How did you become the host of This Old House?

Good luck.  After my wife and I bought our first house and started a complete gut renovation, we wrote to Ask This Old House for advice. It seemed like a good idea since I grew up as a huge fan of the show and they were the experts.  Remarkably, they read the letter, one of nearly 100,000 they get every year, and came to our house to film a short six minute segment for the show.  Even more remarkably, they offered me the host job about a month later ó completely out of the blue and a complete surprise for me since I was in corporate banking at the time and had never been on TV before.

What prepared you the most for your current position as host of This Old House?

Working with my hands and building things as a kid and a natural curiosity about houses.  I have a passion for working with my hands and for fixing up old houses.  It's why I watched This Old House religiously as a kid.  And even though nobody relies on my expertise it's that passion and bit of experience that helps me be a good host, good at asking questions, and good at understanding what most homeowners know and don't know.

What is the most challenging part about your job?

Staying focused.  The more I learn the more I want to learn. The complexities of heating systems and the way vapor travels through a house interests me more these days than how to keep your basement dry.  But a dry basement is more important to most home owners and it's my job to deliver useful and relevant information to our viewers.  I need to stay focused on delivering good content to the audience.

What most rewarding part about your job?

Working with the guys.  Tom, Roger, Richard, and Norm are the most down to earth, generous and smart craftspeople I know. They are talented and gracious to a fault and I love being on the job site with them, learning from them with a tool belt on and with dirt on my shoes.

Do you ever feel pressure about filling the big shoes of former hosts Bob Villa and Steve Thomas?

I did at first. I was a big fan of the show and those were familiar faces to me.  But over time and with the generous support of the guys you find your voice and put your mark on the show.  I was fortunate that I hit it off with the other four guys early and that they took me under their wings right away.  That made all the difference and I think they like having some new meat to kick around.

What style do you bring to This Old House that is different from your predecessors?

A bit of humility maybe.  I'm careful to understand that I am not the expert and even as I get smarter it's not my role to play the expert.  I keep very talented and intelligent company, and as a correspondent it's my job to get good information from people who know their stuff.  Even if I understand something inside and out it's better to get that information from a professional who knows it even better than me. 

Regarding the personalities on the team of This Old House, who is the biggest clown on the set? Is there a fuddy duddy, a drill-bit diva, a klutz or a know-it-all?

Richard is the funniest.  He's like the smart, funny guy in high school who always made you laugh. Tom is the practical joker, always looking to wreak havoc on your day by hiding your tools or moving your car when you're not looking.  Roger, despite his hulking mass, is a big teddy bear and all heart. And Norm is just what you'd expect, a thinker and deliberate in everything he does.  It's a nice diverse group that has one thing in common ó picking on me.

What type of home do you live in?

A Queen Anne Victorian built in 1894. It has all the distinctive Queen Anne Features ó lots of detail, a wraparound porch with fret work, interesting roof massing, asymmetrical shapes, bumps and curves, and lots of glorious old windows.  My wife and I have been renovating it for five years and are almost finished.

In your own home, what home improvement projects are you most confident tackling?

We (my wife and I) have done just about everything from the demolition to reframing rooms, laying floors, hanging cabinets, milling casings, running electric and the rough plumbing, hanging doors, making built-in dressers, painting and landscaping and lots more.

In your own home, what home improvement projects are you most confident tackling?

We (my wife and I) have done just about everything from the demolition to reframing rooms, laying floors, hanging cabinets, milling casings, running electric and the rough plumbing, hanging doors, making built-in dressers, painting and landscaping and lots more.

Which ones do you leave for the experts?

I let the pros connect the electrical circuits and run the complicated plumbing.  I let them hang the board and plaster – they can do that much better and faster than I ever could – and I let them paint the exterior of the house.  If I had done that job myself it would have cost me my entire summer and maybe my marriage.

How is your home renovation coming along?  What has been the biggest challenge of renovating your own home?

We are officially done, although anyone who renovates an old home knows you are never really finished.  I have a long punch list but for the first time in five years I have no major projects hanging over my head.

The biggest challenge of the project was turning an unfinished attic into three bedrooms and a bathroom.  Other than the two dormers and plaster work I did 90% of the rest myself and it was endless.  Working by yourself in a hot or cold attic for a year on nights and weekends with a newborn in the house is a test of one's endurance.  There were many nights when I second guessed my decision to embark on this adventure.  Today, however, I look back on it with a great sense of pride.

What aspect of your renovation are you most proud of?

It's not one project or room that I'm most proud of but rather the fact that we took our time and did it right, even when we were tempted to cut corners or even give up.  Now that it's finished we appreciate how much we love our house and how well it suits our lifestyle.  The most frequent piece of advice I offer when asked is to take your time and do it right ó the first time.

Even the most minor home improvements can put the screws to a marriage.  Do you have any tips for couples embarking on a major home renovation?

Take your time and do it right ó the first time.  Expect projects to take twice as long and cost twice as much as you think.  This way you've either set your expectations properly or you will be pleasantly surprised with the results.

What are some of the most common challenges that homeowners face when it comes to remodeling or tackling projects?

It's difficult for people to estimate time and costs.  It's difficult for the pros as well.  Renovations are full of uncertainties and unknowns so proceed with caution if you plan to do it yourself or hire the best contractor you can afford if you plan to use a pro.  You wouldn't go with the low-cost bidder for heart surgery so why would you go that route when tearing apart the place you live in?

