Bob and developer John Druley walk through a home under construction by Qualker Homes in Falmouth, Massachusetts. This standard design is used for both the market-priced and affordable homes. The overall dimensions of the house are 26 feet by 36 feet. A center-door entry leads to 13-by-18-foot living room on one side and a 16-by-13-foot master bedroom on the other. The back of the house has a 13-by-18-foot kitchen with a back door and a window onto the backyard, a half-bath and laundry, and an entry to the master bedroom with full bath, tub-shower combination, double-bowl sink, and linen closet. The upstairs has two bedrooms with operable skylights and a full bath. This three-bedroom, two-and-one-half bath Cape will be lotteried as an affordable home to eligible families who make between $29,000 and $65,000 per year, and who qualify for a traditional mortgage. The home is stick-built with traditional 2X4 framing, oriented strand board (OSB) exterior sheathing, low-e glass, tilt-in vinyl windows, and gas heat. Bob and Druley point out that an affordable home must be affordable to operate and heat as well as being affordable to purchase.

Bob discusses the Habitat for Humanity mission and projects. A nonprofit, nondenominational housing organization, Habitat has built more than 125,000 houses in more than 87 countries, including some 45,000 houses across the United States since 1976.

Bob takes a tour of some of the grand old houses still left from Roxbury's heyday at the turn of the century. After a period of serious urban blight, this once-grand Boston community is making a dramatic comeback.

Bob recaps the work done so far in the nursery project at the home in Melrose, Massachusetts. The house has already been insulated for the tough New England winters and will now be insulated for sound control. Bob talks with Arline Bronzaft, an Environmental Psychologist with a PhD in child development, about the importance of raising a baby in a quiet environment. Bronzaft stresses the importance of a good night's sleep for an infant. With this in mind, Bob reviews a discussion he had with Harry Alter of Owens Corning and the installation of their sound attenuation product, QuietZone. Alter reviews the necessary safety equipment for installing the Owens Corning QuietZone batt insulation and demonstrates how it is installed. Alter shows how to mark outlets and cut the insulation to accomodate them. Alter also shows how the insulation can be split apart to surround existing wiring. Bob talks to Alter about making sure all the stud cavities are filled and to be on the lookout for any gaps or cracks. Alter reviews with Bob the differences between acoustic and thermal insulation. This product is a lighter weight density insulation designed specifically for accoustic insulation. A special caulk is applied in gaps and cracks that cannot be filled by the QuietZone insulation, particularly where the walls meet the floor, ceiling, and door, and around all outlets.

Bob talks with Nick Beasley, owner of a home in Melrose, Massachusetts. Beasley reviews how he and his family bought a two-family home in Melrose. The house was originally built as a single-family home but was later converted. Beasley and his wife are expecting a baby in six weeks. Maggie Beasley shows Bob the basic layout of the house and the improvements they have made. Maggie Beasley reviews the colors of the living room, dining room, and kitchen that were selected with the help of a colorist. She shows Bob the kitchen and expresses the hope that they will be able to upgrade their kitchen safety in advance of the baby's arrival. On the third floor, there is a nursery, two bedrooms, and a small room the Beasleys will convert to a bathroom. A larger master bath will be created during this project, with the smaller bath moving to the hall. Nick Beasley reviews the demolition of the existing small bath and the new partition wall that has been built to frame out the new space.

Bob and Ryley put up the pine interior paneling in the living room. Ryley shows a few techniquest to ensure the boards are applied plum.