'This Old House'
Home Improvement Show Visits Washington, D.C.

Kevin O'Connor
Program Host
Friday, February 24, 2006 12:00 PM

"This Old House" joined forces with Mi Casa -- a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that purchases, renovates, and sells city buildings at below-market rates to low-to-moderate-income families. Making its first visit to the nation's capital, "This Old House" will focus on a project in the Shaw neighborhood for its winter 2005-06 project. The "This Old House" Washington, D.C., project premiered on WETA on Saturday, Feb. 11th at 9 a.m. ET, the first of eight episodes to chronicle the project. (Check local listings or thisoldhouse.com).

The house featured in the program had fallen from its graceful state as a single-family home to a condemned, fire-and-water-damaged house occupied by squatters. (Read More)

Host Kevin O'Connor was online Friday, Feb. 24, at noon ET to field your home improvement questions and to discuss the "This Old House" project in Washington, D.C.

Nominated for an "Outstanding Service Show Host" Emmy Award in his debut season, O'Connor is the newest member of the home improvement team. This year, he enters his third season as host of "This Old House," "Ask This Old House" and "Inside This Old House." O'Connor also serves on the editorial board of This Old House magazine, published by This Old House Ventures, Inc.

The transcript follows.

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Kevin O'Connor: Hi from the entire crew at This Old House. We had a lot of fun working in Washington, D.C. -- first time in our 26 year history -- and we're happy to answer people's questions about the show.

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Lansing, Mich.: TOH is, obviously, the granddaddy of home improvement shows. Why do you think it has had such lasting popularity?

Kevin O'Connor: Because it was the first and today remains true to its roots, which is first and foremost about craftsmanship not showmanship. And the guys on the show -- Tom, Roger, Richard and Norm -- are the real deal. They are craftsman and have been doing it for, in some cases, four generations in their families. And I think people resonate, I think people appreciate that genuine authority.

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Cold in Chevy Chase: We always watch your show and wonder -- would they ever help us with the den? We would SO appreciate your help with this question! Our den, formally a screened in porch, is just freezing in the winter. We think the siding is badly insulated, plus it sits on concrete floor right over the garage. Is there anyway to increase the insulation without totally rebuilding it? Or any way to tell which is the problem -- floor or siding? Thanks!

Kevin O'Connor: A typical question -- one we get a lot. And while I'm not an expert I would guess that Tom Silva would suggest a few things. Insulation can be upgraded without tearing the walls open by either blowing in cellulose or pouring in foam, but the main problem is probably the fact that it's on a slab and not on a foundation. And to fix that, one of the best solutions is radiant floor heat. And there are lots of options today for radiant floor heat.

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Richmond, Va.: Hi Kevin,

My kids, ages 9 and 11 are big fans of This Old House so much so that they got autographs from Tom Silva when he was here for a Home show a few weeks ago. Might you say "hi" to William and Ian? They would get a big kick out of it. Thanks.

P.S. You would do a show in Richmond. We have many beautiful old houses on Church Hill, in the Fan, the Museum District, Manchester, Jackson Ward and many more neighborhoods. Keep up with good work.

Kevin O'Connor: Big hello to William and Ian! Sorry I didn't get a chance to meet you guys, but Tom Silva's a good alternative. And we'd love to come to Virginia and we just might with Ask This Old House, so keep sending your letters in.

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Madison, Wis.: I really enjoyed the introductory episode on the Mi Casa project and found the staff involved to be thoughtful and dedicated. However, I was flummoxed by some of the questions and comments posed by the "This Old House" contingent, which seemed patronizing and out of touch in many respects. In scripting the show, do you try to pose questions you think your viewers will have, or are they your own? Also, what's wrong with lending a little elbow-grease to shovel out the basement?

Kevin O'Connor: We're thrilled to be working with Mi Casa. They have a great formula for providing affordable housing, and further, the show isn't scripted at all. So the questions are my own if they're asked by me. And given my admiration for Mi Casa I can assure you that they weren't meant to be patronizing. With respect to elbow grease and the basement, while it's a fine way to remove the degree by hand with shovels and garbage bags, time is money and we at This Old House always want to make sure that resources aren't being wasted. Not to mention, doesn't it seem to you to be a huge job to shovel and carry out by hand over a foot of earth from a basement?

