Holmes on Homes

I love this show. I especially love it when Mike gets livid at other contractors. Best of all, it's Canadian. I have learned a lot from this show. I now have the confidence to take on projects around my house. Mike also teaches us to beware of contractors and check their references. Often times, he makes mention of "Code". You should keep in mind, as with any other home improvement show, that the codes he is referring to are local to his area, which is Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Although, I am sure that Mike's building practices would meet code in just about any area of the world. Good job, Mike Holmes. I look forward to seeing more of you and your show.

I love the show, lots of useful information in the illustrated situations. I recently graduated with an electrical engineering diploma from a local community college. One thing I learned (subject to correction) regarding covering an electrical panel with doors or other trim. From what I was told by prof's who have been in the trade indicate that this procedure is against the electrical code, therefore bordering on illegal practice. I stand to be corrected however but from an instructional viewpoint I would challenge this practice of covering the electrical panel (even though I personally would think it was acceptable and aesthetically acceptable).

In response to the review by "tssmith417..." We don't see everything that goes on behind the scenes, so we don't know that Mike is doing all the changes you refer to without the owner's knowledge. For all we know, the owners give him what amounts to a blank check when they call him. I, for one, am fairly certain that the remodeling he does is done with the full knowledge and permission of the owner. Otherwise, he would probably be letting himself in for a series of suits. As far as your statement "If you'd let someone do the job right in the first place you wouldn't need to call Mike Holmes in to fix it later.," I'd like to say that this is the whole point of this show. People don't always know what to look for in a contractor, so they don't always make the best choices.

Mike holmes and the crews he assembles comprise THE standard for home renovations and repairs. attitudes, explanations, budgets, and straightforward, no nonsense communication make his episodes enjoyable to watch several times over.

Over the years, I've watched select episodes from various home renovation shows, and contractor shows. And except for "Bob Vila's Home Again", most of them never kept my interest, until Mike Holmes came along. I discovered the series last year (2005), and I watch faithfully every week. "Holmes on Homes" is great because Mike Holmes, his crew and many of the subcontractors clearly explain (in plain English) what they're doing and why, so that a renovation dummy such as myself can understand it.

But what I like most about Mike Holmes, is the fact that he's part of a rare breed of contractors that still care and who are true craftsmen, settling for nothing less than quality work. I love how he prefers older homes to newer homes, but my major beef is when he removes lathe and plaster and replaces them with drywall and removes old windows and replaces them with new. But other than that, he shows people what a contractor should be like. So many people have had their lives salvaged, because he came to the rescue in their home renovation disaster. On one episode, Mike and all the other crew members and subcontractors donated their time (and I think materials) to help fix a poorly constructed addition built for a family's wheelchair-bound son.

He is a true hero and this is one reality show I highly recommend!