David: This Old House - Episode #3118
Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find builder Andy Tiplady with the house wide open, his foundation in place, and framing underway. The new open floor plan requires structural steel that gets bolted and then welded in place. With the steel installed and high winds already kicking up, Andy and his crew button up the house for the impending bad weather, which turns out to be Hurricane Irene. (Pictures of Hurricane Irene) At 82 mph, Barrington clocks the highest winds in New England, and Kevin returns to finds roads closed, power lines down, and trees crushing houses in the neighborhood. After some clean up, the crew gets back to work framing the second floor using the proper structural hardware like hold downs and hurricane clips. To learn more about the challenges of living on the coast, Kevin meets the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, Grover Fugate, to see the long term prognosis for our house, and also the lengths to which people will go to live by the water in Rhode Island.

General Contractor
Contractor:
Andrew Tiplady Builder - Remodeler

News Footage of Hurricane Irene
Supplier:
WPRO News Talk 630

Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council
Side Trip:
Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council

Structural Beam
Manufacturer:
Shawmut Metal



Ask This Old House - Episode #1018
Landscape contractor Roger Cook heads to San Francisco to upgrade a neglected urban patio. Then Roger, along with host Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey ask "What Is It?" Afterward, Tom shows Kevin how to hang a heavy mirror on a wall.



Landscape contractor Roger Cook heads to San Francisco to upgrade a neglected urban patio. Then Roger, along with host Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey ask "What Is It?" Afterward, Tom shows Kevin how to hang a heavy mirror on a wall.

Urban Patio Upgrade
Roger helps a homeowner upgrade her patio in San Francisco.

Where to find it?
The deck tiles that Roger installed in San Francisco are made from a hardwood called "ipe." These tiles, as well as the composite and stone ones that he showed in the barn, are manufactured by Eco Arbor Designs

Expert installation assistance for this project was provided by Integrated Site Works

The furniture that Roger selected was purchased at Crate & Barrel and included the Surf Charcoal Flip-Top Table, Surf Magenta Dining Chairs, Alfresco Natural Dining Bench, and Alfresco Grey Planters.

The cedar window boxes were purchased at The Home Depot and spray-painted to match the furniture.

The plants that Roger planted in the window boxes are:

Cyclamen persicum
Chrysanthemum x monifolium
Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon)

The bamboo species that Roger planted is:
Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Spectabilis'

What is it?
Kevin asks the guys to identify a black, plastic device with an arm that rotates.

Where to find it?
The "Cord Shark" Christmas light winder is manufactured by Tree Keeper and is available from many online retailers.

Hanging a MirrorTom shows Kevin how to hang a heavy mirror on a wall.

Where to find it?

All of the hardware shown in this segment, including picture hangers and toggle bolts are available at hardware stores and home centers.