Bob visits Cape Cod with Dick Wills, who is carrying on the work of his father, architect Royal Barry Wills. Beginning in the 1920s, the senior Wills popularized traditional New England-style architecture. According to his son, he was so impressed by the scale and proportion that our forefathers maintained that he dedicated his considerable energies to adapting those elements for modern families. Along with the traditional Colonial, Wills also appreciated the qualities of the New England Cape, a style that is simpler and generally smaller than the Colonial. Dick Wills takes Bob on a tour around his own Cape-style home, pointing unique architectural features that highlight the flexibility of the style.

Steve Nott of Steve Nott and Son Carpentry reviews the steps involved in installing the window shutters. The old shutter has been removed as it had fallen into a state of disrepair and might use lead paint. New shutters from J&L Shutters were used as replacements. The shutters are made from Permex, a synthetic material, and are pre-painted with a ten-year warranty. The shutters also have metal reinforcement through the stiles and historic-style hinges. The hinge section has already been attached to the shutter and the hinge pin is attached to the window casing. The shutter is a working shutter and can be closed to protect windows during a storm. Measurements for the screw holes have already been made. A pilot hole is then drilled into the wood. Pilot holes are important because drilling a screw into the wood without one can weaken the wood. Once the pins are in, the shutter is put into place. The shutter dog is then installed at the bottom to hold the shutter in an open position. First, the shutter dog is put in position and marked on the wall. A hole is then drilled into the stucco using a masonry bit. After the stucco is penetrated, the bit is switched to a standard bit to drill into the sheathing underneath. The use of the old-style hinges retains the historic appeal of the home. These shutters are resistant to rot and will last a long time.

The last stop on Bob Vila�s Berkshire Hills cottage tours is the largest shingle style home in America, the Elm Court mansion built by William Douglas Sloane and Emily Vanderbilt Sloane in 1886. Elm Court will play host to the final three Bob Vila�s Home Again episodes this season. Over the years it has had some adaptive reuse but no outright conversions and remains a family home. It began as a 17,000 square foot home but is now 70,000 square feet in size. The house has been occupied by as many as 70 family members. Its current owner, the great-great grandson of the original owners, has started a painstaking restoration of the home to make it both livable and useful for the community.