The BEST episodes directed by Mike Holmes

#1 - Completely Incomplete

Holmes on Homes - Season 6 - Episode 3

Kristine and Terry needed more living space for their expanding family. They decided to add a second story addition over the garage in order to add a bedroom and bathroom. When the contractor demanded full payment before the job was completed, the homeowners refused to pay. The contractor placed a Lien on their home stating that the renovation was 99 percent complete. Mike and the team finish the job and demonstrate just how incomplete the job really was.

#2 - Jacking the Box

Holmes on Homes - Season 2 - Episode 10

Sian hired a contractor to pour a new foundation around the perimeter of her house, but the wall was too small for the size of the house. So, the upper part of the house now overhangs over the foundation. Mike Holmes steps in to shore up Sian's house and give her a safe, warm basement.

#3 - Floor Fiasco

Holmes on Homes - Season 2 - Episode 8

Kerry and her family loved everything about their home except the out-dated vinyl flooring in the front foyer and powder room. When the time came to renovate, Kerry had heard of a new product: a smooth, concrete flooring mixture that could be installed over the existing floor. Kerry was quite excited about this flooring possibility, as it promised a unique look and a rock hard finish. Unfortunately, the contractor installed the product incorrectly and left Kerry with a rough, sloppy looking floor. Mike Holmes arrives and he has to demolish the faulty floor and install a brand new granite tile floor.

#4 - What a Mesh

Holmes on Homes - Season 5 - Episode 11

A tile supply company had been given a rubber cheque by a contractor for ceramic floor tiles. An effort to locate the contractor brought them to the doorstep of the homeowner, who was having the tile installed in their home. The tile supplier was told that the contractor had abandoned the job weeks earlier and disappeared, also leaving them with a half completed kitchen and badly installed tiles. Disgusted by the poor workmanship and saddened by the emotional state of the homeowners, the tile supplier offered that he would try and figure out a way to help them. They called Mike Holmes and offered to donate all new materials if Holmes On Homes would do the installation. Inspired by this act of generosity, Mike and the team roll up their sleeves to make it all come together- and complete the unfinished kitchen as well.

#5 - Hell's Kitchen

Holmes on Homes - Season 2 - Episode 13

Rosy and her family hired a contractor to finish their kitchen and bathroom, but he under quoted them and kept demanding more and more money in order to finish the job. After running out of cash and patience, they stopped the job and were left with an unusable, barren kitchen for five months. Mike Holmes and his crew undo the small amount of work that the contractor had done, and build Rosy and her family the beautiful, functional kitchen they had waited so long for.

#6 - Two Steps Back

Holmes on Homes - Season 4 - Episode 1

After spending many years living in apartments, Tammy and Jason decided to take the plunge and buy a home to raise their son in. It was a new home, and everything seemed in order except for the staircase leading up to the front door; it was very basic and needed and upgrade. Tammy and Jason hired a contractor to build a proper cement staircase, and that's what they thought they had gotten. But as 2 year warranty approached, large chunks of cement were starting to fall off the stairs and it seemed obvious that they had not been done correctly. The previous contractor delayed any repairs until the warranty was up, and Tammy and Jason were left with dangerous, crumbling staircase. Mike Holmes and his crew tore the original stairs apart and started from scratch. Along the way, Mike found that the previous contractor had made many mistakes - the largest of which was that they neglected to install proper footing support under the stairs. The lack of this footing caused the stairs to move when the ground froze in the winter, and crack the concrete finish. As the crew started the new footing, Mike removed a pair of ugly fake dormers that the builder had installed on their roof, and fixed a leak in their front window. After rebuilding the staircase using rebar and concrete reinforced with microfibers, a beautiful Durok coating was applied to the surface. Also, bran new interlocking stone in the driveway was complimented by a fully re-landscaped front garden. Tammy and Jason were thrilled to finally be able to look at their new home with pride. The new front entryway and garden were stunning and definitely the new focal point of the house.

#7 - Access Denied

Holmes on Homes - Season 2 - Episode 11

Jenny and Allan hired a contractor to build a wheelchair accessible addition for their six-year-old son Justin who has cerebral palsy. The addition is riddled with errors including an incorrect foundation, un-square and unfinished walls, and sloppy and incomplete eaves trough and siding. Mike Holmes and crew revamp the 260 square-foot addition from top to bottom and make it right for this family.

