Bob and Howard Brickman begin the installation of the old-growth pine plank flooring in a second-floor bedroom of the modern Colonial's sister house. The Eastern White pine flooring, which was supplied by Carlisle Restoration Lumber, is newly milled from select old-growth trees from New England. The boards project measure 17-inches wide, and up to 14-feet long. Brickman first lays down a 15-pound felt paper to cover the subfloor. The felt paper acts as a moisture barrier and reduces the amount of movement in the floor over time. After laying out the entire floor, Brickman marks the location of the floor joists beneath the subfloor. Using cut nails for an authentic period appearance, the floor will be face nailed. Each nail must be driven below the surface of the floor with a nail set. Once fully secured, the floor will be sanded and finished with a tung oil coating.

As the framers get started on the first floor deck, Bob highlights the features of Advantech subflooring. The material, fabricated with water resistant resins, is ideal for Vermont as it will not delaminate or swell under wet and snowy conditions. 4' x 8' sheets of the tongued and grooved material are placed with the long dimension running perpendicular to the floor joists. Advantech panels have no knotholes, are made from renewable forest resources, and result in a stronger and quieter floor system.

Bob visits the Willamette I-joist Mill in Woodburn, Oregon to watch the process of manufacturing these engineered joists. Bob then returns to the Habitat for Humanity house in Yonkers, New York where the crew assembles the second floor walls with SIPS.