This Old House: Season 7
The Newton Cottage; The Reading Ranch; The Melrose House; The Tampa House
Season 7 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of This Old House Season 6.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Season overview
The Newton Cottage; The Reading Ranch; The Melrose House; The Tampa House
Episode Guide
Season 7 Progress Shield
The Newton Cottage - 1
Oct 10, 1985
Our host meets with homeowners Linda and Bill to plan the first project: a two-story addition to an 1860s Victorian in Newton, Massachusetts. The new free-standing structure - conn
The Newton Cottage - 2
Oct 17, 1985
Final plans for the addition are reviewed with the architects. Then we make an encore visit to the United Wrecking Company to see what gems can be culled from the Connecticut salva
The Newton Cottage - 3
Oct 24, 1985
A hole is dug for the foundation of the new addition, and the slab is poured. Our master carpenter demonstrates the carpentry skills necessary for framing.
The Newton Cottage - 4
Oct 31, 1985
As our host gets into the nuts and bolts of roof installation, the Victorian's homeowners learn the art of shingling. Meanwhile, our master carpenter tackles the finish work by tri
The Newton Cottage - 5
Nov 7, 1985
Construction continues with the installation of the staircase. Homeowners insulate the structure and our master carpenter discusses and demonstrates the framing and installation of
The Newton Cottage - 6
Nov 14, 1985
The garage door is installed, while work on the water and heating systems for the new bathroom proceeds with rough plumbing and gas fitting. Homeowners the get a lesson in rough el
The Newton Cottage - 7
Nov 21, 1985
Tile is installed in the new addition. On an excursion to Seattle, Washington, our host looks at a renovated hotel and visits elegant houseboats.
The Newton Cottage - 8
Nov 28, 1985
Inside, final electrical work is performed in the new addition and carpet is installed, while outside homeowners nail shingles and apply stain. Completion of the project is marked
The Reading Ranch - 1
Dec 5, 1985
The second project of the season begins: doubling the living space of a ranch house by raising the roof to create a second floor. Our host discusses the homeowners' needs and revie
The Reading Ranch - 2
Dec 12, 1985
The project gets underway with demolition of the existing roof and opening of the house. Carpenters race to frame and close in the new second floor to protect the structure from we
The Reading Ranch - 3
Dec 19, 1985
Construction of the ranch house's new roof is completed, and shingling begins. Our host and the crew visit Hancock Lumber in Casco, Maine, to watch as timber is milled into dimensi
The Reading Ranch - 4
Dec 26, 1985
Windows are installed in the new second-floor ranch house addition, and our master carpenter discusses the pros and cons of various types of siding with an expert contractor. The G
The Reading Ranch - 5
Jan 2, 1986
The ranch house's new second floor receives rough electrical wiring and plumbing and a whirlpool tub is installed in the master bath. Our host leads us on an encore trip to Acorn H
The Reading Ranch - 6
Jan 9, 1986
The exterior of the second-story ranch house addition gets vinyl siding, with commentary by an expert in the field. Meanwhile, the interior of the addition is insulated and rough e
The Reading Ranch - 7
Jan 16, 1986
We go on an encore field trip to Ryland Homes, Maryland-based manufacturers of prefabricated houses renowned for low cost and energy efficiency. Back at the construction site, our
The Reading Ranch - 8
Jan 23, 1986
Tile work is done in the master bath of the new addition, and new fixtures are installed. With work nearing completion, our master carpenter builds a staircase to the new second fl
The Reading Ranch - 9
Jan 30, 1986
Frank mills the pineapple detail typical to garrison colonials. Mary Jane and Frank give our host a tour of the newly-finished addition - complete with paint, wallpaper, and carpet
The Melrose House - 1
Feb 6, 1986
The third project of the season gets underway, as homeowners Tug and Beth begin planning the remodeling of their attic with our host. Tug and our host visit a nearby attic apartmen
The Melrose House - 2
Feb 13, 1986
Our master carpenter prepares Tug's attic for construction. Our host takes viewers on a field trip to Cornerstones, where homeowners (and would-be homeowners) learn to be homebuild
The Melrose House - 3
Feb 20, 1986
Work proceeds inside and out on Tug's attic, as the roof is shingled and skylights and windows are installed. Our host is given a special tour of New York's Trump Tower, where luxu
The Melrose House - 4
Feb 27, 1986
The nearly-completed attic renovation is ready to be insulated. Our host sets off for the Lexington Hotel in Chicago, once headquarters for Al Capone and now being renovated by Sun
The Melrose House - 5
Mar 6, 1986
Carpet is laid and finish work completed in Tug and Beth's attic addition. Our host pays a visit to admire the new living space - complete with furniture - and reviews the budget w
The Tampa House - 1
Mar 13, 1986
This Old House breaks new ground as renovation of a Tampa, Florida, home begins. Our host takes viewers on a tour of the ""sights and sounds"" of Tampa and introduces homeowners Pa
The Tampa House - 2
Mar 20, 1986
New ""heat-shielding"" windows are installed in Paul and Amelia's one-story home, and the house is inspected for termites. Rigid ductwork is installed for the new central air-condi
The Tampa House - 3
Mar 27, 1986
Our host, a Miami native, visits his hometown to admire the award-winning, trend-setting work of Laurinda Spear and Bernardo Fort-Brescia of Arquitectonica. In Tampa, our host and
The Tampa House - 4
Apr 3, 1986
Construction is completed on Paul and Amelia's house, now graced with lanscaping and a spacious redwood deck. The new ""Florida room"" is carpeted and a screened enclosure off the