#8 - Pasadena 911, Part 2

Holmes on Homes - Season 6 - Episode 8

#9 - No Grout About It

Holmes on Homes - Season 2 - Episode 12

Rita and her family recently moved into a brand new house, but the tiles on the main floor quickly loosened and the grout started to lift. After other contractors tried and failed to fix the problem, Mike Holmes steps in and creates a new polished concrete floor.

#10 - Lamin-Ain't

Holmes on Homes - Season 2 - Episode 6

Mike comes to the rescue of Julia who hired a contractor to renovate her basement and lay a new laminate floor. Just six months after the floor was laid, the floor has lifted in several spots and mold has formed in the bathroom. Mike and his crew lay brand new slate tile and carpeting over in-floor heating and use two different subflooring techniques, with a few surprises along the way.

#11 - Out of the Ashes - Part 2

Holmes on Homes - Season 5 - Episode 8

With Mike and the team in full swing repairing the shoddy fire damage remediation work left behind by the last contractor, Mike discovers an old oil storage tank buried in the backyard. To make matters worse, the container had leaked over the years, making it necessary for Mike to clean up the hazardous mess. It's an episode filled with renovation thrills and toxic spills!

#12 - Pasadena 911, Part 1

Holmes on Homes - Season 6 - Episode 7

Jennifer and Abraham, expecting their first child, decided to remodel their bungalow to make room for their growing family. The contractor they hired seemed to have everything in hand, but 4 months later Jennifer and Abraham found they had paid 90% of the contract but only about 30% of the work was complete. Left with a contractor on the run, a huge new mortgage, construction bills piling up, and a worthless empty shell of a house, the sun seemed to have set on their dream home, let alone home ownership of any kind. They needed a miracle… …And they got one when Mike appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and Ellen introduced him to Jennifer and Abraham, asking if he could help. Determined to do just that, Mike and a legion of contractors team up to answer the call…Pasadena 911.

#13 - Due Date

Holmes on Homes - Season 6 - Episode 13

Lisa and Simon were preparing to have their first baby and needed to build a nursery and a bathroom. They found a reputable contractor at a home show with impressive credentials and long list of references. A contract was drafted, a substantial down payment was paid, and the 6-week job would be starting almost immediately. Over the next four months, every excuse was given why they could not start the job. With the baby due in less than three months and the realization that they may not have a properly functioning full bathroom with a new born- Lisa and Simon fired their contractor- and called Mike Holmes. Time is ticking, with a baby on the way, and the bathroom and nursery that will need to be built again. Mike and the team race to beat the Stork!

#14 - Lack of Truss

Holmes on Homes - Season 6 - Episode 5

Julie and Joe needed another bedroom in anticipation of adopting a second child. The high-pitched roof on their new suburban home seemed to have a large enough attic space to accommodate an extra room. Their contractor advised them that it was an easy retrofit because exterior walls and roof are not touched. The reality is quite different. In order to utilize the volume inside the attic, the contractor removed the crucial structure that supported the roof, and created a dangerous mess. Mike and the team have no choice but to tear the roof completely off and build the attic space properly.

#15 - Country Kitchen

Holmes on Homes - Season 6 - Episode 10

Nancie and Woody moved into a 25-year-old townhouse that required some updating- particularly the floors and the “tiny” kitchen space. As renovations got underway, Woody was unexpectedly hospitalized. The contractors were left virtually unsupervised while Nancie tried to manage her job, visit Woody and take care of their daughter. All of the contractors were very sympathetic to her stating, “don’t worry about the renovations- you are in good hands.” What they left behind was simply one big mistake- one that Mike and the team will correct, with the help of a Country singing guest star.

#16 - Gone to Pot

Holmes on Homes - Season 6 - Episode 6

As her retirement investment, Lisa rented out a second house to a young couple eager to rent a home in a quiet, upscale neighborhood. They seemed to be perfect tenants, until the police contacted Lisa months later and informed her that the house had just been busted as a Marijuana Grow Op. The damage was extensive--every part of the house had been affected and her retirement investment was essentially destroyed. Faced with a massive repair that will cost as much as the house was currently worth, Mike makes this right, and discovers just how extensive the damage can be from an illegal Grow-Operation.

