iHome News: Dorchester Triple-Decker Reveal: All in it Together

This article appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. Carol Wideman felt overwhelmed as she walked past the neatly refinished concrete steps and the new fence. It had been nearly two years since the fateful July Fourth night in 2019 when a stray firework that ignited her neighbor’s house caused her home in Dorchester, MA, to catch fire. Carol wondered for many months whether the home she had lived in for four decades, where her children were raised and many memories were made, would ever be habitable again. She recalls, “Before This Old House came into being, I wasn’t sure we’d be able have the house put back together.” Today, the 1905 triple-decker is transformed. Carol says that the house has a lot of historical significance. It’s been a fixture of our family and community for a long time. I’m so happy it will be here for another hundred years or more.”

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, before and after exterior — **Before:** After the 2019 fire, the house was uninhabitable. | **After:** A blue-and-gray paint palette, accented with red, reflects the house’s Colonial Revival-era origins. *Siding contractor: Diogenes “G” Porto,* *US Siding & Roofingn*

The project, part of This Old House’s 42nd television season, was a homecoming of sorts for the show as well: The inaugural project house, renovated in 1979, is just up the road. “It was a rush to remember every time I drove past that old Victorian corner,” said heating and plumbing expert Richard Trethewey. He says that the area was suffering from urban blight and discriminatory housing practices. “Our work back then helped transform the neighborhood.” “There was a similar goal this time around, not only to get Carol back in her house but also to do our part to keep the community strong and vibrant for years to come.”

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, exterior rear porches and stairs — **Left:** The rear porches were badly damaged in the fire, which caught on the side of the house, shown here. The team replaced the floor joists that were not adequate with 2x8s. Ground-level storage is available for outdoor furniture and garden equipment. | **Right:** The rebuilt back staircase descends onto a new brick patio, laid in a herringbone pattern to add to its charm. The retaining wall creates a level patio surface and allows guests to rest their plates on the patio. *Retaining wall system:* *Unilock; Patio wall delivery:* *Landscape Depot; Patio pavers:* *Pine Hall Brick; Lawn equipment:* *Kubota; Landscape plants:* *Wagon Wheel Nursery*

A happy ending was hardly guaranteed when TOH home builder Charlie Silva first showed up on the scene. The building was destroyed by smoke and fire and water that was used to extinguish them, making it uninhabitable. Carol and Willie were forced to move into nearby rental properties. Due to the hardships caused by the pandemic (from labor shortages and product delays) the original contractor had pulled out of the project. Carol’s budget was further impacted by the insurance claims process. One, the insurance company demanded that the house be fully code-compliant, but they did not pay the entire cost. This left Carol with little money for fixtures and appliances. Charlie’s inspection also revealed asbestos in the ductwork. It was also necessary to address the house’s old wood floors and paint-encrusted trim.

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, 2nd floor back porch — Gray-stained decking and blue-painted railings coordinate with replacement vinyl siding in a silvery gray. *Siding:* *CertainTeed; Exterior paint:* *Benjamin Moore*

At least the crew didn’t have to worry about knocking down walls or moving plumbing and electrical lines, since the building’s basic layout would stay the same and much of the demo–such as opening up the third-floor ceiling and walls–had already been done. They were able to get to work on restoring the triple-decker, as well as overhauling all its major systems. This included replacing all hot and cold water supply lines. TOH Master electrician Heath Eastman ended with rewiring the entire house. Much of the electrical was damaged by fire and water and remnants of an old knob-and tube were discovered. Richard collaborated closely with James Bouchard, an HVAC contractor, to install a high-efficiency hydroair system that delivers hot water, heat and air conditioning to each floor of the house. Ronnette Taylor, a local plumber who is also a fire protection specialist, installed the code-mandated sprinkler system. The roof was insulated with spray foam and mineral wool.

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, 1st floor plans

First floor:

Willie’s apartment

Though their exterior features vary, triple-deckers almost always have the same floor plan: a center hallway with a foyer and living room out front, middle bedrooms, and the bathroom, kitchen, and dining room in the back, along with an additional bedroom, which historically would have been rented out. Willie shares her ground-level apartment with her grown nephew. It retains the original porches at its front and back.

