Holmes on Homes - a question

I know a bunch of you watch it, I started based on what you said about him.

When watching all the previous work they find that is riddled with problems and mistakes, do you ever think that "DIY" isn't all it's cracked up to be?

I mean, it's great to save, but something as seemingly small like where to put a plastic sheet can mean the difference of whether you get terrible mold or not... How many people just wing it and wind up causing problems for the next owners?

I don't know. I've never been adventurous with DIY solutions and the show just scares me more.

Message edited 11/8/2010 1:05:54 PM.

Re: Holmes on Homes - a question

I am actually more afraid of hiring people who are supposed to know what they are doing and having it be like on his show.

Most if not all of the episodes that I have seen are where "contractors" do the work and it is all screwed up - the used the wrong materials for the job, it isn't up to code, etc.

With me doing it, atleast I know that I will do my due diligence and research before starting something.

I think that it is scary that all of those problems can occur behind the walls where you can't see them

Re: Holmes on Homes - a question

with us DIYing not really b/c we never did anything DIY that major - like a roof, or plumbing, insulation etc.

we only do small cosmetic jobs

i think it's horrible how contractors cut corners though. being in my house a year we already found things that the builders did a crappy job with. unfortunately we didn't have the house built (the previous owner was the one who had the house built) and the builders are out of business now so there is really nothing we can do about it.

Re: Holmes on Homes - a question

The thing is, is that nobody is "perfect" when it comes to building/repairing a house. There are things that Mike does that I would have done better myself. (It may be because of Canadian building codes or something, but I'm not happy with some of the stuff he does. Most, yes, but not all)

Actually, watching HoH makes me want to do even MORE DIY myself....

Re: Holmes on Homes - a question

I think it can go both ways. Our home is from the 1800's - the previous owners renovated it from top to bottom. I know they did a lot of DIY - but they really took pride in their home and work so all the materials and work are really top of the line. When the engineer came to do the inspection he was so impressed at everything (from re-tipping the foundation to custom made woodwork).

However, when we were looking at homes we looked at many homes that were only a couple years old or had recently been renovated by builders and the craftsmanship and quality just were not there. They were huge really $$$ houses but - to us - the materials looked cheap (walls cracking already etc.)

We do a lot of DIY too - but my husband is an engineer and is a perfectionist (as am I) that he really does a wonderful job. Plus he knows what he can or cannot handle.

Re: Holmes on Homes - a question

I know what you mean. It makes me nervous because DH takes on some major DIY jobs. Thankfully I know he does tons of research before he starts and has his dad (an architect) to refer to. At least I know when we do it ourselves, we care enough to find out the right way and make sure it gets done that way. Not sure how many contractors would be the same way.

Re: Holmes on Homes - a question

Yup, a lot of the shows I've seen already have problems done (and redone) but contractors.

The one I watched last weekend (DVR'd repeat) was so bad, they made it into a 2-parter. It was a basement that someone put a bathroom and laundry room in. After they started pulling things down, they found 18 live junction boxes in the rafters. It looks like instead of fixing what was there, they just kept adding and adding. Then there was mold under the floor. Bad plumbing that was loose and seeping sewer gasses into the basement.

Then they take one piece of wood down and out falls hundreds of carpenter ants.

That show freaked me out. But because I'm DVR'ing repeats, I don't know when I'll see part 2! They gutted the entire finished basement, poor people.

Re: Holmes on Homes - a question

Posted by GoldenRod

The thing is, is that nobody is "perfect" when it comes to building/repairing a house. There are things that Mike does that I would have done better myself. (It may be because of Canadian building codes or something, but I'm not happy with some of the stuff he does. Most, yes, but not all)

Actually, watching HoH makes me want to do even MORE DIY myself....

Re: Holmes on Homes - a question

It's other people's DIY that worries me.
I am pretty sure there was stuff done on my co-op that was not done properly. Some of it is just ugly (seams on bead board not meeting up, etc) but there are plumping & electrical things that seem not not be the best chocies, if they are even up to code.

I haven't done anything major, so the worst I have done is jsut to cover uo what other people have done, instead of starting over, but that has mostly been paint & plaster related, so it jsut leaves some bumpy walls.

Re: Holmes on Homes - a question

We watch it regularly. I'm grateful my DH is so knowledgeable (he researches all the time online.) More often than not, he knows more than the contractors we work or speak with, which is why he often takes on the projects himself.

Re: Holmes on Homes - a question

We DIY quite often, but I know my limitations....

roofs and insulation are two of them!