Saw a question about this show in another post and thought I would ask. What are peoples thoughts on this show and Mike Holmes. I think it is amazing to see just how bad a job some contractors will actually do.
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He's not perfect either. Several years ago he and his boys installed Kerdi using mastic.
If his soap box wasn't so high I could watch his show more than I do. But the bad practices that they expose? Yup, some true horror stories.
I'm with you, he exposes some real crooks, on the other hand his ego wouldn't fit in the grand canyon, that on top of some of the stuff I've seen him proclaim as gospel fact just irritates me.
One that sticks out is using screws from framing a garage. "It's just better and that's why I do it" BS.
You know I think I have seen them use screws on joist hangers.
Depends on the screws he used, some are approved, most are not.
But he doesn't specify
He has to use screws, cuz DeWalt duzn't make a hammer. Ever notice how the other brands of tools are fuzzed over?
Screws are better, dammit. Couldn't frame a house without them.And sidewinders are better than worm drives. Or the other way around. I can't remember. Next I'll start a thread about burying j-boxes. That oughta liven things up.;-)
Most nights are crystal clear, but tonight it's like he's stuck between stations.
he said he uses screws becaose you can't pull them apart. last i knew the law of gravity works for you in framing. he has good thoughts but...... his attitude!
I just cant respect a 45 male with an earing, it just aint right.two ways to screw up concrete 1) concrete driver 2) concrete finisher
Now ain't that the truth:)
roger
he's dreamy ...
and besides ... I think I finally figured out his prison tattoo.
for years I thot it was a bad Nike shoe symbol ... guy jumping to dunk a basketball.
coupla weeks ago ... saw a close up.
I think it's a bad snake ... coiled and ready to strike!
the ear ring don't bug me ... he lives in Toronto ... it's a different world up there.
I like it ... but different.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Hey Jeff, don't insult those other dudes here that live in Toronto! He lives out in Halton Hills near Acton. I think the equivilent would be calling you a Philadelphia boy! By the way, I just mentioned you again in my apprentice class yesterday. I was teaching a section on steel studs and we discussed the Jeff Buck method to cut. The boys want to try it in the shop, they are in disbelief that the knife score will do anything.
I think we can all agree that HOlmers ego would not fit in the state of Texas.
NOt to mention that he is full of #### half the time with his code references. I have to admit they do some nice work.
Have a good day, Sidney will be back in time to carry the Pens in the playoffs>
Cliffy
With all the sex and nudity on tv today,
Who's got time for Mike Holmes?
Could you enlighten me on the Jeff Buck method of steel studing?
Gord
He told me to use a speedy square and a utility knife to score the steel stud across its width where you want to cut it. Then two quick snips on the flanges to meet the score. A few folds back and forth and the steel stud is cut along the score, a nice clean straight cut!
Have a good day
Cliffy
How about a 51 year old male with an ear ring. I wonder about guys without one.
Russell
"Welcome to my world"
if I came home with an earing, my dad would crawl out of his grave and kick my but across the county "I did not raise no ##### in my house, you want a dress to go with that" and then my boss would fire me in a heartbeat..two ways to screw up concrete 1) concrete driver 2) concrete finisher
I showed up on a jobsite with my ear pierced at 18.
Dad just gave me a dirty look ... probably was about to say what yer Dad just said there ... but one of his buddies working got to it first.
called me a F@& ... turned to ask my Dad how he'd let that happen as I ran over and nailed him in the face ... he was bigger but I was quicker.
Dad seperated us ... told the guy to shut up or he'd let me go for round two ...
then smacked him in the same bloody lip and gave the old "no one but me" speach.
then ... knowing the guy just got dumped by the worlds ugliest girlfriend ... said ...
"Tell him who paid for that ..."
I say, Trish ... my girlfriend.
"OK ... U got a picture ... show him" ...
