Today's Picture of the Day...

If you didn't know, the Holmes Spot blog posts a picture of Mike every day in the "Picture of the Day" section of the blog. Check out today's picture of the day...

 

 

This is a photo of Mike and a Toronto FD EMT during the High Park rebuild back in July 2012. You can see the rebuild in the "Building Castles" episode of Holmes Makes It Right, which debuted on HGTV Canada in October 2012. Mike's new show is set to debut some time early this year (2013) in the US on HGTV.  An official date has not yet been announced, but as soon as it does, we'll be right on it!

 

In Mike's latest video, posted just before Christmas to his website, Mike confirmed that his new show Holmes Makes It Right would be airing soon in the US, and that there would be 18 new episodes back to back (Season 1 and the yet-to-be-aired Season 2).

 

My speculative guess (and it's only a guess) as to when the new show will debut in the US is March, because that's when new shows come out for the spring season in the US. If you're really impatient, you can do a google search and find some episodes of Holmes Makes It Right that some naughty hacker put up on YouTube. Have to admit, I watched the "Building Castles" episode and one other, just so I could have some perspective to blog about. But the rest, I'm saving for when the show debuts in the US!

Mike Holmes Inspection: RecallChek

For many many moons now, Mike Holmes has been encouraging homeowners to get informed about their homes. In an attempt to educate people about the home inspection aspect of buying a home, Mike did an entire series Holmes Inspection which ran for three years on HGTV. And then of course, there's the the manual for every homeowner, buyer, and seller, "The Holmes Inspection," Mike's best selling book which has been out on the shelves now for quite some time. Last year, Mike started a home inspection company for home buyers in Canada to get an inspection from a professional that gets the coveted Holmes stamp of approval.

Here's Mike's introduction, which can be found on http://mikeholmesinspections.com/



In the last week, this video went online on the Inspector Services YouTube channel. It's a video about RecallChek, a service offered during a Mike Holmes Inspection in which all appliances in the home are check to make sure there are no recalls currently in effect.



Sounds awesome!

Posted on Mike's Facebook page today:

Drafts and cold spots can steal comfort out of your home and money out of your pocket in terms of wasted energy. More homeowners might be starting to notice drafts, which is normal for this time of year when temperatures drop and winds pick up.


Read Mike's recent article on drafts, reposted from the Ottawa Citizen. It just might help you save a little money on energy costs this season:

What’s really causing that draft?

 By Mike Holmes, Postmedia NewsJanuary 9, 2013

 

 All vents and openings on a home’s exterior such as a dryer vent, must be properly sealed. That will do a lot toward cutting your heating bills.Photograph by: The Holmes Group

 

Drafts and cold spots can steal comfort out of your home and money out of your pocket in terms of wasted energy. More homeowners might be starting to notice drafts, which is normal for this time of year when temperatures drop and winds pick up.
You can usually feel drafts around windows, doors and fireplaces. Sometimes you can feel a cold spot along a wall. Feeling a draft or a cold spot is one thing; finding exactly where the cold is coming from is something else.
Sometimes when homeowners feel a draft they’ll start to seal everything with caulking, not knowing the exact source of the problem. That’s like throwing a handful of darts hoping one of them hits the target. It’s not the best strategy, but I get it.
The truth is there are plenty of places in the home that could be causing the draft.
Top draft picks
There are a few known areas that are vulnerable to drafts. Some of them I already mentioned, such as windows and doors. Replacing the seal on doors and weatherstripping can help. But if the framing around doors and windows is rotted you’re going to have gaps that will let cold air come in.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen contractors install brand new windows — top of the line — over a rotting frame. That’s unacceptable. It’s wasted money. You can have the best windows on the market, but if the frame is rotted, you’ve got nothing.
Recessed lights or pot lights might also be a cold spot. When they’re installed on the top floor of a home, holes have to be cut into the ceiling, which means penetrating into the attic space.
Your home’s attic is a cold zone — the temperature in the attic should be the same as the air outside. I hate pot lights in a cold zone. If there isn’t enough insulation around the pot light, heat will escape into the attic.
So what can you do about pot light leaks? Make sure there is vapour barrier in the attic, with the area around the pot light properly sealed to the original vapour barrier with Tuck Tape. And, of course, insulation over the vapour barrier. Also, choose the right kind of pot light for an insulated space — IC lights.
Also, there should be insulation around electrical boxes located on walls that are part of your home’s building envelope. I’ve seen new homes where the builder doesn’t bother insulating these spots at all. You end up with a wall that lets heat escape left, right and centre — literally.
Who do you call?
Knowing where to target can be tricky. Before you start caulking up a storm, hire a professional to identify draft sources and cold spots.
For example, a qualified home inspector who is an accredited thermographer can use a thermal imaging camera to find cold spots and air leaks, identifying problems such as missing insulation in your walls or around electrical boxes and recessed lights.
A qualified home inspector will go into your attic to make sure there is enough insulation and that there aren’t any walls that aren’t properly sealed off. The attic hatch, duct registers and plumbing vents should all be tightly sealed. The professional should also check any other vents and openings that might not be properly sealed on your home’s exterior, like the dryer vent.

