The BEST episodes of This Old House season 2

Every episode of This Old House season 2, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of This Old House season 2!

This Old House celebrates the fusion on old world craftsmanship and modern technology. Each season features two renovation projects. Project One traditionally consists of eighteen or more so episodes and is filmed in Massachusetts. Project Two is taped in a different region of the country to highlight the variety of American architectural styles and renovation issues.

Last Updated: 5/5/2025Network: PBSStatus: Continuing
star
7.83
6 votes

#1 - The Newton House - Window Casings, Fiberglass Batts

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 7/28/1981

This week, the old metal garages come down and barn lighting goes in. In the main house, it's time to install the air conditioning and kitchen window casings.

star
7.60
5 votes

#2 - The Newton House - Brass Hardware, Floorboards

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 6/28/1981

Tonight, our host tours the barn and gives more thought to the hardwood floors in the main house. It's also time to select locks and hardware for the antique floors.

star
7.40
5 votes

#3 - The Newton House - PVC Pipe, Heating and Cooling

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/15/1981

We're ready to do some plumbing at the house. Our master carpenter shows us how to pour concrete wall and Tom Wirth, our landscape architect discusses the lay of the land.

star
7.40
5 votes

#4 - The Newton House - Heat Pump, White Cedar

Season 2 - Episode 25 - Aired 9/1/1981

Things are really shaping up at the Bigelow House! Tonight, the white cedar shingling goes up in the barn greenhouse. Inside the barn, our host oversees installation on a heat pump, then he heads up to the main house to help apply the exterior stain.

star
7.20
5 votes

#5 - The Newton House - Fixing The Barn

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/15/1981

Our host discusses plans for renovating the barn unit - insulation, demolition and replacing broken windows.

star
7.20
5 votes

#6 - The Newton House - Kitchen Range, Copper Roof

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 8/1/1981

Now that the old garage is gone, plans are made for the new one. Our master carpenter discusses the stairway in the barn. At the main house, a downdraft stove is installed and the sunbath gets a copper roof.

star
7.17
6 votes

#7 - The Newton House - Turret Shingles, Dowsing Rod

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/15/1981

It's time to tackle some tough shingling jobs on the turret and roof-top belvedere. We'll also install a skylight, hook up a toilet and talk about water service for the house.

star
7.17
6 votes

#8 - The Newton House - Final Inspection

Season 2 - Episode 27 - Aired 9/28/1981

This Old House is new again! The workmen are gone and the newly renovated Bigelow House is ready and waiting for its new occupants. Our host takes us on the long-awaited tour in this one hour special.

star
7.00
5 votes

#9 - The Newton House - Bathroom Floor, Electrical Devices

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 5/1/1981

What are the best tiles for the master bath? How is the electrical work coming? What type of cabinets should we use in the kitchen of the main house? Our host supplies the answers.

star
7.00
3 votes

#10 - The Newton House - Walnut Parquet, Interior Decorating

Season 2 - Episode 26 - Aired 9/15/1981

Our host takes a stroll around the grounds and shows us that the landscaping is well underway. There's also been great progress in the ice house and woodshed. As for the barn, it's nearly complete.

star
7.00
5 votes

#11 - The Newton House - Custom Cabinets, Brick Paving

Season 2 - Episode 24 - Aired 8/28/1981

Our host inspects the custom-built kitchen cabinets in the barn and checks the plastering work upstairs. Then landscaping arcitect Tom Wirth gives us a lesson in brick paving and takes us on a fascinating tour of a granite quarry.

star
7.00
5 votes

#12 - The Newton House - Triple Sash, Bigelow Balusters

Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 7/1/1981

This week, our master carpenter installs the unusual floor-to-ceiling triple hung windows; while Charlie, our finish carpenter, sets in window casings and kitchen cabinets.

star
7.00
5 votes

#13 - The Newton House - Fireproof Partition, Floor Problems

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 6/15/1981

Our host reviews plans for interior of the barn unit. In the main house, he decides that some of the floors will have to go; and out plumber is ready to install the Powder Room sink.

star
7.00
5 votes

#14 - The Newton House - Chimneys and Fireplaces

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/15/1981

Our host and master carpenter gives us a progress report of the house. It's almost time to winterize this energy-guzzling summer home with insulation and fireplace fix-ups.

star
7.00
4 votes

#15 - The Newton House - New Garage, Rough Wiring

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/1/1981

Our host discusses plans for a new, historically compatible five-car garage. The electrician begins wiring and a solar energy expert recommends the best location for a solar collector.

star
7.00
6 votes

#16 - The Newton House - Bug Check, Architectural History

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/28/1981

The exterminator gives us a top-to-bottom bug check. Professor John Coolidge talks about the architect of the Bigelow House, H.H. Richardson - considered the foremost Victorian architect of the 19th century.

star
7.00
5 votes

#17 - The Newton House - Building For The Market

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/1/1981

Our host discusses some of the key decisions to be made about condominium sales. Also, plans are made to install woodburning stoves in the ice house and the woodshed.

star
7.00
10 votes

#18 - The Newton House - The Bigelow Homestead

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/1/1981

Our host introduces the Bigelow House, a rambling 19th-century hilltop home in Newton, Massachusetts, designed by noted Victorian architect H.H. Richardson. The challenge - convert the abandoned structure into five modern condominium units, while preserving its architectural integrity. Vila and our master carpenter talk about the best way to tackle the project.

star
6.83
6 votes

#19 - The Newton House - Ice Shield, New Insulation

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/1/1981

The south roof gets an ice shield and cedar shingles. The living room wall gets a layer of energy-saving polystyrene board. And the grounds get a face-lifting.

star
6.80
5 votes

#20 - The Newton House - Damage Discovered

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/30/1981

Demolition is nearly complete and our host shows us some of the problems uncovering he's uncovered - including extensive damage from carpenter ants, vandals and rot.

star
6.80
5 votes

#21 - The Newton House - Heating Plant, Checking Level

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/28/1981

All radiators are not created equal. Our host shows us an efficient, aesthetic European version. Our master carpenter is busy installing new windows and a lighting expert make some illuminating recommendations.

star
6.80
5 votes

#22 - The Newton House - Lath and Plaster

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/15/1981

This week, our host looks at the wiring needs in the barn; demonstrates lathing and plastering and talks about choosing tiles for the foyer in the main house.

star
6.80
5 votes

#23 - The Newton House - Backhoe, Ceramic Tile

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/28/1981

Shingling is completed on the south side of the bungalow and the lights are in placed in the main house. Tile setter Charlie English shows us how to trim tiles.

star
6.75
4 votes

#24 - The Newton House - Concrete Slab, Tile Grout

Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 5/28/1981

The crawlspace in the barn gets a concrete floor. The main house gets a parquet floor. And we lesson in tile grouting.

star
6.75
4 votes

#25 - The Newton House - Kitchen Floor, Ceiling Fan

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 7/15/1981

The kitchen in the main house gets a ceramic tile floor. The south facade get a glass sunbath. The barn gets a heating and cooling fan. The fireplace gets a new stone face.