This Old House Season 1

This Old House Season 1 has become appointment viewing on and for anyone who enjoys watching people under real pressure. Across 1 season, the show has had time to find its rhythm and keep it. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Bob Vila is a big part of why it works, but the format itself is the real star. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

This Old House Season 1 arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The production behind This Old House Season 1 knows exactly which moments to let breathe. The Dorchester House Bob Vila and Kevin O'Connor lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 1979. The format has been replicated endlessly since This Old House Season 1 first appeared, which is its own form of tribute. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

If the format appeals to you at all, This Old House Season 1 is one of the stronger examples of it. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. The production understands its own premise and executes on it without apology. If you have enjoyed similar formats before, this is one of the stronger examples of what the genre can do.

🎬 This Old House Season 1 — Episode Guide

The Dorchester House - A Tour of the House

1979-01-01

Our host, a Boston designer and builder, tours the dilapidated turn-of the-century house in Dorchester, Massachusetts, that will completely renovated in the next 13 weeks. Our host talks with a realtor and a house appraiser to determine the condition and problems of the property.

The Dorchester House - House History and Kitchen Plans

1979-02-01

Renovation has begun and the carpenter has find rot in the eaves. The kitchen, one of the hardest remodeling jobs, gets some attention, and we look into the history of the home.

The Dorchester House - Frozen Pipes and a New Kitchen Wall

1979-02-15

Work on the house has uncovered some unforeseen problems from the roof to the plumbing, and at a moment, the dream kitchen is a nightmare. But our host has some solutions.

The Dorchester House - Insulation and Plumbing

1979-02-28

It's time to insulate the house, remove the old furnace, and replace it with a new-energy-efficient heating system.

The Dorchester House - Leveled Ceilings and Kitchen Lighting

1979-03-01

This week the ceilings are leveled and renovated. The bulkhead is repaired and renewed. Our hosts talks about the kitchen lighting and answers some viewer questions.

The Dorchester House - Heating Plan, Kitchen Skylight

1979-03-15

How are we going to heat the house? This week our host talks with a heating specialist about baseboard heating, the heating plant in the basement and the water heater. We take a look at the bedroom closets and a new kitchen skylight.

The Dorchester House - Roof Repairs, Kitchen Plaster Work

1979-04-01

Plasters, roofers, and carpenters are hard at work. The kitchen walls are plastered, the chimney get some attention, and works starts on the crumbling front porch.

The Dorchester House - Insulation, Historic Paint Colors

1979-05-01

The insulation and plasterwork are completed. The new kitchen windows are trimmed and finished. A historic preservation consultant traces the changes made in the past century in the house's exterior paint.

The Dorchester House - Deck Foundation

1979-05-15

Work on the deck and its foundation is underway. Our host offers some hints on paint stripping and introduces an alternative to ceramic wall tile around a bathtub.

E10

The Dorchester House - Exterior Planning

1979-05-30

Our hosts walks through the grounds with a landscape designer and considers the gardening possibilities. The carpenters put on new red cedar clapboards, and the Mayor of Boston, Kevin White, pays a visit to the house.

E11

The Dorchester House - Flooring Install

1979-06-01

Our host demostrates how to lay a parquet kitchen floor. He speaks to a marble expert about the dining room fireplace. The bathroom tile floor is installed, and we consider home security systems.

E12

The Dorchester House - Adding Curb Appeal

1979-06-15

The house painter demonstrates how to apply primer. Our host talks about installing an oak floor and sanding floors. A stonemason repairs the stone wall around the house, and the yard gets two new trees.

E13

The Dorchester House - The Finished Product

1979-06-30

A look at the nearly finished product, inside and out. And the finishing touches are put on the picket fence, the deck and yard.

📡 Where to Watch This Old House Season 1

🎬 This Old House Season 1 — Episode Guide

🎭 Cast of This Old House Season 1

📋 All Seasons of This Old House

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