Holmes on Homes site up again (NF)

[ch312]

LOL LOL LOL

 

You guys need to watch "HELLS KITCHEN" or the "F WORD"

 

Now thats arrogant. I could slap that guy silly. Bet it,s happen,but never aired.LOL

Anyone want to go fish,n? Im off friday, and it,s going to be cold as h e double hockey sticks,so the weatherman says ????????

 

i guess when you're one of the best chefs in the world, you can act like him. the man knows what he is talking about and the only ones who argue with him are the ones that are too stubborn to admit it.

 

holmes is an ass. people who dont know much about reno's watch this guy and think that all contractors have an unlimited budget and everything should be overkill just like the holy one, mike holmes.

 

sub division homes are pathetic and i wouldnt live in one if i got it for free.

[express168]

i guess when you're one of the best chefs in the world, you can act like him. the man knows what he is talking about and the only ones who argue with him are the ones that are too stubborn to admit it.

 

holmes is an ass. people who dont know much about reno's watch this guy and think that all contractors have an unlimited budget and everything should be overkill just like the holy one, mike holmes.

 

sub division homes are pathetic and i wouldnt live in one if i got it for free.

 

 

Hey ch312,

 

I agree with you, the sad part is that those sub-division homes are going to be the older resale homes of the future. I wonder what condition they will be in then?

[Pinch]

So basically what some people are saying here is that the homes which are built to code in sub divisions are crap, but the work that MH does which is above code is overkill?!?

[mikeh]

One of his best shows was when he went into a home in a newer subdivision and the poured concrete was eroding in a couple of spots, they tested the strength of the concrete which was supposed to be 15 and found it to be 7-8 , which explained why it was erroding.

[forrest]

Generally unqualified opinion:

Sure, the paint jobs will often be low grade, the sub-floors are not as good as they used to be and carpet has always been cheap.

Houses may be made differently now but at their core, when built right, they are good and sound at their core and will last. A fix or upgrade hear and there and your good to go.

 

Me, a brand new home did not suit me. Neither did one that was too old.

 

A lot of people are saying new subdivision homes are garbage. This sounds like a stereotype.

 

forrest

[Gerritt]

Average lifespan of a house built in the 50's or 60's is 90 years before MAJOR repairs are needed..... most of these houses are double brick construction...

 

Average lifespan of a house built in the 80's, 90's or 2000's.... 35 years before MAJOR repairs are needed... 2x4 stick framed.....

 

I would take an older home.

 

G

[splashhopper]

I am glad Mike is around too.

 

AS a grout repair specialist, I am called in to "fix" shoddy workmanship ALL DAY, EVERYDAY.

 

I have walked into homes less than a year old with floor tiles cracking and popping everywhere.. No builder in site either!

 

Showers that are molding up in less than a year.

 

Tubs with atrocious caulking jobs.

 

Grout falling out of backsplashes.

 

Light coloured grout( the current fashion) being installed in high traffic areas that is filthy within months.

 

Clients not being told of upgrades available to prevent mold and stains.

 

Lifetime warranties not being offered, with a slight upgrade, to homeowners.

 

You name it,, I have seen it.

 

 

Keep up the good work Holmes..

 

The Grout Doctor

www.TheGroutDoctor.ca

Edited January 17, 2009 by splashhopper

[bigugli]

Average lifespan of a house built in the 50's or 60's is 90 years before MAJOR repairs are needed..... most of these houses are double brick construction...

 

Average lifespan of a house built in the 80's, 90's or 2000's.... 35 years before MAJOR repairs are needed... 2x4 stick framed.....

 

I would take an older home.

 

G

 

Actually, to correct the one misconception. Houses are not 2x4 construction. Exterior and weight bearing walls are 2x6 minimum. Partition walls are 2x4. There is a huge variance in the quality of the framing lumber being used. A lot of green and warped wood used so it's tough to build a trued wall. Some framers would cut and scab a stud to try and true a wall, I prefer to shave and shim.

[MAzing]

I have been working in the new home industry for over 25 years. There is enough inspections mandated by governments to make sure your house is safe. So all structural, electical, mechanical and pluming should be safe.

 

Now the majority of the projects are crap, it's all about the mighty dollar and how fast they can slap them together. There is no concern about quality but lots about quatity. Sure they will build to code but nothing else maters so cosmetics will suffer.

 

Now I've spent the last 20 years working on custom homes and yes they are much better built then the projects but there are still some poor builders out there. I suggest you stay away form the larger builders as they are basicly project builders doing custon homes. A custom home should take at least 6 months to a year to be built properly, anything less will lead to poor workmanship.

 

I am in the finishing aspest of the game and it blows me away with the lact of perfection you see in these expensive homes. People would not buy a 20K car if it was full of dents and scratches or misallingned doors or bent dashboards but they will buy houses from 200k to millions and accept all these defects without exception.

