I admit I am a fan of his show, even though he does have a huge ego, but I’m wondering: What happened to the “first” set of contractors he used to have? The head guy was a kid named Shawn, he had the trim competition with him. Now he has some hot piece of a@# working for him and his head guy is the kid who framed the roof incorrectly one episode costing him (he claimed) a $10,000 mistake. The girl is hot though……also has everyone wearing Holmes on Homes t- shirts…………
Craig
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Replies
Shawn Morren has gone on to start his own company in the Beaches area of Toronto.
I actually liked Shawn he seemed to have a good attitude. The feel for the show isn't quite the same as when it first came out, I can't quite put my finger on it. they have gone to a wide screen format which may have somehting to do with it. I don't really like the widescreen.
The girl seems more like an aprentice, which is fine I guess. She is really quite pretty, and I'm not sure if that is why she is on the show or not.
His show is a decent hour of TV.
But the egos in the house with him and his gang of nobodys is crazy. Their next trick should be who can walk on water.
He shows up like the Kool Aid man kicking doors and walls down. Alot of the stuff he fixes needs it. But some of the other stuff is just "not acceptable" to him so that goes too.
$90,000 later you have a chandilier over your toilet because it "looks good".
Must be nice to come in and do your job on an unrealistic budget. Who pays for his circus? The HO's are already broke from the first guys.
Matt
I guess it depends what standard you judge him by. As TV personalities go he's not too bad, but I couldn't work with him for 10 minutes.
The "not acceptable" stuff is quite funny. I also like when he adds bearing walls next to perfectly good existing ones "just for a little extra insurance". Or opens a wall and declares the poor insulation "dangerous".
What does get to me is the moral high ground he takes. Everyone but him and his handpicked buddies are slimy. Often when I see the job, I can't help but think that the homeowner didn't object to a few shortcuts to save money, and it was only after the relationship with the builder went south for some reason that the quality became an issue.
If you dig hard enough you are going to find some junk in a remodel. When he does find something the catch phrases start flying.
"This is unacceptable""When are people going to learn""Tear it all out""I can't believe this"
I think what he does is a great thing for people who got the screws put to them. He does make it right for people that are in a very bad spot.
Matt
But how much of the "catch phrases" are the producers and editors cutting weeks worth of work down to 42 minutes of T.V.?That said, one I saw last night where the electrician said that putting 15 amp breakers on 12 gauge wire was dangerous and not code had me chuckling. I'm not sure what code is in Canada, but I don't think it is dangerous to over protect wire. While personally I prefer to keep everything on the same plane (12 gauge wire with 20 amp breakers) there isn't anything dangerous about using 15 amp breakers. And there was some other complaint about a separate ground for the sub-panel. Admittedly there should have been a ground back to the main panel(and maybe there was) at least the last time I did a sub-panel I had to install a separate ground rod. But maybe that is the accessory building thing.
" He does make it right for people that are in a very bad spot."
True - and its easy to forget that when we start carping about his style.
But, since that's what we are doing...another thing that bothers me is that unlike the original contractor, he just comes in and does what he wants. It seems that for the sake of getting to surprise the owner at the end, all consultation goes out the window and you get Mike Holmes taste in tile, fixtures, color etc. And his taste really isn't that good.
That's all part of the show, that he does some "extras". Without the show, most contractors (if any) are going to install or replace something as an unpaid extra.
As far as his taste, that is a personal preference issue. I'm sure things in your own house, some people will think are just awful.
If you listen closely, you will hear Holmes say to the effect that the homeowner picked out some great faucets or light fixtures.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
" that is a personal preference issue. I'm sure things in your own house, some people will think are just awful"
Come, come, now... everything in my house shows impeccable taste!
I occasionally say to my class, "There is a screw missing in this cabinet, we will have to gut this kitchen!
Have a good day
Cliffy
"What does get to me is the moral high ground he takes. Everyone but him and his handpicked buddies are slimy."
to be fair, I have seen Mike on more than one occasion give Kudos to the "orginal guy" who done something years earlier that has held up well. or even comment that the the previous contractor had done certain things nicely. We have to remember that the shows we are watching are about botched jobs, so yeah we are going to be seeing what's wrong and Mike is going to be pointing it out.
