Holmes Makes It Right Special: High Water (Pictures)

This last Tuesday on HGTV Canada marked the premiere of the Holmes Makes It Right special "High Water," which featured Mike Holmes helping one High River, Alberta family rebuild after they lost everything in last June's devastating flood. Unfortunately for me, I have yet to see the episode because I don't live in Canada. But never fear, HGTV has an awesome photo gallery up on their website to keep us all in the same loop.

Looking at these photos, it's hard not to be rendered speechless at the sight... I could not imagine being told that I could not return home -- for months! And when I finally do return home, all that remains is mud and mold and absolute disaster. It's no wonder that families all over Alberta were calling on Mike for help.

You can view HGTV Canada's photo gallery on the HGTV Canada website!

Here's some of my favorites from the gallery:

Mike Holmes For Skills Canada Toronto 2014

I'm sure Mike was very happy in Vancouver this year when it was announced that the 2014 Skills Canada competition, part of WorldSkills International, was going to be held in Toronto. Toronto is right in Mike Holmes' neck of the woods, and as Team Canada's most ardent die hard cheerleader and self proclaimed mascot, and as an official WorldSkills Ambassador, Mike should be very happy he won't have to travel far to root on the home team! Recently, the Skills Canada YouTube page released this trailer for the 2014 competition, featuring Mike challenging the youth of Canada to come out and show the world what they're capable of.

Uhhhh...?

Mike Holmes made a BIG announcement on his Facebook page today. Unfortunately we won't know what that announcement is until November 1! It appears to be some sort of toyish cartoony bobble heady thingy... (crossing my fingers and hoping it's a bobble head!!!) So grab what's left of your Halloween candy and click on over to the Holmes Spot (or Mike's website) on November 1 to find out what Mike's BIG announcement is!

Flooded High River Home Profiled on Holmes Makes It Right

A few days ago, I posted an article pertaining to this week's episode of Holmes Makes It Right on HGTV Canada. The episode "High Water" will be like no other episode of Holmes Makes It Right to date, in which one family in the flood devastated community of High River will receive help from Mike Holmes and crew. With thousands of displaced families all around, it can hardly be considered a happy ending, as was pointed out by Calgary Herald blogger Ruth Myles. “It truly wasn’t a happy ending because it was just one family that has a smile on their face, with everyone else still stuck in the middle. So it goes from a happy ending to a not-so-much happy ending,” stated Mike. As bittersweet as the show might be, Mike Holmes is one man doing what he can to help one family at a time. Although he can't physically rebuild the entire city, he can share his wisdom on how to rebuild better and smarter so that devastation like this doesn't happen again.

From HGTV Canada:



From the Calgary Herald Blog:

Ruth Myles: Flooded High River home profiled on special episode of Holmes Makes it Right

October 27, 2013. 4:00 am

PHOTO: Holmes Group

Mike Holmes visits High River in Holmes Makes It Right: High Watermark, airing Tuesday on HGTV.

Posted by:
Ruth Myles

This week’s instalment of Holmes Makes It Right strays from the usual formula of Mike Holmes and crew meeting unhappy homeowners, surveying an improperly built/renovated home and then making it right. In the end, there are smiles all around.
Tuesday’s episode, though, is set in High River, the Alberta community hit hardest by June’s flooding. While Holmes & Co. helped the Rotheisler family, there are more than 2,000 people still out of their homes in Alberta due to the natural disaster.
“It truly wasn’t a happy ending because it was just one family that has a smile on their face, with everyone else still stuck in the middle. So it goes from a happy ending to a not-so-much happy ending,” Holmes says over the phone from Toronto. “It was hard for me. I can only help one family at a time. I can’t help an entire city.”
But he can help flood victims make informed decisions on the road to rebuilding, another reason for the special. The 60-minute episode airing on HGTV Canada will also remind the rest of the country about the scope of the flooding that continues to affect thousands.
“I was overwhelmed at the size of the area that was flooded. I had no idea it was that big,” Holmes recalls of his visit to southern Alberta in July. “As far as I was concerned that day, it was bigger than (Hurricane) Katrina. It was surreal. I had no idea it was that bad.”
The Rotheisler’s bungalow was one of the more than 14,500 homes damaged in the disaster. On June 20, Gillian Rotheisler came home from work early due to the flood warning. Husband John, an RCMP officer, was in Edmonton on a course. Daughters Jordyn, 15, and Cassidy, 12, were with their mom in their 1,533-square-foot home that backs onto a 16-acre water feature that serves as a storm pond.
“When I saw it bubbling out there, I knew we were in trouble,” Gillian recalls, looking through a photo album full of pictures that document the destruction.
She told the girls, whose bedrooms are in the walkout basement, to put their things up on their beds. Then, she told them to put them on the upper shelves of the closets. Then she just told them to get out of the basement.

Water a metre high surged against the basement windows, blowing out the sliding glass door. The flood waters filled the lower level, reaching approximately 2.25 metres high.

“The noise was so horrendous. It sounded like the house was collapsing,” Gillian says.
She and the girls laboured through thigh-high water on their street to a dry patch up the road. They waited there with approximately 40 neighbours to be evacuated via helicopter. No one was allowed back into their neighbourhood of Montrose for two weeks. (The family was out of their home for six weeks.)
Thankfully, the water didn’t breach the main floor of the Rotheisler home. It destroyed the lower level, though, which housed the girls’ bedrooms, a family room/office, a bathroom and the mechanical room. Gillian points to a photo showing a giant pile of detritus in their backyard, the remnants of their once-finished basement.
“That’s what your house looks like when you put it outside.”
The family had help in the cleanup. Volunteers included members of Lifestyle Homes, which crafted the house. In 2012, the home was the first built in High River under the Holmes Approved Homes program.
“When they said they would help, we thought they meant a plumber, or maybe an electrician. But not the president of the company shovelling mud out of my basement,” John says.
As they needed the living space for the girls, the family decided to finance an immediate rebuild of the basement, rather than wait for any insurance money or provincial assistance to come through. Because of the home’s provenance, Holmes signed on for the project alongside Lifestyle Homes.

 

Gillian and John Rothesisler, along with daughters Jordyn, left, and Cassidy pose in the rebuilt basement of their High River home.