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Vienna, Va.: I really enjoy the instructional emphasis used on the show these days -- especially the explanatory diagrams. Will this trend continue? Any chance of a series that explains house wiring theory/application; and code requirements, and in what areas older homes may not meet code?

Kevin O'Connor: We're always trying to instruct and inform and try new methods to do that, so yes, expect that trend to continue. And while we try to address electrical issues, they're difficult to explain on TV because if you can't see it, it's hard to film, and so much about electricity is behind the walls and inside the cables. The concepts are difficult to show on TV.

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Alexandria, Va.: Love TOH. Question: Did the New Orleans house survive Katrina?

Kevin O'Connor: Good question. I'm not sure, I hope so.

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Alexandria, Va.: Kevin, love the show. Questions: What do you view as the most significant differences between the housing markets in Boston versus D.C.? And did you happen to view any residences in Northern Virginia? P.S. Your old friend "Scanny" says hello.

Kevin O'Connor: Hi back to Brendan ("Scanny")! In regard to the housing market in the two cities, I think there are more similarities than differences -- high prices, scarcity of properties and a new found interest in living in the downtown area. This is great for urban revitalization and some of the surrounding neighborhoods, but it makes it tough for anyone trying to buy a home in these areas. Same thing is going on in Boston as is going on in D.C., so I feel your pain.

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Bethesda, Md.: How did you get the job as host. Was the position opened to all applicants?

Kevin O'Connor: I got the job as host through a great deal of good luck. I was a lifelong viewer, a huge fan of the show, and my wife and I had just bought our first house, which was in dire need of restoration, which we were doing ourselves. And early on like so many people, we wrote to ask This Old House for help. To our delight and surprise they read our letter, which was one of literally tens of thousands, and filmed a short episode for Ask This Old House at our house. And by sheer good luck I was asked to be the host a few months later, which was amazing because I was, at the time, in the finance business and never had any background in television.

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Washington, D.C.: So, is the project done? If not, when are you planning on finishing it? Can we come by and look at the place?

Kevin O'Connor: The project was finished on February 14 and is currently being aired on PBS, and unfortunately for our viewers, you can't visit the house because it's already been sold to a deserving family of six. And they are moving in and I'm sure don't need to have thousands of This Old House fans traipsing through their house, regardless of how appreciative they were.

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Charlotte, N.C.: TOH started out doing modest projects a typical middle class homeowner could handle. But, for the last 10 years the projects have been luxury mansions with price tags near or over $1 million. Why the change?

Kevin O'Connor: Your sentiment is not completely accurate. Our current project in Washington had a renovation budget of 250,000 dollars, or 80 dollars a square foot. Our project two years ago in Concord, Mass., was the smallest we ever did at just over a thousand square feet. That said, we have taken on more aggressive projects more recently compared to our humble beginnings. For example, last year, for our 25th anniversary celebration, we spent well over a million dollars renovating a 6,000 square foot New England farmstead, which by the way, was one of our most popular, most watched projects ever. But the reason for the larger projects in recent years is we are constantly trying to tell new stories and to teach new lessons.

For example, in order to tell the story about the latest, most efficient heating system, you have to install mechanical units that are different than your standard 40 gallon hot water heater, and when we use a super-efficient German boiler, which is a great story about efficiency and energy savings, that comes at a price. Fortunately, it is a price born only by the homeowner, but it benefits all of our viewers. So the projects have gotten more complicated, but we believe that's a good thing because it lets us tell better stories and teach better lessons. And who wouldn't want to save a 6,000 square foot New England farmstead?!

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Washington, D.C.: I'm looking forward to watching the D.C. project and am hoping that it is a project that is more "relatable" -- too many TOH projects involve huge homes with media rooms, granite counter tops everywhere, and other high end touches. It is totally possible to make a nice kitchen with more affordable materials and I with TOH would do more projects that weren't creating "McMansions".

Kevin O'Connor: I don't think This Old House has ever build a "McMansion," and I don't think we ever will. Big isn't necessarily bad, but that being said, I think you'll enjoy the Washington project because it is a tight budget of just 80 dollars a square foot and we will address how you make a great renovation with limited funds. And while I am the host and get to see a lot of great houses and work on a lot of spectacular renovations, rest assure that my wife and I are always struggling with our own renovations and issues like budget and resources and time, so I have a keen appreciation for the "mainstream" project.