As far as the homeowners not objecting to shortcuts, I'm not sure how true that is, but in any case I think half the time they are clueless, and really have no idea what is going on, 'till things have gone amuck. some people are simply taking advantage of, I myself have clients that have been taken for a ride before I came along simply because they are easy targets. View Image View Image
Come on people, this is a TV show, everything you see on the tube aint what it seams.
A lot of what's done is to pander to the public.
You all didn't think Samantha could actually wiggle her nose and make Darrin turn into a wolverine did you!
Doug
Edited 10/25/2007 7:05 am ET by DougU
Honestly, I think he does quite a good job. I'm picking at his faults in the way I would an author those works I like but think could be better, not someone whose books are such nonsense I wouldn't consider reading.
The moral stuff is a bit more complex. Mike strikes me as someone who does not examine his motives too closely. He just assumes he is the good guy. In some ways I have found it easier to deal with "honest" crooks than people who don't see their own mixed motivations. You know where you stand.
It's something that seems to have pervaded lots of occupations. People who really are just doing their jobs are now frequently referred to as "heroes". I had a hydro linesman working on an install tell me his job was to "make sure I went home safely that night" as though he was guarding my compound in Baghdad. I was sure I'd just called him to hook up power.
"Must be nice to come in and do your job on an unrealistic budget. Who pays for his circus? The HO's are already broke from the first guys." I heard Holmes say that his subs volunteer their time. I wonder if the show picks up the tab on materials?
I *think* that many of the subs and materials are donated in return for advertising on the show (name/company mentioned when instroduced, plus text label on screen of same info and again at show's end credits).
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
This has been on here before, just like all his episodes. I don't think the province is large enough for his ego. Early on in the show he used to do most work, now he is all about bringing in the pros.
I teach carpentry apprentices for 40 weeks a year and thursday night the homework is to watch HOH and see what made up code he states, what safety violations occur, or what the crew does that is impressive.
I was thinking of much printing up a few shirts with crew on the back, and "Do it right the first time, with slightly better grammar"
Have a good day
Cliffy
I kinda like HOH, it one of the show that not trying to build it to sell, all the other are about buying a $500,000 house and fixing it up. If I had 500k I would build brand new, on vacant lot.Know BOB, Know Peace
Nice personal quote on your profile. Where is Battle Creek?(I'm a Canuck eh, so I'm not great on all the U.S.A. geography)
Have a good day
Cliffy
Southern Michigan.
Matt- Woods favorite carpenter.
I did the Port Huron to Sault Ste Marie route on I 75 once, are you on that route. Alot of the snow birds from my area cross in MI at Sault and take the drive straight down to FLorida on I75.
Have a good day
Cliffy
I am about 10 miles west of I-69, I am not sure how far from 75 I am.
Matt- Woods favorite carpenter.
The one-hour episodes are so much better than the 30 minute versions that were shown here at first. It was like watching a feature film in 30 second clips tied together in just half the time.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
I find the direction of this thread a bit surprising...I haven't read one comment about the idiots who leave these Home Owners in such a mess, and running off with all the $$. Why isn't anyone decrying that? Some of these people have spent a lot of money and have been left with dog###t. Holmes has got a big ego...so what? You either like his work or you don't. If you don't, don't watch. I happen to enjoy his shows and tape some of the more interesting ones. Do I enjoy his perpetual self-promotion? Not really. But I love watching his guys tile. I loved Shawn. The girl is an apprentice who has to get 100 hours in...(then what?) So cut the attitude some slack.
"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a governmental program" -Ronald Reagan
cause U get what U pay for.
listen close ... 11 times outta 9 ... the HO's will slip up and admit to hiring the lowest bidder. Then they're happy with Mike when he rebuilds their entire house when the first poor slob was brought in to redo a half bath for their low ball budget.
yeah ... I feel for them bottom feeders ...
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
What Jeff said.........
On a hill by the harbour
Man you are all over this Holmes guy!