#17 - Holmes Inspection - Part 1

Holmes on Homes - Season 5 - Episode 13

Chris and Ihor had recently moved back to Canada after living in Texas for the last 20 years. After looking at 6 homes, they decided on one that was in a good neighborhood and hired a Home Inspector to insure that the home that was in good condition. They received a 25-page report from the home inspector, which concluded that there were only minor items that required addressing - the report also stated that the inspector will only report on surface conditions - for all major home systems such as plumbing and electrical, they defer to hiring "a qualified contractor to conduct the inspection".

#18 - Doozy Jacuzzi

Holmes on Homes - Season 2 - Episode 9

Pauline hired a contractor to renovate the bathroom in her basement, but it seemed the wiring was incorrect and the Jacuzzi would not work properly. Mike Holmes and his crew open up the bathroom and quickly discover the entire basement is a dangerous rat's nest of shoddy electrical work. Mike decides to gut the entire basement to make sure the job is done right as it should have been the first time.

#19 - Bargain Basement

Holmes on Homes - Season 5 - Episode 5

Rebecca and Thomas had several contractors bid on their basement renovation project—and when all of them came in with quotes were lower than what they had initially expected, they thought they'd found a deal. Pipes burst in the ceiling of the basement, flooding down the walls and leaking through the new pot lights. Then they discovered electrical outlets in other parts of the home were sparking while others were not working. In this episode, Mike explores the true cost of a basement renovation, and the pitfalls of competitive "underbidding" by contractors.

#20 - Third Time Lucky

Holmes on Homes - Season 6 - Episode 9

Kathleen, an elderly lady who lives alone in a high rise building needed to renovate her bathroom to make it handicap accessible. A degenerative illness had necessitated the use of a wheelchair. After a year of renovations and two different companies, Mike arrives to find that the bathroom is nothing but a concrete shell- the last contractor tore out all their work before leaving. Mike makes it right, and then transforms the rest of the apartment into a wheelchair friendly space.

#21 - Bar None

Holmes on Homes - Season 4 - Episode 5

After suffering through some painful personal troubles, Jim and Lisa planned to re-direct their focus on something positive by finishing their basement into a bar and entertainment room. A contractor came highly recommended by a neighbor, and the renovation started off quite smoothly. The contractor seemed to have a good heart, and as the renovation progressed, Jim and Lisa actually formed a friendship with him. But with the budget spent, and the job only partially completed, the contractor seemed to fall off the face of the earth. Even after befriending Jim and Lisa, the contractor abandoned them without any warning, leaving them with a half finished renovation. Upon inspection, Mike Holmes decided that the contractor meant well, but severely under-priced the job and didn’t know how to fess up to the mistake. With the help of iron, brick and bar specialists, Mike completely re-finished the basement with an incredible English Pub theme, giving Jim and Lisa the bar of their dreams.

#22 - A River Ran Through It

Holmes on Homes - Season 4 - Episode 6

Ron and Jill hired contractors to undertake a huge renovation that essentially involved adding a second floor to a portion of their home. Sadly, most of the work was done poorly, if at all, and Ron and Jill were left with an unlivable home and some serious money problems. Feeling strongly that they had been scammed, they decided to sue the contractors for fraud. But unfortunately because of some legal loopholes, the case got thrown out of court, and Ron and Jill were left with no choice but to sell their cottage and recoup some of their losses. Upon inspection, Mike finds several problems with structure, plumbing and much, much more. To help Ron and Jill get back into their beloved home, Mike and his crew work incredibly hard to finish a huge job that was incomplete and poorly done. One by one, they correct all the problems, brought everything up to proper code, and finish the enormous addition beautifully.

#23 - Wall of Sound

Holmes on Homes - Season 5 - Episode 12

This is a story about proximity. Many newly built homes such as semi-detached, town homes and condo units feature designs that share common walls. In the case of our homeowners, Sylvie and Guy, who had just moved into a brand new semi-detached home, they were in for a shock when they realized that they could clearly hear their next door neighbor through the walls! The sound issue was so disruptive that the homeowners were certain moving away was their only option, until Mike and the team found the solution.

