Replies

1. 
   pebble | Jan 28, 2009 07:47pm | #1

   It is ok. Most homeowners are fairly savvy enough that they would want an experienced person do work on the house. That or at least once they get started they do call in a pro to fix their mistakes.

1. 
   borealbuilder | Jan 28, 2009 08:08pm | #2

   Perhaps I have set my standards to high for tv entertainment? You are right, time to go to the shop and entertain myself.  Thanks.

1. 
   pebble | Jan 28, 2009 08:14pm | #3

   I will keep my eye out and try to catch this "Amy" character to see what she does on the show. Mostly I get annoyed at the painting they do in those shows. I am pretty particular about my painting and simply rolling a roller around is not my idea of a good paint job. Go make something cool in the shop :)

2. 
   CardiacPaul | Jan 28, 2009 08:18pm | #4

   This has gotten to me for years.  Why hire a pro when you can just go to the big box home center and get all the great advise, tools & materials  and screw it up yourself. Alot of people get caught up in all the hype of these programs & go off halfcocked tearing into their homes only to cause  damage, heck on the old TV show they did it in 10 minutes. 

   I was on a job years back, Basement finish, home owner puts up his own suspended ceiling system. Wanted to get those can lights nice and centered in the 2x2 ceiling tiles. Did you guys know, all you half to do is cut out big u-shaped cuts in the floor joist above if their in your way, centers those lights right up. Of course no permit on the job, to cheap.

   Whats fun to watch it the low budget productions, almost painful, compared to the high budget well produced and polished programs like TOH, they really make it look like a simple finger snapping affair.

   In these times with the economy,  more & more screw-it-up-yourselfers will tackle home destruction projects.

    No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.

1. 
   nater | Jan 28, 2009 08:39pm | #5

   Gives a lot of people work though. The either see something they want, and pay someone to do it, or try doing it and fail, and have to pay to have someone do it.I can't stand most of those shows, and will avoid them, mainly because they don't focus on the technical stuff. At least TOH shows some of the steps, although I have noticed myself fast forwarding more on the DVR when I watch it since they spend so much time on interior design now.

1. 
   Proclive | Jan 31, 2009 07:41am | #29

   TOH has turned into a history of the surrounding city and interior design show. They show almost no work on that show anymore. Last night I think they showed them following an old air vent passage so that they could run a pipe for the radiant heat. That was it. There was no more work to be watched. I record that show and I watch maybe 10 minutes (of 1 hour) at most and that would be a good episode.

2. 
   junkhound | Jan 29, 2009 03:40am | #10

   more & more screw-it-up-yourselfers will tackle home destruction projects

   Actually agree with Frenchy on this subject (often not much else lately since he has turned socialist <big G, meant as a friendly comment>

   Another side to DIY.  Bill Hartman commented years ago about some 'inspector gadget' houses he had seen.  A local BTer came by my house a few weeks ago to take a look at my DIY heating systems, water wall fireplace, wshp that gets 5.6 cop, special insulation projects with free material he also has access to, etc.  Lighting control system with a few hundred diodes and switches, etc.

   Only comment he had was that if I die, there is nobody could maintain any of it but an engineer with some tech skills.... well, OK, assume grandkids will have the knowledge by then.....<G>

1. 
   CardiacPaul | Jan 29, 2009 05:03am | #12

   Its those "Inspector Gadget" type home that get me, run hundreds if not thousand to gut out & correct.

   If you ever want a pull your hair out laugh, go over to TOH Website and look at the "Home inspection nightmare" section, unbelievable what some people do their home for fixes and repairs.

     No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.

1. 
   BossHog | Jan 29, 2009 05:16pm | #15

   Thanks for the link - I enjoyed that.This one was my favorite:http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20206857,00.html
   Socialism - the equal distribution of poverty.

1. 
   curley | Jan 29, 2009 06:36pm | #16

   Hey Boss,

   Don't be surprised to see an imatation of that picture on TOH. They get some of the goofiest people designing on that show. Now you'll problibly inspire some one to do their wrought iron work looking like a crutch built in. Some one in the high art community going oohh....................

