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♪

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Kevin:
On "Ask This Old House,"

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our experts travel
across the country

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to answer questions
about your house.

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♪

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Today, Nathan converts a window
to a sliding door,

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giving a family VIP access
to their backyard.

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Then any house hunters out there

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wondering what deal breakers
they should be looking for.

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The "Ask This Old House" team
gives you their list of pitfalls

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and potential
money traps to look for

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so your next dream house
doesn't become a nightmare.

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That's all coming up next on
"Ask This Old House."

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♪

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Dave: Good morning, Chris.
Good morning, Stephanie.

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Stephanie: Hey, Nathan.
What's going on?

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Nathan: Nice to meet you guys.
Chris: Nice to meet you.

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Nathan: And who are
these guys here?

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Stephanie: These are our kids.
This is Jo Jo.

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Nathan: Jo Jo.
Stephanie: Benjamin and Owen.

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Nathan: Nice to meet you guys.
Chris: Nice to meet you.

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Nathan: So you guys wrote me
about your back yard?

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Chris: Yes.
Nathan: Let's take a look.

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Chris: All righty.

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Nathan: Oh, wow.
Big fenced in backyard.

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Chris: Yes.
Nathan: Very nice.

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Chris: We love it out here
with the kids.

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Nathan: Yeah, I bet. I bet they
run around like crazy out here.

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Chris: It's a good space
Stephanie: They do.

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And it's amazing,
but there's no entrance

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from the inside to the backyard.

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Nathan: So you want to add
a door back here?

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Stephanie: That'll be great.
Nathan: All right.

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All right,
so I see the bulkhead.

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I see some other stuff going on
on this side of the house.

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And I see these
two big windows here.

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What's in this room here?

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Chris: That's our dining room.
Nathan: Dining room?

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So not far off the kitchen.
Stephanie: No.

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Nathan: Easy to come in and out.

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Stephanie: Yeah.
Nathan: Maybe we could

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take that window out.

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I can check inside,
make sure there's no roadblocks.

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But if there's nothing in our
way, take that window out,

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put in a new slider,
new set of stairs down to grade.

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I think that would give you that
easy access to the backyard.

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Chris: That would be great.
Stephanie: Awesome.

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Nathan: Let's go inside
and take a look.

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Chris: All right.

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All right, Nate, this is
the living room here.

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Nathan: This is beautiful.
Really nice.

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Chris: Thank you. This over here
is our dining room.

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Nathan: Nice. Okay.

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This is a great spot
for that door to go.

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All right, so first thing,

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I'm looking for a receptacles
on the floor.

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I don't see anything.
We'll cautiously approach this.

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We'll make sure there's
no electrical lines

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or plumbing in the walls
as we go ahead.

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But I think this is
really a doable project.

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It is a lot
for us to take on.

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You know, it's going to be
a few days worth of work.

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Do you guys think
you have someone

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that could watch the kids?

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Chris: Yeah, I think so.

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Chris: All right.
I think we can get it done.

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Let's start by taking
these windows out.

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Chris: All right.
Nathan: All right.

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All right, we're going to try
and pull these windows out

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really gently,
just in case you want to

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reuse them somewhere else.

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To do that, I'm going
to score the paint

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around these window stops.

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Okay.

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All right, now grab one end

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and then pull out
and away from the window.

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Stephanie: And away
from the window?

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Nathan: Out and away.
Yep. There you go.

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All right, so it looks like
we're getting hung up inside

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here, so what I'm going to do is
pop these window sashes out.

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And that'll give us a little
more flex on the frame.

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Now that we have the window out,
we can remove the trim.

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I'm going to score
the edges with a knife

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so the paint on the wall doesn't
chip off when we start removing.

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Hold, please.

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Now we're ready to remove your
tongue and groove paneling

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down here,
so I'm gonna pull one off.

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You see, you got
some wallpaper behind there.

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That's pretty cool.

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[ Whirring ]

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Now we can cut away the framing
from the old rough opening

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so we can get back
to the studs.

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So let's take a look at what
we're working with here.

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Your house is balloon framed,

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so we have this stud
going all the way down

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to that plate, coming up,
and going through.

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And then you have these headers
that they put in

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to create the rough opening
for the windows.

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And we would have liked
to have seen a header

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go all the way across,
but you don't have that,

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so we'll have to put one in.

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We'll put some jack studs in,
and then we can put the door in.

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Stephanie: That's great.