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Washington, D.C.: Kevin -- love the show! Am a junkie. I particularly enjoy Ask TOH, given I've recently tackled renovations on my own.

You've no doubt noticed that D.C. houses often have flat (or nearly flat) metal roofs. It could be helpful to get some hints on how to maintain and repair in future episodes. It looks like the Mi Casa house has a new roof, so I'm out of luck. Also, masonry repair and maintenance suggestions could be interesting and helpful. Just suggestions, but I'm sure DC folks would be delighted to know what Tommy knows about these things.

Kevin O'Connor: Great suggestions. And with regard to flat roofs, we spent a lot of time talking about them on our Cambridge project earlier this year, albeit they were rubber not metal. But I suspect many of the same lessons apply to both. And with regard to masonry, I'm pleased to report that one of the most significant projects we undertake with the Washington house is a complete restoration and repointing of the house's brick facade. I think you'll love watching our mason Danny from Texas show Norm all the fine points of bringing back the magnificent brick work that fell into disrepair over the last one hundred twenty five years. And I personally think our facade restoration is one of the highlights of the Washington, D.C., project, so tune in.

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Brooklyn, N.Y.: Were there any new challenges for the crew working in an urban environment? Most of the TOH projects I've seen in are in suburban or rural surroundings.

Kevin O'Connor: Sure some. The single biggest is cramped quarters, lack of parking, in general, city congestion. In D.C., while we faced these challenges, we were lucky that we had a back alley to store supplies, a dumpster and to give good access to trucks and construction vehicles. And most importantly, we had good neighbors who put up with the destruction we caused and lent us space and parking spots whenever possible. I hope they see us as good neighbors as well for the work and restoration we did to a building on their street.

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Washington, D.C.: This is a great show and I'm happy to see you tackle a D.C. rowhouse. Any suggestions for D.C. residents looking to find a place with the same type of architectural features that will need work but not break the bank? For most of us, just buying the place will take all our capital -- but I can only afford the ones that need renovating! What features should I look for in a house that are "doable" to renovate on a less expensive scale? What features would be exorbitant and I'd be better served not buying the place at all?

Kevin O'Connor: Welcome to the club! Finding an affordable home today is no easy task. My wife and I could only afford a fixer-upper ourselves and were forced to make a lot of compromises, but I think a couple simple rules would help. First, location is critical because it's one of the few things you absolutely can't change. Second, total square footage is also important. If you buy 900 square feet and know you'll need 1500 in a few years, there's very little you can do about that in the city. So pay for location and size and have the confidence that you can change much of the rest. That is the interior layout, the detail, the amenities. If you're willing to do the work yourself or most of it yourself, you could have a 40,000 dollar kitchen for 10,000 dollars. It may take time and a lot of late nights covered in plaster dust, but at least it's something you can control and change. And Tom Silva would tell you to first look for good structure. That is, a solid foundation, floors that aren't sagging, roofs that aren't rotting and windows that don't leak. But even with all that, I'm sad to say if your experience is anything like mine, houses will be very expensive.

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"Land of Levitt," Md.: "The project was finished on February 14." Wow, that's fast! If I'm not mistaken, the first episode was shot in early December, as the remains of our first snowfall of this unusually warm winter are still visible in some shots. How did you get from "abandoned" to "gutted" to "done" in the time between just-before-Christmas and Valentine's Day?

Kevin O'Connor: The construction schedule and the TV schedule don't always correspond directly. With that being said, it was a very aggressive time schedule. And from start to finish construction took about three and a half months. Under other circumstances it probably would have taken 5-6 months. The speed of the project is a testament to our great builder and general contractor and to the help and contribution of a lot of people who rise to the occasion when This Old House is involved.

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Thrilled in D.C.: We are huge fans of your show! My girlfriends and I get together and watch it the same way people get together and watch "The Bachelor." How thrilled we were to learn about a project in our humble home town. We really like seeing This Old House tackle a smaller scale project. I realize big houses and lots of "ooh aah" may attract different kinds of viewers. However seeing a smaller scale project in one of our neighborhoods really resonates with us. Can't want to see the next episode! Will you come back and do another D.C. home? Please!

Kevin O'Connor: Thanks for your encouragement. I wish I knew you guys were getting together to watch the show -- I would have invited myself over!

It was a ton of fun working in Washington. I'm surprised it took us all this time to get there, but with the fun we had and the people we met, I also hope we come back again soon. And when I do, I'll look for that invite.