Floor plans: Ian Worpole

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, entry room, homeowner Carol and sister Willie Wideman — **Left:** Just inside the original oval-light front door is the door to Willie’s apartment; a bank of windows looks onto the front porch. *Windows:* *Marvin; Door moldings:* *Anderson & McQuaid Co.; Interior staging:* *Instant Interiors LLC* | **Right:** Carol (right) and Willie Wideman take a seat in the apartment’s light-filled window bay.

Normally these behind-the-wall upgrades happen first, then the kitchen, baths, and finish materials go in. The timeline for this project was very tight. Carol and her family were only eligible to receive rent for a short time. This meant that the work needed to be done within two years. From the beginning, tilers, carpenters, and painters were competing for positions alongside electricians and plumbers. “I’ve never had to share a job site with so many other trades,” says TOH painter Mauro Henrique–a situation made more difficult with Covid-19 safety protocols in place, which mandated social distancing.

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, 1st floor living room — In the living room, a trio of original windows showcase the distinctive casings.

Still, the TOH team knew what a deserving homeowner they had in Carol, who has given much to her community over the years. “Everybody fell in love Carol and Willie,” states TOH landscape contractor Jenn Nawada. They are two of the most genuine people you will ever meet. The budget might have been small, but when the homeowner is so kind and respectful of the process, that goes a long way.”

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, 1st floor kitchen and bathroom — **Left:** The kitchen cabinets and countertops, installed just two years before the fire, were able to be salvaged. *Cabinet specialist: Samantha Elfland,* *Metropolitan Cabinets & Countertops; Countertops:* *Boston Granite Exchange; Appliance expert: Jay Ponte,* *Doyon’s Appliance; Appliances:* GE; Sinks, faucets: *Kohler* | **Right:** A large window with frosted glass allows filtered light into the rebuilt bath. *Bathroom design: Amy Lynn Allard,* *Amy Lynn Interiors; Bath vanity, medicine cabinet:* *Kohler; Toilet and shower:* *Sterling Plumbing; Bath vent fan:* *Panasonic*

As the job progressed, nearly every surface in the home ended up being touched. “Many of our plaster walls were crumbling,” Mauro says. This was before electricians began to poke holes for new wiring. They also spent many weeks repairing the stacked porches that are a distinctive feature of the triple-decker’s façade. The fluted columns and hand-turned balusters needed to be removed, puttied and painted. The soft, mid-blue finish coat was chosen to match the new silver-gray vinyl siding.

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, 1st floor dining room — As on the other floors, the dining room’s period details include a built-in hutch, a wraparound plate rail, and a centerpiece stained-glass window–all now restored and refreshed.

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, 2nd floor plans

Second floor:

Carol’s apartment

Before the fire, Carol lived on the top floor with her sister Dorothy, who has since moved away. She decided to move into the middle apartment after the renovation, partly because there are fewer steps to climb. Only one floor plan change was made: a laundry area was added in a hallway closet. The other units are served by a washer/dryer located in the basement. For relatives and friends who visit, the spare bedroom will be used as a guest room.

Floor plans: Ian Worpole

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, 2nd floor living room — Carol chose a neutral palette for her apartment, with creamy-white walls. Natural light floods the living room through its bank of south-facing windows. *Interior paint:* *Benjamin Moore*

Through TOH’s partnership with YouthBuild Boston, a nonprofit that helps young people learn job skills in construction and other high-demand fields, a pair of local apprentices arrived to pitch in: Yeren “Jay” Rivera Cruz and Bobbi Jones. They learned how to repair hardwood floors with general Contractor Tom Silva. He also repaired the holes left by the old radiators. They also assisted Charlie and Tom in installing new fire doors at the back of all three floors. Jay describes the six-week-long experience as “incredible to be part of a real job site and to see how everyone must work together.” I learned how to use a paint gun and patch holes in walls. Every day there was something new.”

