Chicago's landmark buildings.
Bob visits Dave Parker in Vancouver, BC to see how Parallam beams are manufactured.
Ironmonger Frank Szablewski constructs an iron staircase and balcony entryway outside the front door.
Bob meets with David Cross of Tampa Armature Works (TAW), a company that converts shipping containers into intermodal steel building units (ISBUs).
Once stripped down, an ISBU's exterior is finished with heavy-gauge steel, then faced in sheet-metal wrap and covered with SuperTherm insulating ceramic coating. ...
Bob joins Steve Armstrong, the project architect and engineer, to discuss the project. The challenge of building a home like this is marrying new methods of const...
Bob helps general contractor Tim Berky put a solid-core cherry-veneer door on its bronze butt hinges, and install matching door hardware.
General contractor Tim Berky trims out the windows with custom millwork created from a profile of the home's original trim. Bob looks at the four-panel cherry poc...
The Silestone island countertop arrives, with the cooktop cutout done on site. Matt Lihous (from DCS/Fisher & Paykel) explains the features of the Dynamic Cooking...
General contractor Tim Berky is installing Merillat cherry cabinets in the remodeled kitchen. Berky roughs in the base wall cabinet, shims it, and checks for leve...
Retaining walls, foundation work, and curving stairways are faced with Cultured Stone from Owens Corning. These cast cement, pumice, and iron oxide products are m...
General contractor Tim Berky is building the cedar deck railings, first by notching the edge board to receive posts, then by fitting one post into each notch. Onc...
Bob reviews the structure for the new deck. Paul Mackie (of the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association) joins to discuss the benefits of building with western red c...
Rich Melo of Newton Roofing Company joins Bob for the installation of the copper roof on the Rowley addition. The Dutch cleat system has a crimped edge and a rece...
General contractor Tim Berky is completing trim on the oriel window that faces onto the deck. He begins by covering the underboard with MDO (medium density overla...
Rick Kleiner (from the Southern Forest Products Association) joins Bob to talk about using pressure-treated deck members. Such lumber resists fungal growth, termi...
General contractor Tim Berky installs the white oak, tongue-and-groove floor. Since the flooring will be nailed over the hyrdronic heat system, it is critical to ...
The extensive new deck will have multiple levels and various sections. General contractor Tim Berky digs holes for the footings before setting them in concrete.