The Rotheisler’s experience “is a great example of what needs to be done that relates to almost everyone there,” Holmes says. “I know for a fact that a lot of families there have already closed their basements up. If the moisture content was above 15 per cent, they are going to have such a problem in the future.”
He’s talking about mould, and he refers to it as “the storm after the storm.” Gillian says it took four to five weeks for their home to dry out, aided by the use of air cleaners and systems to help remove the moisture. The Sept. 22 reveal was almost pushed back because of moisture issues.
The family is grateful that they had the opportunity to “make it right” in their home, but feel for those in the community still struggling with the aftermath of the flood.
“Even though we got hit so hard, we know there are people who have it worse.”
To those who are rebuilding, Holmes has a message: “Slow down.” While he knows those trying to re-establish their homes don’t want to hear that, Holmes says it pays to do things right the first time. And the most critical issue is getting the moisture content of a flooded structure to that 15 per cent level.
“Remember, insurance and government are going to help you once. They’re not going to help again, so if it’s done wrong, the next time is going to cost you big time.”
Holmes Makes It Right: High Watermark airs Tuesday on HGTV Canada.

Mike Holmes on The Hour With George Stroumboulopulos

I'm not sure how recent this video is (there's no date on it) but it's new to me, so it's new to the Holmes Spot! I believe it was recorded some time around 2009, drawing cues from some of their conversations. Mike Holmes was a guest on the CBC hit show The Hour hosted by George Stroumboulopulos (I hope I spelled that right!) talking about the project One Million Acts of Green, in which people log their "green" activities to inspire other people to also conserve energy. Mike's segment starts at the 18 minute mark, in which he literally threatens bodily harm to an intern for not recycling a soda can -- all in jest, though, the point being that recycling is easy and important, so why not do it? His segment then picks back up at the 23 minute mark, where he and George discuss the importance of going "green" in the way we build our homes. Mike talked about the importance of consumers demanding low or zero VOC (volatile organic compound) paint, mold resistant drywall, and other building materials which are better for you and better for the environment. If the demand is there, then stores will have no choice but to meet that demand. He stated that builders aren't going to make the switch to healthier and better materials on their own, it's going to take public outcry and perhaps a little persuasion from the government to change things. George then asked Mike the question that was perhaps on many people's minds, when is Mike going to run for public office, to which Mike replied emphatically -- never! "Should I? Mmmm...no," he stated with a chuckle.

Watch Mike Holmes on The Hour on the CBC website. (Mike's segments start at the 18 minute and 23 minute marks.)

Pictures:

Mike Holmes and Crew Filming in High River

Since June, when the province of Alberta sustained tremendous damage from a severe storm which flooded and destroyed numerous homes, Mike Holmes has been a frequent guest in the Calgary community of High River. Taking up the role as an advocate for the displaced, Mike has pledged his support, time, talent, and resources to helping rebuild better and stronger than before. Back in July while speaking to a crowd of affected residents, Mike indicated that his show Holmes Makes It Right would be helping one family rebuild their home. True to his word, it was announced in the Calgary Herald this week that Mike and his crew were in the community of High River not too long ago filming an episode for the show entitled "High Water." The hour-long episode will feature one family's efforts to clean up after the devastating flood. According to a different news article by the Airdrie City View, the episode will air this month on October 29, and will sing the praises of Holmes Approved Builder Lifestyle Homes.

 

For more information, please refer to previous Holmes Spot blog entries:

 

Holmes on High River
Mike Holmes in High River - Video
Mike Holmes Visits High River - Pictures
Holmes to the Rescue!
Rebuilding After the Flood


(Holmes Spot random commentary... check out the file photo of Mike from the Calgary Herald. Anybody else notice they airbrushed out Mike's tattoos? I know he's wearing a longer sleeved shirt, but even so, the lower portion of the tattoos should still be visable. Just an interesting observation.)

 

 

From the Calgary Herald:

Holmes makes it right in High River

 By Claire Young, Calgary Herald October 25, 2013

 

TV renovator Mike Holmes.Photograph by: Files, Calgary Herald

 

After the waters receded this summer following the floods through southern Alberta, many residents were left to clean up and try to make some sense of their homes and workplaces.
In High River, one of the hardest hit communities in the province, many homes need to be torn down and replaced.
Contractor Mike Holmes recently brought his crew to the community, filming an episode of Holmes Makes It Right that follows one family’s efforts to clean up after the flood.
Their home was built by Lifestyle Homes under the Holmes Approved Homes program, which involves an independent documentation of the building process along with meeting certain standards.
“It’s so jam-packed with information: footage, aerial footage and floods, still pictures, stories and tears — grown men crying like crazy,” says Ryan Armstrong, general manager of Lifestyle Homes, about the content and emotions captured in the episode, titled High Water.
“It’s really good information for people who are going through the remediation process themselves. I know of a lot of people who haven’t even started yet.”
The hour-long episode covers information including mould remediation, air quality tests, what parts of the electrical system should be replaced, and whether hot water tanks and furnaces need replacing.
“It talks about the pink elephant in the room — the government — and insurance companies, and what this family’s challenges were,” says Armstrong.
The show also looks at how certain types of building materials fared in the flood, and examines using materials such as coated lumber and certain kinds of insulation.
“If you’re near a river and there’s the potential of (flooding) happening again, you can reduce your property damage considerably” by using certain materials to rebuild with, Armstrong says.
“We were able to prove that utilizing coated lumbers and different building techniques actually reduces your property damage in the event of a flood.”
The Holmes team found there was far less penetration of moisture into coated lumber than regular lumber, and it was far easier to clean up. Triple-pane windows didn’t blow in, stronger foundations held, and the moisture-resistant drywall helped reduce damage.
“It was a really good test for the specification,” says Armstrong. “When I put the specification together, I never really thought that we’d have to flood test it. I was concerned about fire, mould and mildew. I never expected to flood test it, and it passed with flying colours.”
Fortunately, for this family, they were able to get back on their feet after the flood.
“This family of four had been out of their house for 120 days, and they get their house back at the end, so it’s a great story at the end,” Armstrong says.
RAISING THE BAR
Holmes Approved Homes is a program that recognizes builders for using methods and materials that contribute to a sustainable and durable home that exceeds industry standards.
This includes eight site visits during construction.
Four of the visits include filed views by an inspector certified by TV renovator Mike Holmes.
For more information, visit holmesapprovedhomes.com
DID YOU KNOW?
Holmes Makes It Right’s episode, High Water, is slated for 10 p.m., Oct. 29 on HGTV.
Visit hgtv.ca

© Copyright (c) canada.com


From the Airdrie City View:

Matt Durnan/Rocky View Publishing

Jerrod Iverson demonstrates the operation of a Bio Pump Plus, a machine used for collecting air samples.

