Home Again with Bob Vila

Plans are under way to build a house in one week with a team of Habitat for Humanity volunteers in Yonkers, NY. Included: a tour of Yonkers and of a Habitat community in Phoenix.

The walls go up at the Roxbury project, and Bob Vila tours a manufacturing facility where special structural insulated panels (SIPs) are made. Also: a look at a money-saving system for recapturing heat from drain water.

Roof framing begins and the giant ridge beam is raised. Also: a tour of the Oregon plant where I-joists are made.

Exterior trim work continues, while overlaid plywood is installed on the porch ceiling by a team of volunteers and celebrities. Included: tour of a plywood mill in Washington.

Roofing work continues with the installation of photovoltaic shingles that convert solar energy into electricity. Also: a tour of the Global Solar Plant in Arizona.

A special siding goes up, and drywall with pre-finished corners is installed in record time.

The back porch is built with help from some high school tech students, and the trim gets finishing touches.

Bob Vila explains door installation, while indoor and outdoor painting gets underway at the project house.

An entertainment center, flooring, and loft shelves are installed.

Cabinets and counter tops are installed in the kitchen, and money saving energy efficient appliances are discussed.

Carpet is laid in a bedroom and high efficiency fixtures are installed in the bathroom.

Guest B. Smith applies a colorful wainscot pattern along the wall of the children's bedroom.

Bob Vila and crew take on restoring the Virginia governor's Federal style mansion, built in 1813.

Floor restoration is underway with an acrylic injection technique.

Preparations are made to pour a concrete floor in the basement, utilizing an elaborate concrete pump system.

Paint is removed from the masonry garden walls and windows are taken down for restoration.

Framing and trim work are underway in the basement, which is being transformed to include a state-of-the-art kitchen, wine cellar, and laundry.

A dumbwaiter is installed to connect the basement kitchen with the first-floor dining room.

Baseboard is installed on the second floor to accommodate updated HVAC and electrical systems.

Preparations are made in the basement kitchen for state-of-the-art foodservice equipment and appliances.

The mantelpieces are preserved in order to restore historic features to the mansion.

Landscaping, masonry work, and painting are done on the mansion's exterior.

A small kitchen in the governor's private quarters is finished and carpet is put down in the bedrooms.

The mansion gets elaborate interior decor.