Just yesterday I went poking around the TOH site and forums looking for info on the next season. I came up empty. This blog entry is somewhat timely. I'm looking forward to the new season. Good luck.

As always, can't wait for the start of the new season. One comment, less side trips and more of the guys working.
David
Sacramento, CA

Interesting looking place, but that over-built yellow arbor sticks out like a sore thumb.

I agree with JohnPaul; the side trips, while occasionally interesting, drag on way too long. I watch the show to see the action on the current project, not to see how cast iron fencing is made, or how pool tables are made. Don't care; I have a library for that type of info. I want all project all the time.

What state is your Weston House in?

It's in Massachusetts like all the other long seasons.

Is this going to be another project that is well out of financial reach for the average person?

I like the side trip to see how things are done, but did not enjoy any of the side trips in New Orleans.

I agree for the need to reduce the side trips and spend more time with the trades. It is nice to see the over the top houses, but it would be more relevant to most of your viewers to find projects that are more afordable. This past season was more realistic in my opinion. I note that no one ever recaps the actual project's cost. Most of these jobs cost more than the average home purchase price. Regardless, I will be looking forward to the next season and thank you for a great show.

I enjoy all of your shows however I get tired of watching repeats after repeats after repeats. I get TOH on my local channel every night at 730 and 800 pm The only Time I see what the present project is ( New Orleans ) is on sunday morn @ 9:30 A.M. Usually by that time I am busy working. Why can't these shows be shown in the eveing instead of repeats. You are getting ready to rebuild the Carlise Farmhouse for the 4th time this year. please see if you can do something about this. Thank you

I agree with some of the comments in part, one is side trips are informative - if they relate to special items. You can get a lot of input if you understand the way some things are put together. It should be easy to understand, that the shop or manufacture that you are visiting is getting a promo, which cuts down on the cost of the show production. You may want items that are custom made and it is good to know where to get them. For an example I happen to catch the architect name, Tsang on one of the shows and was able to contact him for information on a barn door hanger which I was looking for to be designed for my daughter’s home. (Not the $350 one used on the show, but a $40 one and it works fine.) Items like the foam insulation, we used in a remodeling of my daughters home, the tankless water heaters first on the list for our remodel. LED lighting for the kitchen.
The second comment is that PPS is a great station, but the timing of when the shows are on is one of my pet peeves and yes I am a member of PPS. It is a real pain to be watching for four or five weeks and then loss sight of the program because of specials or fund rising.
We’ll look forward to what’s is new out there we lived in a prefab and I worked for a company back in the ‘60’s in Baton Rouge LA. We watched on go up on the next street in one week from digging the foundation to sitting the house in place , 3 stories. However, it took the builder four months to get the permits.

Hey, where in Weston is the house? I go to school in the town over and would love to be able to drive by and check on the progress. I've heard great things about this project from professors and wish you all the best of luck!

Zach -- in the interest of protecting the privacy of the homeowners, we can't reveal the project's exact location -- hope you understand.

One repeat I would like to see re-broadcast is the second show the 1981 Bigelow house by H.H. Richardson. A current update would be nice also. Have you considered this? This is when I began watchin TOH and have been a faithfull viewer ever since. I also do love the TOH classics as well as all the new projects! Many thanks for all you do!

I agree with a couple of the posts...no long side trips and not MA again! Can't the guys come out here to the great old midwest? we are alot like the east coast...really! I don't get it~ what is the photo of if the barn is going to be "new" ? It's going to be another house that doesn't apply to the average home owner...that makes me disappointed already.

Never mind now i see it's a picture of what they are going to build...dah

Great to see your new project. I feel if everyone on the show is a friend of mine. Would it be possible to see some of the projects that were done in the early 80's. I can't seem to find any classics on Southern Califoria stations. Does anyone know where I can find it? Looking forward to the new season. I hope they don't wait until January to show it.

My husband and I watch TOH when it's on in Australia, But we get 5 shows at a time on saturday morning until the house is finished. BUT we may not get any more show's for 6 to 12 month. So enjoy the show if you can get it ,it's the best.

I'm a long-time TOH viewer, and have always generally enjoyed the "this is how it's made" side trip segments. Please continue the theme.