I can't watch the show anymore, about 15 mins in, I start to twitch.
Get a kick out of some homeowners,
I'm finishing up the stairs, and one says," Wow, you're just like that Holmes guy!"
Gord
If somebody said that to me I think I would hurl on whatever I was cleaning up. I finished high school though.( if Holmer did, he skipped English)
Have a good day
Cliffy
As far as the homeowner was concerned, it was a compliment.
If a tradesman said I was just like that Holmes guy...
probably g a y......eh?
Gord
Edited 10/23/2007 11:39 pm by gordsco
Cliffy,
You have obviously never had a beer with Gourd...........
On a hill by the harbour
Never mind Dbl H,
I'd druther 2B used.
Budgell
Beer?
And the Usual Suspects.
Gord
Was that code ?
On a hill by the harbour
Was that code ?
Unfortunately so...Holmie.
We're gonna have to break out the axes
Gord
Holmes's favorite saying??? "Nope! Don't like it!!! Take it down! Take it all down!"
Kind of funny. Just like Norm Abrams to Bob Villa.
Bob---"Hi I'm Bob Villa and welcome to this old house. Today we are...Blah blah blah...And here's our master carpenter Norm Abrams"
Norm--"Yes Bob but today we're gonna do it a little different!!"
Cracked me up everytime!!!!"No doubt exists that all women are crazy; it's only a question of degree." - W.C. Fields
So I think this time I will bring a knife steel so I don't have to go back to the wheel everytime.
BTW do a google on cryptic sometime. Facinating............
On a hill by the harbour
Edited 10/24/2007 11:55 pm by Novy
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
So who is Mike Holmes on these forums ?
Phil Giles ? Gabe ? Sorry Gabe I was kidding, Ron Budgell ? Adrian ? Renovator ? John Svenson ? That Great White North guy ? Piffin ? He has to be here somewhere. Maybe he is just not hip to the program..........
Sorry about the hijack Craig
On a hill by the harbour
Edited 10/25/2007 12:16 am by Novy
Lets see...
Who around here builds perfectly usable stuff and then knocks it all down because it suits them?
er...Novy???
'fraid so Holmie...
Gord
As soon as I stop laughing I may have a response to that......
BTW my Carharts are natural duck not plumber brown
On a hill by the harbour
Edited 10/25/2007 8:32 pm by Novy
Them ain't carharts. He had his own line of workwear in HD up here.
Sorry about the smartass plumber brown remark. I saw an ad for Holmes on Homes today and I am slightly traumatized.....
On a hill by the harbour
Mike holmes........
View Image
Piffin
View Image
I don't think so!!!!!!"No doubt exists that all women are crazy; it's only a question of degree." - W.C. Fields
Was it Jeff Buck or Gunner that "says" they got thrown out of Canada ?
On a hill by the harbour
That was me. Jeff got thrown out of Indianapolis.
.
"I tell you, We are here on earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut jr.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5MG1ZfFiZ8&mode=related&search= Mercy now
I wasn't thrown out.
I was allowed to stay and finish drinking that night.
just got an official citation that said I wasn't allowed back!
"banned from city limits for 2 years"
... gotta dig that up ... used to be pinned to my old BR wall ....
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I was trying to recover from a week of heavy drinking and whiplash. They held me in a glass holding cell for everyone to see. I'm probably the only guy that read Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy and listened contently to his walkman while being deported.
If I had it to do over again I probably would have tried to pick up the customs agent that was deporting me. She wasn't all that attractive, and had to much of a down to business personality. But it would have been something cool to do. Ohh well. There's always next time.
.
"I tell you, We are here on earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut jr.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5MG1ZfFiZ8&mode=related&search= Mercy now
crossing into Canada once ...
with an 80's hair band ... in the 80's ...
we were stopped ... pulled over ... and had the full car / suitcase search.
was just a "random" quick search ... till they opened the zipper on one dudes stuff ...
and saw his Tux!
for some reason ... spandex and make up were just fine ...
but he aroused suspicion for bring formal wear?
took about an hour .... we go thru ... everyone has a good laugh.
knowing a border crossing was coming everyone traveled "clean".
about 15 min down the road ... Keith ... the drummer ... laughs ... says ....
