In the recent past many of New York's historical landmarks have had facelifts to keep them both structurally and aesthetically sound as well as true to their roots. One of the architectural firms behind several of these projects, the New York and Washington, D.C.-based Beyer, Blinder, Belle Architects & Planners, has joined the Home Again crew to lend their expertise in the architectural restoration. Bob meets with Jack Beyer in front of the old Pepper Mill to get up to speed on the exterior design plans for the rehab project. Beyer discusses some of the pitfalls with landmark buildings, including the multiple overlapping regulatory agencies which approve changes to a buildings structure, mechanics, and style. Bob discovers that the building is being converted for at least the second time. It was originally a three-floor residential building, but was later converted to commercial use. Beyer observes that while the building is in need of extensive repair it is structurally sound and stable. HE shows Bob sketches of the proposed renovations, which include two entrances, commercial space on the ground floor with a show window, and a possible added story set back from the fa�ade. Beyer is cautiously optimistic that the addition will gain Landmarks' approval since the building is a contributing landmark, not a specially designated landmark.

Walking behind the house, Bob makes a few observations about the design. He points out that the house and old barn were not exactly parallel to each other creating some issues fo the breezeway addition. Th architect chose to build the breezeway parallel with the barn, but as the roof is right onto the house, when you look at the roof overhang right on the corner of the addition it subtly increases in width in one direction. Another interesting feature of the architect's design is a 4 ft. wide and t10 ft. long "gang plank"-like balcony coming out from the second floor masterbath.

While on the third floor of the Medford house Bob looks at the Pella window installation in the gable end. The architect's original plan called for one big glass triangle but this would have involved a great deal of structural reworking, so the plan changed to installing two smaller triangular windows with 2 x 4s retained in the middle maintaining structural stability. In a flashback to the installation, carpenter Matt Alexander removed the exterior wall covering from the area and used a chalk line to mark the opeing for the new windows. next he cut away the sheathing with a reciprocating saw to create the opening, folded out the nailing flange on the custom Pella windows and nailed the flange to the sheathing. The windows are aluminum-clad, with double glazed argon-filled low-E glass.

Bob meets up with structural engineer Steve Siegel on the Medford's home third floor. The attic is right from the 1880's and clearly no longer meets code. As the homeowner intends to create a home office up there with cathedral ceilings, structural changes will be required. Steve explains that the existing structure is undersized and will need to be reinforced. The 2 x 6 rafters are pretty widely spaced at 2 feet on center with flimsy 2 x 3 collar ties. To create useable living space Steve suggests taking out the existing collars and putting in a ridge beam to support the whole load of the roof. To do this Siegel would put a piece of wood (possibly a 2 x 6) at every rafter pair and then position the ridge beam just below. However, this configuration might conflict with the architect's plan to fill the whole gable end with a big glass triangle.

Gable vents help heat escape and help keep condensation from forming in the attic during winter months.

…wooded setting with its quaint towns and covered bridges provides the perfect backdrop for building a traditional Vermont style farmhouse. Bob works with the Quechee Lakes Development Company to build a residence that hearkens back to the past yet is fitted out…