Others say...

"Making Your Living Space More Livable"
This Old House is a magazine dedicated to home improvement. Based on the popular PBS television program, this magazine aims to help its readers find new and better ways to improve the home and perform routine maintenance.

Magazines and the internet are my primary sources when home repair reaches the critical point. This Old House is one of several magazines I like to read and it is the one I turn to most frequently when I need to find out about home maintenance. The majority of other home- related publications deal strictly with enhancements, remodeling, and general improvement. This Old House offers these types of articles, along with articles on general home repair, landscaping techniques, utility cost savings, and more.

My favorite departments in This Old House are "Around the House", "Toolbox", and "Salvage". The last department, Salvage, sounds boring at first but it often gets very creative. This department selects a common household item- usually one that is probably slated to get tossed in the trash- and points out a creative way to re- use the item. Some of the ideas they come up with are surprising, making this one of the first sections I turn to when I get a new issue in the mail.

Some parts of This Old House are not appealing at all, either because the suggestions are far too costly for someone like me; because they involve skills that I do not possess; or a combination of the two. The Luxury department is one such area. Another is the Design sections. These areas are intended for the more advanced home improver who has advanced skills at home design. There are some very expensive suggestions, too, and these parts of the magazine provide more fantasy reading than anything. However, there are still enough less expensive ideas to keep the magazine useful and practical.

Overall, This Old House is a good magazine that offers some home improvement ideas, some repair suggestions, and some ways to enhance your home's value. The general repair advice is pretty handy and while I don't have much use for other parts of the magazine, I can agree that these are helpful to the right type of person. It makes This Old House a good publication for those who seek advice for home repair and home enhancement.


"Makes a great gift...even for yourself"
I ordered this magazine for my husband, but ever since the first issue arrived I've been hooked. (My sister picked up one of our copies while visiting and was instantly hooked too. So, I ordered her a subscription for Christmas.) I've been a fan of the show for some time, but have found the magazine much more useful as far as everyday application of knowledge gained. It's given me (oh, and my husband) lots of practical but brilliant ideas. I'm planning on putting in a butler's pantry in the kitchen this spring.
I have to confess one of my favorite things about the magazine is the letter from the editor that sets-up the issue. He's just a witty, salt-of-the-earth kinda guy and I always laugh at his stories. The only downside to the magazine is that some of the houses in the feature articles have had 100's of thousands of dollars spent on their remodels. My husband and I are D.I.Y.ers, not people who could hire a contractor to add another 1000 sq. feet to our house. Even still, I do glean good ideas from those spreads of palatial remodels.
One more thing, their website is incredibly helpful and easy to navigate, so check that out too!

"VERY helpful"
Must-have magazine for anyone with a house! No kidding -- it offers hints, tips and help for old and new homes. Everything is tackled: plumbing, roofing, painting, restoring, etc. Great housewarming gift!


"great gift for a homeowner"
I have given this as a gift to both my husband and father-in-law. They are both very handy and own older homes. It is perfect. I even enjoy reading my husbands for organizational tips.

"Good for ideas, but not for "how to" information"
If you are looking to do major renovation work in rooms of an older house, then this magazine will give you some ideas, before and after pictures, etc. There is precious little about minor jobs, improvements and fixes you may make on an older house. There is a lot of showcasing new and expensive top of the line stuff. My needs are more simple. I want information on fixing and improving things in my house. I am not a professional contractor. For the major stuff, I will hire someone. I have subscribed for three years but find that there is only one or two pages in each issue that can help me. Their TV show "Ask this old house" is much more informative. For magazines, I am going to try "Family Handyman" magazine instead.