Airdrie business owner to appear on HGTV program

Oct 24, 2013 10:13 am | By Matt Durnan | Airdrie City View

Local business owner Jerrod Iverson will appear on renowned Canadian contractor Mike Holmes’ television program Holmes Makes it Right this coming week.
The episode will air on Oct. 29 and will feature Iverson’s work on the flood-affected homes in High River that were devastated by record flooding in June.
Iverson’s company - Iverson Inspections - was hired to conduct air quality tests at four properties in the Montrose area in High River nearly four months ago after the town was ravaged by flood waters in late June.
The connection to Holmes’ television program was made because the four properties that Iverson was working at were Lifestyle Homes, which is a Holmes Approved homebuilder.
“Lifestyle (Homes) does a background check on the companies they hire for this work so they’re making sure that they’re not bringing in some unknown company,” said Iverson.
“They made sure that my credentials were in order before bringing me in.”
Iverson spent about four hours filming with the crew at Holmes Makes it Right while he conducted air quality tests to check the flooded homes for mould spores.
The work itself wasn’t anything new to Iverson as he has been doing this work for over five years. His home-based business in Airdrie has been open for a little over two years and he said he was thrilled with the promotion his company gained through appearing on Holmes Inspection.
“This is a big step for my company, it’s always nice to be recognized and to get a bit of promo,” said Iverson.
“Lifestyle Homes is a reputable company and Mike Holmes is a respected and recognized person in this industry.”
While in High River, Iverson wasn’t just working on set with the Holmes Inspection crew; he had other non-televised jobs, including a 45-unit condo.
His company is based out of Airdrie and takes jobs all over Southern Alberta within a 200-kilometre radius.
For more information, visit www.iversoninspections.com

Mike Holmes Named as Celebrity Judge at AIDSbeat 2013

Last week on October 17, Mike Holmes announced via his Facebook page that he would be participating as a celebrity judge at AIDSbeat 2013 in support of CANFAR, a national privately funded AIDS and HIV research group in Canada (see Mike Holmes to be Part of AIDSbeat in Support of CANFAR for more information). The theme for the event is Rock and Roll Circus, and attendees are invited to dress according to the theme. As I expected, more details have been trickling out as we move closer to the event date, which is scheduled for October 25 in Toronto.

If you're interested in attending or supporting the event, you can join the AIDSbeat: Rock & Roll Circus Facebook group, where they list some vital details about the event:

 Friday, October 25, 2013
 8:00pm in EDT

 Chance of Rain 50°F / 39°F

 Get Tickets

(www.AIDSbeat.com)

Step right up under the Big Top and let the Ringmaster take you on a journey along the high wire for AIDSbeat 2013 Rock & Roll Circus! You won’t believe your eyes and ears. Clowns, acrobats, bearded ladies and Toronto lawyers rocking it out for the 18th year for CANFAR. Join 1,700 party-going professionals. It’s a party! It’s a Grand Spectacle! It’s a magical music tour under the Big Top… You’re in for one crazy ride. WHEN: Friday, October 25, 2013 WHERE: Kool Haus | 132 Queens Quay East, Toronto TICKETS: $40 Until October 25... Rock on!

The Financial and National Post posted a blurb about the event, stating that Mike Holmes would make a great choice for a judge at the rock and roll themed event because if one of the battle of the bands performers punches a hole in the dressing room wall, at least someone will be around to fix it.

From the Financial Post:
Organizers have announced a surprise celebrity judge for AIDSbeat 2013, the annual battle of Toronto law firm rock bands that raises money for AIDS and HIV research.
Mike Holmes, home renovator and TV star, will help decide whether the law firm bands are built on a firm foundation of rock.
Holmes may be the perfect choice for the gig. As Canada’s most trusted building contractor, he never does a job without proper ear protection. And if some band member decides to unleash his or her inner Keith Moon and punch a hole in the dressing room wall, at least there’ll be someone around to fix it.
The National Post is media sponsor for the event, and I’ll be back for my third stint as a judge at the annual event.
Drew Hasselback


From MarketWired.com:

Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR)

October 22, 2013 15:50 ET

Step Right Up Under the Big Top for AIDSbeat 2013!

AIDSbeat is one of the biggest and longest-running charity bashes in Toronto

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 22, 2013) - Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) -

WHO:	Open to the general public - tickets are $40 available online at www.aidsbeat.com or at the door.
	Mark Holmes of Platinum Blonde, Host Mike Holmes of Holmes on Homes, Judge
WHAT:	The legal community comes together for its 18th annual battle-of- the-bands and dance. This year's theme is Rock and Roll Circus!
	The event will feature seven live bands, a carousel, a games alley way with skeeball and other carnival games, food trucks, strong men, aerialists, a big top tent, etc.
	Guests are encouraged to dress in themed costumes for a chance to win "Best Dressed."
WHERE:	Kool Haus, 132 Queens Quay East
WHEN:	Friday, October 25, 2013 - Doors at 8:00 p.m.
WHY:	All proceeds go towards the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) whose goal is to raise awareness in order to generate funds for research into all aspects of HIV and AIDS.
	Each year, at least 90 cents of every dollar raised at AIDSbeat goes directly to CANFAR and AIDS research.

If more information surfaces, I'll be sure to update this post! Stay tuned!

Proof that I am COMPLETELY UNOBSERVANT!!!

Every now and then, I get a hankering to watch a particular YouTube video that I haven't seen in a while. Back in June, Mike did an interview with Fanny Kiefer on her TV talk show. The interview was full of really great information, and I could tell that Mike was really comfortable and in the mood to spill his guts on camera. I have probably watched this interview no less than 10 times, and I consider it one of my all-time favorite interviews with Mike Holmes.... Which is why I had a really good laugh at myself tonight, when I watched the video again and noticed something I had NEVER seen before...

Notice anything? Look carefully. See it? If you don't then you're just as unobservant as I am!

It's gotta be some sort of editor's nightmare faux paus to accidentally display an unofficial fansite on a nationally aired television show rather than the guest's actual official website, which in this case is makeitright.ca. I do consider it a HUGE complement, although for Mike's sake I wish the media guy had done a better job fact checking. I still consider this one of my favorite interviews of all time, and now I guess now I have yet another reason to love this video! I can't believe it took me this long to notice! I must be going blind in my old age, or perhaps my multi-tasking is working against me!

Tonight's Episodes of Holmes Makes It RIght...

