Long before home-renovation television became a parade of dramatic reveals, surprise budgets, and couples arguing over backsplash tile, This Old House showed remodeling as it actually happened: one careful, dusty, occasionally rain-soaked step at a time. Season 7’s Reading Ranch project remains a particularly memorable example.
Presented across nine episodes broadcast from December 1985 through January 1986, the project followed the transformation of a modest home in Reading, Massachusetts. The central idea sounded simple enoughraise the roof and add a second floorbut accomplishing it required demolition, framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical work, siding, masonry, tile, interior finishing, and a great deal of coordination. In other words, it was slightly more complicated than rearranging the throw pillows.
By the final episode, the original one-story house had become a two-story Garrison-style colonial with significantly more living space. The Reading Ranch was not merely redecorated. It was fundamentally reimagined.
What Was the Reading Ranch Project?
The official This Old House archive describes the project as a ranch house in Reading, Massachusetts, that received a new second story. An early episode synopsis also calls the building a “half Cape,” illustrating how ordinary suburban homes often borrow features from more than one architectural category.
Whatever label viewers preferred, the homeowners faced a recognizable problem: their existing house no longer provided enough room. Instead of abandoning the neighborhood, purchasing a larger property, or extending the building across more of the lot, they chose to build upward.
The plan was ambitious. The existing roof would be removed, the floor plan would be finalized with an architect, and an entirely new upper level would be framed over the original structure. The completed addition would include new bedrooms, a primary bathroom, updated utilities, and customized finishing details.
This vertical expansion also changed the house’s exterior identity. The low, modest silhouette of the original building gave way to the taller proportions of a Garrison-style colonial. A defining feature of that architectural form is a second story that projects slightly beyond the first floor, creating a subtle overhang across the front facade.
The Nine-Episode Reading Ranch Transformation
The Reading Ranch occupied Episodes 9 through 17 of This Old House Season 7. Each approximately half-hour installment focused on a different construction phase, allowing viewers to see how numerous trades and decisions fit together.
Part 1: Planning a Larger Home
Broadcast on December 5, 1985, the opening episode introduced the Reading property and the homeowners’ goal of roughly doubling their living space. Bob Vila reviewed the existing house and discussed the bold proposal to raise the roof and create a full second story.
Part 2: Removing the Existing Roof
The December 12 episode moved quickly into demolition. The old roof was removed while the homeowners and architect worked through the final layout of the addition. This stage established an important renovation lesson: demolition may be visually exciting, but good planning must come first.
Part 3: Framing, Roofing, and Lumber
By December 19, the new roof structure was in place and shingling had begun. The episode also included a visit to Hancock Lumber in Maine, giving viewers a broader look at how construction timber was processed. The side trip reflected the show’s educational style, connecting materials at the jobsite with the industries that produced them.
Part 4: Rain Creates a Real-World Problem
The December 26 installment documented trouble caused by heavy rainfall. Bob Vila and master carpenter Norm Abram inspected the newly constructed roof and assessed the damage. Rather than editing the complication out of the story, the program turned it into a practical lesson about temporary weather protection and construction sequencing.
Part 5: Windows, Wiring, and Plumbing
On January 2, 1986, work advanced on the windows and exterior shingles. Richard Trethewey examined the rough plumbing and electrical systems needed for the upper floor. The episode demonstrated that a second-story addition is not simply a wooden box placed on top of a house; it must be integrated with the building’s existing mechanical systems.
Part 6: Siding and Outdoor Construction
The January 9 episode featured vinyl siding installation on the expanded exterior. Norm Abram also worked with homeowner Frank on framing a deck. Homeowner participation was an important ingredient in early This Old House projects, making the program feel less like a performance and more like an unusually well-documented workshop.
Part 7: Masonry and Prefabricated Construction
By January 16, a mason had completed the extended chimney needed for the taller structure. The program also revisited prefabricated home construction through a segment about Ryland Homes in Maryland. The comparison showed viewers that conventional remodeling and factory-supported building systems could solve housing challenges in different ways.
Part 8: Tile and a Greenhouse Window
The January 23 episode concentrated on finishing details. Bob Vila, Norm Abram, and the homeowner fitted a greenhouse window on the second floor, while ceramic tile was installed in the new primary bathroom. After weeks of structural work, the addition finally began looking like a finished living space rather than a very expensive lumber collection.
Part 9: The Completed Garrison-Style Colonial
The finale aired on January 30, 1986. Bob Vila toured the transformed interior, which now featured fresh paint, wallpaper, carpeting, and completed rooms. From the street, the formerly modest yellow house had become a two-story Garrison-style colonial. The reveal felt satisfying because viewers had watched the difficult middle, not just the attractive beginning and end.