I had one ... and showed him ... as Trish was definitely out of my league!
guy was pretty quiet for the rest of the day ...
just got roughed up and shown up by a punk 18 yr old with a hot girlfriend!
the plus side ... Dad never said much about the earring after that.
guess he figured if I'd jump a big older guy I was still doing OK.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
That was a good story.Still have that picture of Trish?
not that the wife knows about!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
This her?
View ImageSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
uhh ... nope!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
This her?
View ImageSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Oh wait..this is her
View ImageSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
darker hair ...
last one was closer.
I actually think I might have an old pic in the "old pic bag" somewhere upstairs.
might have to fig'ger a way of checking w/o ending up in divorce court!
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
then again ...
even if I found one ...
probably not something I'd want to scan into the home computer!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Now yer getting smrt..
Google TRISH and cntrl+I, amazing what is out there..lolSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
My Dad always told my brother and I - "You come home with an ear ring while you're living in my house and I'll rip that f**in' thing right out"
He was big enough to do it too...
that literally happend to my best friend ...
His dad (and grandad, and him eventually) was a Marine Sergent. My friend, 17 at the time, comes home after his dad has been gone for a week. Looks at his boy, calmly says "let me take a look at that" and casually reaches for the golden ring in his son's ear ... and rips it out like you'd pull off a bandaid.
This was more than a decade ago. My friend's ear still looks like the top half of a tabbed shingle.
OR SOON TO BE 55
Back to the topic of using screws...I was watching a 2-part episode last night that was filmed in Southern CA. I think it was in Pasadena. From the start, he had to bring in a GC that he didn't know, so that was one thing. Next, he was unfamiliar with a lot of the practices/techniques out in Ca. That's all good, because I don't expect anyone to know how everything is done everywhere, it's just impossible. As long as they're open minded about it and can adapt to new ways.The show gets to a point where they had to build a pretty tall wall. He went on about how they were using engineered lumber and the advantages (they're straight, they're made from young trees that can be cut down and grown quicker, etc). Now he and his guy (Damon maybe?) start to assemble this one section of wall. They've got it laid out on the ground....top plate, bottom plate and studs.They start to nail it with what? A gun of course...because that's how things are done here. (Funny thing is, I've watched a LOT of his shows, and don't remember the last time I saw him using a framing nailer). They get in a few nails and then they stop and there's a question/comment about how hard the wood (engineered) is and the nail gun is NOT driving the nails all the way in. They proceed to try and pound the nails in with their hammers and all they do is bend the nails. He is getting FRUSTRATED and tells his guy to pull the nails out and they'll try again. Well then the nail heads pop off or pull through a couple times and now he's getting even more miffed. A couple times as he was pulling the nails out...the plate started separating from the studs, as he went on to say that the remaining nails (common) don't do their job of holding the assembly together so he could pull out the nails he wanted. He got into the whole thing about nails versus screws and how "shear" is why we use nails in earthquake land, versus pull out strength of screws. He definitely went on about how he didn't like commons and how he would prefer the twist shank nails so they would not "pull" out either. Eventually he put in a couple screws to hold the assembly together and I think he used a reciprocating saw to cut the nails out that he could not get out w/o messing up the head.I just thought it was interesting because all this time I've watched his shows I never see him using a framing gun, and the first time I do....he's using it on engineered lumber and it gave him fits. Either way, I like the show. As someone else mentioned, mostly because I like to see what was done "wrong" in many cases. If the show was just all about new construction where everything goes "perfect"...it would be very boring after a couple shows.
One of the episodes was filmed here (deck fell off a 2 story house, owner and friends in hospital etc)...let me tell you, no matter what you think of his earrings or ego, he's some popular with women.
A friend of mine was out for drinks with her friends, and he happened to come into the bar....she has a picture of him with the group of them, and she's pretty happy about it.
I saw that episode a couple of times. I like that he has gotten around geographically. Are you in St John's
Have a good day
Cliffy
Are you in Saint John Or just Near by? I am out in KV. I am interested to drive by that house in a couple years and see how the paint job holds up. No matter what construction/trades people think of Mike Holmes, his show definitely drives the point home to consumers that they need to be smart and as educated as possible when it comes to hiring trades people. Lets face it, the show is more about consumer education then it is about bad mouthing contractors.
