This Old House Hour — Season 13
## The Wayland House & The London House: Season Overview Prepare to be swept back into the captivating world of historical secrets and modern intrigue as *The Wayland House* and *The London House* return. This season, the stakes are higher than ever as two separate investigations intertwine across continents and generations. In *The Wayland House*, a chilling new discovery within the sprawling Massachusetts estate forces our protagonists to confront a legacy of darkness they thought long buried. As they delve deeper into the house’s enigmatic past, unsettling truths about its original family emerge, threatening to shatter their understanding of everything they know. The present-day team must race against time to unravel a complex mystery that echoes through decades, facing unexpected dangers and personal sacrifices along the way. Simultaneously, *The London House* plunges us into the heart of 19th-century London, where a desperate search for a missing person ignites a perilous chain of events. A tenacious investigator navigates the shadowy underbelly of Victorian society, uncovering a web of deceit and hidden identities that reach far beyond what she initially imagined. The investigation becomes increasingly dangerous as she closes in on the truth, forcing her to question who she can trust and at what cost. Both narratives are intricately linked, promising a season filled with suspense, unexpected twists, and a profound exploration of family, loyalty, and the enduring power of secrets.
The new season begins with a return to Hazel Biceno’s three-story house in Jamaica Plain, the central project of the previous year. Next, the cameras travel to Wayland, Massachusetts, where this season's house stands. There, homeowner Chris…
Construction has commenced on Kirkside, with Tom Silva and his team beginning the task of removing the aged asphalt shingles. The host then engages in conversation with the master carpenter and Tom regarding roof ventilation and drip edge d…
Chris Hagger explains his choice of architectural shingles for his new roof to the crew. On the roof itself, the team installs the chosen shingles alongside a new roof vent. Afterward, the host journeys to a recycling center where both cons…
The team commenced work on the front portico, carefully taking it apart in anticipation of returning it to its 1888 appearance. Meanwhile, our host met with George Lewis, chairman of the Wayland Historic District Commission, to address thei…
Mason Lenny Belleveau provides a comprehensive guide to chimney-top flue dampers, followed by an assessment of the work performed by chimney sweeps. At sill level, the team discusses the replacement of a sill component and the consolidation…
The team surveyed the site, examining the grading and drainage work undertaken by Herb Brockert. Meanwhile, the crew jacked up the western facade, replacing sections of the sill that had rotted. Greg Clancey of SPNEA began preliminary resea…
The crew is laying footings for the new portico, while others survey the gutted bathroom and kitchen, studying the framing plans. Outside, we encounter Dave Rugato, the project's deleader, whose team is carefully removing lead paint from th…
The master carpenter finishes the curved frame for the front porch deck. Meanwhile, the general contractor inspects the new engineered wood framing in the kitchen and master bathroom. Excavator Herb Brockert commences work on the leaching f…
Our host returns to Herb Brockert, who has completed the installation of the leaching pits. Meanwhile, Middlesex Lead continues exterior preparations, powerwashing the building to ensure a suitable surface for painting. We then visit the SP…
The host begins by excavating a dry well for perimeter drainage, then consults with the general contractor. The contractor suggests setting the new entry door into the porch to offer shelter and avoid the need for a gutter along that side. …
A new partition wall is being erected, and Herb Brockert is installing the septic tank, pump chamber, and pump system. Our host attends a meeting of the Wayland Historic Commission, observing the discussion surrounding Kirkside's proposal f…
The host surveys the exposed wiring and plumbing in the kitchen, then consults with electrician Paul Kennedy regarding the installation of a work box. Our plumbing and heating expert details the new zoned heating system, the boiler, and the…
Richard Trethewey presents a natural gas-powered delivery truck before leading us to a project featuring radiant floor heating in progress. Chris Hagger receives a concrete delivery for a new porch slab from a truck that mixes the material …
A boom truck delivers the wallboard, and our host assists with the unloading. Electrician Paul Kennedy offers a demonstration on how to cut an opening for a light switch in an existing plaster wall, while we observe the advancements in the …
Tom Silva details the insulation work underway in the kitchen and master bathroom. The crew utilizes a new screw gun, and we receive a tour of the newly installed air conditioning system. Down in the basement, Paul Kennedy is installing upd…
A licensed crew dismantled the pair of oil tanks in the basement. Mason Roger Hopkins is splitting granite for the portico foundation, while in the kitchen, designer Glenn Berger has begun installing the cabinetry. Our master carpenter is f…
Sam DeFrost guides our attention to the details of the newly constructed fence. Our master carpenter then begins assembling the portico, carefully fitting each piece. Meanwhile, Roger Hopkins lays a stone walkway, utilizing salvaged granite…
Richard Trethewey offers advice on avoiding frozen pipes. In the kitchen, lighting designer Melissa Guenet and electrician Paul Kennedy demonstrate low-voltage and undercabinet lighting. Afterward, we journey to a fabrication shop where Kir…
The last day in Kirkside opens within the church steeple, where Reverend Ken Sawyer offers a closer look at the bell cast by Paul Revere and Son. At the portico, the master carpenter completes the project with a curved, kerfed step. Outside…
For its inaugural international undertaking, *This Old House* journeys to London. The host connects with homeowners Jeremy and Carla Vogler – an American and an Australian, respectively – while the master carpenter visits their British cont…
Contractor David Booth introduces us to a man of the old trade, one who gathers discarded materials from construction sites with his horse-drawn cart. He details the intricate scaffolding system erected for the building, then leads us to th…
The day begins with the team sharing breakfast with the English crew. At the construction site, they examine the newly installed beams alongside contractor David Booth. Richard Trethewey reviews the plans in the flat and then leads viewers …
The day took us to the Tower of London, where we encountered a Beefeater and one of its celebrated ravens. Back at the flat, site supervisor Finn Hurley provided an update on the progress of the framing and roofing. Afterwards, we journeyed…
Windows manufactured in the United States arrived by air and were delivered to the property. The council planner had previously outlined three design possibilities for the Volgers to ensure their front facade met regulations. David and his …
The program opens at a prehistoric stone circle on Salisbury Plain, followed by an update on the construction. Richard Trethewey details the shower, pump, and heating systems, introducing plumber Stan Newton. From the roof, David demonstrat…
The master carpenter elucidates the intricacies of the new staircase that ascends to the apartment. Carla details the lighting plan for the entire dwelling. David Booth examines the front wall and discusses the kitchen's installation. Tiler…
