This Old House

KEVIN

Today on "This Old House," the mudroom exterior gets some finishing touches.

TOM

Our porch piers get a cedar flare.

KEVIN

Now, that's a tip that's actually worth remembering.

TOM

Yeah.

Laughs

KEVIN

And our master bath gets some classic Carrara marble.

TOM

Looks pretty bad right here.

NORM

Are you kidding me? Is this place really worth saving?

RICHARD

We can do better than this.

TOM

Time to get to work.

KEVIN

Nice and easy, nice and easy. Everybody together.

Grunting

KEVIN

Oh, yeah!

ROGER

The right plant in the right place.

KEVIN

Good!

RICHARD

It's state-of-the-art, perfectly square. All in all, a good day's work.

KEVIN

Today, our new mudroom gets some attention. Hi, there. I'm Kevin O'Connor, and welcome back to "This Old House." Up until now, we've spent a lot of time working on the front porch, but today, Tommy, you're putting on some finishing touches to the exterior to this new mudroom. What's your plan?

TOM

Right, well, the plan here is it actually calls for a panel. And the panel is like a 4-foot-wide storm door made of wood.

KEVIN

Oh,

yeah. Okay. -TOM

All right? Now, the problem is is the architect specced out a mahogany one. And they don't make a mahogany one other than custom-made. So, I had it made in mahogany. And it made a big difference in the price. I can tell you that.

KEVIN

So, a custom-made door means a little bit of a custom-made system here to secure it?

TOM

Right. Well, we're actually gonna put some stops against our post and push the door into place.

KEVIN

All right. And so, why close this in with a panel? Why not just leave it open here for the porch?

TOM

Well, I think the thought is in the wintertime, the snow won't blow in here and cover the porch, give them some protection.

KEVIN

I'll give you a hand.

TOM

All right, cool. Tack this in. All right, you want to come up here? We'll see if we can slide the door into the opening.

KEVIN

Ooh, It's big.

TOM

It's a good size.

KEVIN

Oh, I get it. Okay, so you can put in a storm panel or a screen panel?

TOM

Yeah. It's removable, which is really nice. Just push it in the opening like that.

KEVIN

Okay. You want it centered, right?

TOM

Yep, center it up. You centered? That looks pretty good, yeah. All right, now what I do is I have this piece right here, put some screw holes in it. And when I sandwich this up at the top like this, the door will stay in place, and I won't put any fasteners into the door.

KEVIN

Got it.

TOM

Okay.

KEVIN

So that's not going through the panel. This panel's actually floating right in here.

TOM

Exactly, I want the panel to float independently. Just push that up against the door, and then we'll push it out against the outside stop, keeping the door tight. Got it there? Right up against that stop, yeah. Okay. Now all we got to do is put the panel in, and we're in business. I'll get it. That's all right, Sonny.

Laughs

KEVIN

I'm here for support, Pops.

TOM

Yeah, I know. Okay, lock that in.

KEVIN

That one's locked. Okay.

TOM

Okay, all locked in.

KEVIN

All right, so glass in the wintertime, and then pop it out, put the screen in for the summertime.

TOM

Yeah, a lot of air right in here.

KEVIN

All right, so may have cost a little bit of money, but looks good and saved a lot of time, right?

TOM

It sure did.

KEVIN

Nice. When Bobby Bucco and his crew start troweling on the plaster, you know we're getting close to making decisions on the final paint colors, and that's exactly what Katherine, Murat, and Amanda are doing. Hey, guys. Whole team's assembled. So, probably the most important room in the house, right? I mean, it's the entryway. This room says Victoria. It's gonna be the first place everyone sees, the best place to make a statement about this house. What are you thinking about in terms of paint colors?

KATHERINE

Well, we have so many windows and so much natural light, and I really wanted this place to be very light and bright. But of course we're adding in paneling, which will bring some formality into this space, so we kind of have to work both of those angles.

