Expert home renovation techniques for your next outdoor and interior project

This episode of This Old House follows the renovation of a historic home, focusing on structural upgrades and aesthetic details. From installing a pergola to matching period-accurate window trim, the team demonstrates professional standards for preserving and improving residential properties.

The episode highlights a variety of renovation tasks, including setting footings for a new pergola and upgrading a concrete stoop with fieldstone veneer and a bluestone cap. Inside, the team works on replicating original window trim profiles for a 16-foot sunroom bank using a moulding machine. Additionally, the project includes selecting appropriate vines for the landscape and preparing a shower base with a traditional mud job technique.

These projects illustrate the show's goal of demystifying home improvement. By showcasing specific methods—such as the use of pitching sticks for tile work or selecting plants based on environmental conditions at the Arnold Arboretum—the crew provides viewers with the knowledge necessary to manage their own home investments effectively.

Source: This Old House | Planning for the Pergola (S32 E11) | FULL EPISODE