This Old House

The Dorchester House - A Tour of the House

1979-01-01

Our host, a Boston designer and builder, tours the dilapidated turn-of the-century house in Dorchester, Massachusetts, that will completely renovated in the next 13 weeks. Our host talks with a realtor and a house appraiser to determine the condition and problems of the property.

The Dorchester House - House History and Kitchen Plans

1979-02-01

Renovation has begun and the carpenter has find rot in the eaves. The kitchen, one of the hardest remodeling jobs, gets some attention, and we look into the history of the home.

The Dorchester House - Frozen Pipes and a New Kitchen Wall

1979-02-15

Work on the house has uncovered some unforeseen problems from the roof to the plumbing, and at a moment, the dream kitchen is a nightmare. But our host has some solutions.

The Dorchester House - Insulation and Plumbing

1979-02-28

It's time to insulate the house, remove the old furnace, and replace it with a new-energy-efficient heating system.

The Dorchester House - Leveled Ceilings and Kitchen Lighting

1979-03-01

This week the ceilings are leveled and renovated. The bulkhead is repaired and renewed. Our hosts talks about the kitchen lighting and answers some viewer questions.

The Dorchester House - Heating Plan, Kitchen Skylight

1979-03-15

How are we going to heat the house? This week our host talks with a heating specialist about baseboard heating, the heating plant in the basement and the water heater. We take a look at the bedroom closets and a new kitchen skylight.

The Dorchester House - Roof Repairs, Kitchen Plaster Work

1979-04-01

Plasters, roofers, and carpenters are hard at work. The kitchen walls are plastered, the chimney get some attention, and works starts on the crumbling front porch.

The Dorchester House - Insulation, Historic Paint Colors

1979-05-01

The insulation and plasterwork are completed. The new kitchen windows are trimmed and finished. A historic preservation consultant traces the changes made in the past century in the house's exterior paint.

The Dorchester House - Deck Foundation

1979-05-15

Work on the deck and its foundation is underway. Our host offers some hints on paint stripping and introduces an alternative to ceramic wall tile around a bathtub.

The Dorchester House - Exterior Planning

1979-05-30

Our hosts walks through the grounds with a landscape designer and considers the gardening possibilities. The carpenters put on new red cedar clapboards, and the Mayor of Boston, Kevin White, pays a visit to the house.

The Dorchester House - Flooring Install

1979-06-01

Our host demostrates how to lay a parquet kitchen floor. He speaks to a marble expert about the dining room fireplace. The bathroom tile floor is installed, and we consider home security systems.

The Dorchester House - Adding Curb Appeal

1979-06-15

The house painter demonstrates how to apply primer. Our host talks about installing an oak floor and sanding floors. A stonemason repairs the stone wall around the house, and the yard gets two new trees.

The Dorchester House - The Finished Product

1979-06-30

A look at the nearly finished product, inside and out. And the finishing touches are put on the picket fence, the deck and yard.