KEVIN

And that's your job, right, Amanda?

AMANDA

That's right.

KEVIN

So what do you do with a direction like that?

AMANDA

Right, well, this is a very important space. It's the first thing someone sees when they enter, and we're also carrying this color all the way up to the second hall, all the way up to the third floor. So this really sets the tone for the color palette of the first floor and really, the house. So, we already decided on our trim color -- we're going with a bright white for the trim throughout.

KEVIN

And when you say trim, so we're seeing it on a casing, but it will be on the wainscot all throughout this room?

AMANDA

Exactly.

KEVIN

So we'll have a lot of that in here.

AMANDA

Yes. And then I've chosen four color options for us to look at for the entry hall and going up to the hall. So two of them are kind of blue-grays, and then there's one that's more of a purple and one that's more of a mauve tone. And these are really the colors that we've worked into the design already for the first floor.

KEVIN

Well, there's nothing like seeing them up on the wall. I mean, there they are right next to the trim. So what do you guys think once you see them?

MURAT

So, originally, I was thinking a really dark color -- something that would make a statement when we walk in, something bold. But then after seeing these colors, actually, they look really nice in this space.

KEVIN

So you were thinking originally darker than this? But now maybe you're changing your mind a little bit.

MURAT

Right. I was thinking something really dark, but I don't think Katherine liked the idea.

KATHERINE

And I'm kind of wondering if these might be a little bit too dark considering that they'll be in a huge portion of the house.

KEVIN

Okay.

AMANDA

I think this is a good compromise, then. Kind of a mid tone. We don't want it to be too light where it doesn't make a statement at all. But too dark would probably make the hallways upstairs feel very dark.

KEVIN

So, you guys feel like we're narrowing down a little bit?

I think so. -KATHERINE

Yeah, I think so.

KEVIN

Part designer, part marriage counselor, right?

AMANDA

That's right.

KEVIN

We also have decisions to make in other rooms, and the living room's an important one.

AMANDA

Let's go take a look.

KEVIN

Let's look at that one.

AMANDA

Okay, so, this is the formal living space. And just to remind you about the furniture arrangement -- we're gonna have a sofa here, two chairs opposite, and then we have the architectural focal point, the fireplace and mantel.

KEVIN

Which is great -- new fireplace, but a preserved, restored mantelpiece there.

AMANDA

Right. That's exactly right. So, as far as choosing paint colors for the wall, I like to have all of the fabrics and design really done. So, remember this sofa?

KEVIN

Mm-hmm.

AMANDA

This is the fabric we've selected for the sofa.

KEVIN

Okay.

AMANDA

And then this is the drapery fabric.

KEVIN

So, Murat, you get your flowers after all.

MURAT

Oh, yeah.

Laughter

AMANDA

So, here are four colors. So I was thinking we wanted to go in a gray, and then just I also tried this kind of gray lilac color. I think we have enough color going on with the fabrics that I'm leaning toward one of the neutrals. And I like this light gray 'cause I really like how it ties in with the dining room chair fabric.

KEVIN

Okay. So, now they're up on the wall again in here, guys. What do you think seeing them?

KATHERINE

There will be a lot of color and pattern going on in here, and so I like that this is kind of a toned-down neutral.

KEVIN

So that's sort of a background for you for everything. And, Murat, do you get a vote?

Laughter

MURAT

I'm not sure if a get a vote, but I like it. It's fine. It's a nice neutral color.

KEVIN

That's the right vote. All right. So, the living room is sort of connected to the dining room, almost as if it's one big room. Does this color get continued all the way throughout?

AMANDA

No, we're gonna do something different over here. So, here is where we're going to have a low wall and columns on both sides separating the living room from the dining room.

KEVIN

Right about here? So is this where you're gonna change up the paint color?

AMANDA

Exactly. And Murat wanted dark and dramatic, and this is the room he's getting it.

KEVIN

All right, Murat, a victory for you.