It's Tuesday, my favorite day of the week! Tonight, a brand new episode of Holmes Makes It Right airs in the US on DIY and in Canada on HGTV (although Canada is one season ahead of the US). Here are some previews:

In the US:



In Canada:





Pay careful attention to the preview from HGTV Canada, especially near the end... A couple of months ago in August, I found these totally random videos of Mike Holmes riding a horse...guess they're not so random anymore! Finally some context to something that has been perplexing me for months! Mystery solved...

Mike Holmes: Make Your Kitchen Cabinets Work for You

The kitchen -- it's where the majority of us love to congregate, probably because it's where the food is (or beer, if you're a beer drinker). We all want our kitchens to be functional and accessible, all while being a beautiful space to live, cook, and socialize in. It's also important for a kitchen to have plenty of storage space to keep pots and pans out of sight when not in use, but just at our fingertips when we need them. This is where having cabinets designed specifically for your kitchen comes in handy. Installing custom cabinets could run anywhere from $15-$25,000, depending on the size of the kitchen and the manufacturer of the cabinets. Builder grade cabinets or those you can find at big box stores are a lot less pricey, but they can still run around $75 - $250 per cabinet, depending on the size and shape. When you're spending that kind of money, it's important to not only have cabinets that work, but ones that work for you. As Mike Holmes explains the the article below, there are a lot of new innovative gadgets that help bridge the gap between form and functionality, making the things you store inside your kitchen cabinets more accessible for people of all ages and levels of ability.

 

From the Ottawa Citizen:  

Mike Holmes: Kitchen cabinets come of age

Innovations in design and function improve storage and access

By Mike Holmes, Postmedia News October 17, 2013

 

 

Professional kitchen cabinet manufacturers can create custom kitchen cabinets to maximize space, storage and accessibility in any kitchen.

Photograph by: The Holmes Group

 

When I approach a kitchen reno, the first thing I’m looking at is space — we want to maximize it as much as possible without compromising structure. But I also need to make sure that the kitchen works for the homeowner. It has to be functional and it has to make sense. And the kitchen cabinets play a big part in that.
Your kitchen cabinets serve two purposes: storage, and access to that storage. As far as I’m concerned, if you can’t access your pots, pans and plates then your cabinets are not doing their job, they’re not working for you. And to me that’s unacceptable.
As far as storage goes, your upper kitchen cabinets should have a minimum depth of 12 inches (30.5 centimetres). Plates and dinnerware are getting bigger now. It’s important that you make sure your kitchen cabinets can store everything you need them to and that the cabinet doors can open and close properly.
You must also be able to access everything in your kitchen cabinets safely so you don’t get hurt trying to reach for something.
I know of some homeowners who open a bottom kitchen drawer or cupboard and step on the shelf inside just so they can reach the top shelf of an upper kitchen cabinet. That’s dangerous.
Most kitchen cupboards and cabinets aren’t made strong enough to support the weight of a person — and sometimes they’re not even properly installed. You risk breaking your cabinets and hurting yourself in the process.
Or how about those kitchen cabinets above the refrigerator? You have to be really tall to access anything in them without doing some extreme stretching or crazy stunts.
Considering our aging population, a kitchen’s functionality and accessibility is becoming more and more important. That’s why more and more kitchen manufacturers are coming up with all kinds of solutions to make kitchens more accessible.
For example, lowered light switches, countertops and cabinets can make it easier for someone older or with a disability to navigate around the kitchen if they are in a wheelchair. I’m also starting to see kitchen cabinets that are electronically operated, where all you have to do is touch the surface of a drawer or cabinet and it automatically opens.
There are also pantries that, instead of shelves, have drawers that can be pulled out so you don’t have to reach in. They also have cabinets with doors that are pulled out like a drawer instead of swinging open. You can also get kitchen cabinets with shelves that can be pulled out, lowered and raised. Some specialized kitchen installers can even add a hydraulic device to your current kitchen cabinets that lowers and raises them.
What’s around the corner?
When it comes to accessibility and kitchen cabinets, the biggest problem area is the corner of base cabinets. These areas can offer a lot of storage space but it’s not easy to access. In some cases, you almost have to climb into the cabinet to reach anything in the back.
Can you imagine a senior or someone with a disability trying to access that space? They can’t. And if they tried they could get seriously injured.

The old solution was to stick a Lazy Susan in there, but that doesn’t always make the most of the space that’s there. So now we have “magic corners.” These are cabinets that were designed to take full advantage of the storage space and make it more accessible.
The way they work is that instead of just a regular storage space — the carcass of the cabinet — inside the carcass you have compartments. These compartments usually look like metal baskets that sit on tracks, so they can be pulled out rather than you reaching in. They make it very easy for anyone to access anything in that back area.
If you’re on a budget, you can buy the units and install them into your cabinets yourself — they’re sometimes called “blind corner units.” But the units alone can still cost around $600. It won’t be as sophisticated as custom, but it might be a DIY project worth looking into.
A really good kitchen cabinet manufacturer takes full advantage of a small space.
That’s why I always push for custom kitchen cabinets. Yes, it’s more expensive than just standard cabinets you can get at a big box store. But if you go with a pro, not only do you get what you want, more importantly, you get what you need.
Catch Mike Holmes in an all-new season of Holmes Makes It Right, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on HGTV. For more information, visit hgtv.ca. For more information on home renovations, visit makeitright.ca.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

Sherry Holmes to Appear the West Coast Women's Show in Abbotsford

For those who don't know, Sherry Holmes is Mike's incredibly talented and beautiful daughter, who has been working at her father's side since 2008 when Mike and the crew lent a hand in New Orleans. As a woman in a profession dominated by males, Sherry recognizes that respect is a tough thing to earn. It was announced yesterday in the Vancouver Sun that Sherry will be taking part in the West Coast Women’s Show in Abbotsford, British Columbia at the Trade and Exhibition Centre as one of several celebrity guests. While the show is geared toward things that women typically love to do (i.e. shopping, eating, and drinking wine) Sherry will be featured on the "Do-It-Herself Home Improvement Stage" on Stage 2. From the schedule, it appears that Sherry will be making several appearance on Saturday and Sunday, October 26 and 27, 2013. If you're interested in attending, you can buy your tickets online here!



From the Vancouver Sun:

Mike Holmes' daughter Sherry to appear at Abbotsford event

Following in her father's footsteps

By Chantal Eustace, Special to The Sun October 18, 2013

Mike Holmes and daughter Sherry Holmes.

