My favorite home improvement show on TV is now Holmes on Homes featuring the likable, knowledgeable and photogenic Canadian contractor and home expert Mike Holmes. The show Holmes on Homes has been playing in Canada for a couple years and could be found on cable in the United States here and there, but HGTV just picked up a new season of Holmes on Homes and is featuring his shows prominently in their Sunday night line-up.
Who Is Mike Holmes?
Mike Holmes is now a mass media home improvement powerhouse with a newspaper column, several different television shows and specials, DVDs, books, a magazine and even some construction work clothing.
A typical episode of Holmes on Homes starts out with a desperate homeowner who was usually wronged by a home improvement or remodeling contractor. Some of the jobs are done poorly, some left incomplete and some are just done completely wrong. Sometimes a simple problem like a small leak quickly balloons into a total room demolition as Mike Holmes and his crew follow one problem to another.
After taking a good look at the job done by another contractor Mike Holmes usually sits down and explains some of the problems and then bashes the contractor for leaving the homeowner in the lurch or cutting corners or simply not doing the job the right way. The contractors in question are never actually named because, according to Mike, the show is “not about finger pointing.” That being said, the show will also sometimes feature legal experts who explain what recourse a homeowners have to get their money back or have things corrected.
Then comes the demolition part. Mike and his crew come in usually end up ripping out all of the previous contractor’s work. During the demolition Mike and his crew poke around for further problems and then explain what’s wrong and what’s right about the previous contractor’s job. Mike does give credit where credit is due and does point out the good things a contractor might do as well.
After fully accessing the project Mike and his crew get together and the rest of the show details how to really do the job correctly. So if it’s a botched bathroom job you’ll see Mike and his team gut the bathroom and then upgrade all the plumbing, install top of the line bathroom fixtures and finish it all off with professional tile work. Some episodes start out with a sort of “mystery” such as a leak that can’t be diagnosed or a structural problem that doesn’t makes much sense. Eventually, of course, Mike figures out the problem and then corrects through in the rest of the show.
The last part of Holmes on Homes is the “reveal” in which Mike brings in the homeowners to show them the completed project, which is usually complete with the requisite ooo’s and ahhh’s. It’s also the first time the audience gets to see all the work that was done while Mike explains exactly why the job was done that way.
The Holmes on Homes episodes are mostly formulaic but within that formulas there’s a lot of different interplay and personality. Each job is unique and it’s often interesting to see what unexpected challenges the crew finds.
Holmes on Homes is not a show in which the typical do-it-yourselfer will learn any details of how to actually complete a job. Instead, this will give you the “big picture” of all the work involved in a major renovation and it shows what can go wrong when homeowners blindly put their faith in contractors. Mike usually spends a fair bit of time warning people about the dangers of using shoddy contractors, but it really doesn’t always seem to be the fault of the homeowners who often have checked references and done everything in their power to get the job done correctly.
Who Pays For The Work on Holmes on Homes?
Mike often comes into a home to fix a few small problems but quickly finds lots and lots of larger issues to correct. He’s famous for essentially gutting a room and starting from scratch, which leads people to ask about who actually pays for all the materials and construction work you see in Holmes on Homes, especially when these people have often just spent thousands of dollars on the original contractor’s job. Generally, the labor of Mike and the entire Holmes on Homes crew is paid for by his television production company, but new materials are often bought by the homeowner. That being said, the materials used are often bought “at a deep discount” and in at least one case a supplier came in and said he was going to donate it all to the show because he felt bad for the homeowners.
Mike Holmes Criticism
There aren’t too many people jumping up to say bad things about Mike Holmes. He seems to be every bit as nice and genial as he is on TV, but insiders say he does tend to play things up for the camera. If anything, Mike Holmes seems to be guilty of “over-correcting” problems sometimes. Along those same lines he’s been accused of confusing “his own code” with the actual building code. In several episodes he has actually complained about the “minimum code” and then gone ahead and fixed something above and beyond what was actually required. Mike’s a perfectionist and I have to wonder if he’s really all that easy to work for.
Mike has been known to rant about how the Do-It-Yourself show he was working on was giving people the idea that they could do anything, but that professional contractors were often needed to fix the mistakes of amateurs. There is, of course, a fair bit of truth to that. As a guy who does a lot of DIY home improvement, I can honestly say that one of the best things you can learn is your own limits. If you’re uncomfortable doing something or not sure about attempting a job that could cause some real damage or hurt yourself, then hire a professional. No amount of money is worth getting hurt or putting yourself in a dangerous situation.