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[ Whirring ]

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♪

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Nathan: Nice job.

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♪

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♪

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♪

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All right, here's the door
that I picked up for you.

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It is a sliding
glass patio door.

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It's vinyl.
It's really nice.

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Low maintenance,
easy to take care of.

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Nice insulated glass.

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This unit I bought
fully assembled

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so we don't have to
put anything together.

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You can buy it broken down
if you want to.

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If you were working by yourself,
you could assemble the frame

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and then put
the glass sliders in.

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But I got it all together.
It is really heavy.

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That's probably
the one downside to it.

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So, in the meantime,
I built this temporary deck

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that'll help us get it up

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and then put it in
from the outside,

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and then we can finish it off.

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Chris: Awesome.
Stephanie: Thank you so much.

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Jo Jo: Thank you so much.

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Nathan: You're welcome.
[ Laughs ]

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Ready to put this header in.

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All right. Right up to the top,
as tight as we can get it.

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And then we're going to go
against this sheathing.

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[ Drill whirring ]

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♪

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♪

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This header will transfer
the load from the second floor,

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around the door,
and down to the foundation.

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♪

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♪

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♪

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♪

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All right, so if you want
to start stitching these up

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with those threes, eight a side.

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♪

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I'm going to put this piece of
pine in where the sub-floor

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should have been to help the
door finish at the right height.

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All right, so now we're ready to
put our pan in. It'll be nice.

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And if any water
gets underneath the doors,

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we'll try and redirect
it back out.

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We're going to use
this self adhesive membrane

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to make our pan.

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We're going to cut it about four
inches longer on either end.

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So we'll roll it out,
cut it long,

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and then we'll peel
the back off.

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We'll work it in
and work it all the way along.

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What we'll do is
we'll keep pulling.

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If you want to pull that,
I'll direct it.

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Chris: Yep.

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All you.

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Nathan: All right.

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Just bring that up.

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All right, now we're going
to take our hands,

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and we're going to really
work it in there.

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Roll that front.

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If we need to, we can trim
that little bit hanging.

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Chris: Okay.
Nathan: We're going to put

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a bead of sealant to create
a dam on the back side.

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Push a door in. It'll be
nice and water resistant.

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Chris: Great. All right.

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Here we go. Shimmy it.

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Just lean it up.

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And then take your foot
and just kind of push that.

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Just trying to get it
plumbed a little bit,

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but we'll fine tune it.

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♪

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♪

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[ Whirring]

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♪

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♪

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Now we can add flashing
to the outside of the door

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to prevent water from
getting inside, causing rot.

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We will start with the sides
and then do the top.

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Making sure that the top
flashing overlaps the sides

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as an extra layer of protection
against water infiltration.

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♪

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♪

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♪

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Stephanie: Oh, wow.

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Nathan: Not bad for
a day's work, huh?

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Stephanie: It's amazing.
Thank you.

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Nathan: Give it a try.
Stephanie: Okay.

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Looks and works great.

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Nathan: Well, we still got some
more work ahead of us, right?

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So I'll be back tomorrow morning

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and start working
on the footers.

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Overnight, I'm going to
take that sheet of plywood.

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I'm going to flip it up
and screw it off

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so the kids don't
run out the door.

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Chris: Okay.
Nathan: We can also lock

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and take the key away.

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I think all we do
is a nice clean up,

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and we can call it a day.

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Chris: Awesome.
Stephanie: Great.

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Chris: Thanks again.
Nathan: Yeah.

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Kevin: Look at this
brain trust here, huh?

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The hourly rate
on this group alone.

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So y'all guys know that we get
a lot of e-mails from homeowners

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who are thinking
of buying a house,

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which is a nerve wracking
process for a lot of people.

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And they're always wondering,
all right,

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I'm not going to do
a lot of renovations.

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I just want to know
if I should buy it or not.

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What are the red flags
that would cause it

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00:11:01,233 --> 00:11:03,633
to be a deal breaker,
from your guys eyes?

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The things that cause
you concern or say,

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"Mm, think twice."

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Anybody got a --

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Mark: Well, one of the things,
Kevin, that's going on

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all over the country,
in every hot market,

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is people have to skip
their home inspection.

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So they have to do their own,
and they miss a lot.

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Kevin: That is the professional
helping out a novice.

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And to think that
they would forego that

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should cause some concern.

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Tom: Well, like Mark said,
but they don't have to skip it.