Television handywoman Sherry Holmes says she doesn’t like stereotypes.
That’s one of the things that motivated her to follow in her famous father’s footsteps and to slip on her own tool belt.
“There aren’t a lot of women in the trades,” she says, speaking by phone from her home base in Toronto, on a short break while filming the HGTV show, Holmes Makes it Right.
“As a woman coming into a male-dominated industry, you have to work twice as hard,” she says. “People will always underestimate you.”
But she says she enjoys the challenges.
“It is worth it. It is empowering,” she says. “I like being able to swing a hammer. I think it’s cool.”
And, she says, she’s excited to share her experiences at the upcoming West Coast Women’s Show in Abbotsford at the Trade and Exhibition Centre, as one of several celebrity guests.
“Expect me to be nervous,” she says, laughing. “I’m very shy.”
It took Holmes about three years to feel comfortable on camera, she says, “to even say anything.”
Now going in to her fifth year working with her celebrity home-fixer dad, Mike Holmes, her brother and a multi-talented construction crew, she says she’s enjoying herself a great deal on and off the air.
“Every day is different,” she says. “I really enjoy working with my hands. It also makes me feel stronger.”
Led by her dad, the team goes beyond residential homes to “take on disasters that would make other contractors run,” says HGTV’s website, including some heart-wrenching scenarios that make for great television.
One of her feel-good favourites?
“We built a kid’s castle,” she says, of an episode where the team crafted a Toronto playground after it was burned down. “It was phenomenal.”
Every episode introduces them to a fresh chance to use their skills to help new people.
“Right now? We’re actually tearing apart a basement that’s flooded,” she says of her current workday, adding: “We all get involved.”
Growing up, she says, she didn’t think she’d be in the family business.
“I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to be in construction at all,” says Holmes, adding she thought she’d become a veterinarian. “I never thought I’d be involved in it. Never, ever.”
At the same time, she says, she recalls how at age four she enjoyed helping her dad build a Barbie house, nail by nail. They even painted it together.
“He’d have to explain everything,” she says. “He’s very into teaching things.”
She says anyone can try their hand at DIY, if they start with simple projects and the right tools.
Her must haves? An impact drill, a hammer, a level, a pencil, a multi-bit screwdriver and a measuring tape.
“The best way to start is with the smaller things,” she says, like hanging a photo on the wall correctly and securely.
Check for studs in the wall first, she says, and then use your measuring tape and level to determine where to hammer the nail.
And whatever you do, she says, measure twice.
For more information on the West Coast Women’s Show, Oct. 25, 26 and 27, and full event schedule, visit.westcoastwomen.net

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

Mike Holmes to be Part of AIDSbeat in Support of CANFAR

Mike Holmes announced via Facebook today that he would be serving as a judge for AIDSbeat in support of CANFAR, a national privately funded AIDS and HIV research group in Canada.

I'm ready to rock! Can't wait to be a judge at #AIDSbeat on Oct. 25. CANFAR www.AIDSBeat.com

 

 

 

Hopefully more information will be release about this event and Mike's involvement in it soon. From the photos it looks positively wild!

 

Ask Mike Holmes: Can I Adjust My New Flooring From the Basement?

A few months ago, HGTV Canada asked its Facebook users to submit questions for Mike Holmes to answer on their website. The sixth question in their series was a question about adjusting a floor from the basement. Mike's answer? If you have to fix your floor from the basement, there's an issue with structure.


From HGTV Canada:
Ask Mike Holmes: Can I Adjust My New Flooring from The Basement?

Posted by HGTV.ca Editorial Team Tuesday, October 15, 2013 4:23 PM EDT

Another Tuesday, another new episode of Holmes Makes it Right at 9pm, and another fan question answered by Mike Holmes! This is the sixth in our series of responses:



HGTV Canada Facebook fan, Susan MacIntyre asked, “Mike we put laminate flooring down and the floors are not even just on the north side of the house...out about 3 inches. My question is, can we adjust the floor from the basement? Only the north side?”



Mike Holmes replied, “Adjusting your floor from the basement means that the problem has to do with structure. But if it was a structure issue, three inches out is a lot. You would start to see cracks in your walls; your doors would jam or open on their own; your windows would stick. So the problem is probably in the subfloor. You have to pull up your flooring and check what’s happening underneath. The way floors are built is first you have your floor joists—2 x 8s, 16 inches on centre. That’s minimum code. Then over your floor joists is your sheathing. According to minimum code there should be at least ⅝ inches of OSB (oriented strand board) sheathing on top of your floor joists—plywood is best, particleboard is unacceptable.

If you’re not the original homeowner, the floors could have been replaced a couple times. For whatever reason, previous contractors might have built up the sheathing on the north side of your home. Maybe they didn’t get rid of the old sheathing and just installed the new boards on top. The only way to know for sure—and to fix the problem—is by pulling up flooring and checking the subfloor.”

Check back next week for more tips from the pro, and don’t forget to tune in for all-new episodes of Holmes Makes it Right, Tuesdays at 9PM ET.

Mike Holmes Puts His Name on Edmonton Development

It's becoming more and more clear that building communities is the next step in the evolution of the Holmes brand. Since 2008, Mike Holmes has been planning and playing around with the idea of Holmes Communities, that is, developments consisting of new homes or condominiums built to Mike's stringent standards. These homes would stand out as beacons of old school craftsmanship combined with new and innovative building technology. Building such a community is just at Mike's fingertips as he puts his name on a development, the Creekside Ravine at Cameron Heights in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. As the article below points out, this is not Mike's first effort in building such a community. The Wind Walk community in the Okotoks has been Mike's pet project since 2008, but has yet to break ground due to legal setbacks. Even so, Mike insists that the project still has the green light to move forward in the spring (of 2014). A home in the Creekside Ravine development in Edmonton is set to be priced at around $800,000.

 

For more information about the Creekside Ravine development in Edmonton, please refer to previous Holmes Spot blog entries:

 

Mike Holmes to Build HOLMES COMMUNITIES Development in Edmonton

Mike Holmes Urges Projects be Planned and Done Right in Calgary

 

 

 

From the Edmonton Journal:

Mike Holmes puts his name on Edmonton development

By Dan Barnes, Edmonton Journal October 14, 2013

 

Mike Holmes, TV personality and contractor, will be launching his latest project in Edmonton on Friday called Creekside Ravine at Cameron Heights. It is part of his Holmes Communities initiative which is based in Calgary and is the real estate development division of The Holmes Group.

