This Old House S27E24 · Washington, DC | The Outside is Shaping Up, Too

Overview

Host Kevin O'Connor meets local Rick Lee for a tour of the most famous block in the neighborhood, the "U Street Corridor," which includes stops at Ben's Chili bowl and the historic Lincoln Theatre. Back at the project house, work begins in the backyard as fencing specialist Phil Brennan and his crew install a neighbor-friendly shadowbox fence and saltbox shed, while landscape contractor Dan Barry preps the planting beds. Inside, master carpenter Norm Abram finds the curved stair coming together and interior trim going up. Countertop fabricator John Huzway makes templates for the new engineered quartz kitchen counters using state of the art computer technology. Norm takes Mi Casa's project director, Elin Zurbrigg, to Washington's premier architectural salvage yard in search of a fireplace mantle to replace the one that was stolen.

Torrents

Subtitles

Episodes

1. 1 1. Cambridge | A Modern Old House2005-10-06The new season finds the experts at This Old House in historic Cambridge, Mass., working on a mid-century Modern house for biotech bachelor, George Mabry. At the project house near
2. 2 2. Cambridge | Modernize, Again2005-10-13Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find homeowner George Mabry moving out and general contractor Tom Silva moving in. With a building permit in hand, Tom starts with the carport, disma
3. 3 3. Cambridge | Worst-Case Scenario2005-10-20A week of rain from a springtime Nor'easter hasn't stopped work on the house, nor on the lot. Landscape contractor Roger Cook shows host Kevin O'Connor the progress—the trees are c
4. 4 4. Cambridge | Longfellow's House2005-10-27Host Kevin O'Connor and master carpenter Norm Abram visit the independently owned neighborhood shops of nearby Huron Village. Back at the house, Kevin lends Norm and general contra
5. 5 5. Cambridge | The Cost of Poor Workmanship2005-11-03Master carpenter Norm Abram shows Host Kevin O'Connor the newly discovered problems at the project house, most of them caused by the poor workmanship of a previous contractor. In t
6. 6 6. Cambridge | High-Tech Heating and Cooling2005-11-10Master carpenter Norm Abram and host Kevin O'Connor open the show at Cambridge Common — the city's oldest public open space and a center of rebel activity in the early years of the
7. 7 7. Cambridge | Water Damage Brings Opportunity2005-11-17Host Kevin O'Connor finds master carpenter Norm Abram and homeowner George Mabry discussing the recent water damage in the old kitchen, and George's new inclination to renovate the
8. 8 8. Cambridge | Real Stone, Flat Roof2005-11-24Host Kevin O'Connor opens the show around the corner at Formaggio Kitchen — a world-class gourmet food shop that also has a cheese-ripening cave in the basement — the first ever to
9. 9 9. Cambridge | A Water-Feature Welcome2005-12-01Landscape architect Gregory Lombardi shows host Kevin O'Connor the final design for the entry courtyards and water feature, and landscape contractor Roger Cook explains the formwor
10. 10 10. Cambridge | Creating a Dramatic Entryway2005-12-08Host Kevin O'Connor and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey stop in to a neighborhood institution known as "Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage." Master carpenter Norm Abram exp
11. 11 11. Cambridge | Rain Slows Some Progress2005-12-15Landscape contractor Roger Cook shows host Kevin O'Connor Mount Auburn Cemetery — America's first landscaped cemetery featuring 5,500 trees and many notable graves. Back at the hou
12. 12 12. Cambridge | Dramatic Staircase2005-12-22Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find exterior coatings specialist Dan Rourke and his crew applying the EIFS finish coat. Custom pool specialist Bob Snay installs a black pebble fini
13. 13 13. Cambridge | Interior Finishes Begin2005-12-29Landscape contractor Roger Cook shows host Kevin O'Connor how he's installing a pre-fabricated pitched structural foam trench drain at the entrance to the garage. Inside, plumbing
14. 14 14. Cambridge | Fine Craftsmanship2006-01-05Host Kevin O'Connor visits Harvard University to see their preservation efforts on several historic old buildings, including Memorial Hall, which was ravaged by a fire in the 1950'
15. 15 15. Cambridge | Contemporary Design Elements2006-01-12Landscape contractor Roger Cook sets the massive bluestone treads on a stringer that appears to "float" over the new water feature. Landscape architect Greg Lombardi shows host Kev
16. 16 16. Cambridge | Modern Conveniences in a Modern Home2006-01-19Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find general contractor Tom Silva meeting with building inspector Michael Grover. At the front door, Tom shows Kevin how he's installing the brushed
17. 17 17. Cambridge | Things Are Coming Together2006-01-26With only a week left on the project, master carpenter Norm Abram finds general contractor Tom Silva at work on the dramatic 3-story stair. With the teak treads and bronze balustra
18. 18 18. Cambridge | A Red Box Becomes a Show House2006-02-02In the garage, master carpenter Norm Abram finds specialist Joe Ferraro installing a new custom garage system. Inside, host Kevin O'Connor and homeowner George Mabry meet kitchen d
19. 19 19. Washington, DC | Reviving an Abandoned 1879 Rowhouse2006-02-09Master Carpenter Norm Abram and host Kevin O'Connor travel to Washington, D.C. to help non-profit developer Mi Casa Inc. renovate an abandoned 1879 rowhouse. The group attempts to
20. 20 20. Washington, DC | Setbacks Open Up New Ideas2006-02-16Host Kevin O'Connor visits the National Mall to see how the National Park Service is finishing up nearly 10 years of renovation at the Lincoln Memorial. Back at the project house,
21. 21 21. Washington, DC | Honoring the Past, Looking Toward the Future2006-02-23Host Kevin O'Connor and master carpenter Norm Abram grab breakfast with the crew at Saints Paradise Cafeteria, a non-profit church kitchen in the neighborhood. Back at the project
22. 22 22. Washington, DC | A Rebuilt Structure2006-03-02Host Kevin O'Connor and master carpenter Norm Abram open the show at the most visited destination in the Nation's capital—DC's newly restored Union Station. Back at the project hou
23. 23 23. Washington, DC | Beautiful Historic Restorations2006-03-09Restoration contractor Danny Palousek shows master carpenter Norm Abram how he's repointing and rebuilding the decorative brickwork on the facade of the house. Host Kevin O'Connor
24. 24 24. Washington, DC | The Outside is Shaping Up, Too2006-03-16Host Kevin O'Connor meets local Rick Lee for a tour of the most famous block in the neighborhood, the "U Street Corridor," which includes stops at Ben's Chili bowl and the historic
25. 25 25. Washington, DC | Surface Finishes2006-03-23Landscape contractor Roger Cook brings host Kevin O'Connor to the United States Botanic Garden — it's at the base of the Capitol and serves as the nation's greenhouse boasting 4,00
26. 26 26. Washington, DC | A Home Saved2006-03-30Day before the wrap party, master carpenter Norm Abram and host Kevin O'Connor visit the Jefferson Memorial. Architect Genell Anderson shows Norm the archival photo that inspired h