This Old House

In October of 2012, Superstorm Sandy left hundreds of thousands of homes in ruins, and some of the worst damage was sustained on the Jersey Shore; intrepid homeowners on the path to recovery learn lessons along the way.

Beachfront homeowners are determined to pool their own resources to build a stone and sand revetment; at the Point Pleasant project, the homeowner is mired in scheduling setbacks; a structural engineer explains a FEMA A zone versus a V zone.

A builder shows Norm the progress on the framing; the Point Pleasant house is up on cribbing; traditional wooden piles are a cost-effective way to go for new construction; Norm takes Richard to see a Mueller's Bakery.

Kevin meets Mayor Akers and Lou Cirigliano from Casino Pier to check out the work in progress at Seaside Heights, N.J.; Norm finds the framing complete at the Bay Head cottage and the crew installing decking on the porch.

Sand shoaling now obstructs the waterways; fitting a hurricane-resistant window package and structural hardware at junctures; a plumber is repairing damage, running new gas and sewer lines; the arrival of the modules that will form Rita's new house.

A natural barrier island; in Point Pleasant, Carlos removes siding, fits hurricane strapping, and pours a slab; insulated CMU "breakaway wall" panels; bringing back Jersey Shore landscapes after Sandy; the progress on Rita's modular Cape.