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7 Shocking Secrets And Historic Triumphs Of The This Old House Westford MA Renovation

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The Westford Historic Renovation project, featured on Season 46 of the iconic PBS series This Old House, is far more than a typical home makeover; it is a story of community, resilience, and architectural resurrection. As of December 25, 2025, this project stands as one of the show's most ambitious and emotionally charged undertakings, transforming a derelict, fire-damaged landmark back into a magnificent family residence.

The house, a grand 1893 Colonial Revival in the heart of Westford, Massachusetts, was nearly lost to a devastating three-alarm fire years prior. The Grondine family—homeowners Diane and Charles, along with their children Emily and Ethan—partnered with the trusted *This Old House* crew to tackle the monumental task of restoring the historic integrity while integrating cutting-edge building science and modern amenities.

The Phoenix Project: History and Homeowners of 63 Main Street

The historic property at 63 Main Street in Westford, often referred to as the Donald Cameron house, holds a significant place in the town's history. Its original grandeur was a testament to the late 19th-century architecture of the area.

  • Original Construction: 1893
  • Architects: Davi and Rayne of the Hildreth Building in Lowell
  • Architectural Style: Colonial Revival
  • Structure Size: Two and one-half story, 3,466 square feet, 5 beds, 2.5 baths
  • The Fire: The house suffered a severe three-alarm fire in 2016, which left the property derelict and uninhabited for a period.
  • Homeowners: Diane and Charles Grondine (purchased the property in 2021).
  • Family Goal: To lovingly restore the historic home after it was purchased from the town of Westford.

The sheer scope of the damage meant that the project, which kicked off in Season 46, Episode 17 ("Welcome to Westford"), was a full-scale historic rehabilitation. General Contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and HVAC expert Richard Trethewey, landscape designer Jenn Nawada, and host Kevin O'Connor joined builder Charlie Silva to bring the vision to life, focusing on every detail from the foundation to the roof rafters.

3 Major Renovation Challenges and Cutting-Edge Solutions

Restoring a fire-damaged, 130-year-old Colonial Revival home presented a unique blend of historical preservation demands and modern building-science challenges. The *This Old House* team had to navigate strict historical guidelines while ensuring the home would be energy-efficient and structurally sound for the next century.

1. The Foundation and Structural Integrity

The first challenge was the foundation. The original structure utilized impressive, locally quarried granite slabs. The team, including homeowner Charles Grondine, worked to stabilize and repair this historic base. The project also required significant structural work, with Charlie and Tom Silva installing a new hip beam and roof rafters to match the original roofline, a critical step in preserving the home’s iconic silhouette.

2. Exterior Walls and Modern Siding

The exterior required both period-appropriate aesthetics and long-term durability. The aging, fire-damaged yellow clapboard was replaced with Everlast Advanced Composite Siding. This choice was a major update, giving the house the look of traditional wood siding but with superior resistance to Westford's harsh weather, rot, and pests. This blend of historic appearance and modern, low-maintenance material is a hallmark of the project's approach.

3. Insulation and Building Science

Perhaps the most complex challenge involved insulating the old walls. Building-science expert Joe Lstiburek of Building Science Corporation, who operates from an office in Westford, was brought in to consult. He discussed with Kevin O'Connor the critical importance of managing energy flow and moisture when insulating exterior walls in historic homes. Without careful consideration, improper insulation can actually trap moisture, leading to damage to the siding and structure. Lstiburek’s expertise ensured the Grondine home would be both warm and dry, a modern marvel of historic energy efficiency.

Key Elements and LSI Keywords Driving the Restoration

The Westford Historic Renovation is a masterclass in combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary building techniques. The sheer volume of work and the specialized nature of the tasks introduced a host of relevant entities and LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords that define the project's scope and depth.

The project was documented across multiple episodes of Season 46, with titles giving clues to the work completed: "Abating the Old, Seeding the New" and "Septic, Stairs and Subs".

  • Site Work: This included the installation and upgrade of a new septic system, a critical infrastructure component for the old property.
  • Interior Focus: The renovation required intricate work on the interior, including the construction of a new set of stairs.
  • Specialized Trades: Local stone worker Ben Doherty was featured slicing through stone to create a new garage opening, showcasing the level of specialized craftsmanship required.
  • Structural Materials: The use of TimberSteel elements was noted in the restoration, demonstrating a modern approach to reinforcing the historic wood frame.
  • Preservation Ethos: The entire effort was guided by the principle of historic preservation and architectural resurrection, aiming to bring back the original grandeur of the 1893 Colonial Revival.

The collaboration between the Grondine family, the town of Westford, and the *This Old House* team resulted in the successful transformation of a neglected, fire-scarred structure into a vibrant, functional, and historically accurate home. The Westford Historic Renovation serves as a powerful testament to the enduring value of saving and modernizing our architectural past.

7 Shocking Secrets and Historic Triumphs of the This Old House Westford MA Renovation
this old house westford ma
this old house westford ma

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