Norm Abram Shuttering The Doors After 43 Years of ‘This Old House’

Norm Abram measured his career (twice, probably) and is set to make his final cut. After spending more than four decades as the pioneering host to the home improvement television genre, Abram will be retiring.

This Old House has been a staple on television for about as long as there was television and now the carpenter-turned-host is ready to retire. Abrams will get one final flurry with a one-hour tribute special The House That Norm Built premiering Monday, October 3rd at 9pm ET on PBS and streamed on The Roku Channel.

Dan Suratt, Vice President of This Old House for Roku, celebrated Abrams in a press release.

“Norm is a living legend that helped create the home improvement television genre and entire networks are now in existence because of the trusted expertise to generations of homeowners that he provided,” he said. “‘Measure twice, cut once’ is a familiar slogan to anyone who knows Norm – it will be hard for anyone to measure up to Norm. We’re honored to have had him as part of our family.”

According to the release, during the special, fans will get to see some the most wonderful recollections from Abram’s 43-year career, including classic moments, archived footage, interviews and memories from celebrities, friends, peers and those who have worked alongside him.

The show figures to be be a dedication to his trademark plaid shirt, uncompromising craftsmanship, sitcom impersonations, late-night TV bits and more have made him the ultimate authority in home improvement over the years, all as he maintained his humble outlook on life. 

Abram appeared in over 1000 episodes of This Old House alone, also working on over 50 home renovation projects and hosting more than 280 episodes of The New Yankee Workshop. He first found his passion for home renovation on Christmas Eve in 1958, when he went to a job installing hardwood floors with his father, a Boston carpenter. That first job was the first of many weekends and summer breaks Abram spent with his father learning the skills and discipline necessary to become a master.