    

2. 
   BossHog | Jan 29, 2009 07:42pm | #17

   There's some pretty wild stuff on that website. I'm gonna have to send some of the pictures to Carl...
   I say: Know your enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles, you will never be defeated. [Sun Tzu]

3. 
   CardiacPaul | Jan 29, 2009 09:28pm | #19

   That is a site I almost can't get enough of.

   I have a aluminum crunches in the shed that I'm for that speical project to come around for.

   Paul No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.

2. 
   rasconc | Jan 29, 2009 05:48am | #13

   Reminds me of my dear FIL. He was the Rube Goldberg of refrigeration. His home AC has a timer he added for lockout after power failure, several solenoid valves and wierd but functional things on the humidifier. An absolute nightmare for the young tech who could not even identify the base furnace (1950's) and all the added complications.For those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.

3. 
   cargin | Jan 30, 2009 06:21am | #25

   Paul

   I know I am hijacking this thread, but.

   Did you ever post those pictures of the trim you made for your house? The stuff with 35 or more pieces to trim one door. I kept an eye out for it for a while but I didn't see anything.

   If you did could you give me a link? I would really like to see a door casing with that many parts.

   Rich

1. 
   CardiacPaul | Jan 31, 2009 05:12am | #27

   No  I did not, but now I have some time and will get to it, sorry for the delay.

   Part of the posting pics is that is seems to spark alot of good conversation at times, and requires alot of time for quailty replies & I just want to be sure I can do a good job of it.

   Also, gotta keep the Princess happy, not so much time on BT, I keep telling her that it is a great buncha guys here.

   Thanks for asking. No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.

1. 
   cargin | Jan 31, 2009 05:54am | #28

   Paul

   I too like to give time and thought to replies.

   Also, gotta keep the Princess happy, not so much time on BT, I keep telling her that it is a great buncha guys here.

   I here ya. My wife knows the BTers are a good bunch, that still doesn't mean she likes me to spend too much time with them. She just doesn't understand it.

   Until she found a forum in an area she was passionate about. Then she says " Now I understand how you can get so hooked."

   I still like to limit my BT time for her sake.

   I'll keep an eye open.

   Rich

    

    

3. 
   frenchy | Jan 28, 2009 08:51pm | #6

   wait a minute.. DIY has been around forever..   some is very good.. I'll use myself as an example and put my house up against any of the professionally built houses around. 

      Those who have toured it are impressed so I know that DIY can do decent work..

     Just for the record  this is the first and only house I've ever built.  MY career has been in sales and I didn't start on this house untill I was 52 years old and virtually all  of the work has been done by me..

    Money wise my neighbors spend north of $650,000 and some millions building in my neighborhood.. I'm out slightly over $200,000.   My whole house is new except for the bit of the foundation the city required me to keep..

    It's extremely energy efficent, and very unique..

1. 
   CardiacPaul | Jan 29, 2009 12:29am | #8

   I know DIY has been around a long time & will always be and too say all that partake in it are know nothing hacks would be wrong. I've seen some pics of the work you have completed & have been impressed, or is that the camera lens being kind <G>  I'm sure you did'nt just pick up a hammer & set out to build that house not knowing something, you either did some studying or had some background or at least a clue as to the process.

   I've seen some pretty good DIY and we've all seen work done on homes & know it just de-values the property.

   I think the origianal point is that the DIY programs try to make it look so easy that a blind monkey with a wooden leg & half a brain could complete just about anything by themselves which I think can get a lot of people in over their heads real quick.

   Paul

     No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.

1. 
   frenchy | Jan 29, 2009 02:41am | #9

   See I think the idea of those DIY programs is to demistify the process.. most people have an idea of their capabilities from previous attempts. 

     That's what I do when I suggest others tackle projects themselves.. Make it seem very simple because in many cases it really is..

     It's work and sometimes tough hard work but that shouldn't detere people.  I mean when they go to a gym and work out they put in tough hard work out and get nothing to show for it except for whatever health benefits there are..

    I work hard, gain health benefits and have something to show for it afterwards.

     As for the camera, it both shows the good and the bad..Walk through the house with me and I'll show you many things that I think are less than perfect.  When I first built the house my timberwork was a source of pride.. Joints so tight and perfect that you couldn't get a sliver into them.. now after heating seasons have passed the gaps have opened up to 1/4 inch or more..