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Arlington, Va.: Hey Kevin. Are you or anyone from This Old House going to be in the D.C.-area for any appearances or events coming up?

Kevin O'Connor: I'm not sure. I don't have any personally planned, but we're on the road quite a bit and often times our travel plans are listed on the Web site thisoldhouse.com and sometimes in our magazine.

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Stanardsville, Va.: Hi,I want to salvage good ceramic tile from interior floors of my house. Can I use the tile on an outside concrete patio attached to my house? If so, how should I go about installing it?Thanks.

Kevin O'Connor: Hard for me to say for two reasons. I can't see your tile or your house and don't forget I'm the host, not an expert, so I defer that question to either Tom or Joe Ferrante, our tiling contractor.

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Bermuda: I'm so glad to see that there is another project for low to middle income persons on This Old House.

I love the show and used to watch it religiously, but I feel that it has gone way too high end. It is nice to see these huge, beautiful and unique homes with cutting edge technology, etc. once and a while, but how many Americans can really afford these types of renovations?

I know that this has been part of the show, for a long time but why? And do you think its getting worse as more and more Americans want McMansions and more space than they could ever use. I'd much rather watch your show when it involves people with more realistic incomes as opposed to projects for million dollar homes.

Kevin O'Connor: Let's not forget about Ask This Old House. For four years we have been crisscrossing the country, ringing door bells and helping regular home owners with very modest projects -- from pruning shrubs to fixing faucets to building stone walls. It's a deliberate counterpoint to our larger projects on This Old House, but it's the same trusted craftsman and the same great advice from the guys so many people have loved and respected for the last 26 years. Now you can have it both ways. The great beginning to end renovations that still millions of people love to watch and the very modest, but informative, how-to lessons that we offer on Ask This Old House. These days we're working twice as hard for you guys.

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Bowie, Md.: When I watch your show, all of the guys, Tom, Rich, Norm, and Roger never skimp on details or materials. What percentage of the contractors out there do you think have the high standards that you guys have?

Kevin O'Connor: Our guys standards are exceptionally high and by definition I think that puts them in the top 10 percent if not in the top 1 percent of craftsman in the field. It's impossible to say for sure what other contractors are doing, but I can tell you without a doubt, our guys never skimp, and I think that's why they've earned the respect of so many people.

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Massachussetts: How's it like with Norm "Nahm"? Is he a real salty New England character ?

Kevin O'Connor: Norm, like all the guys, are in person exactly like they come across on camera. There's no acting, there's no showmanship. Can't you tell?! These guys are the real deal and while Norm is certainly a New England yankee I wouldn't call him salty ... Maybe a little dry:-).

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Watertown, Mass.: Kevin: Have always loved the show, love "Ask TOH,", love the magazine, etc. Every month I translate what I see into some project in my house. But let me ask you: why do you guys focus on the highest-end stuff available in your renovations? It seems to me it's all huge whirlpool baths, the most expensive paving stones, custom cabinets, etc. I'm about to tear out my kitchen, but I gotta tell you I can only afford IKEA cabinets. Am I making a mistake? Keep up the good work.

Kevin O'Connor: Thanks for the nice comments from a fellow Massachussetts-er. Keep in mind that in almost every case we are working for the home owner and decisions about design and amenities, etc., are theirs. And for a lot of people it's a dream come true the day This Old House tells you they're going to work on your house. As such, I think people respond accordingly. They dream big. But again, let's not forget about Ask This Old House or the Washington, D.C., project at 80 dollars a square foot or the Concord, Mass., project that was only about a thousand square feet.

With regard to your cabinets, I don't think you're making a mistake if you're living within your budget. That's the reality and those are the decisions we all have to make every year. Pick and choose from the show the lessons that work best for you. There are lots of things you can learn from a 40,000 dollar kitchen renovation that are applicable to a 5,000 dollar or 10,000 dollar kitchen renovation. You don't need to be detracted by whirlpools. There's plenty of rich content for everybody in my opinion. I bought my cabinets at Home Depot and they look great. We're thrilled.

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Kevin O'Connor: Thanks to everybody for your questions and for your support of the show. Just like you I'm a huge fan and it's an incredible privilege to be working with these guys. And for you folks in D.C., thanks for your hospitality while we were down there. And keep watching.

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