"man, I'm just glad they didn't find all that speed ... "
then pulls a huge baggie of pills outta his sock.
and wonders why we're all ready to kill him.
drummers ....
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
There is always that one guy. LOL
.
"I tell you, We are here on earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut jr.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5MG1ZfFiZ8&mode=related&search= Mercy now
So this means you are Mike Holmes ?
On a hill by the harbour
How so? I thought Mike was Canadian.
.
"I tell you, We are here on earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut jr.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5MG1ZfFiZ8&mode=related&search= Mercy now
Your logic is spoiling my cryptic plot..... SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
On a hill by the harbour
Sorry.
.
"I tell you, We are here on earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut jr.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5MG1ZfFiZ8&mode=related&search= Mercy now
Hey ? Maybe we call this Holmes minifest #1
On a hill by the harbour
Swoosh, sorry i don't get it.
Have a good day
Cliffy
Hey Cliffy,
See post # 38 it will explain everything........
On a hill by the harbour
Now that was funny !
On a hill by the harbour
I recall one episode involving a basement stair set with a corresponding retaining wall. The customer had detailed plans from the architect and the plans specified 10" block. The original contractor used 8" block and the building inspector didn't even say anything.Now Holmes went up to 12" block. I have no idea if that was necessary, but it was clear that the homeowner had done just about everything they could to get the job done properly (including video taping the work as it was done) and they still didn't get what they paid for.
True, they've had some on like that. But most have NOT. The one shown yesterday, for example did not reflect that. Client put on 2nd story. All subs came in and did an excellent job, ( noted by Mike, btw) but the finish guy came in and gave them a sales line and unfortunately they bought it. I don't know how the "u get what you pay for" applies when the first 6 guys come in, do exactly what they're supposed to, and the final guy comes in, and screws it up!! Okay, we can't document who's telling the truth and who isn't. But let's give them the benefit of the doubt.
Also, it appears that the Canadian system protects slime bags who come in take the money ($10,000 small bath redo) and skates with the dough, as long as they make an attempt to get the job done! What kind of justice system is that? I think you and others should be glad that this guy promotes good quality contractors, like you and me! I don't get the whining and complaining I hear about this... it IS TV after all."The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a governmental program" -Ronald Reagan
Remember this is made for television. Meaning land of OZ. Meaning not the whole truth. Meaning entertainment.
I do enjoy the show as entertainment. One of the better images of remodeling on the tube.
The great thing that Holmes said in an interview that I heard sometime ago (and which he doesn't say anymore in public) still stays stuck in my mind.
He said, "People won't pay enough to do it right the first time, but they'll pay whatever it takes to tear it out and fix it."
That's where he makes his moola. You've all worked for the nickel and dimer and vowed to never do it again. Well, Holmes (ego and all) is at the other end of that equation and that's where the profit lies. Most homeowners don't have a freakin' clue what it costs to do a tear-out and a complete re-do. But when it comes to adding that 2nd bathroom, well, they're all experts aren't they? Can you imagine if Holmes had quoted them on the first job? He'd never land them.
Nah, another season (maybe) and it's back to re-runs. Sooner than later most of these shows run out of steam. The average Joe won't learn much of the how-to, just snap shots of before, during and after. Eventually viewers tire of this. It's really just entertainment now.
Cheers,
Ken
You live and learn. At any rate, you live.
I have a client that works in downtown Toronto and he tells me that he often see's Mike Holmes walking around shopping with his wife. Nothing funny about that except for the fact that he is still wearing his overalls and work boots so that every one will recognize him.
I suspect that Mike's helper left because there wasn't enough room on the jobsite for the crew, the tools, and Mike's big fat heat!
Dave
My friends wife graduated from college in North Bay a few springs ago and Holmer was the guest speaker. I lauighed at that because I doubt he finished high school. Any way he told me his (Holmer's) date looked like trailer park trash! I didn't ask if he wore his work clothes though.
Have a good day
Cliffy