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They're skipping it because they
don't want to lose that house,

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and they're over
overbidding on sometimes

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the cost of the house.
Kevin: Tough market right now,

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but what are you looking for
when you --

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Tom: When I look at a house,
when I get out of the truck

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and I'm looking at a house,
I look for straight lines.

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I look at the roof to see
if it's got a little dip in it,

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and I look at the walls
to see if they're crooked.

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And I look at the windows,
the condition of the windows.

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I look at the grade around it.

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Is the water coming
into the building,

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or is it going to be
going away from the building?

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And if I get inside,
then I look at the foundation.

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00:11:54,033 --> 00:11:57,433
If I see some hairline cracks
this way, that's not a problem.

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But let's say if it's
a block foundation

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and there's a big crack this
way, that could be a problem

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00:12:02,466 --> 00:12:04,800
both with the outside
grading and inside,

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and that can be
an expensive fix.

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Kevin: So when you look
at those things, Tommy,

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00:12:08,433 --> 00:12:10,533
are you thinking, okay,
that's going to cost me this,

245
00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:11,900
that's going to cost me that,

246
00:12:11,966 --> 00:12:14,633
but is there anything on that
list that says run away?

247
00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:17,433
Tom: A lot of people buy a house
with the idea

248
00:12:17,500 --> 00:12:19,966
that they're just going to put
paint and paper into the house,

249
00:12:20,033 --> 00:12:22,066
or maybe paint
the kitchen cabinets

250
00:12:22,133 --> 00:12:23,900
as opposed to change
the kitchen cabinets.

251
00:12:23,966 --> 00:12:25,366
But if they have
to renovate the bathroom,

252
00:12:25,433 --> 00:12:26,800
they have to do major wiring,

253
00:12:26,866 --> 00:12:28,933
all that kind of stuff,
it can make a big difference.

254
00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:32,100
Kevin: Okay, good. Who's --
Mauro, what are you eyeballing?

255
00:12:32,166 --> 00:12:34,433
Mauro: Well, when I'm going to
look for a painting project,

256
00:12:34,500 --> 00:12:37,933
a couple of things that I check
first of everything.

257
00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:42,233
How old is that house,
and how old is that paint job?

258
00:12:42,300 --> 00:12:43,600
Kevin: When you look
at a paint job,

259
00:12:43,666 --> 00:12:45,233
can you estimate how old it is?

260
00:12:45,300 --> 00:12:47,400
Can you say five years ago.
10 years ago.

261
00:12:47,466 --> 00:12:49,233
Mauro: That's 10 years ago,
that's 20 years ago.

262
00:12:49,300 --> 00:12:50,666
And that goes up.
Kevin: Right.

263
00:12:50,733 --> 00:12:55,366
Mauro: So the problem is, if
a house was built before 1978,

264
00:12:55,433 --> 00:12:57,333
you're going to assume
they have lead paint on it.

265
00:12:57,400 --> 00:12:59,766
Kevin: Right.
Mauro: And if we have to paint

266
00:12:59,833 --> 00:13:01,900
that house, it's going to be
a huge amount of work,

267
00:13:01,966 --> 00:13:03,800
preparation,
protecting everything,

268
00:13:03,866 --> 00:13:05,566
protecting the floor,
the homeowners,

269
00:13:05,633 --> 00:13:08,000
doors, windows,
and the neighbors.

270
00:13:08,066 --> 00:13:09,766
Tom: And you.
Mauro: And myself.

271
00:13:09,833 --> 00:13:11,466
And the boys, everybody.

272
00:13:11,533 --> 00:13:13,566
And the numbers
for a regular paint job

273
00:13:13,633 --> 00:13:16,333
that doesn't have lead paint,
that's this much.

274
00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:17,833
For lead paint,
it's this big.

275
00:13:17,900 --> 00:13:19,400
Kevin: Right.
Richard: So in my world,

276
00:13:19,466 --> 00:13:21,233
in the plumbing world, you know,
you get miles and miles of

277
00:13:21,300 --> 00:13:22,700
water piping inside
of any building,

278
00:13:22,766 --> 00:13:25,333
and any leak is a catastrophe.

279
00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:29,266
So there's just some stuff
you'd want to look for.

280
00:13:29,333 --> 00:13:32,766
You know, in any building back
in the earliest part of

281
00:13:32,833 --> 00:13:35,433
the 20th century, it might
have had threaded brass,

282
00:13:35,500 --> 00:13:37,666
and that was just threaded
together with fittings.