You can also try contacting an energy adviser licensed by Natural Resources Canada to give you some recommendations on how to boost your home’s energy efficiency. It might be as simple as insulating ducts that run through cold zones.
An energy audit is another option. This usually involves a blower door test, which can tell the auditor how airtight your home is.
The test is pretty straightforward. A fan is mounted to an exterior door and pulls all the air out of your house. If there are any cracks or unsealed openings in your home, outside air will seep in as the inside air is being sucked out. A smoke pencil can then show the auditor where the air leaks are that are causing drafts in your home.
Remember: When you get rid of drafts and cold spots you increase your home’s energy efficiency. So it’s worth your time and effort to solve the problem.
Catch Mike Holmes in his new series, 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

 

Holmes Spot 2012 Year In Review

2012 was a very busy year for Mike and his crew, and the Holmes Spot blog had a very busy year attempting to write all about it! As this first week of 2013 comes to a close I figured I'd post some important dates that stood out from last 12 months -- mostly from May on forward, because I started this blog in early May of 2012! All I can say is that 2012 was a GREAT year!!! Here's to 2013!

THE HOLMES SPOT 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW

JANUARY


Mike and crew at the Megaspeed Car Show

- January 2012... Mike's green building project in Alberta, Canada "Wind Walk" gets the go ahead to proceed by the local government.




FEBRUARY
-February 2012... Mike Holmes and tech company Cisco ally together to create high tech innovations for the Boyd Renaissance project, an affordable housing project for seniors and disabled people in Edmonton, Alberta Canada.





MARCH
-March 9, 10, and 11... Mike and his crew have fun making an appearance at the Megaspeed Custom Car and Truck Show.



MAY
-May 1... Mike is named Building Safety Month Honorary Ambassador

-May 3... The Holmes Spot blog posts its first blog entry!

-May 13... Mike Holmes receives an honorary doctorate in pedagogy from Niagara University during its spring commencement ceremony.

-May 18... Mike meets with locals and takes suggestions for the rebuilding of a castle in High Park, which had been burned down by arsonists in March 2012.



JUNE

-June 2... Mike and several members of his crew participate in the 6th Annual Ride for the Holmes Foundation presented by OFATV and Can-Am. After several years of coming out cleaner than he went in, Mike finally got stuck in the mud!

-June 5... Mike officially reveals his new ink after a contest to guess what his new tattoos are ends.


-June 12... Mike gives the keynote address at the World Indigenous Housing Conference.

-June 19... Mike Holmes Receives The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Mike receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

JULY

Holmes Group former CEO Mchael Quast

-July 7... Mike and his crew work diligently along side members of the community and the Toronto Fire Department in intense heat to finish rebuilding the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in High Park. The build is filmed for Mike's new show Holmes Makes It Right.

-July 16... Mike Holmes and Michael Quast, Holmes Group CEO, part ways.

The new castle in High Park

AUGUST
- August 1...Liza Drozdov is named VP of the Holmes Group.

-August 3... Mike turns 24 and a half times two. The Holmes Spot blog celebrates Mike's birthday with the release of The Mike Holmes Cartoon, a four minute long animated monstrosity that gratefully Mike loved! Mike celebrates the day of his birth on site with friends and family.

The cast of All American Handyman

-August 19... All American Handyman premieres in the US.
-August 20... Forbes names Mike 3rd most trusted celebrity.



SEPTEMBER
-September 4... Mike confirms that the homes he helped build in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans are still standing strong after Hurricane Isaac.

-September 20... Tool maker Hilti announces it will be providing Mike and his crew tools for the new series Holmes Makes It Right.

Mike and crew with their Hilti tools.