Mike has also received some criticism from animal rights advocates for attending a stampede and he reportedly had to take media sensitivity class early in his television career in order to clean up some of his salty language.
If you watch enough episodes of Holmes on Homes you begin to believe that all contractors are bad (except Mike Holmes, of course) and that you’d be crazy to ever have anyone other than him work on your own house. That’s not the case, of course, but since every show revolves around a home contractor or home builder doing something wrong you do begin to get a bit paranoid about exactly whom you can trust.
People who have seen the work done by Holmes on Homes firsthand have good things to say. They say that his work is professional, he does try to keep cleanliness and the homeowner’s schedule and family life in mind and he generally sticks to their wishes. It’s actually fun to watch him deal with a design decision that he doesn’t agree with. He won’t outright say something is ugly but he’ll say things like, “Well, I wasn’t sure about that color but it works, I think…”
Mike Holmes Crew and Cast
Mike’s crew changes slightly from season to season with different people coming in and others dropping out. Almost all of the crew members are qualified trade men and women who are either specialists such as plumbers and electricians or have construction and trade experience. Some crew and cast members regularly have conversations with Mike on camera, while some are mostly just seen in the background and labor montage shots. Some of the more recognizable current crew members:
Damon Bennett – Mike’s right hand man and senior contractor. Damon is often the guy who Mike first shares his ideas for the room with.
Shawn Morren – He served as Mike’s senior contractor during the first five seasons and often has a mischievous look in his eye. In one episode he mentions he was late for work because he was attending his pregnant wife’s ultrasound appointment. Shawn’s younger brother Micah Morren also appeared in some episodes of Holmes on Homes.
Adam Belanger – Another senior contractor who isn’t seen as much and seems to have a mischievous side to him. He’s also close to Mike, though in a different way than Damon. His wife is none other than Amanda Holmes, Mike Holmes’ daughter.
Mike Holmes Jr. – Yes, that tall lanky guy with the short blond hair is none other than Mike Holmes’ youngest child and son.
Carl Pavlovic – Carl is usually the go to guy for tile and drywall work, so he’ll often appear more in the later part of the show. Carl often plays up the humor which makes him fun to watch on TV at times.
Corin “Pinky” Ames – She is not just a pretty blond woman hired to make the guys happy. She was an intern who was hired on-air during season 5 and is a graduate of the Women In Skilled Trades (WIST) program.
Kate Campbell – Also a graduate of the Women In Trade Skills (WIST) program, Kate was the second woman to join the Holmes on Homes crew.
Mike Holmes Biography
Mike Holmes born in Canada on August 3, 1963, has home improvement contracting his his blood and started his own construction company at the tender age of 19. At age 6 Mike started apprenticing under his father (who has passed away) in the building, electrical and plumbing trades. His father, a “jack of all trades” in his words used to tell him to do things right the first time. Mike has taken his father’s advice to heart. The phrase “Make It Right” has become a mantra that he repeats in almost all his projects and tries to employ in everything he does. And, yes, Mike has that phrase, “Make It Right” tattooed on his right bicep, right above a tattoo of a bulldog. He supposedly has the nickname of “Holmesy” but he’s a pretty big guy, so I’m not sure you’d want to call him that to his face!
Mike got started in TV when he was hired to do some work for the Just Ask John Eakes home improvement show. Mike Holmes had an idea for a new show in which he would take his crew into homes that had construction and remodeling problems and make them right. His first show went on the air in 2003, but it wasn’t until he teamed up with Michael Quast and Pete Kettlewell that his entire show and the “brand” of Mike Holmes took off.
In 2006 Mike Holmes launched The Holmes Foundation which is a charitable institution which helps train young men and women in the skilled trades. In 2008 the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) gave Mike Holmes an Honorary Doctorate of Technology. In addition to keeping busy with various speaking engagement, publications and working with other building organizations he is working on a new environmentally friendly and completely sustainable housing project known as Wind Walk.
Because Mike is pretty easy on the eyes a lot of women want to know: Is Mike Holmes married? Mike Holmes does not seem to have a wife at the moment. He’s a divorced dad of three, but has reportedly been in a steady relationship with girlfriend Anna Zappia for a number of years.
Mike Holmes’ Family
As for the other members of his family, he has three children. Mike Holmes’ children are all in their 20′s and have all appeared on his show at one time or another. He has two daughters and a son. They are:
Amanda Holmes – His oldest daughter. She is married to Adam Belanger on Mike’s crew.
Sherry Holmes- His middle daughter. She was first seen on the New Orleans special and has appeared as a regular part of his crew.