MURAT

That's right.

KEVIN

Oh, wow. And that is bold.

MURAT

This is great.

AMANDA

So, we're looking at dark blues to go with the color palette for the living room and dining room, which is the blues, grays, and lilacs. Again, here's the drapery fabric, and here are the two deep-blue options. And don't forget we're gonna have wainscoting all around the room, which is gonna be painted white.

KEVIN

Okay, nice. Katherine, you're on board?

KATHERINE

I love it, and I found this tile that I just really adore. I think it'll look great.

KEVIN

Wait. Where's the tile going?

KATHERINE

Around the fireplace.

KEVIN

All right, so we're all in agreement. And good progress, right? We've got a trim color and wall colors for the first floor picked. I know you guys have already picked colors for the bathrooms upstairs. Now you have to do the bedrooms?

AMANDA

That's right.

KEVIN

Let's get those decisions made 'cause we got to keep on going.

Okay. -KEVIN

All right, thanks, guys.

KATHERINE

Isn't that just gonna be amazing?

KEVIN

Our new front porch is definitely gonna be a focal point of this house, and we're doing several things to dress it up. Now, it sits on these masonry piers. Below grade, we've got poured concrete, but above grade, well, we've taken the time to dress them up with these beautiful bricks here. City hall pavers they call them, and they're authentic to this period house. We've also got the roof of the porch that's gonna sit on columns, and then those columns are gonna sit on the these wide bases, which eventually are gonna be shingled. And that's what Tommy's working right now. Excuse me, man. So, Tommy, the base that you've got here -- you've just built up a plywood box.

TOM

Right, I built a plywood box, and this is gonna be shingled. And the first course of shingle is actually gonna have flare to it, so it's gonna curve as it comes up. So that's why I installed these tapered fillers right here. So I can bend the shingle up around it.

KEVIN

Sort of a classic shingle style Victorian look right there. And what what's with the wrap that you've going on right here?

TOM

Well, this is actually a wrap that -- All of this I don't need for this application because the column is obviously not heated. But I don't like to lay the shingles right on the plywood. I like to have an air barrier underneath it. Thus this yellow thing is actually called a matrix, and that allows air to flow behind the siding, keeping it dry on all sides.

KEVIN

Which we've actually seen before, but it actually has another layer that I have not seen. What's this doing for us?

TOM

Well, this is actually like a house wrap or an air infiltration barrier. It's also known as a rain screen.

KEVIN

Yeah.

TOM

Now, let me show you what we have over here on the existing wall. Behind the siding, this is actually called rosin paper. Sometimes, you'll see something like a felt paper. This is 15-pound felt paper. All right? And what is is actually a separation between the back side of the siding and the face of the sheathing. That allows the siding and the sheathing to move independently, but it also would collect any condensation that should form behind the siding and let it dry out.

KEVIN

So, you got the heat inside the house, when that escapes, hits the cold air, that's when the condensation starts.

TOM

Right. But years ago, houses weren't insulated, so all of the stud bays in the house, there was air moving in those rapidly, keeping the siding dry.

KEVIN

All right.

TOM

Now, once you insulate the house, you create a different problem. You have to think about the air infiltration. So this product right here is actually an air infiltration barrier. It's also an air gap that creates a gap under the siding to allow it to breathe. And if any condensation should attach underneath the siding, it will run down and not get on the siding. You don't need all of this, as I said, for the columns because it's not heated. But I do want the air gap because I want to add life to the siding and the paint. All right, now you can actually see the little bit of a flare that's gonna happen with this yellow. It's really showing up. Okay, so what I've done is I got a piece of scrap 1-inch stock material right here because I want the shingles to be off the decking by an inch. All right, now, it all starts right here. This is actually the starter course. Okay, so I take a shingle like this, and I'm gonna just get a rough idea of how I want to cut it. So I'm gonna do a real quick cut. Now, I don't have to be real fancy here, so I'm just gonna cut it quick. As I said, this is a starter course, and you really won't even see it. That's a rough mark. Okay, so now I place it back on the post. So now the tricky part is getting this nailed without splitting it 'cause we have to bend it and nail it at the same time. So put some pressure on it like that. Ready? I got to try to get this nail in. Hopefully, we won't split the shingle.