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, 2nd floor bedroom — The window trim throughout much of the second-floor apartment, including in Carol’s bedroom, is stained a deep walnut, rather than painted.

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, 2nd floor kitchen — The existing kitchen was destroyed in the fire, so it was rebuilt from scratch, with new honey-colored wood cabinets, granite countertops, wood floors, and stainless-steel appliances.

With improvements to the front of the house nearly complete, Jenn brought in fence installer Dan McLaughlin to replace the old chain-link with simple black aluminum panels–an affordable, rust-free alternative to the wrought iron that might have originally graced the street. The fence is a simple addition to the foundation, with lilacs as well as Japanese hollies.

In the backyard, a Norway maple that had been severely damaged by the fire came down, creating a roughly 350-square-foot blank slate. Jenn decided that the space was ideal for a patio even though it was not part of the original project scope. She says, “We wanted an outdoor dining area and entertainment area for Carol and her families.” “Her backyard has views of downtown Boston in the distance, so we tried to capture the historic feeling of the city by using natural brick pavers, which have an old-world charm.”

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, 2nd floor dining room — The built-in hutch in Carol’s dining room still had its leaded-glass doors, though several panes had to be replaced by Cathryn Blackwell, an antique-glass expert.

Since the budget and schedule were both depleted to zero at this point in the project, Jenn corralled donations, including a modular concrete-block retaining-wall system from Unilock and traditional clay-brick patio pavers from Pine Hall Brick. The TOH team pitched in to help Jenn, Nathan Gilbert, Mark McCullough, landscaper Fred Pendleton and their masonry crew lay pavers. Of course, Carol and Willie were on hand at every step, assisting Jenn in choosing shrubs that promise three seasons of interest–spring-blooming fothergilla, hydrangeas that flower all summer, and viburnum, whose deep-green foliage turns cinnabar red in fall. Carol and Willie will use the raised vegetable beds to grow the tomatoes and collard greens they grew up in Alabama farm country.

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, 2nd floor bathroom and laundry room — **Left:** Carol chose large-format subway tiles in a stacked pattern and a mosaic tile accent for her bathroom. *Tile installer: Mark Ferrante,* *Ferrante Tile* | **Right:** A hallway closet was converted into a laundry room. It was located right next to Carol’s bath, making it easy for plumbers to connect to the existing water and sewer lines. *Laundry baskets:* *Steele Canvas*

From an area scorched by fire, a new place to grow food and gather with family and friends has emerged. Charlie is happy to make that transformation a reality. He asked his long-standing subs and suppliers for help.

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, 2nd floor hallway and pantry door — **Left:** The center hallway leading to the kitchen at the back of the house shows off the refurbished pine floors, as well as the dark-stained moldings and trim that run throughout much of the apartment. | **Right:** A door casing with fluted sides frames the entry into the pantry, which has additional granite-topped cabinetry.

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, 3rd floor plans

Third floor:

Tenant-ready

The top floor, which served as Carol’s apartment before the fire, will become a rental unit, which will most likely be occupied by a family member or close friend. The living room was remodeled with French doors and a more open layout. Natural light can filter through the bedroom to the adjoining bedroom which could also be used as a home office. The rear porch offers the best views of downtown Boston, about 10 miles to the north.

Floor plans: Ian Worpole

Fall 2021, Dorchester reveal, 3rd floor living room — The top-floor living room shows off the original pine floors, which now gleam after being patched and refinished. Original to the house is the fireplace mantel. The firebox was long ago removed. *Interior staging:* *Instant Interiors LLC; Electrical products:* *Schneider Electric; HVAC:* *The Unico System; Tankless water heaters:* *Rinnai; Insulation:* *Rockwool*

“When we first met Carol, she was behind the eight ball like nothing I’d ever seen before,” he says. “The only thing that mattered was to get her and her family back in their home,” he says. Charlie said, “I have a friend for the rest of my life.” “We already have an invitation for a home-cooked meal.”