For this barn season, I'd like to suggest a side-segment showing the AMAZING, huge barns that have been restored at Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, VT. Their "farm barn" is beauty simply beyond description ... and still fully functioning with sheep, chickens, etc.!

This is excititng because the Weston project is my cousin's house. TOH crew are working with two terrific people!

I like the side trips myself and know I will enjoy seeing the house built in the factory. Maybe when you start this project you could show us that barn conversion you did for your anniversary show. Many people I know are curious as to how much This Old House was able to sell the house for. I think too talking about how much building this current house costs would be helpful to those considering a pre-fab house. Sounds very interesting anyway. Only thing though I only found out about this through e-mail and not on the website. Also the webcam is misidentified as the New Orleans house.

Like all the rest, I look forward to the new season.

From the comments I've seen before mine, it looks like TOH needs to bring out DVD sets of the old programs.

Sell them as one project in a complete set. You can even add some of the interesting stuff that didn't make it on air but would be nice to see.

And like the movies, you can even put in the out takes. While it doesn't happen much, I'm sure, don't those guys ever screw up? Even once? It would be interesting to watch and would be great for my self esteem.

Maybe that could be a add on show just the side trips almost like the show Ask This Old house it could be This Old House Side Trips. That way there no one expects construction it just covers info on Material going into the prject.

I wish you would return to your roots. Projects with homeowners doing substantial work on them rather than just paying the bills. I really liked New Orleans for that purpose. Episodes on how to figure out a budget for a renovation project and how to avoid extreme overruns would also be helpful. Too often architechs and contractors make us think we can get more for our money than is realistically possible, presenting a much more elaborate project than the dollars available will allow.

Also, I wish you would spend a season going out to as many former projects as possible to show what they are like now. Inside and outside, where possible. One I would be very interested in would be the 3 story affordable home in Boston with Hazel.

I understand the reasoning behind so many Massachusetts projects, since you all have other projects to work on as well. I just wish you would be more realistic in what the "short season" projects are and not jump in and out so much. We really do not get to see a full view of the projects, since you jump in for a day or two and then leave for a couple of weeks at a time.

I'm from New Jersey, (Southern end). I live about a block from the beach, so we have very sandy soil. My point is, that watching all of the old projects, none that I can recall, were built on a sandy foundation. I've seen clay, (MA area), desert sand, (Austin, TX), lots of MUD, New Orleans'), etc. While the "side trips" are very informative; they also seem to be very expensive. The only show I could really relate to is the one with Bill (?) at the Austin, Tx show. Especially, when he and Kevin went to a Home Depot; I said, to my wife, "Carol! There's a guy that knows his stuff!!" (she just laughed...) I really liked the New Orleans' project too; there was alot of diversity there...the project house, the musicians area, the 9th District, etc. a side trip there should have included how they repaired those levees, so that another storm like Katrina would be able to hold back the water...I watch everything that comes in my area; This Old House, Ask This Old House, The New Yankee Workshop. Now there's a season that I missed, watching Norm build his workshop. I can't wait till the new season starts; I've seen so many repeat shows I can almost repeat everybody's lines...keep up the great work!!!

I too have followed TOH from the beginning. I actually have a hard hat signed by all the gang, which I've mounted in a protective acrylic box. I also have hundred dollar bills signed by the cast. (Years ago I met Steve Thomas and wanted to get his autograph on a crisp new $1 bill to prove to my wife I wouldn't spend my last dollar fixing up our house. Unfortunately, all I had that was new and clean was a $100 bill. As I met the rest of the cast at various events, I thought I should have everyone sign $100 bills. Damn, I sure could use the interest on those, but I'm not parting with them.)

I notice many fans are asking to see or buy the old shows. I'd like to buy tapes or DVD copies of all the old shows, but all I've found is a few on ebay. Is there some legal reason that those shows can't be released?

Also, there was an extra "behind-the-scenes" or follow-up show after the Manchester project. I thought that was extremely interesting. Would that be possible with future projects?