Mike Holmes Jr. – His youngest child and only son. Mike Jr. has been seen on the show for several years and is now a regular part of the crew. In one episode Mike Holmes surprises his son on his birthday by giving him a new truck.
Mike also has an uncle, Bill Bell (known as Uncle Billy), who works as a truck driver and general equipment manager on the show. He’s the oldest regular crew member and often plays the role of father figure to the other younger cast and crew members.
Mike’s Life After Holmes on Homes
Overall, Holmes on Homes and Holmes Inspection are fun to watch for several reasons, though they all have to do with Mike Holmes himself. The show’s informative and Mike Holmes proves that he knows his stuff. He finds things most other contractors wouldn’t find (or at least leads you to believe that), he points out the errors of other contractors but he explains himself in such a way that you can’t help but learn a little something in the process. Mike is a natural in front of the camera with his gentle but firm demeanor, big biceps and muscle shirt. He plays the role of a superhero who arrives in the nick of time to help desperate homeowners with their homes.
Mike has new show called Holmes Inspection which examines bad homes inspections. It’s nearly the same concept as Holmes on Homes with just a few small changes. In Holmes Inspection Mike visits a house, usually finds some problems and there’s usually a need to rip apart or gut at least a few rooms to “make it right” again. Again, it’s a show about home improvements, remodeling, and fixing houses, but in Holmes Inspection Mike doesn’t actually do much, if any, of the work. He has Damon Bennett come in with his crew (which just happens to include Mike Holmes Jr. and Sherry Holmes) and they do all the work. You even see Uncle Billy from time to time. Mike makes appearances at middle of the show to see how progress is going and then he is still part of the ending “reveal” to the happy homeowners.
The first season of 26 episodes of Holmes Inspection did very well, but a lot of viewers voiced the desire to see more of Mike Holmes himself. The second season hopes to remedy that criticism by actually appearing in the episodes more. Mike will be doing more of the work and will be on the job site more in order to solve problems as they arise.
Mike is also working on yet another television project, but this one is a little different from his previous shows. He’s working with an unnamed animation company to develop cartoon show with a “Mighty Mike” character for kids. Mighty Mike will be a kid that’s between the ages of four to eight who will be loosely based on Mike as child and will obviously have some handyman in him even at that young age. There aren’t many firm details yet but viewers in Canada may get the opportunity to see Mighty Mike as early as Christmas 2011.
Contacting Mike Holmes
Mike Holmes has made lots of guest appearances on various shows in Canada and the United States and many people remember him as a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He still shows up various specials and projects for HGTV, the latest one being the show the All American Handyman which aired in Fall 2010. It also starred Scott McGillivray, another popular Canadian contractor who has his own show, Income Property. Mike Holmes has an official Make It Right Twitter page, though it’s unclear if he’s actually sending his own tweets or not.
Episodes of Holmes on Homes can be seen in the United States on HGTV on Sunday nights. You can also check out the Make It Right Production company to read more about what Mike Holmes is up to now.
Since we started viewing Mike’s TV shows, I’m surprised here in Arizona (USA) we don’t have state laws to regulate and protect the consumer from contractors that aren’t properly licensed or certified to do the type of work they advertise!
This state only seems to react after the problem has occurred, instead of before!
Then the state or community agency that do regulate these contractors here in Arizona have little power to protect the consumer or home owner!
The contractor returned some extra supplies to the home improvement store that the insurance company paid for. Who gets the money me or him?
I am a mechanical engineer and have been in the construction business for over 30 years. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. My father, who was in the Air-Conditioning business (60 year old company still in existing and operated by my brother) was a perfectionist just like Mike Holmes. Mike reminds me of my dad in many, many ways.
Anyway, Mike Holmes is a fantastic contractor, and has wonderful taste in construction and finishes. My wife and I watch Mike’s shows every week; mostly on Sunday morning.
I like the fact that Mike often does more than “minimum code” because minimum code isn’t good enough in many situations.
I hope Mike and Damon make lots of money (I think Damon will eventually have his own show!) because theirs makes for great TV, and he does wonderful things for people who have been taken advantage of.
Keep up the good work, Mike.
BTW, I have been part of the rebuilding effort in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. I know Mike rebuilt some homes and I know one of the local engineers he worked with.
Mike is a hero. God bless Mike.
On a recent show you used a rubber product on a shower floor that a wheelchair could be rolled over and no water would escape. who makes it and where can I buy the rubber product?
I live in PA, USA………in a wonderful 18th century log and stone home. We’re finding cracks in the walls that I think is based on the house settling after so much local construction and massive traffic in front of our home that wasn’t here 20 years ago, when we bought the home.