Photograph by: Stuart Gradon, Calgary Herald

EDMONTON - Contractor Mike Holmes built a reality television empire on variations of a valuable mantra — Do it right the first time. Make it right. Build it right.
That promise of quality is probably what underlies the relative popularity of Creekside Ravine, a 16-lot housing development on Edmonton’s south side that booked four reservations in its opening weekend, Oct. 4-6. His company, Holmes Communities, has partnered with three Edmonton builders — The House Company, Effect Home Builders and Dolce Vita Homes — to build high-quality, energy efficient homes in a complete, compact neighbourhood.
“Mike Holmes’ name on the front of the community will set it apart as a house of a higher standard,” said Dale Rott, part-owner of Effect Home Builders, who added that his company will have no trouble meeting Holmes’ demanding standards.
“We start off at a higher level than standard housing stock, that’s why we mesh with the Holmes group.”
Holmes, who was on-site during opening weekend, said this Holmes Communities project — like those planned for Winnipeg, Okotoks and Toronto — represents the culmination of an eight-year plan.
“I realized this was a necessity and eventually everybody would want me to build them a home. So the first goal I knew was important was to start Mike Holmes Inspections and retrain all these guys to my standards. What I was looking for was an army of guys who could oversee Holmes Approved Homes and Holmes Communities.”
The inspectors make six site visits before, during and after construction and take pictures of the project each time to create documentation for the homeowner, builder and Holmes’ companies. Holmes said the inspections add a layer of quality control that augments the partnerships he seeks with builders and companies that produce high quality building materials.
“Finding the best builders on the market was pretty easy because I know there are builders out there who want to make it right, they want to make a difference.”
Rott said the quality upgrades in materials and processes might add eight to 12 per cent to the cost of a home, and that a Creekside Ravine lot/home combination is likely to be priced at a minimum of $800,000.
“This is the perfect opportunity for the people of Edmonton to buy a home that makes sense, that’s good for the environment and good for the environment of the people living in it because we’re about very clean air,” Holmes said.
If Creekside Ravine proceeds smoothly, it will stand in stark contrast to Holmes projects in Okotoks and Stavely. Wind Walk is a high-density, 457-unit mix of housing planned for a quarter section of land inside the Municipal District of Foothills, immediately south of the Okotoks town limits. Plans for the community, which is intended to produce as much energy as it uses, have been on the drawing board since 2008 and in the courtroom since 2010. Okotoks council is fighting the development in its current form, saying it will put too much strain on the 12 wells in the Sheep River aquifer that supply the town’s water. In July, council voted 5-2 to petition the Supreme Court of Canada to hear its case against the MD of Foothills, which approved the area structure plan. Mayor Bill Robertson said their case will be heard in November or December.

In the interim, town council has sought to annex the Wind Walk site, and if successful, council would be likely to approve a scaled-down version of the community, as it would be served by town water and sewer infrastructure and would, of course, be subject to property taxes.
“They have many laudable goals for it — sustainability, green homes, fire resistant homes,” said Robertson, who is seeking re-election on Oct. 21. “Our contention is, if you’re going to develop a town, it should be a town inside our town, not beside our town.”
He said the project cannot proceed because the developer, Alberta Foothills Properties Ltd., has been refused a water licence. The developer’s appeal is scheduled to be heard by the provincial government in November.
Holmes is nevertheless adamant that Wind Walk will go ahead.
“The green light is lit and we will be breaking ground this spring. It’ll be a testament to everything that I believe in. That community will change the country.”
But Holmes doesn’t always get things done right, or at all.
In 2008, Holmes partnered with Calgary-based Bland Investments on an eight-unit condominium development on the shore of Clear Lake, east of Stavely. Holmes told the Calgary Herald that the development “is for more of the elite, for someone who wants that dream house in that dream community.”
Lots were subdivided and some topsoil was moved around, but five years later there has been no construction on the site and the Municipal District of Willow Creek remains in possession of the security bond posted by Drew Atkins, principal of Bland Investments.
Atkins, who is working with Holmes on the Wind Walk project as president of Alberta Foothills Properties Ltd., did not return a call seeking comment on Friday.
dbarnes@edmontonjournal.com

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

Mike Holmes: Which Window Is Best For You?

All windows are designed to serve the same basic functions -- ventilation, airflow, and light -- but windows have come a long way from their single-paned ancestors of yesteryear. Modern technology has added a lot of factors to consider when choosing the proper window for your home. For one, modern windows can be double or even triple-paned, with low-E coatings and/or inert gasses such as krypton and argon between the layers. What are the reasons for this? As Mike Holmes explains in the article below, windows are a primary source of heat loss and gain, so by increasing the panes and insulating them with gasses or coatings, you increase the R-value of the windows, which saves you money on your heating and cooling bill all while allowing you to enjoy natural light. Choosing the type of window and frame that is best for you depends on what type of house you have, what type of look you want, and how much maintenance you are willing to put into it to keep your windows and frames functioning at their best.


From the Montreal Gazette:

Mike Holmes: Which window is the best for you?

Lots of options, but no easy answer

By Mike Holmes, For Postmedia News October 10, 2013

 

After a decade, Mike Holmes still cares because he knows the work he, his crew and others do makes a real difference to the people they help.
Photograph by: Alex Schuldt/The Holmes Group, Postmedia News

 

Windows serve three purposes: They provide light, airflow and ventilation. But they should also help keep the heat out in the summer and in during the winter. That has to do with R-value — in other words, insulation — and the air-tightness around the window itself.
Every window leaks heat. You can have the best windows on the market — triple-paned, double low-E coatings — but they will not have the same insulation value as an insulated wood or concrete wall. No matter how thermally efficient the window is the R-value can’t be as high.
The trend today is to increase the size of your windows, not to mention the number of windows in a home. People love natural light. But at the same time we need to make sure the windows are improving the house — not working against it.
Heat loss and gain through windows accounts for about half of our heating and cooling needs. A poorly installed and/or insulated window is like having a giant hole in your home’s exterior — and you will see the proof in your energy bills.
When it comes to window choice, there are several options, which can be overwhelming for some homeowners.
It used to be that all you could get were single-paned windows — those are windows that have just one sheet of glass. Now you can get windows that are double- or triple-paned, windows with argon or krypton gas, low-E coatings in between the panes — and different combinations of each, like low-E double-paned windows or low-E triple-paned windows with argon gas.
What’s the difference? For starters, double-paned window has two layers of glass; triple-paned has three. Multiple layers of glass allow for insulation to go in between the panes, and that boosts up the R-value.
The most common types of insulation are argon or krypton gas. Krypton insulates better than argon but it’s also more expensive. If you have the budget it’s a good investment. But argon gas-filled windows are still very good. If a home has argon gas-filled windows, I wouldn’t be disappointed.
If you’re not the original owner of your home, you might not know if your windows are gas filled. When you bought the house the previous owners would have probably told you, since they do make for better windows and cost more. But if you want to make sure you can check the window tag. It’s usually on the bottom inside track of the window.
You can also try looking for two small holes on the spacer — one hole is where the gas would have been injected, and the other hole is for air to exit.
Another feature to look for is low-E glass, or low-emissivity glass. This is a microscopic metallic-oxide coating on the glass that lets in light but also helps stop heat — and ultraviolet rays — from transferring through the window.
Sometimes heat transfer is a good thing. In the winter, we want the sun to help heat our homes. But I’ve heard some homeowners complain about turning up their furnace more often after installing triple-paned windows. That’s because some windows do an excellent job at stopping heat transfer. But just like they help stop heat from escaping your home, they also don’t let the natural heat from the sun come in.

