Not much there.

This Old House is published, naturally enough, as an adjunct to the popular PBS show, but it doesn't really offer much by itself. It's mostly a read-and-toss sort of magazine. If you're really interested in home building and remodeling, there are two far superior magazines: Fine Homebuilding and Old Home Journal. Each of them offers far more depth and useful information than This Old House, not to mention better photography and a wider range of topics. Fine Homebuilding in particular is a magazine you'll want to keep- and most readers do.

Resource Material

If you are a fan of This Old House, then you probably want to get this magazine. If you have been watching the show for a long time (who hasn't?) then you will feel like you are reading a magazine about family, as there is usually something in each issue from each of the show's participants.

The magazine offers more in-depth information about the projects you see on television. A big reason to get the magazine is to learn more about the materials used in the projects and where you can get them. In addition, there are projects covered in the magazine which are not done on the television series.

While the magazine, in my opinion, is a bit short on exact specifics, or "how-to's," one has to keep in mind that a lot of the attitude of the show seems to be "use a professional." While I can understand doing that if you have the financial resources, it just isn't always practical. Still, if you want to be informed when you do call the professionals, this is one way to do it.

Just an ad for the TV show

This Old House magazine is great for keeping up to date on other peoples remodels and what the TV show is doing. It is not however good at teaching you how to do much of anything. There is too much time spent reminding readers that all the "experts" quoted in the magazine can also be seen on the various TV shows.

Compared to the other magazine I get, Family Handyman, This Old House has very little in the way of useful tips and detailed instructions for projects. When projects are explained in detail, they are too high a level for most home handymen.

Good for ideas on what to do: Somewhat
Good for how to implent those ideas: Not