#24 - Stone Walled

Holmes on Homes - Season 6 - Episode 4

Lisa and Joe decided to have an existing wooden retaining wall in their backyard rebuilt using concrete blocks. As the new block wall went up, Joe and Lisa began to question some glaring items - the lack of gravel base and the Geo-grid reinforcement material lay unused even though most of the wall was up. The project dragged on and the wall simply wasn't getting finished. Finally, the contractor stopped coming altogether and would not answer his cell phone. Lisa actually phoned the local hospitals to check if he had been admitted. They couldn't believe he would just disappear without finishing the job and leaving behind his tools. The homeowners had paid the contractor for all the materials, and when they received a bill in the mail a month later from the material supplier for the remaining 50% balance, they realized they had been taken for a ride. Mike and his team of landscape professions tear down the wall and build a retaining wall that is rock solid.

#25 - Showing the Cracks

Holmes on Homes - Season 5 - Episode 10

Janet and her elderly mother, Audrey, upgraded their vinyl kitchen floor to ceramic tile. Shortly after the work was completed, they noticed hairline cracks through the centre of the tiles. The flooring contractor explained it wasn't his fault, and that the weak structure of their home was shifting and causing the floor to crack. But the cracks were forming through the ceramic tile, and not along the grout lines- the weakest part of a tile floor. Mike and the team put on their investigative hard hats and get to the bottom of this tile flooring issue.

#26 - Roof Goof

Holmes on Homes - Season 2 - Episode 7

Sandra and Daniel hired a roofing contractor to fix their flat roof, but immediately after they were finished, the roof leaked. Water pools on the roof creating a marshy swamp land for mosquitoes. The contractor admits he did a poor job, but refuses to correct the roof. Mike Holmes steps in and demolishes the existing flat roof, and with the help of his team, refinishes it with a brand new water-tight membrane.

#27 - Frozen Assets

Holmes on Homes - Season 6 - Episode 12

Jane, a single mom, lives in a typical new home development with her two kids. Since the day they moved into the brand new home, they have been plagued with repeated plumbing and heating issues. During a recent winter cold spell, the porch ceiling caved in, exposing questionable minimum building code practices and building materials- luckily, Mike and his team have the right answers

#28 - O-Fence-Ive

Holmes on Homes - Season 5 - Episode 1

When a fencing contractor rips off a new housing development by taking a deposit from 52 families and working just long enough to cash the cheques before disappearing, Mike and the crew take on the challenge of not just helping one homeowner, but the entire neighborhood! Ultimately, Mike builds more than a fence; he also brings this new community together with a common purpose- and makes things right.

#29 - Out of the Ashes - Part 1

Holmes on Homes - Season 5 - Episode 7

A string of bad luck leads Mike to the front door of a homeowner named Franca. Her home sustained major damage from an electrical fire. Immediately afterward, Franca suffered a series of personal tragedies with the unexpected passing of her mother, and then her husband. The contractor repairing the fire damage took full advantage of Franca's fragile situation. Upon inspecting the reno-in-progress, Mike intervenes to avoid yet another disaster in the making.

#30 - Window Well to Hell

Holmes on Homes - Season 4 - Episode 2

After moving to a new neighborhood, Olivia decided to turn her basement into a comfortable living space for her daughter and grandchildren. She was going to redesign the layout and have larger windows installed to allow more natural light into the room. She hired a contractor who started out well, but it wasn't long before Olivia started feeling uneasy. As the job went on, the contractor started showing up late, or not at all. One day, Olivia came home early from work to find him sleeping on the couch. After spending almost all of her renovation budget and feeling strongly that she was being taken advantage of, Olivia stopped the job and was left with a poorly finished basement and window wells that were filling with water. Upon inspection, Mike found that there were no proper lintels over the new windows to support the weight over them, and that there was no proper drainage system in place. Inside, he found some small telltale signs that suggested that the whole basement renovation was going to have to be demolished and built again. There was questionable plumbing and electrical that not up to code. Outside, a proper lintel was added over the window, along with the foundation protection under the window and a drainage system tied into the existing weeping tile. Inside, Mike and his crew took down all the drywall, and safely reinstalled all the plumbing and electrical. After installing new drywall and painting, Olivia was reintroduced to her beautiful finished and safe basement. She was very happy to finally be able to provide a comfortable living space for her family.