     When I first built walls they were arrow straight.  A source of pride.. now the timbers have warped and bent and bowed enough so walls look like they were built by a drunk..

     Actaully I wanted this to happen.. (but I didn't if you can understand what I'm trying to convey).. I fell in love with european homes with similar character details.. homes hundreds of years old that look a little drunk  but full of charcter..

      My floors are going to be exactly such a thing.. I dispise Pergo and all the plastic perfect floors like it..   So My floor will be left with a little charcter and hopefully  even some squeeks..  (so far no squeeks but the ones done are only 4 years old). 

    Suposedly timberframes are hard to do.. I found with good equipment and taking the proper attention I wound up with a great frame.  I've got to give the credit to the equipment because it sure isn't me..

1. 
   CardiacPaul | Jan 29, 2009 04:54am | #11

   Don't get me wrong, the programs are an asset to everyone, I just don't think many people  know their limitations and thats where the problem comes in and I think sometimes the programs over simplify construction, there also are several ways to archive finish results to many projects so that on the surface they look much alike, but in the long run they don't all hold up the same. You see this with finished results among pros, thats why here on the forum there is different opinions on how to do the same task at times, some are short cuts & some are built for the long run. The one problem with the home improvement shows is there is no way they can teach  more than than the basic concepts and years of experience.

   As for me, raised in the trades, wood shavings in my crib, I can work on my cars,I can change the oil, tires, alternator, radiator, brakes, done a lot of things I thought I would never attempt. But I'm not a mechanic and I know my limitations.

   As for your house, thats a different animal, timberfame, thats a living work that will be moving after you & I are not <G> Don't sell your self short, your home is more than just the tools & equipment you used.

    

    No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.

   Edited 1/28/2009 9:05 pm ET by CardiacPaul

1. 
   frenchy | Jan 29, 2009 04:56pm | #14

   I don't know how to "sell" something without being positive and dealing with all objections..

      I know most pros didn't take extensive training courses, they simply did grunt work and watched how things were done untill they got to do them themselves.. Then as they improve they got their chance and ... a pro was born..

     The DIY shows are both bad and good.. . the OP was right, they show a magnificent change in a one hour show and don't show the massive physical drudgery that goes into it.. Once that is understood and put into perspective the "skills" involved aren't really all that demanding.

    DIY allows a person to skip the grunt work and see what techniques to use.  What's more they show the pros using the equipment required properly.. OH any fool can do hack work and goober something together.  Using the right methods and right equipment helps achieve a decent result..

    

4. 
   Ron2984 | Jan 28, 2009 08:52pm | #7

   I love how she puts down 200 sq. ft. of 18x18 ceramic tiles with thinset without any regard for humps in the floor,

5. 
   BryanSayer | Jan 29, 2009 09:09pm | #18

   You're looking at the work? What's wrong with you?

1. 
   borealbuilder | Jan 30, 2009 05:12am | #23

   Never really enjoyed blonds for some reason! lol

1. 
   GraniteStater | Jan 30, 2009 06:01am | #24

   So... I'm watching that show one night when I hear a familiar voice... turns out that a classmate of mine was on the show! He and his room-mate "pimped out" their bathroom. It included the dumbest thing I've ever seen... a motorized toilet seat cover w/remote. Press a button... it goes up. I have to say though... their end product looked pretty dang good and knowing J.P.... I'm sure it wasn't a hack anything. He's particular. And peculiar... but that's another story.She's based in the Twin Cities... which makes sense as that's where I went to B-School.

6. 
   43Billh | Jan 29, 2009 10:32pm | #20

   She is kind of hot......

1. 
   Sphere | Jan 29, 2009 10:37pm | #21

   I wouldn't get much work done with her beside me.or infront of me..

   View ImageSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

    

   They kill Prophets, for Profits.

    

    

1. 
   gotcha | Jan 30, 2009 01:14am | #22

   Sphere,I told my wife she (Amy that is) wouldn't leave me alone and that's why it took so long to re-do the bathroom.Pete

2. 
   43Billh | Jan 30, 2009 02:27pm | #26

   I agree!

   Something tells me my wife would be supervising the work.....