I'm out in Millidgeville, but in fact just this am I was at the Quispamsis Arena, my daughter was playing hockey there.
I find Holmes on Homes an interesting show, because the main message he gives is that the homeowner needs to be educated about what to look for; a really low bid is a warning sign; if your contractor doesn't want to get permits, that's probably a big red flag.
MH definitely likes to error on the conservative side, but he isn't as sharp as he would like us to believe, or at least as much as he wants the client to believe.
He is so conditioned (rehersed) to spout off problems as the house is demo'ed that much of what he says isn't completely true. He's quick to blame, but that makes good TV.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
today he was complaining about conceal electrical junction box, although it was a code violation, it was not neccasary a safety hazard, he complain about that for twenty minutes. like he was looking for something..two ways to screw up concrete 1) concrete driver 2) concrete finisher
It was interesting how he could justify ripping out all the sheetrock and rewiring the entire house because of those hidden junction boxes, rather than replacing the boxes and bringing them to the surface.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
I think a big part of the negative with him is his presentation. He just gets a bit too holier than thou, and he carries it on for too long.But hey, it's his show, and he's the hero.
I agree. It's all about Mike Holmes. All he ever says is "I" "Me". You never hear him talk about "Us" "We".
I think like alot of makeover shows it is giving the homeowners false expectations about job time, materials and costs. I know shows like this have made my time spent explaining to customers alot longer.
Russell
"Welcome to my world"
I really enjoy Holmes show. I recenly watched the Souther California show (Pasedena) and found the owners very unrealistic and partly at fault. Holmes mentioned that it was a $500,000 + addition and the entire original budge the homeowner was expecting it to be built for was $200,000. I live here in Los Angeles and Holmes was correct...that size of addition is certainly in the $500K+ range and any homeowner doing a little research on the price of square footage around here knows what things cost. Also, why would their architect design a $500K+ addition knowing they wanted a $200K+ addition? The architect knows what it costs to build things. For goodness sake... just a garage can cost you $100,000 here! What were they thinking!
ok...gotta ask. you aren't from NB are you? Not too many people go by Mongo but I just happen to know one.
"NB"? Nope.
Got this nickname in the air force.
There was also buried live wires and switches on the 2nd floor that turned off stuff in the kitchen.
The wiring was ####.
Sure, replace what makes sense, but when he makes a blanket statement like lets rip it all out and rewire the entire house, that's a little over the top.
Heck, I'm sure he makes more as a TV personality than he ever did as a contractor, and I'd say and do the same thing if I had the chance to make a living that way. *chuckle*
good building
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
You see now how important it is to have connections?
if the project was done under an electrical permit the inspector should have caught the code violation.
Here I see a lot of renovators who advertise that they do framing, drywall, painting, electrical and plumbing work.
If you had a plumbing ticket you would not to any boarding, believe me. Those people would do nothing but plumbing (75-80/hr selfemployed). It is even illegal here to do any electrical or plumbing work without a permit (unless you are a HO who is doing his own work) and even then it has to be inspected.
Why anybody would take the risk to void an insurance claim which could go into the thousands for the relative little cost of a permit is beyond me.
It puzzles me that while most of the projects Holmes takes over would have required permits, none seem to have obtained them. I know that a lot of what he re-does is repairing shoddy workmanship, but most of the major problems are code deficiencies that would have been picked up during inspections.
He offers a litany of complaints about no one to protecting these people: "Where is the government?" etc. But the building code offers enforcement of minimum standards through inspections only to those who obtain permits. That the homeowners for whatever reason did not avail themselves of this protection, as they are required by law to do, always leaves me wondering if we get the full story as to how things went down before the cameras showed up.
there are several reasons why HO work without permits.
