This Old House
Season 1
197913 episodes
The Dorchester House
Episode 1
The Dorchester House - A Tour of the House
Jan 1, 1979
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.
Episode 2
The Dorchester House - House History and Kitchen Plans
Feb 1, 1979
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.
Episode 3
The Dorchester House - Frozen Pipes and a New Kitchen Wall
Feb 15, 1979
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.
Episode 4
The Dorchester House - Insulation and Plumbing
Feb 28, 1979
It's time to insulate the house, remove the old furnace, and replace it with a new-energy-efficient heating system.
Episode 5
The Dorchester House - Leveled Ceilings and Kitchen Lighting
Mar 1, 1979
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.
Episode 6
The Dorchester House - Heating Plan, Kitchen Skylight
Mar 15, 1979
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.
Episode 7
The Dorchester House - Roof Repairs, Kitchen Plaster Work
Apr 1, 1979
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.
Episode 8
The Dorchester House - Insulation, Historic Paint Colors
May 1, 1979
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.
Episode 9
The Dorchester House - Deck Foundation
May 15, 1979
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.
Episode 10
The Dorchester House - Exterior Planning
May 30, 1979
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.
Episode 11
The Dorchester House - Flooring Install
Jun 1, 1979
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.
Episode 12
The Dorchester House - Adding Curb Appeal
Jun 15, 1979
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.
Episode 13
The Dorchester House - The Finished Product
Jun 30, 1979
A look at the nearly finished product, inside and out. And the finishing touches are put on the picket fence, the deck and yard.