283
00:13:37,733 --> 00:13:39,566
In the war era,
they went to galvanized.

284
00:13:39,633 --> 00:13:42,166
This was metal with
a special galvanized treating.

285
00:13:42,233 --> 00:13:45,000
Either one of those where
the threads are can become

286
00:13:45,066 --> 00:13:46,866
absolutely brittle
from electrolysis.

287
00:13:46,933 --> 00:13:50,866
So any of the old piping
should be a caution.

288
00:13:50,933 --> 00:13:53,966
Polybutylene was the wonder
product in the '70s,

289
00:13:54,033 --> 00:13:56,200
and it was proven
to be a failure.

290
00:13:56,266 --> 00:13:58,033
And so you should worry
about that.

291
00:13:58,100 --> 00:14:00,033
Kevin: And what failed, Richard?
The pipe itself?

292
00:14:00,100 --> 00:14:01,233
Richard: Well, it was both.

293
00:14:01,300 --> 00:14:02,666
It was linear expansion
on the pipe,

294
00:14:02,733 --> 00:14:03,966
but it was also
the connections.

295
00:14:04,033 --> 00:14:05,966
You know,
it's a tricky thing to make

296
00:14:06,033 --> 00:14:07,033
metal to plastic connection

297
00:14:07,100 --> 00:14:08,866
Kevin: And to make
it last for years.

298
00:14:08,933 --> 00:14:12,233
Richard: Correct, and so the
modern PEX systems are terrific,

299
00:14:12,300 --> 00:14:14,400
and the connections
are really good.

300
00:14:14,466 --> 00:14:16,100
The other thing is,
on regular copper,

301
00:14:16,166 --> 00:14:17,700
there's one call out
I want to mention,

302
00:14:17,766 --> 00:14:21,566
and that is you can tell
the thickness of copper pipe

303
00:14:21,633 --> 00:14:22,700
by its color coding.

304
00:14:22,766 --> 00:14:24,866
So this is red,
and this is blue.

305
00:14:24,933 --> 00:14:27,766
And this is the grade
or sidewall thickness.

306
00:14:27,833 --> 00:14:29,066
So right here.

307
00:14:29,133 --> 00:14:31,100
So this is the thicker one,
the blue or the "L".

308
00:14:31,166 --> 00:14:32,766
And you can see
that it's very thin.

309
00:14:32,833 --> 00:14:35,000
Now, the thin by itself
is not a problem.

310
00:14:35,066 --> 00:14:37,933
But if you had electrolysis
from the loose ground

311
00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,066
or something like that, you can
pit corrode in that thin wall.

312
00:14:41,133 --> 00:14:44,166
Kevin: If you see the thinner
wall copper, are you assuming

313
00:14:44,233 --> 00:14:45,866
you have to replace it,
or is it just something --

314
00:14:45,933 --> 00:14:47,400
Richard: Not assuming,
but it still has to be

315
00:14:47,466 --> 00:14:49,700
a cautionary tale that
you're going to say,

316
00:14:49,766 --> 00:14:51,966
"Look, if I'm going to now
do a bathroom remodel

317
00:14:52,033 --> 00:14:54,933
somewhere in the building,
I'm going to replace all that

318
00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:56,866
thin gauge pipe
when I'm doing it,"

319
00:14:56,933 --> 00:14:58,700
because it's cheaper
to just do it at that time.

320
00:14:58,766 --> 00:15:00,766
You just want to eliminate
the amount of risk.

321
00:15:00,833 --> 00:15:02,466
You want to reduce your risk
as much as possible.

322
00:15:02,533 --> 00:15:03,666
Kevin: That's good to know.

323
00:15:03,733 --> 00:15:05,100
Ross: Some other things
that come to mind.

324
00:15:05,166 --> 00:15:07,533
Maybe not deal breakers,
but the age of the mechanical

325
00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:09,033
and plumbing equipment,
you know?

326
00:15:09,100 --> 00:15:11,000
So most equipment
has a rating plate on it.

327
00:15:11,066 --> 00:15:12,333
So you have the model number,

328
00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:13,833
the serial number,
and the date of manufacture.

329
00:15:13,900 --> 00:15:15,733
Kevin: That's always there.
Ross: That's there. Yeah.

