NaN/100 votes#1 - The Reading House - 1
Season 8 Episode 1 - Aired 10/16/1986
Our host reviews last season's projects - including the popular ranch-home makeover - and introduces the new project: the renovation of a 40-year-old Cape-style home. Homeowners Claire and John tour the house and our master carpenter surveys the project.
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- NaN/100 votes
#2 - The Reading House - 2
Season 8 Episode 2 - Aired 10/23/1986
Architect Scott Finn goes over plans for renovating John and Claire's Cape-style home, and demolition and excavation begin. Richard Trethewey gives advice on plumbing and heating needs; and our host takes viewers on a tour of a 200-year-old Cape home.
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#3 - The Reading House - 3
Season 8 Episode 3 - Aired 10/30/1986
The mason arrives to work on the footings and foundation of John and Claire's Cape home. Our host then takes viewers to a high-tech concrete block factory. Our master carpenter starts framing the family room addition, and our host looks at the new windows the homeowners have selected. John and Claire start planning the interior design of the new addition, while the crew begins demolition of inside walls.
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- NaN/100 votes
#4 - The Reading House - 4
Season 8 Episode 4 - Aired 11/6/1986
The guys review progress on the Cape renovation, and then our master carpenter shows how to cut rafters and frame the roof, which is sheathhed with plywood.
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- NaN/100 votes
#5 - The Reading House - 5
Season 8 Episode 5 - Aired 11/13/1986
Our host reviews the progress to date on the renovation of John and Claire's Cape-style home. New windows are installed, and we turn our attention to the roof, where roofing paper, snow-and-ice shield, and shingles are applied.
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- NaN/100 votes
#6 - The Reading House - 6
Season 8 Episode 6 - Aired 11/20/1986
Work on the Cape's mechanical systems begins, as rough plumbing, a central vacuuming system, and wiring for a new security system are installed. Our master carpenter starts the foundation for a new deck to be built at the back of the house, and the gas line is laid for the new heating system.
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- NaN/100 votes
#7 - The Reading House - 7
Season 8 Episode 7 - Aired 11/27/1986
Homeowner John shows our host his expertise in the fine points of blueboard. Our master carpenter works on the foundation of the new desk, and the plumber pays a visit.
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#8 - The Reading House - 8
Season 8 Episode 8 - Aired 12/4/1986
We travel to the New Yankee Workshop to see work begin on custom cabinets for the Cape home, with assistance from a expert woodworker. Our host takes a side trip to admire old-fashioned kitchen cabinets in an antique home, and homeowner John demonstrates his plastering technique.
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- NaN/100 votes
#9 - The Reading House - 9
Season 8 Episode 9 - Aired 12/11/1986
Custom-made kitchen cabinets are installed in John and Claire's home, and Claire turns her attention to the new bathroom, where she installs tiles. Our master carpenter works on interior trim.
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- NaN/100 votes
#10 - The Reading House - 10
Season 8 Episode 10 - Aired 12/18/1986
Our host takes a trip to see how the synthetic marble material for the new kitchen countertops is made. Plumbing fixtures are installed in the new bathroom; a lighting consultant pays a visit; and an energy-efficient hot water heater is installed. John and Claire visit a lighting supply store.
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#11 - The Reading House - 11
Season 8 Episode 11 - Aired 12/25/1986
The Cape receives new flooring and our host visits Sweeden to tour the factory where this do-it-yourself product is manufactured. The exterior of the house is stained.
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#12 - The Reading House - 12
Season 8 Episode 12 - Aired 1/1/1987
Work on John and Claire's Cape home is completed. Interior designer Bette Rosenberg leads a tour the house, with its new kitchen featuring high-tech appliances, family room, upstairs bedrooms and bath.
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- NaN/100 votes
#13 - The Brimfield House - 1
Season 8 Episode 13 - Aired 1/8/1987
In search of inspiration for a vacation home, our host visits Hyannis on Cape Cod to tour a beach-front home, a luxury condominium and lakeside property. The season's second project gets underway as our host tours Bob Houde's mountainside land in Brimfield, Massachusetts, and they begin to plan the building of a vacation home.