KEVIN

Nice.

TOM

All right, there's one. So now I just take another one. I'm gonna lay in on there. Create a little bit of a gap. We have to push it hard. Again, hopefully, I won't split it. Let's go here just a little bit. I just want to get that one to catch. I'm not gonna nail it in tight yet. Set another one. Get that going nice and easy. Work my way in slow. So, now I just want to trim off a little bit of this 'cause I don't want this shingle here to be proud of this wall. So I just take a straight edge of a shingle, lay it on there. That's good.

Yep. -TOM

That's good there. Now I just take another shingle. Place it on here, keep it flat on my filler, out with my corner. We're gonna push on it. I'm gonna mark it. So, now what I'm gonna do is I'm actually gonna follow that line freehand also. I don't want to hurt the deck below, so I'll put a filler down. I'll just follow this line. I'll see if I can snap that off. Good. Dry fit this again. Push it in tight. All right, that's pretty good. I can trim that up after it's on. All right, now, again, we have to try not to split it. Push on it gently. Slowly nail my way down. Nice and easy, tap it in.

KEVIN

With all this tapping you're doing with your hammer. Could you do this with a nail gun?

TOM

Actually, it's a little difficult to do with a nail gun because the nail will go in so fast, and lots of times, you'll split more shingles than you want to.

KEVIN

Too aggressive, right?

TOM

All right, so let's try another starter strip. Push it in. I want to have a slight joint opening there. Now, this is a starter strip. I could actually just put one nail in the middle, but because I'm trying to bend them, I'm gonna use two. All right. Looks pretty good there.

KEVIN

Yeah, already looks good.

TOM

Yeah, it's starting to take shape. All right, now what I want to do is I want to shave this edge off so it's flush with this surface right here. So I'm just gonna use my rasp. Now, it's important that I hold the rasp this way so it's against the face of this. And just work the edge down. Now, you know when you're flush when you start taking off this primer on this shingle right here. And it's still flush. But it's important to hold it flat against the shingle. We'll continue our starter course all the way around. All right, we're done with our first course all the way around. But we're actually not even gonna see that course. We have to hide it with our first course of shingle. And to do that, I want to start right back here in this corner, and I want to cover the last shingle that went on this corner. I want to make sure that the edge of this shingle covers the seam of this shingle. So I place it on there. It's covering it. I'm gonna hold it right there, and I'm gonna nail it in place. Bring that down tight. I'll put another one right here. Okay, so, now I've got to cut this shingle right here flush with the side. I'm gonna just follow it with my knife and cut it up. Okay, now I'll just fine-tune that with a rasp. All right, so now you can start to see how all alternating the corners or weaving them actually makes a watertight joint.

KEVIN

You know, when they say the money's in the corners, this is what they're talking about.

TOM

And we have a lot of them.

KEVIN

So, we got to keep going up all the way around and then all the other posts.

TOM

All the other posts.

A lot of work. -TOM

Yep.

KEVIN

Just off of the master bedroom and closet is our master bath here in the front of the house. Well, you can sort of get a sense of the layout. There will a double vanity right here. You can see the opening for the two mirrors. And then that old clawfoot tub that we saved -- Well, that's coming back and going right here in the front of the room. There's a little toilet tucked around the corner. And then, Mark, the focal point is our shower stall. So, three glass panels around it, right?

MARK

Right. Marble seat.

KEVIN

Very nice. And so marble on the seat. What have you got for the materials in this room? What do you got on the floor?

MARK

We've got a 12x24 honed Carrara.

KEVIN

Wow.

MARK

How sharp is that?