1. They did some work themselves that would require permits and they are afraid to be found out.
2. Building departments require considerable upgrades, costs which the HO does not want to spend.
E.g. if you do a major renovation here you often have to upgrade the utilities, water and sewerlines, larger electrical panels, sideyard requirements, engineering certificates, etc.
My neighbor did such an undertaking last summer. His softcosts before he put a shovel in the ground was over 10 grand.
Redtape can have a negative impact on the whole project.
You can see it with taxes. The more they become oppressive the least someone is willing to fork the hardearned money over.
I can sympathize. I do a lot of work for someone who feels he shouldn't need permits because he is in the middle of nowhere, and has owned the land for ever. I'm also sure some of them are mislead by contractors who claim a permit was not necessary. But in my experience life isn't as black and white as Holmes paints it to be. All the homeowners aren't little angels. I'd like to sit down over a beer with some of the contractor's whose work he derides and hear their side.
The other weird trend I see with Canadian home shows - like Restaurant Makeover - is that once the client gets into trouble, they are given no input into the design. They are driven out and don't get back in until the project is finished, when they forlornly wander around the house while the designer tells them "I just knew you'd like this peach tile in the bathroom." All Holmes projects turn out looking like high-ish end tract houses. And according to Macleans Magazine, lots of the Restaurant Makeover projects are bankrupt before the show ever airs.
right, and the reason they get all gaga over the improvement is because they could never afford it.
I also would be tickled pink if my lino gets replaced with infloor heating and granite floors. Laminate countertops are replaced with granite c/w undermount sinks. Fibreglass insulation is upgraded to spray insulation. Ever checked the costs of that alone?
How would they react if H presents them with a bill?
I'm also sure some of them are mislead by contractors who claim a permit was not necessary
I worked for a contractor in Austin TX that would tell the HO that they didn't need a permit, all that will do is raise your property taxes! A lot of HOers don't have a clue why the permit is a necessity and a benifit to them.
All it was is that he was to damn lazy to go get one. I've heard of other contractors saying the same thing to the HO so it's fair to say that both sides are to blame for no permits.
Doug
and that is also true,
You increase the value of your home, naturally the assessment is going up. The downside is: if you get caught (selling the house, misleading your HO insurance co, etc) they all wished they had paid the permit fee.
It's a great show and he seems to be a real hero. He's set up a foundation in Canada to help people who have been ripped off by contractors. He also makes and sells those overalls.
I don't think he's the type that would ever claim to be perfect. He's really fair in his comments about the work he finds. When it's someone who obviously was ripping people off, what else can you say but they need to go to jail? When it's somebody who tried but didn't know what they were doing, he's not so angry. But sometimes the level of incompetence is so blatant or dangerous that good intentions just don't count.
He's explained (with incredulity and disdain) many times on his show that if a contractor in Canada takes a job and does any work whatsoever on it, no matter how little, and then walks off with the money, it's purely a civil matter. Until they correct that they are just inviting the kinds of #### work he finds.
Anyway, you have to admire someone who is so dedicated to his work and who loves his country so much. As far as the earring goes, I doubt he gets much in-person criticism for it.
What always amazes me is the magnitude of the problems he finds from improper insulation, vapor barriers and drainage. A great many people have done without all three for many years here in San Diego.
I think Holmes is in the same league a Ted Nuggent. That is if he were'nt be led around by somebody that know more about their business than they do they would'nt be able to find their way to the end of a mouse trap game. Other words is it all for the tv/media and profit.
Russell
"Welcome to my world"
Interesting. What do you base that on?
I personally like the show.
I think he can come across as arrogant sometimes, and it's hard not to do a top notch job regardless of cost when all of the subs are most likely volunteering and all the materials are probably donated, but the lessons learned are more than worth it.
I'd love to have him as an author simply because he cares so much. If you care enough to be worried about those kind of details, chances are you are on the track.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
"Everybody wants to know what I’m on...
What I'm on? I’m on my bike, busting my ### 6 hours a day…
...What are you on?"