My husband rebuilt a lot of the interior and exterior with the knowledge he had for renovation. Since we live in a rural area that has changed dramatically in the last 10 years or so, the small mountain our house is bedded against has stayed pristine for 270 years. But now, it’s as if the earth has been shaken and house is showing signs of internal and external wear and tear. If you eve come back to PA, would love to hear from you to see what we can do to fix it.
It’s still quite sturdy but I fear the cracks in the walls, shifting of the floors, etc will cause further damage down the line.
Good read in general, but I take exception with something you say above “Along those same lines he’s been accused of confusing “his own code” with the actual building code. In several episodes he has actually complained about the “minimum code” and then gone ahead and fixed something above and beyond what was actually required.”. The building code doesn’t require you to stop at it’s own limitation (say 2×10 joists) meaning you can ONLY use 2×10 joists, the building code says “you must use at least 2×10″, meaning 2x12s also works. The problem, as Mike will also say, is this: contractors treat the building code (or minimum code) as a goal, and not a starting point. Have something approved as “meeting” minimum code is the equivalant of getting a “D” on your highschool term paper. Who is happy with a D? Until people
I think Mike is terrific.Is there anything he can’t do?We live in USA so probably won’t see him often on the streets.His teeth sure are white and beautiful :)
after starting to look into a new home for retirement, Mike has looking at things that we would not have thought about, small things add up, heating & cooling costs, repairs, being retired isnt about being stupid, and spending more money, we know what ever we decide will not be perfect, but a whole lot better because of listening to Mike, thanks big guy
Hi Mike I am inviting you and your Crew to come to our house in TERRACE B.C. We have owned our house for 28 years now and Its only Curt and I that live here. Our basement is cold we haave no ceiling in the laundry room the 2 bedrooms are cold as well. Its far to expensive to use the gas furnace!!!! Our yard is bumpy it has grass all around the house but bumpy!!! i have always wanted a deck but……. well if YOU and your CREW are EVER LOOKING TO SEE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AREA IN THE WORLD WE ARE HERE FOR YOU We watch your SHOW ALL THE TIME AND THINK YOU GUYS ARE ABSOLUTLY THE VERY VERY BEST . THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS AND WE WILL KEEP ON WATCHING YOU THANKS MIKE .. Denise McCann
In most episodes that involve an upgrade to a home’s electrical system, the new power panel is installed horizontally, with two rows of circuit breakers mounted so their handles operate vertically. This mounting method contrasts with normal practice in the US, where electrical panels are mounted vertically, and the circuit breaker handles operate horizontally.
As an electrical inspector, I am aware that there are many similarities between the Canadian Electrical Code and the US’s National Electrical Code. However, one very important provision in the NEC is that circuit breakers installed so that the handles operate vertically, must be installed so that “ON” is always when the handle is UP.
I therefore wonder if the horizontal electrical panels being installed in Canada are designed so that all circuit breakers are ON when the handles are UP, or is one row of circuit breakers ON when the handles are DOWN?
Moreover, I am curious why anyone would install a residential panel in the horizontal position, when such a mounting may confuse the homeowner about the status of the circuits.
I love to watch all of the Mike Holmes shows. And love that he has a foundation to help young people in a skill trade. Is their any such program in USA ? My son is attending a South Florida University, but trieding to get experience is very daunting. It like he needs to know someone in the business.
dear mike,
i truly believe you are a gift from god to the poor home owners who have been led down the garden path. my husband and i went there once and now we do not trust anyone. my husband and i met in the army and we have been married for 22yrs. he has 24yrs as solider and right now he is a contractor over there helping to train soliders to protect and serve the people. my problem is i have the house from hell to fix and everyone i have talked to and asked for help wants to eat me alive. i have been buying material on my own so i’m going to do what i can by myself. i’m pretty handy. my problem is there’s only so much i can do and i have to much on my plate taking care of my 88year old dad who can’t be by his self any more and he has to come live with me. thats the reason i have this other house i want to make a room for him there but it’s been hell. i just wish there were more honest men like you who don’t take advantage of poor people. your a good man stay strong. can i get your advice if i run into a problem. thank you for being you. mrs.irma maldonado
Mr. Holmes, I watch your TV program as often as I can. I am no handyman of any sort, and I do learn an awful lot just watching you.
You appear to me that in your younger years, you many have been a bit
of a spitfire. However, whatever changes you had to make in your basic charACTER certainly has paid off. I know of no one at all who
hasn’t falled in fatuation with your expertise and your manner in which you conduct with your crew, your marerial suppliers and most of
all, your “patients”. I wish you to best that our God has to offer.
