I’ve pretty much given up on good information from the TV Networks. DIY is not very good, mundane information presented Sesame St. style. HGTV . . . . sheeesh . . . where to start, it wasn’t very good to begin with and has gone steadily downhill, and has for presentation, well . . . it makes Sesame St. seem intellectual.
The 3rd channel in this bunch is Discovery Home, not much here either. Maybe even worse, if that is possible. However there is one program on DHome that has caught my attention . . . it’s Holmes on Homes. This guy; Mike Holmes, seems like my kind of guy. From their website:
Please keep the premise of the show in mind… Mike rescues homeowners who have been ripped off by contractors or have been left with a job that wasn’t done right the first time. This does not include, Do It Yourself projects gone wrong, renovations done by previous owners or problems related to a lack of home maintenance.
Mike seems to have a lot of integrity, he acts and produces work professionally. He goes beyond the basic code standards. He’s a do it right, use the right tools, be proud of your work, respcect the clients kind of guy.
Mike Holmes . . . Holmes on Homes it’s worth a look.
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Addendum: I just found out the show is also on HGTV at various times. I’ve only seen it on DHome. Speaking of DHome their page on Holmes on Homes is less than thrilling.
The Whispering Crane Institute 
Good building technique is not an arcane science. Anyone can look up info on the web. We did our own hands on remodeling years ago and were able to get proper guidance from pros and manufacturers. With our recent shoddy remodeling experience, I can see where the problem lies. The building boom has spawned a generation of spoiled, narcissistic contractors without “pride of craftsmanship”. They expect you take their word and you turn your back, they cut corners. And where is the inspector in the process? For example, our hardwood floor has a dip where joists were misaligned. That still would pass because the overall construction “met code”!. Our builder disappeared. He failed to refile his license so we couldn’t lodge an official complaint only a civil lawsuit.
By the way, a homeowner is not alone in this building mess. A local city hall project was abandoned by a builder. After a national manhunt and 3 attempts at extradition, the errant builder finally returned to face trial in MI. After 4 years of civil action he was sentenced to 2 years probation, 90 days in the Genesee County Jail and ordered to pay fines and court costs totaling $1,300. for failing on a $1.5 million project and absconding with $179,000 in funds . Who picked up the tab at the end – the bonding insurance company!
I like watching HoH.
It teaches me how NOT to do some things around the house and it teaches me how TO do some things around the house.
Yes, there are some important things left out.
The biggest is cost.
If you throw enough money at something you can accomplish wonderful things.
But most of us do not have that luxury.
And remodeling is the absolute WORST kind of home project.
These projects NEVER go as planned because you run into things you did not anticipate.
And these things always make the job over schedule and over budget – even if I am the only person on the job.
I would rather build something completely new than try to “fix” an existing building.
This is not defending sloppy or lying contractors.
Mike is suppose to be so perfect and do it right the fist time. My wife and I were watching his show one day and he was putting in a new door and door casing. When he installed it he put it right over the top of a bunch of ROTTEN wood. I guess he is human.
I just watched an episode where the homeowner did not get a home inspection. Mike was saying that they they would have avoided all the problems if they had of gotten one. I have yet to see any good home inspectors. Every show features homes that were inspected and every one was a disaster.So far no inspector seems to know much at all. I think they should be HELD ACCOUNTABLE for their mistakes.