OCTOBER
-October 16... Holmes Makes It Right premieres in Canada on HGTV. To promote the show, Mike dresses up like "Super Holmes" complete with red cape and super "H" on the front of his overalls. He greets fans on the streets of Toronto and one lucky fan wins $5000!

Super Holmes and his "Mike-alikes"

NOVEMBER
-November 11... The "Holmes" logo appears on a 3M sponsored NASCAR #16 driven by Greg Biffle.

#16 3M Car with Holmes logo 

DECEMBER
-December 2012... Point Load Pictures announces that it has finished the pilot of Damon's new show Damon Bennett Restoration Co., just as Mike Jr. "Takes The Reigns" as site supervisor on Holmes Makes It Right.

Hold on...

OK, so I've been working on a special post, a 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW, but it's become a little more of an involving project than I initially expected. And since we do things right around here, I figured I'd take one more day to put the finishing touches on the project so that all you Holmes Spot readers get the highest quality post you've hopefully come to expect!

In the meantime, enjoy this totally irrelevant, completely gratuitous Mike Holmes video from 2010. It deals with the issue of grow houses and home inspections. As any Holmes fan knows, Mike did an episode of Holmes on Homes called "Gone to Pot" which dealt with the issue of a woman's home which had been used as a grow house. The house was totally trashed from the inside out, and of course had tons of mold. Sit back, kick up your feet and enjoy this video, a clip from the Canadian investigative news show Marketplace, and I'll see you tomorrow (hopefully) with my Holmes Spot 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW!



Link: http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2010/grow_op_cover_up/main.html

POD Lives On!

I'm happy to announce that I have resumed posting the PICTURE OF THE DAY...

 

 

HAPPY SUNDAY!!!

Mike Holmes Returns To "Handyman" Series

...well, sort of. Canada's Handyman Challenge is back, and Mike will be making an appearance as a guest judge on the final episode.


Canada Newswire:

HGTV Canada's #1 Series of 2012 is Back With Big Stars and a Big New Prize

Bryan Baeumler, Scott McGillivray and Paul Lafrance Will Judge The Second Season of Canada's Handyman Challenge
Premieres Tuesday January 22 at 10pm ET/PT on HGTV Canada
For additional photography and press kit material visit: http://shawmediatv.ca and follow us on Twitter at @shawmediaTV_PR

TORONTO, Jan. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - HGTV Canada's top series of 2012* returns in search of Canada's best handyman. In the new season of Canada's Handyman Challenge, HGTV celebrities Bryan Baeumler (Leave It To Bryan), Scott McGillivray (Income Property) and Paul Lafrance (Decked Out) are teaming up as judges along with HGTV newcomer Jennifer Robertson (Little Mosque on the Prairie, Mr. D) as host. The competition is amplified this season as contestants battle it out for the all-new $25,000 prize. Canada's Handyman Challenge premieres on Tuesday January 22^nd at 10pm ET/PT on HGTV Canada.

"Canada's Handyman Challenge provides talented Canadians with a unique opportunity. Not only do they showcase their skills on a national platform, but they have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to receive guidance and advice from some of the top talent in the contracting and construction industries, plus a shot at a $25,000 prize," said Barb Williams, Senior Vice President of Content, Shaw Media.

The competition this season is fierce. The top five contestants from auditions in Halifax, Vancouver and Toronto will move on to the Top 15 where they'll face intense challenges, demanding expectations and tough critiques from the judges. From building freestanding patio swings in under two hours, reupholstering a chair in just 30 minutes and facing the judges for one-on-one trivia, the challenges this season will test speed, expertise and precision to determine which contestants thrive and which fail in their effort to walk away $25,000 richer.

"The caliber of contestants this season is just amazing," said Bryan Baeumler, judge on Canada's Handyman Challenge. "The $25,000 prize has certainly added a more competitive atmosphere to the series this season, highlighting the outstanding skill this country has to offer."

Canada's most trusted contractor Mike Holmes (Holmes Makes It Right) will appear as a guest judge in the final episode to weigh in on the decision to name Canada's Best Handyman and award the $25,000 prize. In a season with more contestants, more diverse challenges and a prize that takes the competition over the top, Canada's Handyman Challenge is sure to become a fan favourite on HGTV once again.

For full episodes after they air, behind the scenes photos and exclusive interviews with the judges and host of Canada's Handyman Challenge, visit www.hgtv.ca.

