The BEST episodes of Ask This Old House season 17
Every episode of Ask This Old House season 17, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Ask This Old House season 17!
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 TOH 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!
#1 - Humidity Mystery, Brick Patch
Season 17 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/25/2019
Tom discusses the conversations a homeowner and a contractor should have before starting a renovation project; Richard travels to Orlando to diagnose and repair an HVAC system that is creating way too much humidity; Mauro demonstrates the technique for using a paint sprayer; Mark travels to Denver to patch a hole in a brick wall.
#2 - Storage Bench; Old Shower Valve
Season 17 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/8/2018
In Build It, Tom and Kevin build a modern storage bench out of a single sheet of MDF and then Mauro paints it; Richard travels to Seattle to help a homeowner whose shower runs cold whenever there’s a demand for hot water elsewhere in the house.
#3 - Closet Door; Bathroom Paint
Season 17 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/9/2019
Tom travels to Pittsburgh to replace a bi-fold closet door with one that is more appropriate for the house; Jenn discusses alternatives to flower bouquets that make great gifts; Mauro paints a bathroom using a mold-resistant paint.
#4 - Foundation Repointing; Textured Ceiling
Season 17 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/27/2019
Mark repoints a crumbling fieldstone foundation and shares an important lesson about water management on the outside of the house; Tom discusses the proper disposal techniques for oily rags to prevent spontaneous combustion; instead of scraping, Mauro smooths over a textured ceiling using joint compound.
#5 - Paint Metal Railing; Wine Rack
Season 17 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/30/2019
Mauro helps a homeowner clean up and repaint a rusty metal railing; Richard discusses some innovations that can make clearing a clogged sink easier; Tom and Kevin build a wine rack out of a reclaimed beam.
#6 - Crown Molding; Strip Wallpaper
Season 17 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/1/2018
Tom installs crown molding on cabinets with full overlay doors; Richard discusses toilet seats; Mauro teaches apprentice Mary how to strip wallpaper without using any chemicals.
#7 - Stone Walkway; Rustic Headboard
Season 17 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/18/2018
Mark installs a front walkway for a homeowner using natural stone; Mauro explains the uses and techniques for different types of painter’s tape; Tom and Kevin build a headboard using rustic barnboard.
#8 - Swing Set; Robotic Construction
Season 17 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/12/2019
Tom travels to Colorado to help a couple build a DIY swing set for their young son; Nathan demonstrates how to build sawhorses using leftover materials from the job site; in Future House, Ross learns about automated home construction.
#9 - Soft Close Cabinets; Secret Garden
Season 17 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/2/2019
Nathan upgrades a kitchen to have soft-close cabinets; Richard and Kevin discuss how gas regulators work and how their malfunction caused gas explosions in Lawrence, MA; Jenn cleans up an overgrown garden and redesigns it as a secret garden.
#10 - Water Filter; Bathroom Caulking
Season 17 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/20/2019
Richard travels to Los Angeles to update a water filter on a retro faucet; Mark explains the uses for different types of masonry jointers; Nathan explains when and how to use a Japanese pull saw; Tom demonstrates the correct materials and techniques required for re-caulking a bathtub.
#11 - Stair Treads; Gas Stove Pipe
Season 17 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/4/2019
Tom teaches a homeowner how to replace split-level stair treads in his mid-century modern home; Jenn shares some tips about pruners; Richard shortens a gas pipe for a homeowner whose new stove does not fit against the wall because it is getting stuck on the pipe.
#12 - Scorched Floor; Hardy Plantings
Season 17 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/18/2019
Ross tests out a new, smart stud finder; Nathan travels to Portland, Oregon to repair an original wood floor that was burned from a face-down hot iron; Tom gives a general overview of a table saw and the best techniques to use it safely and effectively; Jenn helps a homeowner replace and improve foundation plantings that have been crushed by snow piles.