What are the most important factors homeowners should consider when taking on projects?

This is a bit repetitive, see above.

You have probably seen some humorous home improvement blunders from the "all thumbs remuddlers."  Are there any that stand out as the best of the worst?

Lots.  The guy who framed his basement stairs incorrectly so he bumps his head every time he uses them; the radon system in the basement hooked up to light switch at the top of stairs so it gets turned off every night instead of running continuously.  They didn't figure that one out until after they installed a second system.  The homeowner who was building a huge Jacuzzi on the tiny roof of his back porch, never figuring on the weight of the water.  And many more.

Despite these blunders I have respect for anybody who tries to figure it out for themselves and for anybody who actually gives it a try.  When the apocalypse comes you're going to want a few “remuddlers” in your foxhole.

What are the new trends you are seeing in remodeling?

The “green” thing is everywhere.  It is officially a real movement and no longer just a fad.  I think this is driven by our desire to conserve natural resources and by an awareness that our houses consume more of these resources than anything else most of us possess.  I also think it's driven by a desire to live in healthy space, which is a natural evolution once we graduate from thinking of our houses as merely shelter.

What are some of the best products, ideas, solutions or services the industry has to offer?

There are so many but consider on-demand hot water heaters that burn fuel only when you need it not all day long.  Consider the multitude of devices that save electricity from compact fluorescent light bulbs to motion sensitive light switches that know when you've left the room and turns off your lights.  Think not just about energy efficient appliances but ones that aren't always on with sensors or clocks, or think about  a power cord that allows you really turn off your TV, DVD, DVR, CD player and other gadgets rather than leaving them in stand-by mode and consuming electricity for no reason.

There are endless products that help us live in efficient and healthy homes.  I like the ones that force me to change my attitude and increase my awareness about how I live.

Green living is becoming more and more mainstream these days.  Can you offer a few eco-friendly tips for homeowners to consider when building or remodeling?

First and foremost think energy efficiency, and by consequence you'll probably end up with a home that is more comfortable and healthier as well.

Today's home is no longer a room filled box with roof on top but rather a complicated machine that breathes, filters, and consumes while delivering comfort, information and security as well as shelter.  Making all these functions eco-friendly is complicated and often requires expert help at best and a very savory homeowner at least. 

So the biggest tip is get professional help to build or remodel your house and get smart yourself because a good project requires homeowner involvement and it requires an understanding of how the house will be lived in and how it will be asked to perform.

How has the emphasis on Green Building and Design changed the way This Old House approaches a project?

We've always renovated in a “green” and sustainable fashion.  There is nothing greener than reusing an old house as we do in each of our renovations.  That said the new found awareness of “green” has caused us to call out practices and materials that are efficient and healthy so our audience has a better chance of finding them on the store shelves or specifying them from their contractor.

It has also caused us to profile leaders in the “green” movement.  Last year we went to Austin, Texas, which has the oldest and most comprehensive green building program in the country, and  during that project we received their highest award for a green remodel.

This year we are prefabricating a super energy-efficient home that will reduce waste and produce a healthy home while showcasing a building style ó prefabrication ó that may become a hallmark of the green building movement.

Do you have a favorite tool or a building material?

Wood is my favorite material to work with and my favorite tool is a Lie-Nielsen block plane, made out of brass and steel and perfectly machined to feel sturdy and comfortable in my hand.  It gives me great pleasure to peel razor thin pieces of wood away from some beautiful stock.
http://www.lie-nielsen.com/

How has the housing slump and economic uncertainty affected the home improvement field? Are you seeing any changes in the types of projects people are focusing on with the current economic situation?

We are in a very real and deep housing slump and it's hurting homeowners for sure but it's also hurting people in the trades.  When you stop building new homes and discretionary income causes a slowdown in remodeling, trades people lose work and some lose their jobs.

As a result we're seeing less spec building, which may be a good thing on the whole, and small or completely deferred renovation projects.  I get the sense that the second home market is feeling it the worst and this is not insignificant given the size and age of the baby boomers, who are right now the biggest consumers of second homes.

What is your favorite This Old House Project to date?

Carlisle, Massachusetts.  It was three projects in one.  We renovated an old Greek Revival farm house, rebuilt the connecting structure with very modern and efficient panels, and converted a working barn into magnificent living space.

We owned the house so we pulled out all the stops and spent the entire season working on it. When we were done it was a great house, a great TV show and lots of lessons were learned.

What has been the most challenging This Old House project to date?

I think it differs for everybody on the crew but for me it was New Orleans where we renovated a small shotgun-single that was ravaged by hurricane Katrina.  It was tough seeing the devastation and hearing the heartbreaking stories related to our nation's worst housing crisis.  It was also uplifting in many ways as we told stories about individual perseverance and volunteers rebuilding communities.

It was an emotional rollercoaster ride for six months and at times I felt guilty going back to a nice hotel room or flying back to my dry home in Boston while so many people were without homes of their own.

What hobbies and interests do you enjoy when you are not working?

For the past five years it's been all work all the time renovating my house and filming the two shows.  With what little free time I do have I enjoy playing golf, even if my game is suffering terribly from neglect.  And I love doing anything with my family, especially if it's outside and at the beach.  My wife and I have a three year old.  He's a ton of fun and every minute with him is precious. 

What has the experience of hosting This Old House taught you about life in general?

You never know where life will take you.  Work hard and put yourself in a position to take advantage of whatever comes your way and then enjoy the ride.