What could be more yucky than mice? Practically nothing! When the weather outside turns cold, mice love to go inside to keep warm. They contaminate practically everything they come in contact with, leaving their droppings behind. The best way to get rid of mice is never to have them in the first place. Keeping your home free of cracks and openings where mice could sneak their way in is an important step. Next, make sure your home is free of clutter and trash where mice could take up residence. In this article, reposted from the National Post, Mike talks about unwanted pests and how to keep them from destroying your home.

Mike Holmes: When the mice move in

Mike Holmes | Jan 2, 2013 12:21 PM ET | Last Updated: Jan 4, 2013 11:12 AM ET
More from Mike Holmes

Mice are known to eat away at batt insulation, including rigid foam.

A lot of homeowners might be starting to notice some unwanted guests. No, not the in-laws. I’m talking about pests, and mice in particular.

Cold weather drives most animals and insects to find warmth, which could lead them straight to your house. And if they find a food source, they’re moving in.

What are the signs that you have mice? Mouse droppings. Little bits of chewed-up food packages. You might also be able to hear them in your walls or ceiling. They lurk in the cellar, the garage, pantry, kitchen — even bedrooms.

It takes just one mouse to make most people feel uncomfortable in their homes. And I don’t blame them.

Mice are known to carry diseases, bacteria, viruses and parasites. Breathing in small particles from their droppings, urine, saliva or nesting materials can make you sick. The particles can get into the air when you sweep or vacuum. That’s why you’re supposed to spray any area where mice have been with a disinfectant. It helps keep the particles from flying around, and then you can sweep or vacuum (remember to wear a disposable mask and gloves).

Mice can also contaminate surfaces in your home with their saliva or urine, which is almost impossible to detect. Next thing you know you could be drinking from a pop can that has mouse urine on the lid.

Some people might think that a couple of mice isn’t a big deal. But two mice in your home can do a lot of damage. In just six months, two mice can eat four pounds of food and leave 18,000 droppings. Plus, mice multiply fast. One female can have five to 10 litters of about five or six mice a year. Then those mice can start reproducing after only 30 days. Within three months six mice can multiply into 60. So if you’ve found one, there are probably more.

The worst part is the risk of contamination. Mice contaminate about 10 times more food than they eat.

These rodents are also destructive. They can chew through electrical wires and cause an electrical fire. They’ve been known to destroy rigid foam and fiberglass batt insulation. They can also gnaw through any wood in your home, including furniture, trim, cabinets, doors, even your home’s structure. Repairing all the damage they cause can be very expensive. And if you’re thinking of selling your home, a pest problem is usually a deal breaker.

How do you get rid of them?

I’ve heard of people using electrical devices that emit sound to get rid of mice. They usually don’t work. At first such a device might have an effect, but eventually mice get used to it.

Poisons aren’t always effective either. Plus, it’s a risk if you have pets; they could eat the poison or a poisoned dead mouse. When mice are poisoned they usually die somewhere inaccessible, like in a wall. It won’t be long before you start to notice a foul smell. And then how are you going to get a dead mouse out of your wall?

If you’re serious about getting rid of these critters for good, you need to call a professional. You don’t want to risk an infestation.

An experienced pest control professional can find where the mice are coming in. They’ll check for cracks and spaces around vents, wires, pipes, windows and doors. Then they’ll block their entry with mesh wiring, wood or spray foam insulation, or both.

Next, clean your house — including the garage and basement. Get rid of any clutter and trash. Mice love messy places, which make it easy for them to hide and nest. Store all food sources in sealed containers, including pet food.

To help stop mice from coming in, place weatherstripping around your doors; as a bonus, this will also increase energy efficiency. If your house has a chimney, get a chimney cap installed. Keep compost far from your home. Also move any firewood or mulch from around your home’s exterior. These are excellent places for mice to hide in.

All mice need is a little crack in a wall or foundation to get in. A sealed home is the only way to stop the problem. It’s also the most effective and humane. So check your home annually for cracks where mice can sneak in.

Catch Mike Holmes in his new series, 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.

An Update on Damon Bennett Restoration Co.

This from the Point Load Pictures Facebook page yesterday:


Happy New Year!

Point Load Pictures is getting ready for another wonderful year. Our pilot for Damon Bennett’s show is completed and we are excited by the feedback so far. With new opportunities opening all around us, we’re ready to make 2013 the year we launch into your living room and ensure that what we put on screen matters.

Here’s wishing you happiness and prosperity in 2013 from all of us at Point Load!


Point Load Pictures is an independent television production company started by Mike Holmes and Peter Kettlewell in 2011. Damon's new show is the company's first major endeavour.

