This Old House

Front Yard Transformation

Host Kevin O'Connor arrives to find pergola contractor Mark Bushway and his crew installing the new custom pergola in front of the house. Inside, general contractor Tom Silva modifies the turnouts at the base of the main staircase, which are now too large given the open floor plan. He modifies the structure, tread, riser, and scotia to be both smaller and more squared-off to better match the details in the rest of the house. Landscape contractor Roger Cook preps the beds for planting as nurseryman Peter Mezitt delivers a 12-foot tall river birch tree that was grown in a 25-gallon container instead of the ground. This allows for better root system retention and seasonal availability. With proper care - teasing out the roots and using adequate compost and water - the results will be better than using field-grown specimens. Next-door neighbor Sue Hickey provides some of her extra perennials to round out the garden, and then, in the basement, Tom installs a new click-together laminate floor over the new concrete slab.