About this season
The crew at This Old House take on some pretty big projects, which means they can only work on one or two houses a year. But homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions on smaller projects, and the This Old House crew is ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by viewers - and the crew even makes house calls!
Episodes (26)
1. Sliding Barn Door, Dry Well
Aired 5 October 2019 • 30 min
Nathan travels to Birmingham, Alabama to install a sliding barn door in an open-concept loft apartment. Tom compares the qualities of different types of roofing materials. Ross explains the culprit behind damaged solar panels and how to prevent future damage. Mark installs a dry well for a homeowner with drainage issues in his backyard.
2. Nursery Paint, Record Stand
Aired 12 October 2019 • 30 min
Mauro paints a baby’s nursery using zero VOC paint. Richard tests out a new dryer that uses a heat pump to dry the clothes. Tom and Kevin build a record player stand out of oak plywood.
3. Radiator, Fireplace Veneer
Aired 19 October 2019 • 30 min
Mark replaces a homeowner's sloppy fireplace surround with a clean, thin brick veneer.
4. Ductless Humidifier, Planters
Aired 26 October 2019 • 30 min
The uses and purposes for different types of screws. Installing a whole house ductless humidifier. Changes to electric bill payment structures. Installing a front entry planter.
5. Built-in, Dining Room Light
Aired 2 November 2019 • 30 min
Repairing an old dining room built-in with hand tools. Home inspection nightmares. Installing a chandelier in a dining room.
6. Women's Repair Class; Garden
Aired 9 November 2019 • 30 min
A women's only do-it-yourself class; selecting and installing plants for a terraced garden; how homeowners and contractors should communicate about expectations for home improvement projects.
7. Switch; Affordable Geothermal
Aired 16 November 2019 • 30 min
Replacing a standard toggle switch with an antique push button switch; affordable geothermal heat pumps.
8. Polybutylene; Squeaky Door
Aired 23 November 2019 • 30 min
Indoor air quality; replacing polybutylene piping with conventional PEX; drop cloths; different methods for silencing a squeaky door.
9. Cable Railing; Painting Shutters
Aired 4 January 2020 • 30 min
Replacing a stair railing; upgrading a door to make it look more modern; cleaning and painting vinyl shutters.
10. Beehive Oven; Jimmy DiResta
Aired 11 January 2020 • 30 min
Restoring a beehive oven; failure points in toilet tanks and how to repair them; building a metal coat rack.
11. Stoop Planters; Fireplace Insert
Aired 18 January 2020 • 30 min
Building a hexagon planter; reviving a stoop; home inspection nightmares; installing an electric fireplace insert.
12. Ceiling Light; Tool Storage
Aired 25 January 2020 • 30 min
Installing a ceiling light; installing the temperature rating system for ceiling lights; the uses for different types of trowels; building a tool storage shelf.
13. Loose Railing; Smart Thermostat
Aired 1 February 2020 • 30 min
Nathan tightens a railing; Mauro strips paint off hardware; Richard upgrades a thermostat.
14. Weird Shower Valve; Mossy Roof
Aired 8 February 2020 • 30 min
Richard replaces a shower valve with a conventional pressure balanced one, Nathan demonstrates how to refinish stair treads, and Tom removes moss from a roof in the latest episode of Ask This Old House.
15. Indoor Garden; Fireplace Hearth
Aired 15 February 2020 • 30 min
Planting an indoor garden; the basics of using a hole saw; replacing a common terra cotta hearth with slate tile.
16. Dog Dish Stand; Gas Lantern
Aired 22 February 2020 • 30 min
Using a mobile CNC routing machine; building a dog dish stand using power tools; different methods for wiring a portable generator to a house.
17. Cherry Blossoms; Mount Rushmore
Aired 28 March 2020 • 30 min
The Ask This Old House team travels to and appreciates different national parks and makes a few house calls.
18. Custom Screen Door; Paint Trim
Aired 4 April 2020 • 30 min
Ross tests out some new smart lighting configurations, while Tom helps a homeowner build a custom screen door. Richard gives general advice on maintaining a washing machine, and Mauro teaches a homeowner techniques to paint old 1960s wood trim with a varnish on it.
19. Ground Wire; Fireplace Doors
Aired 11 April 2020 • 30 min
Kevin works with Jenn Largesse to demonstrate a technique on a trim router. Heath grounds an outlet, while Mauro explains paint rollers and demonstrates rolling techniques. Mark then replaces fireplace doors.
20. Pedestal Sink; Grout Cleaning
Aired 18 April 2020 • 30 min
In this episode, Richard helps a homeowner replace components of his pedestal sink, and Heath discusses bathroom vent fans. The team shares home inspection nightmares, and Tom explains how to clean dirty tile grout.
21. Paver Patio; Shoe Rack
Aired 25 April 2020 • 30 min
Mark helps a couple install a concrete paver patio; Jenn discusses the common elements she includes in outdoor kitchen designs; Tom and Kevin build a combination bench/shoe rack out of fir decking.
22. Cedar Shingles; Vegetable Garden
Aired 2 May 2020 • 30 min
In this episode, Tom explains the architecture, installation, and maintenance of white cedar shingles. Richard repairs a hose spigot, and Jenn builds and plants a self-watering vegetable garden.
23. Mantel; Too Many Light Switches
Aired 9 May 2020 • 30 min
In this episode, Richard tests a faucet, and Mark installs a mantel. Ross and Mauro discuss why and how to remove cigarette smell from a home. Then, Heath connects 4 separate switches that control 6 lights in the same room.
24. Pantry Doors; Reflective Shingle
Aired 16 May 2020 • 30 min
Nathan installs bypass doors for a pantry; Richard tests different smart automatic water shutoff valves; Ross explores asphalt roof shingles that can reflect some of the sun’s heat.
25. Quartz Countertops; Firepit Kit
Aired 23 May 2020 • 30 min
Kevin learns how quartz countertops are manufactured and installed. Nathan explains how to hang and display a U.S. flag, and Tom and Jenn split firewood. Then, Mark installs a fire pit that comes in a kit.
26. Shower Cartridge; Turning a Bowl
Aired 30 May 2020 • 30 min
Nathan shows Kevin some old drywall paneling he found, and Richard teaches a homeowner how to clean her shower cartridge. Tom teaches Kevin the basics of using a lathe, and then they turn a bowl together.