1x1 - Cape-style Home: Clearing the Lot

September 3, 1990

Construction begins on a Cape Cod-style home being built in Marstons Mills, Massachusetts. Included: the lot is cleared and cement is poured for the foundation of the house.

1x2 - Cape-style Home: Ell and Deck

September 10, 1990

A recycled "ell" is added,and a first-floor deck is built. Also: tips on ordering lumber.

1x3 - Cape-style Home: Wall Construction

September 17, 1990

Bob visits Barbara Gooddale in her authentic antique Cape Cod house to get a feel for the style and practicality of this design; back at our house, the crew frames, raises, and springbraces the walls.

1x4 - Cape-style Home: Staircase and Roof

September 24, 1990

A staircase is built and the second floor is toured. Also: Bob Vila visits a shingle plant in Delaware.

1x5 - Cape-style Home: Ceiling, Roof and Plumbing

October 1, 1990

Some demolition is done on the old ell to prepare it for renovation; ceiling joists and roof rafters go up in the new section of the house, and we see some rough plumbing work. Bob and Ryley discuss the budget.

1x6 - Cape-style Home: Bulkhead, Trim and Roofing

October 8, 1990

A bulkhead is installed; a soffet, facia and drip edge are added to the front of the house. Also: asphalt shingles and a ridge vent.

1x7 - Cape-style Home: Joining the Old Ell

October 15, 1990

The old ell is joined to the new construction, with some demolition done to make room for a shed dormer and a slider door. Bob visits the Wes-Pine wooden window factory in Hanover, Massachusetts, and comes back to install a window in our house.

1x8 - Cape-style Home: Front Door, Shingles and Plumbing

October 22, 1990

Bob and Ryley install the pre-hung front door and visit Shepley Wood Products to see how it was made. Dean Fraser shows us how to apply cedar shingles, and Tom Higham demonstrates how to join copper plumbing for the bathroom lavatory.

1x9 - Cape-style Home: Wiring, Clapboards and Window Trim

October 29, 1990

Bob goes over the electrical wiring with John Hickey, cedar clapboards are put up, and Hand Cassidy explains insulation ratings. Our contractor Ryley puts exterior trim up around the windows.

1x10 - Cape-style Home: Kitchen Design and Septic System

November 5, 1990

Bob discusses the kitchen layout with designer Amy O'Haire, then visits her showroom. Claude Daigle demonstrates his drywall techniques, and John Aalto talks us through the installation of the septic system.

1x11 - Cape-style Home: Paneling, Furnace and Tile

November 13, 1990

Our contractor Ryley shows us how to put up the pine interior paneling in the living room; Bob checks out the furnace and ducting with installer Scott Glista, and watches John Boardman apply bathroom floor tile.

1x12 - Cape-style Home: Floor Painting and Bathroom Vanity

November 19, 1990

Artisan Terry Maiche shows us two inexpensive ways to dress up a floor with paint: spattering and stenciling. Ryley builds a bathroom vanity, and Bob talks about exterior paints and stains with painter Paul Stoliker.

1x13 - Cape-style Home: Landscaping and House Tour

November 26, 1990

Bob discusses landscaping with specialist Susan Hofer--sod, a gravel driveway, brickwork, fences, perennials. We tour the smart finished exterior with Ryley, and the gorgeous interior with renowned decorator Ann Hill.

1x14 - Two-family Greystone: House and Neighborhood Tour

December 3, 1990

Now in Chicago, Bob takes a driving tour with realtor Catherine Caravette of our new neighborhood, Wicker Park, and of nearby upscale Lincoln Park. We check out our old greystone two-flat and visit a home that's been comparably renovated.

1x15 - Two-family Greystone: Plans Discussed and Demolition Begins

December 10, 1990

Bob discusses plans with local architect Bill Bauhs, and takes a tour of downtown Chicago's striking modern buildings with architectural historian Susan Benjamin. Back at our house, we meet our general contractor, Ron Gan, and begin demolition.

1x16 - Two-family Greystone: Engineered Beams and Plumbing

December 17, 1990

Bob and Ron discuss the removal and shoring up of bearing walls, to be replaced by special engineered beams. We visit Macmillan-Bloedel's Parallam Plant in British Columbia, and plumber Don McPoland shows us how water service is connected to the house.