330
00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:17,900
And so with that date,
you can compare that

331
00:15:17,966 --> 00:15:20,400
to what the actual life of that
piece of equipment is.

332
00:15:20,466 --> 00:15:23,966
So if you know you have a water
heater that's 9 or 10 years old,

333
00:15:24,033 --> 00:15:25,800
you know, based on
the date of manufacture,

334
00:15:25,866 --> 00:15:28,633
it's probably going to need
to be replaced in the future.

335
00:15:28,700 --> 00:15:30,466
Kevin: Maybe not a deal breaker
if you've got old equipment,

336
00:15:30,533 --> 00:15:31,800
but at least now you
go into it

337
00:15:31,866 --> 00:15:34,033
knowing I've got an expense
in my near term future.

338
00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:36,133
Ross: That's right.
Kevin: What about when you walk

339
00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,366
up to a house, Ross, and you see
solar because a lot of houses

340
00:15:38,433 --> 00:15:40,666
have it now,
does that cause you concern,

341
00:15:40,733 --> 00:15:42,066
or does that make you happy?

342
00:15:42,133 --> 00:15:43,500
Ross: The one thing I would
caution is,

343
00:15:43,566 --> 00:15:45,100
how was that solar financed?

344
00:15:45,166 --> 00:15:47,500
So is it a lease
or a power purchase agreement?

345
00:15:47,566 --> 00:15:49,866
If it's one of those
two financing vehicles

346
00:15:49,933 --> 00:15:52,433
for that solar, then I'd be
concerned about reading

347
00:15:52,500 --> 00:15:54,366
the fine print on that
and understanding

348
00:15:54,433 --> 00:15:57,800
the terms that you're signing
when you when sign P&S.

349
00:15:57,866 --> 00:16:00,233
Kevin: Previous homeowner buys
it outright, no concern.

350
00:16:00,300 --> 00:16:02,500
Those two other deals,
you may have a partner...

351
00:16:02,566 --> 00:16:03,933
Ross: That's right
Kevin: ...in your roof.

352
00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:05,133
So just know what it is.

353
00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:06,366
Ross: Financing partner
in that case. Yeah.

354
00:16:06,433 --> 00:16:07,500
Kevin: Gotcha.
Ross: Exactly right.

355
00:16:07,566 --> 00:16:08,833
Kevin: Okay. Who's --

356
00:16:08,900 --> 00:16:10,800
Heath: So the first thing
I want people to be aware of

357
00:16:10,866 --> 00:16:13,766
is that, don't panic on the age
of the house necessarily.

358
00:16:13,833 --> 00:16:16,233
Our electrical codes
change constantly.

359
00:16:16,300 --> 00:16:17,733
You know, we're updating them
with new materials,

360
00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:20,033
new methods,
better and safer ways.

361
00:16:20,100 --> 00:16:23,200
So that doesn't mean
that the stuff you have is bad

362
00:16:23,266 --> 00:16:24,866
or unsafe
or was installed properly.

363
00:16:24,933 --> 00:16:26,666
It was probably perfectly fine
when it was installed

364
00:16:26,733 --> 00:16:28,300
and is still probably good.

365
00:16:28,366 --> 00:16:30,666
But that being said, you do want
to look for a couple of things.

366
00:16:30,733 --> 00:16:33,666
If you have a fuse box service
with the actual screw-in fuses

367
00:16:33,733 --> 00:16:36,700
and knob and tube wiring,
that's a big red flag.

368
00:16:36,766 --> 00:16:38,100
A lot of places won't even
insure you

369
00:16:38,166 --> 00:16:39,666
with the knob and tube
wiring still in the house.

370
00:16:39,733 --> 00:16:41,800
So you're looking at removing
all of that and rewiring.

371
00:16:41,866 --> 00:16:43,733
Tom: And you can't insulate
the house either

372
00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:45,000
if it has knob and tube.
Heath: No.

373
00:16:45,066 --> 00:16:46,233
Kevin: Uh, you?

374
00:16:46,300 --> 00:16:47,800
Mark: So in my business,
the chimneys,

375
00:16:47,866 --> 00:16:49,066
they get missed a lot.

376
00:16:49,133 --> 00:16:50,500
If you don't have
that professional inspection,

377
00:16:50,566 --> 00:16:52,400
you really don't know
what you're looking for.

