This Old House S28E24 · Austin; Harvesting Water and Wind

Overview

Host Kevin O'Connor shows landscape contractor Roger Cook some local color on Austin's Town Lake, while back at the project house, green builder Bill Moore demonstrates how he's using a French drain and moisture barrier to try and lower the water table around the house to partially stabilize the foundation of the house. Inside, Kevin finds that the reclaimed flooring has arrived from Virginia, the new French doors are installed, and the kitchen cabinets, made from sustainable MDF and Lyptus, are going in. On a trip to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Roger and homeowner Michael Klug find creative ways to use native plants in residential landscaping. A new composite decking, made from 100% recycled wood and plastics, goes down on the deck off the master bedroom, while sustainable lighting designer Mark Loeffler shows Kevin how he'll use compact fluorescent and LED lighting to increase the energy efficiency of the house.

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Episodes

1. 1 1. East Boston | A Tale of Two Homes2006-10-05For the first time ever, the experts at This Old House gathered house proposals via www.thisoldhouse.com, and now find themselves working with two single female homeowners in the d
2. 2 2. East Boston | Stucco and Sewer Problems2006-10-12
3. 3 3. East Boston | Design and Demolition2006-10-19Landscape contractor Roger Cook puts homeowner Liz Bagley to work removing the dead privets on her property. Architect Craig Buttner walks Liz through three options for opening up
4. 4 4. East Boston | Urban Garden, Asbestos, City Sewer2006-10-26Landscape architect Stephanie Hubbard shares her strategies for creating a "bold and simple" urban landscape in East Boston. Abatement contractor Brian Fitzsimons and crew remove a
5. 5 5. East Boston | Refrigerator, Hot Plate, and Bad Larry2006-11-02Despite both of their kitchens being gutted, aunt Chris Flynn and her niece Liz Bagley are still bunking in together in the upstairs unit, getting by with just a refrigerator and a
6. 6 6. East Boston | Salvage, Chimney, Attic, and the ICA2006-11-09Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and homeowner Chris Flynn haggle with salvage expert Harry James as he prepares to remove antique plumbing fixtures from the house. To
7. 7 7. East Boston | Ivy Be Gone2006-11-16Homeowner Chris Flynn takes host Kevin O'Connor to the highest point in East Boston to see the spectacular view of downtown, and a national religious shrine featuring a 35-foot tal
8. 8 8. East Boston | Progress, Patching and Packing Up2006-11-23Host Kevin O'Connor opens the show at Piers Park, a waterfront park in East Boston that gives its residents access to the water and free sailing lessons to city youth. Even though
9. 9 9. East Boston | Local Heroes2006-11-30Master carpenter Norm Abram and host Kevin O'Connor open the show steps away from the project house at a little-known monument to a local pilot who sacrificed his life to save the
10. 10 10. East Boston | On The Waterfront2006-12-07Out front, the porch story continues as general contractor Tom Silva shows host Kevin O'Connor how he is replacing the old rotting wood trim boards with new rot-resistant PVC mater
11. 11 11. East Boston | Renovating in Eastie2006-12-14Homeowner Chris Flynn shows master carpenter Norm Abram how she is making do with the makeshift bathroom on the third floor. General contractor Tom Silva offers Chris reasons why s
12. 12 12. East Boston | Roofing, Shower Pan, Surge Suppression2006-12-21The ninety-year-old slate roof could not be saved, so roofing contractor Sean Green and his crew strip off the old slate, and lay down new asphalt the proper way. General contracto
13. 13 13. East Boston | Patching Walls, Inside and Out2006-12-28Work begins on the exterior of the building, first by cleaning any old cracks, and then by applying a flexible polyurethane caulking that is blended to match the texture of the old
14. 14 14. East Boston | Floors in Eastie and at the BSO2007-01-04While homeowner Liz Bagley works to strip paint off the front door trim, general contractor Tom Silva creates a wood inlay to patch her kitchen floor with material salvaged from ot
15. 15 15. East Boston | Modern, Traditional, and Boston Light2007-01-11Landscape contractor Roger Cook removes the rest of the old plants and dead lawn to make way for the new, while homeowner Liz Bagley and interior designer Lisey Good show off their
16. 16 16. East Boston | Off To The Races2007-01-18Host Kevin O'Connor visits Suffolk Downs ? the oldest horseracing track in Massachusetts. Landscape architect Stephanie Hubbard fills Kevin in on some changes to the landscape plan
17. 17 17. East Boston | The House With the White Picket Fence2007-01-25Host Kevin O'Connor and master carpenter Norm Abram arrive to find the landscape coming together with a new fence, sod, and plants. General contractor Tom Silva fabricates and inst
18. 18 18. East Boston | Upstairs, Downstairs–Complete!2007-02-01It's a wrap for the This Old House East Boston project! After a short ride on the Blue Line - the first subway in the world to run underneath a section of the ocean - master carpen
19. 19 19. Austin; Where Green Building Was Born2007-02-08Custom cafe shutters; finishing the grout on the glass tile backsplash; boutique look; cottage kitchen and bath.
20. 20 20. Austin; Chasing Five Stars2007-02-15For the first time ever, the experts at This Old House travel to Austin, Texas, to transform an historic bungalow into an expanded, eco-friendly home with the help of a team of loc
21. 21 21. Austin; The Great State of Texas2007-02-22Host Kevin O'Connor and master carpenter Norm Abram arrive back in Austin, Texas, with a visit to the spring fed pool at Barton Springs, a favorite local outdoor hangout since the
22. 22 22. Austin; Trethewey in Texas2007-03-01After a visit to the Texas State Capitol building, master carpenter Norm Abram sees the standing seam metal roof going on our green building project, while host Kevin O'Connor meet
23. 23 23. Austin; Keeping Austin Weird2007-03-08Host Kevin O'Connor welcomes plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey to the "Live Music Capital of the World" with a visit to the legendary Continental Club ? home of live ro
24. 24 24. Austin; Harvesting Water and Wind2007-03-15Host Kevin O'Connor shows landscape contractor Roger Cook some local color on Austin's Town Lake, while back at the project house, green builder Bill Moore demonstrates how he's us
25. 25 25. Austin; Green is Good2007-03-22Despite a crippling ice storm in Texas, work continues at the project house. Builder Bill Moore shows master carpenter Norm Abram how he's using old roof rafters to fashion the rai
26. 26 26. Austin; Finished House and Five Stars!2007-03-29Using locally abundant natural materials is considered "green", so we're using local limestone on the front porch wall caps, the first floor vanity top, and in the landscape border