PBS renovation expert brings years of experience

General contractor and renovation expert Tom Silva of the Public Broadcasting Stations’ This Old House will be the featured headliner at the 2006 New Home & Remodeling Show & Tour set for May 4-7 at the Norfolk Scope Exhibition Hall.

Silva will share his vast knowledge and extensive remodeling and renovation experience with local audiences at 2 and 6 p.m., Friday, May 5 and again at 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday, May 6.

The popular television personality will share stories focusing on some of his all-time favorite renovation projects that have been featured on This Old House and to take questions from the show audiences.

Celebrating his 19th season on This Old House, Silva also appears on the Arts & Entertainment channel’s Ask This Old House; which answers questions from viewers regarding home remodeling issues, and Inside This Old House, that gives a behind-the-scenes view of what really goes on during those extensive home renovation projects.

Silva attributes the popularity and longevity of This Old House to one word - credibility. “People trust us and know that we are the real deal,” remarks Silva. “ All of us involved in the show have literally grown up in the construction trades.”

The lifelong builder, who began working alongside his father as a child, loves every aspect of the building and remodeling process. After completing his first major remodeling project with his father and brother that took two years to complete; installing a basement fallout shelter beneath their 1787 Colonial home, Silva knew that this is what he wanted to do for a living.

“I have never wanted to do anything else and I’m never bored,” states Silva. “Each house is unique and different. What I love most is taking an old house that has been neglected over the years and restoring it to its original grandeur.”

After building the original set for another popular PBS show, The Victory Garden, Silva’s firm, Silva Brothers Construction, was tapped by the creator of This Old House to be the general contractors for the show. Silva Brothers Construction, made up of Silva, his brother and uncle, are based out of Lexington, Massachusetts and usually have about four other major projects going on in the Boston area in addition to those featured on This Old House.

While his firm handles mostly renovation jobs, old, historic homes aren’t the only structures benefiting from Silva’s years of experience. He just completed work on a contemporary home of which he is extremely proud.

“Built into the side of a cliff overlooking the ocean, tons of glass, spectacular views and awesome homeowners,” says Silva, “It doesn’t get much better than that.”

In addition to appearing on the television shows, Silva works as a consultant on This Old House projects centered on homes located in other states. He is also a regular, featured contributor to This Old House magazine and is on the editorial board of that publication. In recent years, Silva has also contributed to books, including Complete Remodeling, Complete Landscaping and The Homeowner’s Manual.

A Massachusetts native and boating enthusiast, Silva lives with his wife in their own 19th century home which he continues to renovate in a Boston suburb.

This year's New Home & Remodeling Show & Tour will also feature an estimated 200 exhibits and displays of new and unique products for home remodeling and renovation projects, plus walking tours of downtown Norfolk and tours of a newly constructed modular home on site.