- Lance Armstrong
If you want to know who pays for the stuff, here's your answer...if you look at the 'May 2nd' question, you can hear the interview:
http://www.cbc.ca/informationmorningsaintjohn/archives/2007_may_w1.html
There are a lot of people who have ego problems that we can learn from if we hold our nose and listen to what they have to say. This show is successful because he cares. Do I like his ranting and raving...no way. But I like his work, and am always amazed with the junk he uncovers. I looked over his website a while back and they were soliciting jobs that were "not as big as the ones done in the recent season". So it sounds like he wore himself and his crew out. I like Sean, and understand he is not there any more...anyone know if that is correct? In short, I've seen all his shows and have enjoyed 95% of them. Ignore the attitude and get over the ranting, it's okay to watch once, I think."The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a governmental program" -Ronald Reagan
As in anything there are two sides.
MH exposed a lot of bad workmanship. If it would not exist there would be no TV show. The shows will subsidize a lot of expenses. DeWalt is prominently displayed, so are other products. Most of the upgrades/repairs he is doing involve considerable costupgrades from what home owners originally wanted or were limited to spend. I have yet to see any admission from the homeowners that they took the cheapest bid, rarely if any are any plans or specifications exposed. The construction product is originally shown in its deplorable condition. When MH is finished it is more a custom upgrade. Of course it looks more proficient then. Considering also that the homeowners on that show pay only a percentage of the actual repair/improvement cost. I have never seen a homeowner paying MH any money or that any cost quote was ever presented.
Also on TV it looks as if the repairwork is done in a real short time. In reality you can see for yourself that some work began when everything was still green and sunny, then some final work is done when there is deep snow on the ground. If my crews would know that they are filmed I know they put their best foot forward to really. A lot of subtrade work on that show is done for free. We call it a loss leader, others call it advertising. It is also taxdeductable. He has of course a few guys that are helping him out. But the majority is all subtrade work.
Nevertheless he promotes that work should be done right and he never showed a "good enough" attitude.
A lot of subtrade work on that show is done for free. We call it a loss leader, others call it advertising. It is also taxdeductable.
How is it tax deductible? Not doubting you but I don't understand that part. What does it fall under, cant be a deduction to a charity because the HO wouldn't qualify as that so ..........
Doug
If the subtrade has employees he has to pay them. Also work is performed, somebody has a benefit. It is similar to the situation where a homeowner does not pay you and you have no way to recover. It is a writeoff.
where a homeowner does not pay you and you have no way to recover
What you and Natlaw said makes sense to me now. I guess I see it as an expense and therefore a deduction - I just didn't connect the dots!
How would it work if you were just a one man show, no employees to pay so no expense there, would it still be considered a write off?
If I go and work at HFH on Saturday I cant deduct that, I'm confused as to how one could write off something like this show but not HFH work.
Doug
"If I go and work at HFH on Saturday I cant deduct that, I'm confused as to how one could write off something like this show but not HFH work.If I go and work at HFH on Saturday I cant deduct that, I'm confused as to how one could write off something like this show but not HFH work."First of all there are lots of extremes and I am sure that have been tax cases that settle them. And also he is in Canada. But lets try and look at some general principles.A person can deduct on EXPENSES from chariable work on sch A. That is out of pocket expenses such as milage (at a greatly reduced rate which only covers gas and insurance and not depreciation), supplies, speical uniform extra.But business are different. I don't think that they can deduct any expense for PURELY chairable expense. But they can deduct ordinary and "necessary" business expenses. And those that advertise and generate good will would be included in that area.First his BUSINESS is not carpentry, but producing TV shows. So getting clients and of a scale to produce an TV show that people would be interested in it. So what it takes to get the clients is a business expense. Even if it ment paying them directly. The basic idea is that you can only deduct expense against income. His income is the TV show.Now a SP working on a HfH house would not have any income from that line of business (working on HfH house) only for other carpentry work. Now my by his name on his shirt and by having his name on the "program" at dedication (if they had such or something similar) would be a minimal amount of advertizing that would be appropriate for