1x17 - Two-family Greystone: Parallam and Iron Beam

December 24, 1990

The crew installs a Parallam beam in the living room and iron beams in the back masonry wall. Ron Gan and Bill Bauhs talk budget and convince Bob to renovate the basement as well, so we take a visit to the Pella Window factory in Pella, Iowa.

1x18 - Two-family Greystone: Basement Excavation Begins

December 31, 1990

Scott Smith's excavation crew digs out the basement to make room for a basement slab. Bob discusses heating systems for the rental units with installer Kirk Rustman, and Ron Gan explains the advantages of using metal wall studs in the kitchen.

1x19 - Two-family Greystone: Electrical Work Begins

January 7, 1991

The concrete basement floor is poured, leveled, and screeded; our contractor Ron repairs a broken window pane the old-fashioned way, and Bob discusses the electrical layout for the first floor with electrician Slav Witowski.

1x20 - Two-family Greystone: Plumbing Continues

January 14, 1991

Bob goes downtown to the Merchandise Mart to see a selection of bathroom fixtures. Back at our greystone, plumber Dan Macias replaces an old toilet and our contractor talks us through bricking in for, and installation of, a smaller bathroom window.

1x21 - Two-family Greystone: Plaster and Drywall Work

January 21, 1991

Drywall and plaster work is discussed. Also: a visit to a drywall plant in Delaware.

1x22 - Two-family Greystone: Budgeting and Tiling

January 28, 1991

A review of the project's budget and progress. Also: a trip to an appliance showroom, and the bathroom floor is prepped and tiled.

1x23 - Two-family Greystone: Lighting and Flooring

February 3, 1991

Wooden floors are refinished and new windows are installed. Also: a visit to a light-fixtures store.

1x24 - Two-family Greystone: Landscaping Begins

February 10, 1991

Kitchen cabinets are installed and the landscaping work begins.

1x25 - Two-family Greystone: Flooring and Stairs

February 17, 1991

Installed: a basement staircase. Also: a visit to a flooring plant.

1x26 - Two-family Greystone: House Tour

February 24, 1991

Kitchen countertops are mounted. Also: a tour of the home with an interior decorator.

1x27 - Coach House: Coach House Tour

March 4, 1991

Bob and contractor Ron Gan look around our next projectan old deserted "coach house." Architectural historian Susan Benjamin gives us a tour of some of Chicago's 19th-century landmark buildings downtown.

1x28 - Coach House: Plans Discussed and Demolition Begins

March 11, 1991

Bob discusses plans for the coach house with our architect, Mike Morgan, and with contractor Ron Gan; demolition begins. Brick worker Dan Webb explains how the brick facade is power-washed to remove several layers of ugly paint.

1x29 - Coach House: Excavation Begins

March 18, 1991

Bob tours architect Frank Lloyd Wright's studio and sees some houses Wright designed in Greater Chicago. Back at the coach house, the basement is excavated and steel beams are put into the back wall to make room for a garage door.

1x31 - Coach House: Roof Demolition

April 1, 1991

The Eagle roofing crew strips several ancient layers of old roofing, and a section of the roof is removed to make room for a new dormer. Bob explains how the dormer will provide more living space, and visits the IKO roofing shingle plant.

1x33 - Coach House: Fireplace and Staircase

April 15, 1991

Bob tours the Hill Arboretum, an apartment project adapted for the physically challenged. Back at the coach house, a fireplace dealer explains the new zero-clearance fireplace and an ironmonger constructs an entryway balcony and staircase.

1x37 - Coach House: Project Status, Cabinets and Whirlpool Tub Installed

May 13, 1991

Bob tours the completed living room and dining room of the coach house, then reviews work done on the heating system. We see the base cabinets installed in the kitchen and a whirlpool tub installed in the master bedroom.

1x38 - Coach House: Finishing Touches and Landscaping

May 20, 1991

Bob installs the finishing touches in the coach house kitchen, including some galvanized steel features. We go outside to plant a tree and landscape the little entryway garden, and Bob checks out the painting of the brick facade.

1x39 - Coach House: House Tour

May 27, 1991

Bob takes the grand tour of the finished coach house exterior with Ron, our contractor. We go inside to see the decorating job that the team of Rita Miller and Bill Waggoner have done, and to watch them add a special touch to the decor.

Bob Vila

Bob Vila