It’s just a house. That’s what some people say when they drive past a construction site. But in a town like Westford, Massachusetts, where the dirt under your fingernails probably saw the Revolutionary War, "just a house" doesn't really exist. When the cameras for the iconic PBS show rolled into town to film This Old House Westford, it wasn't just about fixing a leaky roof or updating a kitchen. It was about a 1713 Colonial—a structure that had stood since before the United States was even a concept—getting a second lease on life.
Honestly, it’s a miracle it survived at all.
Old houses are money pits. You know it, I know it, and the homeowners, Becky and Kassie, definitely knew it. But there is something about the "Hilltop House" that pulls at you. This wasn't a standard renovation. It was a high-stakes surgical operation on a piece of New England history.
The Reality of the 1713 Colonial
Most people think "old" means the Victorian era. In Westford, 1880 is practically new construction. The house featured in This Old House Westford dates back to 1713. Think about that for a second. In 1713, Queen Anne was on the throne of Great Britain. The Boston Tea Party wouldn't happen for another sixty years. This house was built with hand-hewn timbers and sweat.
When the This Old House team, led by legends like Kevin O'Connor and Tom Silva, showed up, they found a structure that was literally leaning. Time and gravity are undefeated. The "shimming" required to level a three-hundred-year-old floor isn't just carpentry; it's practically an exorcism. You aren't just moving wood; you’re fighting three centuries of settling.
The project focused on a massive 5,200-square-foot footprint. It wasn't just a restoration; it was an expansion. They added a three-car garage and a massive modern suite, all while trying to make sure the new stuff didn't look like a shiny plastic Lego block stuck onto a piece of driftwood.
Why Westford Matters
Westford isn't just any suburb. It’s a town defined by its granite quarries and apple orchards. The "Hilltop House" sits in a spot that feels rugged. It’s the kind of place where you expect to see a ghost in a tricorne hat.
The difficulty with a project like This Old House Westford is the code. Modern building codes and 1713 aesthetics hate each other. How do you insulate a wall that’s only four inches thick without losing the original horsehair plaster? How do you run HVAC through a house where the ceiling joists are essentially tree trunks? You don't do it easily. You do it with a lot of expensive specialized labor and a fair amount of swearing.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Renovation
There's a common misconception that these TV renovations are "fake" or "all for show." Having talked to folks in the trades who worked on or around the Westford project, I can tell you: the dust is real. The budget overruns are very real.
The biggest challenge wasn't the aesthetic. It was the structural integrity.
- The Sill Plates: In many New England homes of this vintage, the wood touching the stone foundation has turned into something resembling wet cake. Replacing a sill plate while the house is still sitting on it is terrifying.
- The Heat: They didn't just throw in some baseboard heaters. They went with a high-efficiency heat pump system, which is the gold standard for these old Westford renovations now.
- The Windows: You can't just go to a big-box store and buy windows for a 1713 house. You shouldn't, anyway. The team had to balance historical accuracy with the fact that nobody wants to live in a drafty tent during a Massachusetts January.
It’s kinda wild to think about the transition. One day you’re looking at a crumbling chimney, and the next, Charlie Silva is showing you how to tie a new addition into a roofline that hasn't been straight since the Jefferson administration.
The Sustainability Angle
People forget that "This Old House" was talking about sustainability before it was a buzzword. For the Westford project, it wasn't just about reclaimed wood. It was about longevity.
The most "green" thing you can do is not tear a house down.
When you preserve a structure like the one in Westford, you are keeping all that "embodied carbon" out of the landfill. But you have to make it livable. The Westford project utilized modern house wraps and superior insulation techniques that basically turned a sieve into a thermos. It’s a weird marriage of 18th-century timber framing and 21st-century chemical engineering.
The Homeowners' Journey
Becky and Kassie weren't just onlookers. They were deeply involved in the design choices. That’s the thing about Westford—it attracts people who actually care about the history of the Merrimack Valley. They wanted a home that could handle a modern family but still whispered stories of the past.
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They kept the original "keeping room." If you don't know what that is, it's basically the heart of an old New England home where the massive fireplace is located. It’s where people survived the winter. In the Westford house, keeping that hearth as a focal point was non-negotiable.
The Challenges Nobody Talks About
We see the 26-minute episodes, but we don't see the weeks of rain. We don't see the moments where a contractor pulls back a board and realizes the entire corner of the house is being held up by hope and a single rusty nail.
In Westford, the soil is notoriously rocky. Digging for the new foundation for the addition wasn't a "weekend warrior" task. It involved heavy machinery and a lot of patience.
And then there’s the cost.
Let's be honest. Most people cannot afford to do what was done in This Old House Westford. It’s a boutique restoration. However, the lessons from the show are what matter for the rest of us. It’s the idea that you shouldn't fight the house. If the house wants to be a certain way, you work with its "bones."
Actionable Insights for Your Own "Old House"
If you're living in a drafty old place in Westford, Chelmsford, or anywhere with a bit of history, you don't need a TV crew to save your home. But you do need a plan.
Start with the Envelope
Stop the water. If your roof is leaking or your gutters are clogged, your 1713 (or 1913) house is dying. In the Westford project, ensuring the building envelope was tight was priority number one.
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Audit Your Systems
Don't just replace your furnace with the same old tech. Look into air-source heat pumps. Massachusetts has some of the best rebates in the country through Mass Save. You can get thousands back for making the same choices the This Old House team made.
Respect the Wood
If you have original wide-plank floors, do not—I repeat, do not—sand them down to perfectly smooth boards. You’ll lose the character. Clean them, seal them, and embrace the "character" (which is just a fancy word for the dents left by people who lived there 200 years ago).
Hire "Old House" People
If a contractor walks into your 18th-century home and says, "We should just gut this and start over," show them the door. You need someone who understands lime mortar, not just Portland cement. You need someone who knows why a house needs to "breathe."
The legacy of the This Old House Westford project isn't just a beautiful building. It’s a blueprint for how we treat our history. It shows that we don't have to choose between a drafty museum and a soulless modern box. We can have both.
If you want to see the results for yourself, you can still find the episodes on the This Old House website or through the PBS app. It's a masterclass in New England grit.
Next Steps for Your Property:
- Conduct a DIY moisture audit: Walk around your foundation during a heavy rain. If water is pooling, your sills are at risk.
- Check for Mass Save eligibility: If you live in Massachusetts, schedule a home energy assessment. It’s often free and provides the same thermal imaging the pros use.
- Research your deed: Head to the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds. Finding out who lived in your house in 1850 changes how you feel about swinging a hammer.