The WORST episodes of Ask This Old House
Every episode of Ask This Old House ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Ask This Old House!
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 - Transplanting a Rose Bush; Replacing Old Outdoor Lighting
Season 11 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/27/2012
Landscape contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner temporarily transplant a mature rose bush while exterior work takes place. Then, Roger, along with host Kevin O'Connor, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and general contractor Tom Silva ask "What Is It?" Afterward, Richard shows Kevin some rookie plumbing mistakes. And Tom and Kevin replace old outdoor lighting with new fixtures.
#2 - Planting a Low-Cost Privacy Screen; Sealing Ductwork
Season 12 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/22/2014
Planting a low-cost privacy screen; and sealing ductwork without removing the walls.
#3 - Celebrating 300 Episodes
Season 12 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/5/2014
Celebrating 300 episodes of "Ask This Old House" with a review of favorite moments.
#4 - Pizza Oven Repair, What Is It?
Season 20 - Episode 39 - Aired 8/4/2022
Nathan explains the anatomy of track saws; Mark repoints an outdoor pizza oven; The Ask This Old House team comes together for a 20th Anniversary "What Is It?"
#5 - Kids Show; Soccer Goal; Stilts; Sandbox
Season 6 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/14/2008
In this special episode devoted to projects for kids, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows two kids how to build a soccer goal using PVC plumbing pipes. Next, up in the loft, general contractor Tom Silva demonstrates how to build a pair of stilts. Then, landscape contractor Roger Cook shows a family how to build a sandbox and make replicas of fossils.
#6 - Working from Home
Season 19 - Episode 26 - Aired 6/3/2021
Nathan builds a display case to store his grandfather's U.S. flag; Heath replaces a circuit breaker; the team shares the ways their trades were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
#7 - Landscapes Across America
Season 19 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/22/2020
In this special episode of Ask This Old House, Jenn explains how various climates across the United States impact the design, care, and maintenance of different landscapes, which includes discussing USDA Hardiness Zones and native plant species.
#8 - Slate Walkway; What Is It? Shower Stall Leak
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/23/2003
Landscape contractor Roger Cook helps homeowner Molly Simmons turn her neglected slate walkway into an attractive and safe footpath. Back in the loft, Roger, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, general contractor Tom Silva, and host Kevin O'Connor try to guess "What is it?" Then Richard helps homeowner Mark Harney diagnose and repair a frustrating leak in a fiberglass shower stall.
Watch Now:iTunes#9 - Bluestone Patio; Hanging Bikes in a Garage
Season 11 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/11/2012
Landscape contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner install a bluestone patio in an urban backyard. Then, Roger, along with host Kevin O’Connor, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and general contractor Tom Silva ask "What Is It?" Afterward, Tom helps a homeowner and her daughter hang their bikes in a small garage.
#10 - Building a Small Deck
Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/9/2006
General contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner with a large carpentry project: rebuilding a small exterior deck. They start by removing the existing deck, which has rotted and become unstable. Together, they build a new deck, including stairs and handrails, using pressure-treated lumber and composite deck boards.
#11 - Moss, Algae and Lichen; Leaky Water Valve; Planting Shade
Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/17/2005
General contractor Tom Silva shows a homeowner how to remove moss and lichen from his shade-covered roof and keep them from coming back. Then Tom, along with plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscaping contractor Roger Cook, and host Kevin O'Connor ask, "What is it?" Up in the loft, Richard shows Kevin how to repair a leaky valve by replacing the washer and valve seat. Then, Roger helps a homeowner plant shade-loving groundcover under a 100-year-old beech tree.
#12 - Installing Water Features
Season 19 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/5/2020
Jenn and Roger install a variety of different water features to accentuate landscapes; Roger installs an alternative to a downspout; Jenn installs a waterfall feature in a backyard that reuses water.
#13 - Collapsing Garage Roof; Installing a Dry Well
Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/2/2008
Ask This Old House kicks off its 7th season on PBS. General contractor Tom Silva prevents a garage roof from collapsing by replacing a rotting support post. Then Tom, along with host Kevin O'Connor, landscaping contractor Roger Cook and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey ask, "What is it?" Then, Roger helps two homeowners dry out their basement by installing a dry well to handle discharge from their sump pump.
#14 - 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.
#15 - All About Fireplaces
Season 19 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/12/2020
In this special episode of Ask This Old House, Tom and Mark tell you everything you need to know about fireplaces; Tom builds a custom mantel for a homeowner; Richard discusses fireplace inserts; Mark replaces the hearth of a fireplace with granite.