Why Building Up Made Sense
Adding a second story can be an appealing solution when a family likes its neighborhood but has outgrown its home. It creates additional square footage without consuming as much yard space as a large ground-floor addition. It may also preserve an existing foundation, driveway, landscaping plan, and connection to the street.
However, building upward introduces serious technical questions. The original foundation and first-floor framing must be evaluated to determine whether they can support additional loads. Stairs require carefully positioned floor openings. Plumbing lines must reach the new bathrooms, heating must serve the upper rooms, and electrical circuits must be expanded safely.
The Reading Ranch episodes make these challenges visible. The roof could not simply be removed on Monday and replaced whenever everyone felt refreshed. Once the original structure was opened, weather became a threat. Framing, sheathing, roofing, windows, and exterior protection had to be coordinated to make the home weather-resistant again.
The Building Envelope Matters
Modern building-science guidance places even greater emphasis on the building envelope: the connected system of walls, roofing, floors, foundations, windows, and doors that separates conditioned rooms from the outdoors. Major renovations provide valuable opportunities to improve insulation, control unwanted air leakage, flash openings, and manage moisture.
Although today’s energy codes and products differ from those available in 1985, the underlying lesson remains relevant. When a roof or exterior wall is already open, it is wise to address hidden performance problems before the drywall, siding, and trim return. Nobody enjoys removing a beautiful new wall because a three-dollar gap was forgotten behind it.
What Made the Reading Ranch Good Television?
It Respected the Construction Process
The series did not treat renovation as a magic trick. Viewers saw architects, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, roofers, masons, and homeowners contribute to the result. The house changed because many people solved a sequence of connected problems.
That approach reflected creator Russell Morash’s broader philosophy of instructional television. Morash developed This Old House after encountering the realities of renovation himself. The first local series became a major success for Boston public television, and the program later expanded nationally through PBS.
The host’s role was also important. Rather than pretending to know everything, Bob Vila frequently asked the questions a homeowner might ask. Norm Abram and Richard Trethewey could then explain the reasoning, tools, and techniques behind the work.
Problems Were Part of the Story
The rain-damaged roof was not merely a dramatic episode ending. It illustrated the vulnerability of an occupied house during a major alteration. Construction plans must allow for tarps, temporary coverings, drainage, material storage, and schedule changes.
Showing setbacks gave the finished result credibility. The program did not imply that every board fit on the first attempt or that weather politely checked the production calendar before arriving.
The Homeowners Remained Visible
The homeowners were not treated as people who vanished after choosing paint samples. They participated in planning and construction, including work on the deck and greenhouse window. Their presence helped viewers understand how renovation decisions affect daily family life.
Living through a roof-raising project requires patience. Noise, dust, temporary protection, interrupted utilities, and limited access can become part of the routine. By keeping the homeowners in the story, the Reading Ranch episodes preserved the human scale of the project.
The Reading Ranch as a Piece of American Housing History
Ranch houses became a major part of postwar American suburban development. Their one-story layouts, low rooflines, accessible rooms, and connection to outdoor spaces fit the needs and expectations of many growing families. Federal preservation research now recognizes 1950s ranch houses as meaningful records of community planning, residential development, and postwar social history.
The Reading Ranch project captures another stage in that history: what happened when the first generation of modest suburban houses no longer felt large enough. Instead of automatically demolishing the building, the project adapted it. The original house became the structural and spatial foundation for a new family home.
The resulting Garrison-style colonial also reflected a familiar American design habitcombining practical construction needs with historical architectural references. The taller facade and projecting upper story gave the expanded house a more traditional New England appearance, even though its transformation relied on contemporary materials and building methods.
Renovation Lessons Homeowners Can Still Use
Confirm the Structure Before Designing the Dream
A second-floor addition begins with engineering, not bedroom decor. The foundation, bearing walls, floor system, and connections must safely carry the proposed loads. A qualified architect, structural engineer, and experienced contractor should evaluate the house before plans are finalized.
Plan the Stairs Early
Stairs consume more space than many homeowners expect. Their position can affect hallways, bedrooms, entrances, and the usefulness of the existing first floor. A beautifully designed upper level is not much help when the only way to reach it requires climbing through a linen closet.
Coordinate the Trades
Framing determines where plumbing, ducts, wiring, insulation, and finishes can go. Decisions made by one trade can create workor headachesfor another. Detailed plans and regular communication reduce expensive changes later.
Prepare for Weather
Roof removal creates a period of unusual risk. Contractors should establish a temporary weather-protection plan, monitor forecasts, secure materials, and respond quickly to leaks. Insurance responsibilities and emergency procedures should also be understood before work begins.