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- NaN/100 votes
#14 - The Brimfield House - 2
Season 8 Episode 14 - Aired 1/15/1987
A dowster explains the art of finding water to our host and landover Bob Houde; a well is dug; and a surveyor goes over the fine points of a perc test. The importance of a water-quality test is explained, and our host looks at the special water pump.
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- NaN/100 votes
#15 - The Brimfield House - 3
Season 8 Episode 15 - Aired 1/22/1987
We visit a vacation home similar to the one being built in Brimfield, and the homeowner meets with architect Jock Gifford. Later, the new vacation home begins to materialize as lumber arrives and the structure is raised.
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#16 - The Brimfield House - 4
Season 8 Episode 16 - Aired 2/5/1987
Our master carpenter shows us how to install double-hung windows, explains skylight installation and puts a sliding glass door in the vacation home.
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- NaN/100 votes
#17 - The Brimfield House - 5
Season 8 Episode 17 - Aired 2/5/1987
Ricard Trethewey pays a visit to Brimfield to discuss the vacation home's heating needs with our host and the homeowner. An exhibition in Malmo, Sweeden, shows the latest designs in manufactured housing.
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- NaN/100 votes
#18 - The Brimfield House - 6
Season 8 Episode 18 - Aired 2/12/1987
The vacation home receives interior finishes such as decorative, low-maintenance plywood paneling. Viewers visit our master carpenter's workshop to watch as he builds screens for the veranda.
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- NaN/100 votes
#19 - The Brimfield House - 7
Season 8 Episode 19 - Aired 2/19/1987
An energy-efficient wood-burning stove is installed in the vacation home. Our host larns about the new water purifier. We then learn how to hang interior doors. Kitchen appliances and plumbing fixtures installed.
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- NaN/100 votes
#20 - The Brimfield House - 8
Season 8 Episode 20 - Aired 2/26/1987
Our host takes viewers on a tour of the finished vacation home. A flooring expert shows how vinyl floors are installed and the vacation home receives various electrical finishing touches, such as smoke detectors, fans and a thermostat.
Director: N/A
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- NaN/100 votes
#21 - The Phoenix House - 1
Season 8 Episode 21 - Aired 3/5/1987
This Old House visits Pioneer, Arizona, a typical ""Wild West"" town, and our host meets Phoenix homeowners Tom and Ellen to tour their adobe-style house. The homeowners meet with their architect and and contractor.
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- NaN/100 votes
#22 - The Phoenix House - 2
Season 8 Episode 22 - Aired 3/12/1987
Our master carpenter pays a surprise visit to This Old House's Phoenix renovation project, and Tom and Ellen begin work on their Southwestern renovation project.
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- NaN/100 votes
#23 - The Phoenix House - 3
Season 8 Episode 23 - Aired 3/19/1987
Tom and Ellen's Phoenix home receives exterior insulation and flashing, as well as a typical Southwestern viga and latilla ceiling in the master bedroom for added protection from the heat. The balcony piers and staircase are finished with adobe plastering, and viewers learn how to install flagstone paving. Our host pays a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright's famed Talesin West.
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- NaN/100 votes
#24 - The Phoenix House - 4
Season 8 Episode 24 - Aired 3/26/1987
The flat roof of Tom and Ellen's Phoenix home is protected with cold membrane roofing, and tiles are laid on the balcony. Our host takes viewers on a tour of an unusual modern ""castle"" on Camelback.
Director: N/A
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- NaN/100 votes
#25 - The Phoenix House - 5
Season 8 Episode 25 - Aired 4/2/1987
Fixtures are installed in the remodeled bathroom of Tom and Ellen's Phoenix home, and the house receives energy-efficient windows. Our host checks on the progress of the new reading nook, and takes viewers on a visit to the renowned Arizona Biltmore Hotel.
Director: N/A
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The Best Episodes of This Old House Season 8
Every episode of This Old House Season 8 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of This Old House Season 8!
TV's original home-improvement show, following one whole-house renovation over several episodes.
Genre:Documentary
Network:PBS
Season 8 Ratings Summary
"The Reading House - 1" is the best rated episode of "This Old House" season 8. It scored N/A/10 based on 0 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 10/16/1986. This episode is rated NaN points higher than the second-best, "The Reading House - 2".