Dear TOH,

I like the variety of projects presented by TOH and I also like the side trips. This is truly educational TV! I would like to ask if you've ever considered doin a program in fly-over country? I'm talkin' Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, you get the drift? Many of us out here have different isues to deal with (like 120 miles to the nearest Home Depot)and a cost of living that is a lot less than what we see on most of your shows. To me most of your projects are dream homes, nothing ever attainable to most average folks. Thanks for giving us an opportunity to comment. Looking forward to the next season.

Add a ditto to David from San Francisco

Why dont I see any mention of the architect involved in any project?

Why cant I just buy a project to watch on DVD?

It's great to see another house project get started. This is my 18th year watching. Could you please tell me when will the webcams on-site actually come on?? Thanks, Jim

Yahoo!!!! Another House project to chase next falls and Winters Doldrums away.....gotta agee on the side trips and Y not make another PBS show Just for TOH..Like TOH Sidetrips 2 Manufacturers? Alot of content to cram into 18 shows or so but keep up the GOOD WORK!!!!

Thanks for getting the cameras on. It was great to see darkness at 2 in the morning instead of a sun-lit wilting leaf on the "south" camera. Watched for 5 hours Wednesday morning as the foundation was dug. Will watch every day. THANKS again from Arizona. Jim

I was watching this old house on may 24th. I missed the start of the show and would like to find what project was that show and what is the name of the store that the host featured in the beginning that sells great cheeses?

Good Lord, another high dollar renovation !!! Not sure can stabd any more of this stuff, makes the average joe look like a pauper. Where exactly do you find these millionaires in search of new century renovations ?

It is sad how this show has fallen in the past decade. I have watched every episode, every season and I have never thought I would walk away, but I think I need to. The producers have total forgotten about 95% of the viewing audience and go only for those making a million or more a year. The show needs to go back to its roots when they didn't just show normal projects most homeowners were tackling, but how to do it properly. TOH is becoming like all of the shows on HGTV, showing how to paint a wall, but not how to build the wall. I believe the biggest injustice is to have true craftsmen like Norm Abram and Tom Silva on a show with a host that I personally think does not even know what end of a screwdriver to use. I guess PBS thinks the only viewers of their stations are the upper crust while the rest of us peasants do nothing but watch American Idol, eek!

New project looks fascinating. The pergola is fine. The side trips are part of what distinguishes TOH from the 1,000 other house shows. I admit I like them a little bit more when they don't take TOO much time away from the project, but they're always educational and what's wrong with that? I LIKE learning new things! I do have to say my favorite projects are those that aren't over the top cost-wise, and where the homeowners pitch in or show some common sense. Loved Austin and both New Orleans projects. LOVED the New Orleans side trips!

This is my first blog ever, so being rather new at it, I have a lot to learn and can't help wondering if I'm doing things right and if I'm up to date. I love the Weston home and have always wanted to buy an old barn and turn it into a home. The Weston home goes goes the step further and builds everything I'd want on the roof from coupala, rope pulleys on the gabled end,dormed windows, solar panels and all. I would like the roof to swing out ward to a farmers porch roof. I someday would like to build a smaller version of this home, you see, I agree with Craig C. (April 24) in his comments,your out of touch with the 40-60,000 dollars a year people. but love this Weston Home project and welcome all the "green ideas"... thank you

Just wanted to say I'm a huge fan. I have been watching TOH since it started with the renovation of a kitchen in a house owned by a doctor. Keep up the great work. I think my favorite project was the original Barn project where we first met Tedd Benson. I look forward to seeing the progression on the Weston project.

I'd love to watch the new project this year but TOH is not available for the first time that I can remember on my local Seattle PBS station. The person at KCTS was vague as to the reason. Would appreciate an answer. Thanks.

Economical house, I suppose, but nevertheless feeling now like a bygone era. Even so TOH was taken off of one station and relegated to 8 AM Sat by another in DC 2 yrs ago with no guarantee that all segments will be shown or in the right order. Perhaps there is a msg in that.

HOW DID THIS HOUSE COST???

If you aren't even going to share that, then what is the point of watching?

OK, how much would it cost to build a house like this in Maine (without the land cost)? We,like others, are very concerned about the cost since many of us just might want to build one of these.