Upgrade What Will Become Inaccessible
When walls and roofs are open, homeowners should consider insulation, air sealing, wiring capacity, plumbing access, ventilation, and moisture control. Hidden improvements may not produce glamorous photographs, but they often determine whether the completed rooms remain comfortable and durable.
Budget for the Unseen
Existing homes rarely reveal every secret during the first inspection. Rot, outdated wiring, damaged sheathing, weak framing, and plumbing conflicts may appear after demolition. A realistic contingency fund gives the project room to respond without turning every surprise into a household financial emergency.
The Experience of Watching Season 7 – The Reading Ranch Today
Watching the Reading Ranch episodes today can feel almost peaceful compared with modern renovation programming. There is no artificial countdown clock insisting that an entire second story must be completed before a surprise anniversary dinner. The work proceeds according to the needs of the house, not the emotional requirements of a commercial break.
That slower rhythm changes the viewing experience. A roof is not simply shown before and after replacement. Viewers see why it is removed, how the new structure is framed, what happens when rain arrives, and which tasks must follow. The sequence turns construction into a story that can be understood rather than a montage accompanied by enthusiastic hammer noises.
The episodes also create an appreciation for ordinary decisions. Window placement, chimney height, siding transitions, plumbing routes, and bathroom tile may sound less exciting than a wrecking ball crashing through a wall. Yet these are the decisions that determine whether an addition feels integrated with the original house.
Another striking part of the experience is seeing the homeowners work alongside the experts. Their participation makes the renovation feel attainable without suggesting that major structural work is an easy weekend project. A homeowner may help frame a deck or fit a specialized window while still relying on skilled trades for engineering, roofing, plumbing, electrical work, and masonry.
The program’s side trips add another layer. Visits to a lumber operation and prefabricated home manufacturers might initially seem unrelated to one Massachusetts addition, but they expand the viewer’s understanding of where building materials and systems come from. The house becomes part of a larger industry rather than an isolated television set.
There is also a pleasant honesty in the visual style. Rooms are finished with paint, carpeting, wallpaper, tile, and furnishings that reflect their era. The final interior does not need to resemble a current social-media trend to be successful. Its purpose was to serve the homeowners living there in 1986.
For viewers considering a second-story addition today, the Reading Ranch offers both inspiration and a gentle warning. The transformation proves that an undersized suburban home can gain substantial space and an entirely new identity. At the same time, the nine-episode journey demonstrates how many coordinated steps lie behind that result.
The most memorable experience is watching the house retain a sense of continuity. It becomes taller, larger, and more elaborate, but it is still the family’s familiar property in Reading. The project does not celebrate replacing the old simply because something newer is available. It celebrates adapting a useful structure so it can continue serving the people who call it home.
Why the Reading Ranch Still Matters
Season 7’s Reading Ranch project remains relevant because the central problem has not disappeared. Families still outgrow homes they otherwise love. Buildable land can be limited, moving can be disruptive, and expanding outward may sacrifice valuable yard space.
The project demonstrates that renovation can be a form of practical preservation. The homeowners kept the location and much of the original structure while gaining the rooms they needed. The finished home represented both continuity and changea useful combination in any renovation.
It also preserves an era when home-improvement television concentrated on explaining the work. The entertainment came from watching skilled people think, measure, cut, troubleshoot, and occasionally discover that the weather had developed its own renovation plan.
Most importantly, the Reading Ranch shows that a successful transformation is not defined only by its reveal. It is defined by planning, structural safety, weather protection, coordination, craftsmanship, and the ability of the finished house to support everyday life.
Conclusion
Season 7 – The Reading Ranch is more than an archive of a 1980s remodeling project. It is a detailed case study in how a modest one-story home can be expanded vertically, connected to new mechanical systems, protected from weather, and redesigned as a cohesive two-story residence.
Across nine episodes, viewers follow the complete journey: initial planning, roof demolition, framing, shingling, storm damage, rough utilities, siding, masonry, tile, custom details, and the final interior tour. Because the difficult steps remain visible, the completed Garrison-style colonial feels earned.
The styles and products may belong to another decade, but the project’s best lessons remain timeless. Understand the existing structure. Plan thoroughly. Respect skilled labor. Expect complications. Improve hidden systems while they are accessible. Above all, design the addition around the people who will live in itnot merely around the moment when somebody opens the front door and pretends to be surprised.
Note: This retrospective is based on documented episode summaries, the official This Old House archive, public-media histories, architectural references, and modern building-envelope guidance. It provides general educational context and is not a substitute for project-specific architectural, engineering, code, or contractor advice.