his size and type of buisness. And he could deduct milage (as a buisness expense and not the lessor charitable rate), and any material that he used such as his own nails.But he could not buy a tool just for the HfH job and deduct it as a business expense because it is not NECESSARY AND ORDINARY for the business. For example some one that only does trim and finish work and has a full line brad and finsish nailers and comrpessor could not buy a roofing nailer to use on a HfH job (and later for this house) and claim it as a business expense.Now in reality it would be very, very, very, very rare for a return to check that closely for any say if a given nailer is necessary and ordinary for a given line of carpentry work. But it might show BIG, BIG FLAGS, if the SP was a dentist.However, I think that you where asking about labor. You can not deduct anything in where you have not made a payment.Now say you had an employee and had him work on the HfH then you are paying him for his wage and that is deducted as a BUSINESS expense, assuming that the work was BUSINESS related. And that get back to the advertising that is gained being reasonable for the cost. An SP is both an emplyee and employer so it kind of hides the difference when it omes to taxes.So instead of an SP you make it an S corp. So the S corp could "pay" you to work on the HfH house and it would be deducatable as a business expense.But to you the employee that is income that you have to report and pay income taxes on. So that is net wash at that point.But you alos have employement taxes and you would end up with less moeny than if you did it for "free"..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
So, if you worked 3 month for a HO and you would not get paid (for whatever reason) this would not be a business loss?
"So, if you worked 3 month for a HO and you would not get paid (for whatever reason) this would not be a business loss?"If you are cash basis, SP tax payer. then like any other job, you deduct your business expenses from the business income. Then the profit, if any, if your personal income. If you did not get paid for the job then your profit is reduced by that amount and might have business losses.You never had the income so there is no deduction for not being paid.Now if you get into a business loss then you have an whole other area.A certain amount of loss can be deducted easch year and carried over to the next year(s). But I am not familar whith the details of how that is done..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Bill
Thanks for reminding me why I go to a competent tax man!
There seems to be a lot of gray area and I hate gray area.
Hire the pro I always say.
Doug
I think it's "tax free" partly due to being subsidized by the provincial and federal film credits.
Semar: In most if not all episodes Holmes discloses the history of the job, including going into detail about how the homeowner came to find the contractor. Sometimes it's somebody the homeowner has successfully hired for other, smaller projects (which Holmes will then point out doesn't make the same contractor qualified for the project at hand). Sometimes they just look in the phone book or get a recommendation from friends. He seems to make a point of disclosing this, presumably to illustrate to viewers how careless (or even sometimes careful) research can result in hiring someone who is incompetent or fraudulent.
Holmes almost always gives the number of bids the homeowner got, the amount of those bids, and which one the homeowner chose. If the homeowner took a too-low bid, he'll then often say what he would have felt was a fair minimum price for the job. This is sometimes accompanied with a clip of the homeowner discussing their choice of bid. So it is not a fair criticism to say that he does not disclose that some homeowners took the cheapest bid. He goes out of his way to discuss the selection process to educate homeowners who may be looking to hire contractors.
As to the show paying for a percentage of the often upgraded repairs, this is clearly disclosed. In the early shows (some of which are only 30 minutes) it's clear he had little budget to subsidize the cost of the repairs he makes. He'd talk about how he'd have like to done more, but the homeowner couldn't afford it.
But as the seasons go on (and his budgets presumably increase), he makes clear that the show is paying for much of the cost of fixing the bad work. He frequently talks about how the homeowners are tapped out from being ripped-off and have no money left to fix the bad work they've already paid for, and there will be clips of the homeowners talking about how without the show they would have never been able to pay for the repairs. And he'll often talk about extra things he's doing simply because he wants to do them.
In this sense his show is becoming something closer to the ABC show "Extreme Home Makeover." If he ever got away from discussing how the things he's correcting were done improperly, and how they should be done, his show would become Extreme Home Makeover (and I'd stop watching). I really enjoy his show because he discusses the right way to do various things.