#31 - Holmes Inspection - Part 2

Holmes on Homes - Season 5 - Episode 14

On moving day, some of the deficiencies in Chris and Ihor's house became obvious as soon as they tried using the shower and fixtures in the basement. The pungent smell of sewage wafted through the home. It was the first in a series of creepy crawly, smelly and dangerous discoveries. For Chris and Ihor, and for the thousands of Canadians who have been caught in the same trap, it will take the frankness of Mike Holmes to uncover the myth that is "the Home inspection", and help this family get what they thought they had already paid for.

#32 - Bungled Bungalow

Holmes on Homes - Season 4 - Episode 3

Bill and Marie retired to a bungalow that had originally been a small cottage. Over the years, the bungalow had seen five additions of questionable workmanship, so they decided to completely renovate the home. They hired a contractor who had promised that the job would be completed in three months time, so they moved in with their daughter for the duration of the renovation. As the renovation progressed, issues arose with the historical board, building code standards, and the contractor himself. After many delays and a skyrocketing budget, Bill paid off the contractor and completely severed ties. One full year later, they were left with a half finished job and were still living in their daughter’s home. Having spent a good deal of money, they had no funds to cover hiring a new contractor. Fortunately, Mike Holmes decided to undertake the huge task of finishing this very problematic renovation – and finish it he did. With the help of his hard working crew, Mike battled his way though the age old issues and gave Bill and Marie the beautiful retirement home the should have gotten in the first place.

#33 - Let's Rejoist

Holmes on Homes - Season 6 - Episode 2

Jane and Dan had a tiny quarter sized water stain on the bedroom ceiling of their six-year-old townhouse. They had a roofing contractor come and repair the balcony above the leak. The contractor ended up having to rip up the existing balcony membrane only to discover the engineered joists below were completely rotted through. The homeowners could not find a contractor willing to take on fixing this structural mess and asked Mike if he was up for the challenge.

#34 - Taking a Bath

Holmes on Homes - Season 5 - Episode 9

Mary Jo and Ron moved into a brand new subdivision two years ago. In that time, each of their two bathtubs has been replaced four times. That's eight tubs in two years! The problem? Tubs that warped and buckled and mould growth. The builder maintained the tubs were installed correctly and that there was no manufacturing or design defect with the tubs. So, each time the tubs were replaced with the same model tub and installed the same way. Yet the problem persisted. Eight tubs later, the homeowners got fed up and called Mike Holmes to get to the bottom of their bathtub problem.

#35 - House to Home - Part 1

Holmes on Homes - Season 4 - Episode 12

After re-mortgaging their home to add a wheelchair accessible addition for their disabled son, a couple is confronted with improper work and a crumbling foundation. In part one of this two-part season finale, Mike Holmes comes to the aid of a family in dire straits and begins one of the toughest and biggest jobs of his contracting career.

#36 - House Arrest

Holmes on Homes - Season 5 - Episode 2

Living in a construction zone is an unpleasant reality for homeowners undertaking a renovation. The hope is that the mess and discomfort will be as short-lived as possible. For Alex and Marie and their two children, a planned three-month renovation dragged out to a year and a half with no end in sight. Living out of one bedroom with only partial water service, this family was trapped in a never-ending renovation nightmare. They were beginning to feel like prisoners in their own home- until Mike and the team arrive on the scene.

#37 - Sunny Side Down

Holmes on Homes - Season 4 - Episode 8

After a homeowner mistakenly hires an inexperienced contractor to renovate a sunroom, a leak left in the roof results in her grandson slipping and getting hurt badly. Enraged at the accident and how poorly the job was going, she fires the contractor and calls in Mike Holmes to make things right.

#38 - House to Home - Part 2

Holmes on Homes - Season 4 - Episode 13

In part two of the is two-part season finale, Mike Holmes and his crew finish a wheelchair accessible bathroom for the homeowners’ disabled son, repair a leaking foundation and roof and provide a much deserving family with a safe and proper addition.

