Ep 3. Hard Word Ahead | Cape Ann

In the third episode of the 42nd season of This Old House, titled "Hard Work Ahead | Cape Ann”, the team travels to Massachusetts to help a couple renovate their historic Cape Ann home. The homeowners, Chris and Jess, have been slowly restoring the house for several years, but are now ready to tackle the major renovation of their kitchen and dining room.

Tom Silva leads the team in the renovation, which involves removing the walls between the kitchen and dining room to create an open-concept space. The episode starts with the team already hard at work, tearing down the walls and carefully preserving any historical elements they uncover.

Throughout the episode, the team faces several challenges. For example, they discover that some of the beams in the ceiling are structural and cannot be removed without serious repercussions. To work around this, they engineer a custom solution that involves installing steel beams in the ceiling for added support.

In addition to the structural challenges, the team also addresses several cosmetic issues. For example, they patch holes in the walls and lay a new subfloor in the kitchen. They also install new plumbing and electrical work, as well as a new HVAC system.

As always, viewer also gets a chance to witness some of the beautiful work that the homeowners themselves have been doing to the house over the years. For example, the team takes a moment to appreciate the beautiful fireplace that Chris and Jess hand-built in the living room.

Throughout the episode, presenter Kevin O'Connor checks in with Chris and Jess to see how they're holding up during the renovation process. They express excitement and gratitude for the team's hard work, but also admit that the renovation is taking a toll on their mental and physical health. Tom Silva offers some words of encouragement, reminding Chris and Jess that the end result will be worth all of the hard work.

The episode ends with the team making excellent progress on the renovation and expressing optimism that they'll be able to meet the tight deadline. Viewers are left on the edge of their seats, wondering what challenges the team will face in future episodes and what other historic elements they'll uncover in the home.

Overall, "Hard Work Ahead | Cape Ann" is a compelling episode of This Old House that showcases the team's expertise and dedication to historic restoration. The owners' personal investment in the home adds an emotional component to the renovation, making it all the more satisfying to watch as the team works their magic.