Restoration Road

Host Clint Harp and the architect du jour take us on a genial walk through historical structures while mixing in some architectural history.

Other reviewers have accurately pointed out they don't really restore anything. They demo the buildings. Move the salvageable timber. And reassemble or build something new using that timber. Every once in a while they recreate original materials or salvage a doo-dad.

Anyway, Clint seems like a nice guy but I don't believe he's a woodworker any more than I'm an iron-worker. He's a good-natured gee-whiz host who would get on my nerves if I had to spend more than 44 minutes with him. He'd also get laughed off any real jobsite.

The real stars of this show are the writers, who spin a story out of each structure, some of which are irredeemable junk and should probably be burned down. The finished buildings are usually quite impressive, even though they must surely cost seven figures each once all that transportation, design and labour are accounted for.

I love this show. I can't get enough of all the great buildings they find and repurpose. All these buildings give you a view into old Americana and the people behind them. It's a great show and I'm looking forward to the next season. 👍

I never write reviews, however I must. Never before have I experienced personal emotion upon watching a "home improvement " show. I tear up at the end of the show every time I watch a new episode. The attention and respect to past craftsmanship is truly inspirational. In these difficult days of historic challenges to our present way of life, I find peace and comfort in the experience of this show. We know life 200 years ago was also a challenge. To see things continue on through careful detailed craftsmanship gives me encouragement. Thank you all. May more episodes and seasons continue.

I don't think we have ever ALL been so intrigued by a show before! History, craftsmanship, and a vacation to do list... We cannot get enough! The end result every week gives us shivers!

They need to take "Restoration" out of the title.

Basically they take apart old historical barns and houses in upstate New York, and then use the pieces to make new luxury homes and such in Texas and other areas in the west.

It ends up looking NOTHING like the original.

It is a new structure with some pieces from the original - usually the timber frame structure displayed on the inside of the new structure.