KEVIN

You just love the marble, don't you?

MARK

Yes, I do.

KEVIN

It's classic. It's never gonna go out of style.

MARK

Never.

KEVIN

So, big tiles right here. What do you got on the floor of the shower?

MARK

We got a herringbone Carrara.

KEVIN

More marble and a classic pattern here, as well. All right, and then for the wall, it looks like you are putting up even more marble.

MARK

Yep.

KEVIN

So, that's just butted together?

MARK

Yeah. It has a slight beveled edge so it'll pick up our grout joint.

KEVIN

All right, how long do you think it'll take for this?

MARK

Probably the rest of the day.

KEVIN

All right, so we'll check back with you?

Absolutely. -KEVIN

All right, thank you. So, Tommy, we got a lot of beautiful floors in this house. I know we got some strip oak, we got some parquet, and you're trying to save most of them. I'm surprised that you didn't save this one.

TOM

Well, we're trying to save as much as this flooring as we can. But now, here in the old dining room, this had the strip flooring in it, but there was a damaged section over here. Some of the boards had widened or opened up. And when we removed this wall here, we'd had a straight line of the existing floor. And we really need to weave that together to make it all work. So I weighed the option. I said, "By the time I patch that section there, weave all this area here, it's faster and cheaper for me to take it up and install a whole new floor."

KEVIN

So what did you take up? And what are you putting down?

TOM

I actually took up what is called white oak. It's better and select.

KEVIN

Mm-hmm.

TOM

And it's 3/4 of an inch, tongue and grove. Nail through the top of the tongue.

KEVIN

Right, so solid, not engineered and not prefinished. So this is nailed down, and we're gonna finish in place.

TOM

It's the same that's in the house right now.

KEVIN

Well, I tell you, now that the sort of kitchen and dining room is one big room, it is nice to see one big continuous floor.

TOM

Yeah, it's beautiful when you see floor down.

KEVIN

So most of this is down. Any more to lay?

TOM

Yeah, I got to finish up this area of the kitchen right here. And I've just got to finish up the hallway that leads down to the basement.

KEVIN

All right, what can I do?

TOM

Well, the saw's set up. If you want to cut me about three or four more rows, I'll start putting this down.

KEVIN

Sounds good.

TOM

Okay.

KEVIN

All right, that looks good. So, is that the last of the new wood to go down?

TOM

Last of the wood downstairs. We got something a little bit different upstairs. Let me show you what we got to do. All right, so up here in the hallway, we've got a little bit of a different plan going on for the floor. Out here in the entry before we get into the master closet, we're actually gonna picture-frame the floor and then insert the flooring right across in the middle.

KEVIN

Not bad, all right. So you got, what, three courses for the frame?

TOM

Yeah, we got three courses, and the corners aren't mitered. It's a square cut. That's called a herringbone corner on each side. And then we just bring the straight ones right down.

KEVIN

All right, so those have got to go in. In terms of next week, what are you thinking? What do you got coming?

TOM

Well, I want to get a lot of trim on the porch that I got to get done.

KEVIN

You remember that treehouse homeowners asked for?

TOM

Yeah.

KEVIN

Well, we're gonna get started on that, as well.

TOM

Oh, fantastic. That'll be a great project.

KEVIN

So, until then, I'm Kevin O'Connor.

TOM

And I'm Tom Silva.

KEVIN

For "This Old House." All right. Next time on "This Old House"... We start work on a backyard treehouse.

TOM

I'll put decorative shingles on our new front gable.

KEVIN

Spectacular, Tommy. Our homeowners find a floor covering for the kitchen inspired by sailors.

KATHERINE

I love it.

KEVIN

And Lisa, you say it needs, what, another coat? But to my eye, I mean, that looks finished.

LISA

Get a third coat of the semi-gloss finish just to dull it down a little bit and to give it that one extra coat of protection.

NORM

That's next time on "This Old House."