378
00:16:52,466 --> 00:16:53,900
A couple things that
I've been seeing

379
00:16:53,966 --> 00:16:58,166
for the last couple years is
I've noticed that, again,

380
00:16:58,233 --> 00:17:00,000
because they missed that
in the inspection,

381
00:17:00,066 --> 00:17:01,766
the chimney starts to lean out,

382
00:17:01,833 --> 00:17:03,100
which means you have
to take it down

383
00:17:03,166 --> 00:17:04,800
to where it starts to lean.

384
00:17:04,866 --> 00:17:06,900
Again, you're putting up
staging now.

385
00:17:06,966 --> 00:17:08,333
Now you have to re-lay
the brick.

386
00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:09,800
You have to find
the brick to match it.

387
00:17:09,866 --> 00:17:13,133
Just a multitude of problems
that come along with missing

388
00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:14,533
that on your inspection.

389
00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:15,700
Kevin: Gotcha.

390
00:17:15,766 --> 00:17:17,133
Tom: So it can
be scary in some ways,

391
00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:19,500
but not so scary in other ways.

392
00:17:19,566 --> 00:17:20,833
Houses have been
around a long time.

393
00:17:20,900 --> 00:17:23,400
Richard: But even the worst of
these "deal breakers"

394
00:17:23,466 --> 00:17:26,266
might not be enough to stop you
from buying that dream house

395
00:17:26,333 --> 00:17:27,700
if you finally find it.
Tom: Absolutely.

396
00:17:27,766 --> 00:17:29,700
Richard: You just got to have
a budget set aside for it.

397
00:17:29,766 --> 00:17:31,200
A rainy day fund.

398
00:17:31,266 --> 00:17:33,466
Tom: It doesn't always have to
be done right now either.

399
00:17:33,533 --> 00:17:36,100
Kevin: Right. All right.
Well, thank you all.

400
00:17:36,166 --> 00:17:38,766
So with that did that cost me?
250 bucks an hour.

401
00:17:38,833 --> 00:17:40,500
$175 an hour.

402
00:17:40,566 --> 00:17:41,933
[ Laughter ]

403
00:17:46,166 --> 00:17:47,266
Nathan: Well, it's a new day.

404
00:17:47,333 --> 00:17:49,166
We're heading back
to the job site.

405
00:17:49,233 --> 00:17:51,700
Mark McCullough and his team
were able to dig the footers.

406
00:17:51,766 --> 00:17:53,966
We got them inspected
with the building inspector,

407
00:17:54,033 --> 00:17:56,700
and then we placed our concrete,
so we're all signed off there,

408
00:17:56,766 --> 00:17:58,766
and we're ready to start framing
on top of that.

409
00:17:58,833 --> 00:18:01,200
For a project like this,
you need to pull a permit.

410
00:18:01,266 --> 00:18:03,533
In this case, I pulled
the permit for the homeowners,

411
00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:05,566
but they could have
pulled it themselves.

412
00:18:05,633 --> 00:18:08,066
It's important to check in
with the building department

413
00:18:08,133 --> 00:18:10,833
and pull a permit so they know
that the work is going on.

414
00:18:10,900 --> 00:18:12,966
It's like a layer of protection,
not only for myself,

415
00:18:13,033 --> 00:18:15,166
but for the homeowners, as well.

416
00:18:15,233 --> 00:18:16,900
When you pull the permit,
the building inspector

417
00:18:16,966 --> 00:18:18,200
will tell you what
they want to inspect.

418
00:18:18,266 --> 00:18:19,833
In our case, it's the footers,

419
00:18:19,900 --> 00:18:21,433
the framing,
and the final inspection

420
00:18:21,500 --> 00:18:23,533
to make sure
everything's done right.

421
00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:24,866
They're going to check
to make sure

422
00:18:24,933 --> 00:18:27,000
that everything is done to code
and is done safe.

423
00:18:30,366 --> 00:18:31,666
Nathan: Morning, guys.
Chris: Hey.

424
00:18:31,733 --> 00:18:33,233
Nathan: How's it going?
Chris: Wow. It looks great.

425
00:18:33,300 --> 00:18:34,866
Nathan: Yeah, yeah, we're really
coming along here.

426
00:18:34,933 --> 00:18:36,366
So just to recap
what we've been working on.

427
00:18:36,433 --> 00:18:40,200
We have the trim inside done.
We got the siding almost done.

428
00:18:40,266 --> 00:18:43,633
But we framed this deck like any
other deck that we would frame.