One option is to have triple-paned windows on the north side of the house only, and then double-paned on rest. This provides the extra insulation needed to help block north winds, but still allows some heat to get in on all the other sides. It’s a tricky balance, which is why you should talk to a pro.
Once you’ve decided on the type of glass you want, you have to choose the framing. The most common are wood, metal — and vinyl, which tends to last longer and is easier to clean. Metal can get scratched and dented. Wood is nice but requires a lot of maintenance; you will need to repaint your windows at least every five years, and that’s if it’s done really well. The natural expansion and contraction of the wood frame can crack the paint. The basic rule of thumb is that if you can see the wood, the frame needs to be re-caulked and re-painted.
What type of window is the best? Most people want an easy answer. But like most things, there is no easy answer. It depends on the house and the application. The key is finding a professional who will know what type of windows will work best for your home, and who’ll make sure they are properly installed.
Catch Mike Holmes in an all-new season of Holmes Makes It Right, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on HGTV. For more information, visit hgtv.ca. For more information on home renovations, visit makeitright.ca.

© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

Ask Mike Holmes: Insulating a Ceiling Without Taking it Down?

A while back, HGTV Canada asked its Facebook users to submit questions for Mike Holmes to answer on their website. The fifth question in their series was a question about insulating a ceiling from a noisy upstairs neighbor without taking the ceiling down. Mike's answer... there are some quick fixes, but if you really want to fix the problem, there are no shortcuts.


From HGTV Canada:

Ask Mike Holmes: How Do I Insulate My Ceiling Without Tearing It Apart?

Posted by HGTV.ca Editorial Team Tuesday, October 8, 2013 4:49 PM EDT

Are you struggling with a noisy neighbour above you? Then you’ll want to read this week’s fan question answered by Mike Holmes! The fifth in our series:



HGTV Canada fan, Aaron, emailed us and asked, “How do you insulate your ceiling from noisy neighbours, without tearing apart your entire ceiling?”


Mike Holmes replied, “I’m guessing your neighbours are living above you. If they were living next door, like in a semi-detached house, I’d tell you to make sure there’s a double wall between you. A double wall means there’s one wall on one side, another wall on the other side—one of those walls must be insulated—and both walls are divided in the middle by drywall. But if the noise is coming from above then the problem is missing insulation. The quick fix is just screwing on another layer of drywall right over top of your existing ceiling. This could help but it won’t solve the problem. There are better types of drywall that are made specifically to block out noise—some are like having eight sheets of drywall. Products like soundboard are good. There’s also a type of drywall that has a viscoelastic polymer on both sides of a thin layer of metal. But if these types of products are going on your ceiling it needs extra bracing and definitely more screws.

But bottom line: If you’re serious about stopping the noise you need to add insulation. That means dropping the ceiling and adding a proper safe and sound insulation—I’d go with Roxul Safe ‘n Sound batt insulation. It’s designed to stop noise transfer and it’s fire-resistant.

Check back next week for more tips from the pro, and don’t forget to tune in for all-new episodes of Holmes Makes it Right, Tuesdays at 9pm ET.

Mike Holmes and Filtrete Filters - Video

For the last few years, Mike Holmes has been a proud spokesman for 3M products, such as Filtrete brand air filters. Recently, Filtrete put out this video featuring Mike Holmes showing the benefits of using premium filters and properly maintaining your furnace.



Pictures:

This Is Emily Yeung Building A Tree House

There are a few things in life that make me go "awwwwww....how cute!" Kittens. Newborn babies. An elderly husband and wife sitting on a park bench holding hands. Added to that list of heart warming cuteness is this video entitled "This is Emily Yeung Building a Tree House," from the Canadian preschool series "This is Emily Yeung." The 2006 series features Emily, a rambunctious 6-year-old who is eager to explore the world around her. It aired in both Canada on Treehouse TV and in the US on the Disney Channel.

In this episode, Emily builds a tree house with the help of her grown-up friend, Mike Holmes. Mike teaches Emily the importance of building it right, and that a little bit of dirt never hurt anyone because "we're not made of sugar."



Pictures:

Mike's 3 P's to Make it Right

When it comes to building the right way, Mike Holmes has three P's  -- Protection, Products, and Procedures. What do these mean? In the article below, Mike describes protection as all the things on the outside of the home that protect the inside, such as the roof, the foundation, doors, windows, and the like. The outside should be built from the right products, which is Mike's second "P." On his shows, Mike uses the right materials for the job, such as PinkWood (a coated lumber that resists burning and molding) and ice and water shield. A properly protected outside always starts with the right products, but those products are only as good as the person who installed them, which leads us to Mike's third "P," procedures. New technologies in building are changing the way people think about renovation, but not everybody is properly trained in how to install or utilize these great new products. When renovating or building a home, its important to find people who know how to follow the right procedures, because "if you put good products in a house the wrong way, you’re going to have issues."

 

 

From the Montreal Gazette:

Mike Holmes: My 3 Ps to make it right

Repair job typifies why a home needs proper protection, products and procedures

By Mike Holmes, For Postmedia News October 3, 2013

After a decade, Mike Holmes still cares because he knows the work he, his crew and others do makes a real difference to the people they help.