#16 - Garbage Disposal, Concrete Wall
Season 19 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/18/2021
Tom travels to Nashville to turn an original, exterior door into a Dutch door; Richard explains how to install a garbage disposal; Mark and Jenn reface a concrete wall with thin stone veneer.
#17 - Fireplace Makeover; Drip Edges
Season 17 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/5/2019
Mark replaces a chipped brick in a fireplace surround and then Mauro updates it with a whitewashed look; Richard shares some advice on maintaining water heaters; Tom demonstrates the importance of a properly installed drip edge.
#18 - Replicating Moldings; Unlevel Patio; Stripping Wallpaper
Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/17/2005
In the Ask This Old House loft, Tom shows Kevin a few ways to recreate different molding profiles. Then, Roger heads to Skokie, Illinois where he has some "uplifting" advice for a homeowner with a sinking brick patio. After that, Tom, Roger, Richard and Kevin guess "What Is It?" in the loft, Then, Jim shows Kevin and homeowner Caroline Pooler of Andover, Massachusetts a new way to strip wallpaper.
#19 - Rotted Deck Balusters; What Is It? Connecting an Icemaker
Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/24/2005
Homeowner Martin D'Agostino of Swampscott, Massachusetts receives a visit from Tom who knows him how to repair and replace his rotting deck balusters. Then Tom, Richard, Roger and Kevin ask, "What Is It?" in the Ask This Old House loft. Afterwards, Richard heads off to Salem, Massachusetts to hook up a refrigerator's ice-maker and water dispenser for homeowner Joe Cole.
#20 - Clogged Vent Stack; What Is It? Backyard Ice Rink
Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/7/2005
Richard helps homeowner Tom Pulkowski of Chelmsford, Massachusetts clear a clogged vent stack with the aid of a fiberoptic plumbing snake. Then Richard, Roger, Tom and Kevin ask, "What Is It?" Then Roger helps homeowner Dennis Cronin of Duxbury, Massachusetts build an ice skating rink in his backyard.
#21 - Air Cleaner; Walkway Ice Removal; Bathroom Venting
Season 3 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/14/2005
Richard helps a pair of homeowners from Arlington, Massachusetts install an electronic air cleaner on their forced-air furnace. Then Roger shows Kevin some tools and materials for removing ice from concrete walkways. And Tom shows homeowner Enza Sheehan of Swampscott, Massachusetts how to properly vent a bathroom fan to the outside of the house.
#22 - Florescent Light; Landscaping Software; Aluminum Heat Cover
Season 3 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/21/2005
Up in the loft, Tom shows Kevin a few tricks for using one of the most basic tools, a tape measure. Then master electrician Allen Gallant visit homeowner Kristen Berger of Leominster, Massachusetts and brightens up a dimly-lit basement with new fluorescent fixtures. Then Tom, Kevin, Richard and Roger ask, "What Is It?" Later, Kevin shows Roger a software package that can be used to create a three-dimensional landscape plan. And Richard makes a house call to homeowner Wendy Smith in Duxbury, Massachusetts and shows her how to replace the banged-up aluminum cover on an old baseboard heater.
#23 - Window Boxes; What Is It? Plumbing Connections
Season 3 - Episode 26 - Aired 3/28/2005
Tom makes a house call to Atlanta, Georgia to show homeowner Terry Andrews how to use masonry fasteners to install window boxes on his brick townhouse. Then Tom, Richard, Roger and Kevin ask, "What Is It?" Then, back in the loft, Richard shows Kevin several different ways to make copper pipe connections, including a new solderless system. Then, Roger helps homeowner Alan Lear of Carlisle, Massachusetts install a perimeter drain to catch rainwater running off of his roof.
#24 - Soil Test; Water Supply Pipes
Season 6 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/24/2008
Landscape contractor Roger Cook heads to Oregon to help a homeowner improve her lawn, starting with a simple soil test. Next, Roger, along with host Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey ask, "What is it?" Then, Richard and Kevin visit a local home center to identify several different types of water supply pipes.
#25 - Mortise Lockset; Pellet Stove; Gas-Free Lawn Mowers
Season 6 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/21/2008
General contractor Tom Silva demonstrates how to install an old mortise lockset on a new door. Afterwards, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner install a pellet stove to provide supplemental heat during the cold winter months. Back in the loft, landscape contractor Roger Cook shows host Kevin O'Connor several different types of lawn mowers that do not require gasoline.
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