429
00:18:43,700 --> 00:18:45,633
Big, beefy post off
of our footers

430
00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:47,766
that were poured and inspected.

431
00:18:47,833 --> 00:18:50,033
The framing is signed off
by the inspector.

432
00:18:50,100 --> 00:18:51,500
We have our joists here
to support

433
00:18:51,566 --> 00:18:54,266
the decking, rim joists,
posts for our railing system.

434
00:18:54,333 --> 00:18:55,533
These are roughed in.

435
00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:57,066
We'll cut them
to the height we need.

436
00:18:57,133 --> 00:18:59,266
We got our stringers that are
going to support our risers

437
00:18:59,333 --> 00:19:01,033
and our treads down
to our nice landing.

438
00:19:01,100 --> 00:19:02,500
I think that we can knock
this out today.

439
00:19:02,566 --> 00:19:03,700
Chris: Awesome.
Nathan: You guys ready

440
00:19:03,766 --> 00:19:05,300
to get started?
Chris: Yeah. Let's go.

441
00:19:05,366 --> 00:19:07,533
Nathan: All right. Let's start
by finishing off the siding.

442
00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,133
So what are you going to do is
drop it into this J-channel.

443
00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:11,566
Chris: Okay.

444
00:19:18,966 --> 00:19:20,566
Nathan: Cool.

445
00:19:28,833 --> 00:19:31,633
Perfect. Here, take this vinyl
siding removal tool.

446
00:19:31,700 --> 00:19:33,100
It's great for taking it apart,

447
00:19:33,166 --> 00:19:36,400
but it's even better
for putting it back together.

448
00:19:36,466 --> 00:19:38,833
Come pull like six inches
down here.

449
00:19:38,900 --> 00:19:42,000
Yeah, pull there and pull down
really hard and then push.

450
00:19:42,066 --> 00:19:44,466
There you go. Perfect.

451
00:19:44,533 --> 00:19:48,533
Sometimes it's really nice.
You can just get it.

452
00:19:50,633 --> 00:19:51,866
Chris: When things
just go smoothly.

453
00:19:51,933 --> 00:19:52,833
Nathan: Yeah.

454
00:19:52,900 --> 00:19:54,300
Chris: That's not
in my repertoire.

455
00:19:54,366 --> 00:19:56,133
Nathan: All right,
so I picked up some of this

456
00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:57,633
permanent adhesive
flashing tape.

457
00:19:57,700 --> 00:19:59,166
It's really good
for doors and windows,

458
00:19:59,233 --> 00:20:01,033
but it's even better
for decks, in my opinion.

459
00:20:01,100 --> 00:20:03,033
A lot of people
are putting it in now.

460
00:20:03,100 --> 00:20:04,366
Really easy to work with.

461
00:20:04,433 --> 00:20:06,466
It's almost like duct tape.
Easy to rip the length.

462
00:20:06,533 --> 00:20:09,000
But the one difference is it has
this paper backer on it

463
00:20:09,066 --> 00:20:10,933
that you need to peel off.

464
00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:12,333
What we're going to do
is we're going to cover

465
00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,966
anything flat on the deck
before we put our decking down.

466
00:20:15,033 --> 00:20:17,600
And why we're going to do that
is a great feature that this has

467
00:20:17,666 --> 00:20:20,100
is when we put
the decking screw through,

468
00:20:20,166 --> 00:20:21,800
this is going to
self seal around that,

469
00:20:21,866 --> 00:20:24,000
preventing the water from
getting inside that joist.

470
00:20:24,066 --> 00:20:25,866
And in turn, over time,
splitting that joist.

471
00:20:25,933 --> 00:20:27,400
So we're going to try
and make this deck

472
00:20:27,466 --> 00:20:28,766
last as long as we can.

473
00:20:28,833 --> 00:20:30,733
We'll switch to the wide stuff
for the rim joists,

474
00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:32,100
and then we'll cover
the stringers, as well.

475
00:20:32,166 --> 00:20:33,800
Stephanie: All right.

476
00:20:38,466 --> 00:20:41,533
Nathan: Now we can add boards
around all the pressure treated

477
00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,833
framing to give it
a good clean look.

478
00:20:45,566 --> 00:20:47,933
I got 80 and 15/16.

479
00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:55,366
♪

480
00:20:55,433 --> 00:20:57,300
Now we're ready for some
composite decking.

481
00:20:57,366 --> 00:20:59,300
This is really the go
to these days.