#13 - Historic Paintings; Wood Utensils
Season 17 - Episode 26 - Aired 6/29/2019
Jenn helps a homeowner add some curb appeal using Victorian plants to match the design of his house; the team shares more home inspection nightmares; Mauro demonstrates how to accurately match a paint color; Tom and Kevin hand carve wooden serving utensils using leftover pine from a previous Build It project.
#14 - Window Repair, Space House Tour
Season 17 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/11/2018
Mark explains how to make concrete; Tom replaces a broken pane in a basement window; in Future House, Ross travels to NASA Johnson Space Center to learn about the technology they use on the International Space Station to keep the astronauts alive.
#15 - Seismic Retrofit; Dryer Vent
Season 17 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/26/2019
Kevin travels to Portland, Oregon to learn how to protect homes from earthquakes; Mark stains concrete; in Open House, Tom explains why and how to change the locks in a new home; Richard travels to Cleveland to reroute a lengthy dryer vent.
#16 - Garage Heat; DIY Security System
Season 17 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/25/2018
Richard travels to Akron, Ohio to install a garage heater; Tom teaches the basics of sanding; Ross installs a DIY security system; Mark investigates a strange issue happening to foundations in the Northeast.
#17 - Swap Door Swing; Tropical Yard
Season 17 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/15/2018
The team discusses tools that make good gifts; Jenn returns to her home state of Florida to help a homeowner design a tropical landscape for his backyard; former apprentice Nathan returns to help Tom change the swing of an entry door.
#18 - Prairie Grasses; Wildfires; Solar Flower
Season 17 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/6/2019
Jenn partners with an ecologist in Cheyenne, Wyoming to learn about different types of prairie grasses and how to care for them; Kevin learns about ways to make a home more resistant to wildfires; in Future House, Ross sees a robotic, ground-mounted solar array that mimics a sunflower.
#19 - Deck Staining; Water Monitoring
Season 17 - Episode 25 - Aired 6/22/2019
Tom demonstrates how to sharpen a knife; Mauro teaches a homeowner how to re-stain her deck; Mark demonstrates the best way to build a fire in order to prevent smoke from filling up the room; in Future House, Ross travels to Los Angeles to learn about innovations being made to automatic water shutoff valves.
#20 - Concrete Walkway; Jimmy DiResta
Season 17 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/19/2019
Mark replaces a concrete walkway with brick pavers; Richard explains how gas piping is installed in a home; Kevin returns to upstate New York to build a farmhouse table with maker Jimmy DiResta.
#21 - Fireplace Restoration; Porch Swing
Season 17 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/11/2019
Roger and Jenn share some tips for killing weeds without hurting the lawn; Mark delicately restores a damaged historic fireplace that is built with custom, nearly irreplaceable bricks; Richard and Ross discuss improvements to thermostats and how they contribute to comfort in a home; Tom adds structure to a porch in order to safely hang a swing.
#22 - Stucco Repair; Gas Dryer
Season 17 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/23/2019
Mark travels to San Diego to repair a crack in a concrete retaining wall with a stucco finish; Tom explains how air compressors work; Richard helps an expectant couple select and install a gas dryer.
#23 - Smart Irrigation; Jimmy DiResta
Season 17 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/13/2019
Jenn travels to Orlando to upgrade an irrigation system; the team looks at more Home Inspection Nightmares; Tom discusses kitchen renovations; Kevin returns to upstate New York to build an Adirondack-style outdoor chair with maker Jimmy DiResta.
#24 - Plunge Pool, Heat Pump
Season 17 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/4/2018
Jenn installs a plunge pool for a homeowner with a small backyard; Tom gives some basic tips about insulating an attic; Richard travels to Celebration, Florida to help a homeowner select and install the right electric water heater.
#25 - Vertical Garden; Toilet Factory
Season 17 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/16/2019
Jenn installs a vertical garden to maximize space for a homeowner; Tom explains the uses for different drill bits; Richard travels to a plumbing facility in New Jersey to learn about advances in toilet engineering that will help save water.