Your children must be as aswome and you. God continue t bless you all. An
American Charley
Does Mike and his crew ever do the show in the US?
My husband and I love your shows. However, we have noticed that rarely do you work on what would be considered a lower income home. Often those are the homes where the need is great, and the elderly are taken advantage of. Just a thought – maybe a show addressing the needs of elderly, who do not own a McMansion. Again, love your show.
Well i find it so hard to believe that Mr Holmes is a master of all trades as you seem to say that your the only ones who can do it right and every other trades man is wrong.I was in the trade for 42 years and a master plumber, and have met many real good trades men in the years i worked. I would really like to see you stop bashing everyone else that doesnt have the name Mike Holmes and who thinks he is the only one who can do it right the first time.
MIke– You & your “guys” Drive Me Crazy when you DO NOT Wear a mask when you’re ripping things apart (dust), using the brick saw(brick dust), using a regular wood saw or tile saw(dust). You see where I’m going , here, don’t you??? In later years you all Could have Lung problems. Please use more care & start using Face Masks while you’re demolishing places!!
A BIg Fan in NJ!
I’m always tired & sleep a lot, I think my house has something to do with this, but since my boyfriend isn’t tired like I am, he disagrees. If there is something wrong with the house, could it effect us differently? By the way, I love the show & I can’t wait to see you as a cartoon character ;-)
A Fan in Western NY
I’ve noticed that the Holmes crew (and perhaps Canada in general) pays a lot of attention to containing potential carbon monoxide fumes. They seal off cracks in garage walls and ceilings, spray foam around pipe runs, ducts, etc. to prevent exhaust fumes from leaking from the garage into the living space—particularly if there may be a bedroom above.
This is all well and good but I’ve often wondered if this isn’t a lot of overkill. It seems to me that typically a car is only run in the garage with the garage door open, as it’s being driven out or in—and then quickly shut off. Even in cold climates when you might start the car in the garage and let it warm up, the tailpipe is pointing to the outside through the open garage door. I can’t imagine there would be enough exhaust leaking into the house to pose a hazard. Of course if you elect to run your car with the garage door closed, you’re suicidal and that’s a whole other story.
Yet, their electrical codes allow the use of Romex, the flexible plastic cable which is susceptible to damage from accidental fracturing and rodents, among other things. By contrast, minimum code for new work in my Chicago suburb is thin wall conduit, a far superior alternative.
Wanted to talk to mike and say that you are a great guy and contractor. I have ocd when it comes to working and been a electrician for 20 years I’m glad I’m not the only one who obsessed over doing good right. Would loved to hear from you and even to watch your crew work. I gave up my profession to move from California back to new York to take care of both parents who are both really ill my mother has heart condition and dad was told has cancer or bladder. I never miss an episode if I can help it.
Hi Mike, I have a house built in 2001, I bought the house in 2008 and I’m having an electrical problem. Every time I flick on a light switch it makes a sizzling sound, I’m nervous and pray my house don’t catch fire. I have tried asking other electrician and they told me I need to replace the light switch but that did not handle the problem, so can you please help me?
Is it okay if you can come here to Miami, Florida. There is damages on the concrete whole light fixture is loose, removing the light fixture and my boyfriend finds hole with loose ceiling gang box. problems with the toilets don’t flush right it needs to flush 3 times to remove all obstacle. The a/c when it cranks up it makes a very loud noise, The floor of the second floor creaks, sounds like a haunted house when we walk around, also cracks on the bathroom. The electrical sockets is humming and when the lights are on, if a vacuum is plugged in and turned on all lights are tripped. This is brand new only 8 months old and the house is falling apart. We would like for Mr. Holmes to come and see how sadly built this house had been constructed.
Love the show–but when excavating foundations for water problems, why isn’t 3″ of polystyrene insulation put against the foundation prior to backfilling with gravel? That’s standard here in Pennsylvania, and you folks are a lot farther north!
I love your show. My sidewalk in the very front of my house is settling and has a huge crack. How do we repair?
Hi Mike, my name is David my wife and I bought a house in n.c. 6yrs ago for 189.500. When the market fell, We now are told its not worth what we paid for it. I was going to make kitchen dinning room all one. And I also have attach garage I would like to turn into a small room. I would like some advice on how to get money out of house to put into house. I have just put new 30yr shingle roof on which might make value go up some. I would really like to make my wifes dream kitchen a reality with your help.