Photograph by: Alex Schuldt/The Holmes Group, Postmedia News

To make a home right you need the right protection, the right products and the right procedure.
What does it mean to have the right protection for your home? A strong and durable building envelope that is also watertight; that includes your roof, exterior walls, foundation, windows and doors.
There are materials and products that help you achieve this, such as PinkWood, ice and water shield, insulation, house or building wrap, siding and so on. These are the right products, but if you put good products in a house the wrong way, you’re going to have issues. That’s why you must follow the right procedure. Let me give you an example.
I was on a job where the cladding on the outside of a home was letting water penetrate through and it was getting into the basement. The house was only seven or eight years old. Finally the homeowner thought it was time to pull back the vapour barrier and see what was going on.
What he saw no homeowner ever wants to see — a rim board that was completely rotted with black mould. It looked like crumpled-up toilet paper — and provided about the same amount of protection.
After we started pulling back the cladding on the outside we discovered the rot was all over the exterior sheathing, below the cladding and making its way into the subfloor. At that point the sheathing was basically a sponge. I could literally push my thumb through it.
A home’s exterior cladding has a sheathing layer underneath it that is attached to the exterior structure. This sheathing is usually made from aspenite, OSB (oriented strand board) or plywood. I prefer plywood because in general, it holds less water than OSB and it doesn’t swell as much either.
To protect the house and keep the elements out we wrapped the entire house in a superior weather-resistant wrap over the sheathing, including all of the window and door jams. On the sheathing we use a house wrap that is vapour permeable, so any moisture in the wall cavity can escape. We then wrap window and door jams with building wrap that is impermeable, so if there is any moisture it can’t permeate through to the windowsill.
After we’ve wrapped the house we install vertical strapping to give space between the siding and the sheathing. This allows air movement, so any water that gets in behind the cladding can escape and dissipate. Then finally our exterior siding or cladding goes up.
But in the case of this house, there was no vertical strapping. The cladding was installed directly to the sheathing. So any water that got in behind the cladding had nowhere to go. It just sat there and it was rotting all the wood.
On top of that, the house wrap stopped at the windows and doors — it wasn’t wrapped around the window and door jams. So water was penetrating through the windows — thanks to cracked or missing caulking — and getting to the sheathing. And because there was no strapping it couldn’t dry.
The siding was a great product that we’ve used for years. But for any product to do the work it was designed to do it must be installed properly.
The builder on that home actually seemed like a good builder. But remember: builders hire all kinds of companies out there to do some of the work. Sometimes, the sub trades they hire aren’t as good as they should be.
In truth, the cladding company was responsible for installing this mess. But the reality is that after these guys leave, it can take years before the problems they cause make their way to the surface. And by the time they do it’s too late — they’re now your problem, your responsibility. So you better make sure you know what it takes to make it right.
Catch Mike Holmes in an all-new season of Holmes Makes It Right, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on HGTV. For more information, visit hgtv.ca. For more information on home renovations, visit makeitright.ca.

© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

Mike Holmes Urges Projects be Planned and Done Right in Calgary

This has been quite the year, weather wise, for Canada. With flooding in both Calgary and Toronto, there's going to be a lot of renovation spending in the coming months and years. With all the predicted renovation spending, Mike Holmes is waving the caution flag, encouraging people affected by the floods to have patience, focusing on rebuilding homes "safe, durable, efficient and strong," because "a home shouldn’t just look good. It should be good."

 

In this article from the Calgary Herald, the impact of all the impending renovations is discussed along with Mike's involvement in the Creekside Ravine at Cameron Heights, which is the newest proposed Holmes Community in Calgary.

 

From the Calgary Herald:

Flooding will boost renovation spending in Calgary

 

TV personality Mike Holmes urges projects be planned and done right

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald October 3, 2013

Mike Holmes, TV personality and contractor, will be launching his latest project in Edmonton on Friday called Creekside Ravine at Cameron Heights. It is part of his Holmes Communities initiative which is based in Calgary and is the real estate development division of The Holmes Group.

Photograph by: Stuart Gradon, Calgary Herald

CALGARY — Renovation spending this year in Canada is likely to be bolstered by reconstruction activity following the summer floods in Calgary and Toronto.
In fact, a report by Diana Petramala, economist at TD Economics, said the rebuilding efforts in Calgary and Toronto, following the damaging floods that struck in late June and July, are expected to lead to a burst in renovation spending.
“In Toronto, July’s storm mostly led to a sea of flooded basements across the city. The storms in Calgary were far more catastrophic, with over 14,5004 homes being damaged, many of which will need to be rebuilt completely,” said the report.
“The estimated dollar amount of the damages is not insignificant. Insurance claims are expected to exceed $2 to $3 billion according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, while the Alberta government has devoted an additional $1 billion in funding to help support rebuilding efforts. That is not to mention the knock-on effects from additional spending re-construction may encourage. We estimate that renovations tied to these floods could add about one percentage point to the overall tally in 2013 and 2014.”
In 2012, renovation spending in Canada was $45.9 billion and in Alberta it was $5.1 billion.
Television personality and contractor Mike Holmes was in Calgary this week speaking at the Building Resilience event put on by the City of Calgary in partnership with the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
The event was for residents looking to learn what steps to take to build a more resilient home, while saving money and reducing their environmental impact.
“To make it right you need to plan it right — and planning a renovation takes longer than doing the renovation,” said Holmes. “We need to focus on making our homes safe, durable, efficient and strong. A home shouldn’t just look good. It should be good.
“We truly need to have patience . . . Patience is going to be everything. It’s about building smarter.”
Holmes is in Edmonton on Friday to officially launch his latest Homes Communities, Creekside Ravine at Cameron Heights. Holmes Communities, based in Calgary, is the residential real estate development division of The Holmes Group and its mandate is responsible community development while creating healthy living environments for residents and homeowners. There are about 1,000 homes currently going up across Canada under this initiative.
The TD report said that Alberta has led the country with the highest annual average rate of increase in renovation spending of 9.3 per cent in the past decade. For Canada, it was 7.6 per cent.
The report said renovation spending will increase by three to four per cent across the country this year and next but a two per cent decline is expected in 2015.
Nationally, the report said 2015 is expected to be more challenging for the renovations sector.
“On top of experiencing a hangover from flood-induced strength over the next two years, demand for renovations will face the dampening impact of a likely increase in short-term interest rates as well as a projected slowdown in the existing home market,” it said.

But the report said Calgary and Edmonton are two markets that could buck the trend owing to stronger conditions in housing and their more rapidly growing economies.
According to the Scotiabank Home Renovations Poll released Thursday, 65 per cent of Canadian homeowners are planning renovations in the next 12 months and expect to spend an average of $8,992.
In Alberta, 63 per cent of homeowners are planning renovations in the next 12 months and the average they are planning to spend on renovations is $9,384.
mtoneguzzi@calgaryherald.com
Twitter.com/MTone123