482
00:20:59,366 --> 00:21:01,933
Easy to maintain,
pressure wash it once a year.

483
00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,133
And the best thing about this
is it matches the color

484
00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:05,666
on the front of your deck, so...

485
00:21:05,733 --> 00:21:07,300
Chris: Awesome.
Nathan: ...it'll blend right in.

486
00:21:07,366 --> 00:21:08,933
Very easy to install.

487
00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:15,433
♪

488
00:21:15,500 --> 00:21:17,066
I'll need to notch
a few deck boards,

489
00:21:17,133 --> 00:21:19,066
which I can do with a jig saw.

490
00:21:19,133 --> 00:21:21,300
This will help the boards
fit nicely around the post.

491
00:21:21,366 --> 00:21:29,633
♪

492
00:21:29,700 --> 00:21:38,000
♪

493
00:21:38,066 --> 00:21:39,533
All right. All set.

494
00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:40,866
Chris: All righty.

495
00:21:40,933 --> 00:21:42,533
Nathan: Now it's time
for post sleeves and railings.

496
00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:43,700
Chris: Cool.

497
00:21:43,766 --> 00:21:45,933
Stephanie: Let's do it.

498
00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:47,400
Nathan: So kind of come in low.

499
00:21:47,466 --> 00:21:48,400
Chris: Okay.

500
00:21:48,466 --> 00:21:50,400
Nathan: And then
we have our kit.

501
00:21:50,466 --> 00:21:53,033
This has our balusters.
Upper rail and lower rail.

502
00:21:53,100 --> 00:21:57,700
♪

503
00:21:57,766 --> 00:21:59,166
Nice.

504
00:21:59,233 --> 00:22:00,333
All right, guys,
what do you think?

505
00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:02,066
Chris: This is amazing.
Thank you.

506
00:22:02,133 --> 00:22:03,266
Stephanie: Let's test it out
with the kids.

507
00:22:03,333 --> 00:22:05,200
Come on, guys,
let's test it out.

508
00:22:05,266 --> 00:22:06,700
Do you guys like it?

509
00:22:06,766 --> 00:22:08,500
Chris: Wow.

510
00:22:10,333 --> 00:22:11,500
Nathan: Nice job.

511
00:22:11,566 --> 00:22:12,700
Just a little bit of homework.

512
00:22:12,766 --> 00:22:15,066
Some new seed on top
of this loom out here.

513
00:22:15,133 --> 00:22:17,000
Inside, a little bit
of caulking and painting

514
00:22:17,066 --> 00:22:18,766
just to tighten things up,
and you're good to go.

515
00:22:18,833 --> 00:22:20,133
Chris: Awesome.
I think we can handle that.

516
00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:21,666
Nathan: All right.
Stephanie: Thank you so much for

517
00:22:21,733 --> 00:22:22,800
coming out.
We really appreciate it.

518
00:22:22,866 --> 00:22:24,066
Nathan: You're welcome.
Any time.

519
00:22:24,133 --> 00:22:25,633
If you've got questions,
we'd love to hear from you.

520
00:22:25,700 --> 00:22:26,700
So keep them coming.

521
00:22:26,766 --> 00:22:27,866
Until next time,
I'm Nathan Gilbert for

522
00:22:27,933 --> 00:22:29,266
"Ask This Old House."

523
00:22:29,333 --> 00:22:34,400
♪

524
00:22:34,466 --> 00:22:39,566
♪

525
00:22:41,666 --> 00:22:43,833
Mauro: Pinky, let's go.
We got a lot of work to do.

526
00:22:43,900 --> 00:22:45,633
Kevin: Next time
on "Ask This Old House"...

527
00:22:45,700 --> 00:22:47,433
Mauro makes a friend

528
00:22:47,500 --> 00:22:50,600
as he takes a garage
from graffiti to glam.

529
00:22:50,666 --> 00:22:51,966
♪

530
00:22:52,033 --> 00:22:56,200
Then Ross gives us a primer
on radon testing.

531
00:22:56,266 --> 00:22:59,066
Then, in preparation
for a new addition,

532
00:22:59,133 --> 00:23:02,000
Nathan helps a family organize
their nursery closet.

533
00:23:02,066 --> 00:23:03,400
Woman: Thank you so much.

534
00:23:03,466 --> 00:23:05,933
It's gonna be so much more
functional for this room now.

535
00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:09,333
Kevin: All that
on "Ask This Old House."