I like what I know of Mike Holmes from the show and what little I've read about him elsewhere. Of course I don't really don't know enough about him from impartial sources to know his true character. But some of the criticisms of the show you offer here simply aren't true.
Edited 1/26/2008 8:52 am ET by JDLee
Holmes is pretty good at promoting himsef to people who don't know anything about the trade. He does good work but so do a lot of other people.
First 10 minutes of every episode are all the same.... I can't believe it... how can people do this..? can it get any worse..? unacceptable..! Then that section ends with 'you know..? I'm gonna help them. I have to. How can I walk away from this?'
Then he proceeds to run a project with virtually no budget limitations. Usually the budget is the most difficult taskmaster of an entire project but it's not a factor for Holmes.
How many of you already do the same within a budget?
I only express my views the way I saw what was shown on the show.
Of course I see it in a different way as a contractor compared to the homeowner. It is of little value to the homeowner what should have been done once he is in that predicament. The ho would have never been able to correct the mess on his own.
As my lawyer once said: the majority of ligitation arises from a lack of specifications and communication. Ho are seldom in a position to clearly define construction details. When shortcuts occur the contractor will probably never discuss his mistakes (knowingly or unknowingly) with the ho.
If Holmes would provide a quote for the job done right, I am convinced most ho would not have the budget for it.
In the end it always comes down to price and affordablity and in this regard the ho has to rely on the quote that was given.
People want quality. No question. But very few know what quality really is. They see a 5000.-- chandalier in the front entrance and say Wow, what quality. The shoddy workmanship shows up only a bit later.
Squeaky stairs, lousy miters covered with paint, crooked floors, drafty windows, etc.
I like Holmes Show nevertheless
Semar:
I can understand what you're saying, but there are a couple of points:
Holmes is going over the whole selection/cost process for educational value. True, it's too late for the homeowners with the particular project at hand. But that really isn't the point. If you look at Holmes' website and listen to what he says, he wants to educate as many people as he can so they can avoid fraud and incompetence.
Like I said, Holmes usually states what the job, as originally contracted for by the homeowner, costs as compared to the bids given. Sometimes the HO paid too little, and he will say it was an unreasonable expectation (although the HO may have had no experience to know that). Sometimes it's way too much, and the work still isn't done.
But he is also careful to explain what he is doing that is extra, and sometimes he'll estimate what the cost as he actually performs the work should be.
In one show I saw recently, he was talking about soundproofing and QuietRock. He was saying how he believed that if home buyers were told up front that their homes could be soundproofed to a certain degree for X amount of dollars, many would choose to do that.
I can understand why contractors would resent the ability his show gives him to show up, get things done extremely quickly, and add all kinds of extras. It could easily give viewers unreasonable expectations.
But he really is careful to explain the whole process and what he is doing that is extra. And he'll say whether he believes the contractor was attempting fraud or simply incompetent (and why). He'll also often comment that certain subs who came in did quality work that might have to be taken out as the result of other work.
I agree that people want quality without really wanting to pay for it. They shell out the bucks for things that are readily visible: granite countertops, stainless appliances, crown molding, etc., without a thought for the bones of the house.
I remodel homes. I have a highly skilled, dedicated contractor who I work with. This lack of concern for quality is forcing him out of the business. Here in San Diego we have so many illegal immigrants working in the construction fields for less money that he has lost jobs in the middle of projects. People are always telling him, "I can hire an illegal [their term, not mine] to do that for half the money." And that's usually when he'll give the chance to cancel the contract and do just that.
Of course, these HO are people who do not (and due to their status) really cannot have a license. And that means no permits. So that is bound to lead to more low quality, dangerous work. But in those circumstances he loses out because people are often unconcerned with quality.
exactly my point.
In general in North America the housing industry is price driven. Which gave rise to the MacMansions.
Here in Vancouver another factor is entering the picture. Lack of sufficient, qualified trades and the fast rising cost of construction.