 

I could not be a home builder as I don't think I can find a set of trades that would satisfy my quality demands. And if I did I would be costing the buyer 50 to 100% more then the next guy.

 

BTW I operate a business without advertising or even been listed in any phone book. I cost at least 20% more then the going rate and I have no problems finding work. I guess been a perfectionist has something to do with it. But even with my high standards I find myself doing sub par work these days as I cannot control all the trades before me as I'm not a miracle worker.

 

My one and only house was custom built 15 years ago and my next and last house will be custom built by me as a contractor.

 

And who is Mike Holmes?

[Sinker]

I will say that alot of the crap jobs you see in new home construction are due to poor concrete work. Off level, out of square, poor quality concrete, bearing points in the wrong spots etc. I find the closer you get to the GTA, the worse it is. Not so bad as you move east. There are a couple good concrete formers out here.

 

I've learned to stay away from some sites, just by checking out the foundations. Good forming usually helps make a better home. Some of the foundations I've seen, I wouldn't even touch. I actually made a site sign a waiver before I built a house for them, the concrete was that bad. I was on my way off the site, but this guy was almost crying to keep me there.......I know from the sill plate up, the house was solid, but under that......who knows.

 

I've seen some crazy crap in my time framing houses!!!! I"m glad I came to my senses and went back to school!!!

 

Sinker

[ch312]

Generally unqualified opinion:

Sure, the paint jobs will often be low grade, the sub-floors are not as good as they used to be and carpet has always been cheap.

Houses may be made differently now but at their core, when built right, they are good and sound at their core and will last. A fix or upgrade hear and there and your good to go.

 

Me, a brand new home did not suit me. Neither did one that was too old.

 

A lot of people are saying new subdivision homes are garbage. This sounds like a stereotype.

 

forrest

 

i poured concrete basements, garages and porches for almost all of the builders in brantford for about 5 years. some of the crap that you see in most new homes (usually not custom) makes me sick to think that some poor sap is gonna spend $300k on a crappy house. all kinds of problems from the ground to roof top. i poured a pad for someone in a new subdivision this summer. the house is 2-3 years old and i believe there was 26 or so different issues that they found to try and get fixed under warranty.

 

I will say that alot of the crap jobs you see in new home construction are due to poor concrete work. Off level, out of square, poor quality concrete, bearing points in the wrong spots etc. I find the closer you get to the GTA, the worse it is. Not so bad as you move east. There are a couple good concrete formers out here.

 

I've learned to stay away from some sites, just by checking out the foundations. Good forming usually helps make a better home. Some of the foundations I've seen, I wouldn't even touch. I actually made a site sign a waiver before I built a house for them, the concrete was that bad. I was on my way off the site, but this guy was almost crying to keep me there.......I know from the sill plate up, the house was solid, but under that......who knows.

 

I've seen some crazy crap in my time framing houses!!!! I"m glad I came to my senses and went back to school!!!

 

Sinker

 

i guess im lucky that ive only worked with good crews.

 

ive seen some pretty pathetic things when it comes to concrete but thats mostly due to the BUILDERS. ive seen a few builders become purple in the face from yelling so much when contractors refused to rush the job. i have personally witnessed footings being poured over mud, walls being poured 2 days after footings, and walls being stripped and back filled a couple days after pouring. turns out a whole wall fell over AFTER the house was framed

 

while working for a previous employer, we had to lay plywood on the MUD in the basement to pour the floor. some were less than 1" of concrete in places while others were 16"+ in others. sometimes heaters would go down and builders would just say make it work...

 

if you refuse to work that day, you get fired.

 

i would never buy a new home...EVER. ive seen enough poop to say that they ALL sub divisions suck (except for custom)

[F7Firecat]

Holmes has done a lot of good by making a public statement on how much shoddy workmanship is going on. Some by builders, some by contractors and renovators, some by unlicensed people, some also by "handymen." One thing he seldom comments on is how some of these homeowners got stuck in these bad situations in the first place. And that is quite simply that there are a lot of tightwads out there that are only interested in getting the cheapest price.

 

People have to do their homework! Don't go cheap, don't buy cheap materials and quit looking for a bargain! You only get what you pay for, nothing is free. I encounter cheap people everyday at work and do my best to explain why something costs a few bucks more and generally succeed with getting the point across. Sometimes though I can't and just have to sell them the cheap stuff and let it go at that.

 

BINGO!

THE NAIL WAS HIT ON THE HEAD

 

Alot of people get into bad predicaments because they are so tight they squeak.

 

As a self emplyed contractor I think I do excellent work for reasonable prices. When I run across someone who is being cheap with me I walk the other way. They are a waste of my time, wont call them back, wont even give them a price. SEE YA! Find someone else!

 

I will agree however there are guys out there who do shotty work who shouldnt be in the contracting business.

 

MH goes overboard because the skies the limit on labour and material. Put him into the real world without all the sponsors and you may see a different story. I'm all for good workmanship and materials but the industry will only take so much.

 

BB