#39 - Ceiling the Deal

Holmes on Homes - Season 5 - Episode 4

This story highlights the work of a modern day "Snake Oil Salesman"- a contractor that doesn't fit the stereotypical con-artist profile. His slick computer assisted sales pitch and impressive portfolio eventually gave way to sloppy workmanship and incompetent engineering. The basement façade put up by this contractor finally came crashing down when the newly installed ceiling collapsed, prompting the homeowners to place a distress call to Mike Holmes.

#40 - Shaky Foundation

Holmes on Homes - Season 6 - Episode 1

When a homeowner discovers that his newly built house has a crumbling foundation with 1/3 of the minimum strength required by code, he calls host Mike Holmes for help. Mike and his team build a new custom foundation within walls of the existing foundation and devise a plan to protect the weakened exterior from further damage.

#41 - Unfinished Business

Holmes on Homes - Season 4 - Episode 11

A couple decides to be their own general contractor on a large second story addition to their home. Everything goes extremely well until the last sub-contractor botches all the finishing work. Mike Holmes and his crew are called in to inspect the sloppy work and Make it Right.

#42 - This Mold House

Holmes on Homes - Season 4 - Episode 9

When a major mold problem leaves a family with chronic respiratory problems and allergic reactions, Mike Holmes brings in a crew of mold abatement experts to eliminate the mold at the source. The result is a healthier, allergen free home for the family.

#43 - Kitchen Coleslaw

Holmes on Homes - Season 4 - Episode 4

Don and his dog “Parker” bought a beautiful one hundred and twenty year old Victorian town home and decided to completely renovate the kitchen. The job required not only a new design, but also moving existing plumbing, electrical, vents and ducts. Mid-way into the Reno, things were far behind schedule and Don began noticing that things just didn’t look right. Smartly, he decided to sever ties with the contractor and cut his losses. As it turns out, the contractor was actually a glass installation specialist who just did contacting on the side. His lack of experience was quite apparent to Mike Holmes, who tore away the drywall and floor to find not only the previous contractor’s mistakes, but decades old issues that the previous contractor neglected to address. The entire main floor contained a century of countless hodgepodge renovations. Poor HVAC, questionable plumbing and potentially dangerous electrical wiring had to be removed and/or corrected before Mike could even think about finishing the kitchen. Once the whole main floor was brought up to code, Mike and his crew executed Don’s dream kitchen design flawlessly, giving Don the space that he has waited so long for.

#44 - Best Laid Plans

Holmes on Homes - Season 4 - Episode 7

After three different contractors try and fail in fixing a moisture problem in a homeowner’s kitchen, Mike Holmes is called in and discovers that a series of small problems were creating one large one. Mike and his crew fix he moisture problem once and for all.

#45 - Hullaba Loo

Holmes on Homes - Season 4 - Episode 10

After a large bathroom company turns a simple bathroom renovation into a nasty experience for a homeowner, Mike Holmes and his crew hit the scene and provide the beautiful bathroom that should have been built in the first place.

#46 - Clean Slate

Holmes on Homes - Season 6 - Episode 11

Living in a century home, Kjirsten and John had their bathroom remodeled with a custom slate tile shower, featuring built-in bench seating. Soon afterwards, they notice a strange substance leaching out of the tile grout and that the shower doesn’t drain properly. When the bathroom ceiling starts to peel away, they realize something is wrong below the surface. Mike confirms their beautiful looking, new slate shower, is only skin deep- and much more lurks beneath the surface.

#47 - For Annie

Holmes on Homes - Season 5 - Episode 6

This is story about hope for the future in the face of heartbreaking tragedy, when "Making It Right" takes on a new meaning- completing an unresolved renovation and making it possible for a family to finally begin the healing process after the loss of a loved one. The connection between the emotional health of a family and condition of their home is a strong one. Mike and the team heal a house left in limbo, and make it a home once more.

#48 - Falling Flat

Holmes on Homes - Season 5 - Episode 3

A photographer wants to build a photo studio in his backyard. He does everything by the book - has blueprints drawn up and approved and takes out construction permits and deals with puzzling stop work orders from various city officials. Only after the Mayor intervenes, is the work finally completed. Or so he thinks… Three years later, the studio's flat roof is plagued by constant leaks. Mike Holmes immediately identifies the problem - the waterproof roof membrane was never actually finished. The Holmes On Homes™ team discovers that the water damage to the flat roof is so extensive, they have no choice but to pull it all down!