If you quote a price for a certain project based on the quotes you get from subtrades today, these trades may not be available for that price quoted when the times come. A finish carpenter who gets 35-40 when he quotes will not likely do the work if he is offered 60-75 from other GC when the times comes to perform. It seems an endless spiral that very few people can control.
E.g. Presold homes have been taken off the market here because the contractor could not finish at the price. Then when the downpayment has already spend he is even further choked if he cannot even return the downpayment.
In this climate it is easy to understand when GC then look for the cheapest way to get out of the situation - with consequences.
Another grip to your throat is the pressure to "be on budget and on time". When weather does not allow you to do certain work and you still push the project just to be on time this could have serious implications. You are very lucky if you have an understanding HO. But when money is on the line often reasonableness and consideration go out of the window.
Small contractors do not have a government behind them when they are going often double and triple over budget on their venues
Yes, I suppose that's another advantage Holmes has that I hadn't thought of. He not only has the money to pay these people, they also want the publicity and don't want to be seen as unreliable or slow.
Weather is rarely a concern here. It's hard for me to imagine trying to work on the outside of a house with so many rain days.
I got the idea to spray foam parts of my house from Holmes on Homes. But it was nearly impossible to find someone who does it here. Most of the companies that do anything like that do primarily commercial jobs or roofs. I could only find one guy who was interested in doing it. Like air conditioners in Alaska, I guess.
just watched another one tonight.
people paid $14K for a crappy versa-lock retaining wall ... looked to be around 4ft tall.
was poorply done and unfinished ... plus ... they had troubles with the original GC paying his bills for their materials ... and the HO helped stock the job.
that said ... Mike comes in ... they demo everything.
he complains that they used "little bricks" ... and needed "big bricks.
That's BS. there are many drystack products that'll more than do the job.
so ... he orders boulders ... looked very nice indeed ... way over kill structurally.
then ... the fence the HO's were gonna replace sooner or later ... brand new!
and for some reason ... Mike decided it was impossible to "match" the interlocking pavers around their deck ... guess he hasn't been to each and every lumberyard in the US and Canada ... 'cause they're everywhere! Even one of his crew commented later that they was so typical.
so ... a very nice new system of interlocking pavers went in.
then ... the pool fencing that had nothing to do with the original retaining wall ...
torn out and new metal fence with glass panels was installed.
the outdoor stairs were torn out ... guess U can't safely use standard interlock block systems for that ... so in goes 1,000lbs slabs of stone.
In the end ... sure ... that original contractor "stole $14,000" ...
but the home owners recieved a $50K complete backyard makeover!
I'm suprised the pool wasn't replaced with new 'cause the water was dirty.
no wonder all his customers are thrilled with the final product ...
mine would be too if I trippled their budgets time and time again.
he did look dreamy though ...
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Come on tell the truth. Its those big pipes of his that get you all a twitter. ;-)
Come on Guys, you all watch the show so you must like the guy otherwise you would wait for Americacan Idol to come on.
Just watched a two hour special where he tore so much out of the house, he finally just brought in an excavator and took it right down to a hole in the ground.
The highlight for me was him describing this new self-leveling concrete mix he was using for the basement slab and what a wonderful finish it had, then watching his first floor forms blow out sending several yards of mix onto the new basement floor. Luckily everyone in Ontario has several snow shovels.
dont forget the fact "that every house should be built like this one" umm it took over 2 years and had no regard for cost..
Ya know, he really seems to identify a real problem with contractors. At the same time though, I don't know if I'd want him working on my house. He just doesn't seem to be able to leave well enough alone. I could see him coming in to replace the toilet and telling me I need to replace my foundations or something. I wouldn't really let him in my house unless he was doing it for free. I'm up in the air as whether or not I'd want to work for him though. You'd learn alot, but I wonder if he's hard on his trades if they aren't perfect. I just imagine him correcting and telling you to redo things all day that are only fractionally out. One thing's for sure though, he's competent and he could break me in two like a tooth-pick.