This Old House

Norm arrives and recaps progress on mudroom and kitchen, and finds tile contractor Mark Ferrante installing a porcelain plank floor tile that is made to look like wood. He's using it on both the treads and risers of the stairs to the garage. Master electrician Allen Gallant shows Kevin how to properly abandon an old electrical box, and how to fish wires to a new one. Then, in the adjacent great room, Kevin shows how to patch in the huge holes where the old recessed lights were: rigid insulation, strapping, wallboard and plaster. In the backyard, painting contractor Mauro Henrique shows Norm a smart and efficient way to paint shutters. With a blank slate in the basement, Richard shows Kevin the thinking that goes into the logical layout of a mechanical room. Tom shows Kevin how he's turning an arched doorway into one that's squared off to match the rest of the openings on the first floor.