How experts transform a historic home with modern construction techniques and smart design

This episode of This Old House follows a renovation project where traditional craftsmanship meets modern engineering. From converting flat roofs to pitching them with trusses to planning kitchen layouts with paper mock-ups, the crew demonstrates the professional approach required to preserve and improve a historic property.

The episode showcases the technical side of home renovation, focusing on structural upgrades and site-specific planning. Master carpenter Norm Abram and general contractor Tom Silva demonstrate the conversion of a flat roof into a pitched one using prefabricated trusses. They also manage the installation of 12 footings for a new deck and utilize engineered lumber to frame a sunroom floor.

Beyond structural work, the team emphasizes design and environmental context. Homeowners Allison and Raveen Sharma collaborate with kitchen designer Donna Venegas on layout planning, while host Kevin O'Connor explores the property's flood plain with landscape contractor Roger Cook and urban ecologist Peter DelTredici to identify native and non-native plant species.

Source: This Old House | A New Approach to the House (S32 E5) | FULL EPISODE