For more information on Damon's new show, Damon Bennett Restoration Co., see the following Holmes Spot blog entries:

IT'S THE DAMON SHOW!
Mike Jr. Takes the Reigns


THE HOLMES SPOT HAS STARTED ON ONLINE PETITION TO BRING MIKE'S NEWEST SERIES "HOLMES MAKES IT RIGHT" TO THE US. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO CHECK IT OUT AND SIGN THE PETITION. THANKS!

Happy New Year everybody! It's good to be back! Hope everyone had a great holiday. I know I did! Many of us made resolutions for the New Year, from losing weight to being a better and healthier person in general. In this article, reposted from the Montreal Gazette, Mike lists his top resolutions to keep your home in good shape. Follow his steps to create a healthier, safer and more livable home environment for you and your family.

 

 

 

New Year's resolutions for your home

 By Mike Holmes, Postmedia News December 27, 2012

Mike Holmes offers up his top New Year's resolutions to help keep your home shipshape for 2013.

Photograph by: Handout, The Holmes group

It's a New Year and plenty of people are making resolutions, usually relating to self-improvement. Some people might want to break a bad habit, like smoking; others want to start a new habit, such as exercising regularly. But not a lot of people think about resolutions for their homes.
A healthy home is ground zero for a healthy life. To me that's a no-brainer. I think any homeowners experiencing issues with their homes would agree with me. They invade every part of your life and your kids' lives. So I'm giving you my top New Year's resolutions to help keep your home shipshape for 2013.
Fix from the outside in
Homeowners are always thinking about renovating the kitchen or a bathroom, knocking down a wall, or making a room bigger. They spend all their time choosing tiles, flooring, appliances, lighting. But you know where the money should be spent first? On your home's exterior.
Too many homeowners don't realize that anything inside the home is at risk if you don't take care of the outside.
So let's say you spend $30,000 on a kitchen or $10,000 on a new bathroom. If you have problems with the roof, the foundation, the weeping tile, or the insulation - anything that has to do with your home's building envelope - that new kitchen or bathroom might have to be torn out to address the problems behind them. And if you don't it won't be long before those problems make their way to the surface. Tiles might start to crack. Leaks will work their way through drywall. Not to mention the air quality and health issues that come with these kinds of problems.
A problem with your home's exterior will eventually be a problem with your home's interior. It's only a matter of time.
Before you tackle anything inside your home, take care of any leaks - fix a leaking foundation, fix the roof if it needs repair. Repoint any mortar that needs it. And check if there's any mould. If there is, start planning a remediation immediately. Which brings me to resolution No. 2.
Get a maintenance inspection
Hire a professional to come to your home and do a thorough check of all its major systems. Have the pro check the roof, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), plumbing, electrical, basement, basement crawl space, garage and attic. This will help you know what the issues are and what needs to be addressed first.
An inspection helps you create a maintenance and renovation schedule for the entire year - maybe even the next five years. It gives you a clear plan on repairs and renovations that will give you the most value - not just for your home but for your family.
When hiring maintenance inspectors, make sure they are certified. Ask for referrals and talk to previous clients. Find out if they use a thermal camera, and if so, whether they have level 1 certification in thermography. Do they have insurance, and how much? Do they use a ladder? You need to know all this to hire the right pro.
Think green
This is about more than just choosing sustainable building methods and green products. It's about choosing mould-resistant products when possible and also low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) materials. It's about incorporating fire-resistant materials if you're building or renovating your home.
Why do I consider these things green? Because they help keep materials from going in the landfill. Think about it: If you have a bathroom that has mould it's coming down. That's a lot of material that cannot be reused or recycled.
Fire-resistant materials stop fires from spreading and damaging other areas of your home. Low-VOC products help keep the air we breathe clean and safe. When we renovate and rebuild right it extends the life of your home and eases the burden on the environment.
Always get permits
I've said this maybe a million times, but I can't say it enough. Permits protect homeowners. If you renovate your home and you have a problem with it later, and your contractor didn't take out any permits, you've got nothing to fall back on. You're stuck paying not only for two renovations but also two demos.
That's a huge waste of money and materials. Plus it's a huge waste of your and your family's time, and causes stress and discomfort. As far as I'm concerned, if you don't get permits you are asking for trouble.
Sticking to these resolutions will give you peace of mind for the rest of the year. What more can you ask for? Have a happy, healthy New Year.
Catch Mike Holmes in his new series 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) Postmedia News