Holmes on Homes Podcast

There are governing bodies that develop building codes to dictate how a house is built and what is installed to ensure the safety of homeowners. In addition, the National Electrical Code (US) and the Canadian Electrical Code focus on the safety of electrical installations. Always hire a licensed electrical contractor for any electrical work you’re doing in the house. Why? Because they are the experts and can help make sure everything is done safely, to code, and know to pull the needed permits. Do you know where in your house you should have GFCIs? Do you need to replace your knob and tube wiring? An electrician will have the answers.

In this podcast episode, I’m joined by Erik Drost, Loyalty Manager, Eaton USA as we talk about Electric Codes vs. building codes, the difference in codes between the US and Canada, and doing electrical work safely. We also talk about how to find a Licensed Electrical Contractor and what the ECCN is. Plus, we have a few shocks and laughs looking at the electrical fails that you’ve sent in. Tune in to find out all about it.

Sherry Holmes was 21 years old when she first joined the trades, and was one of the few women involved in construction. She loves that she gets to call herself a woman in construction and that she has the chance to constantly learn new skills! From flooring to tiling and design she's been able to wear a lot of hats, but it was not an easy journey. In fact, she says she never saw any women on sites. It was a daunting experience at first, but over the years she has seen a change in the trades with more and more women getting into construction.

Hosting this episode of the Holmes On Homes Podcast, Sherry, joined by co-host and daughter Oaklyn, talks with Ellie Cobb, Lead Marketing Analyst (Loyalty Programs) and Helen Veldhuis, Director of Manufacturing Operations from Eaton Electric about what it means to be a woman in the trades. They share our stories of how they made it to where they are today, some of the challenges faced, and advice to younger girls considering the same path. This is one empowering episode you don’t want to miss.

With over 40 years of experience as a contractor, I've seen the devastating consequences of bad electrical work, from fatal shocks to devastating electric fires. You may be tempted to do electrical work yourself especially if you’re a seasoned handyperson, but one wrong connection can lead to fatal results. Electrical safety is a non-negotiable when it comes to your home and it’s important you always hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor to do the work safely and correctly.

In this podcast episode, I speak with Will Barrett, General Manager for Operations, Planning, and Support at the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) as we break down everything you need to know to do Electrical Right! From who you should hire, to electrical upgrades, EV Chargers, tamper-resistant receptacles and avoiding electrical fires. This episode is a must-listen.

Did you know that your indoor air can be 5x more polluted than outdoor air? I've seen a lot of homeowners not paying enough attention to the air they breathe inside their homes, but it could be filled with allergens, pollutants, dust, and a lot more things we don't see that in turn could be affecting their health. It's important to take the right steps to make our homes a healthier living environment, which includes improving our indoor air quality. Luckily there are many simple solutions out there that can help improve the indoor air quality in your home such as ERVs, air purification systems, and ventilation fans.  

 

In this podcast episode, I’m joined by Sonny Pirotta, Panasonic Indoor Air Quality Expert and Bob Deeks, President of RDC Fine Homes as we talk about the importance of indoor air quality and what every homeowner should know and products you should have to improve the indoor air quality in your home!

There are a lot of EVs on the road today. According to an estimate, more than half the cars sold in Canada will be electric by 2030. Recently I've been hearing a lot of scary stories about people not properly installing charging stations in their homes. It's important to understand the different types of EV charging stations available, what's required to install one at home, and electrical safety tips to avoid a potential fire hazard. 

In this podcast episode, I'm joined by James Fraser, General Manager at The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) as we talk about everything you need to know about EV charging stations and installing one at home SAFELY. 

We all know about landscaping, but have you heard of pondscaping? I have a pond on my property, it was one of the things I first fell in love with when I bought my place —to me it was serenity. However, while I'm always very meticulous and keep my grass nice and short, the pond did start to overgrown over the years. I tried everything including sending one of my guys in to clip the weeds right at the bottom of the pond, but it continued to grow more and more until I got in professional pondscapers. They taught me all about how the excessive weeds and algae are harmful to the wildlife population in the pond, how they get rid of the weeds in the pond and how to properly maintain it moving forward. 

In this podcast episode, I'm joined by Nick DeMarco from WeedsBGone as we talk all about what pondscaping is, what causes a pond to get run down, how to maintain your pond, and more. They told me they can turn swamps into swimming pools, I'm mind blown. So if you're like me and have a pond on your property —you don't want to miss this episode.

I've been a professional contractor for over 40 years, and over the course of my career one recurring theme I've seen has been the shortage in skilled trades —and that's largely been due to the stigma surrounding it. While my kids and me have been working hard to encourage more youth and women to join the skilled trades, this shortage is a real issue, which has been noticed by many professionals in the construction industry. There is a need to promote the skilled trades as a viable career, because we’ll always need people to help build our homes, roads, and hospitals. These structures don’t just sprout up out of the ground!

In this podcast episode, I'm joined by my son, Michael Holmes -Professional Contractor & TV Host, and JT Bhabra President of TruBuild Fine Homes, Holmes Approved Homes Builder as we talk about some of the issues caused by the skilled trades shortage, what this means, and how to overcome it and encourage more people to join the trades. 

While a lot of people may want to put the last two years behind them, the pandemic has truly affected the way people design and renovate their homes. More people, especially as it's the summer season, are kicking off their renovations by redoing their backyard to transform it into an outdoor oasis/entertainment area. Multi-purpose rooms are another big trend. But it's not just about redesigning your space it's about taking it one step further and thinking about your indoor air quality, renovating it right and planning for the future if you plan to age in place. In this podcast episode, I’m joined by my son, Mike Holmes Jr -Professional Contractor & TV Host, and Andrei Sosnovsky -Owner of Sosna Inc. Holmes Approved Homes Builder as we discuss some of the latest home renovation trends they're noticing in the market, what you should know before starting your next reno project, and what to consider when it comes to your indoor air quality.

In the world of technology, we live in anything has become possible. Unfortunately, that's not always a good thing especially when it comes down to fake news and professional scams that take thousands of dollars from innocent people. My name and brand, Make It Right, we’re recently used in a number of scams including CBD oils and fake casting calls pretending to help homeowners, using real HGTV logos and Holmes family pictures you'd believe it was the real deal.  In this podcast episode, I’m joined by my daughter, Sherry Holmes -Contractor & TV Host, as we uncover some jaw-dropping scam stories that involved our Holmes family name and talk about how to protect yourself from scammers. There may even be a plot twist revealed along the way —so don't miss this episode!

Electricity is a crucial aspect of any home, without it, our homes simply wouldn’t function. However, we don’t often pay too much attention to it, thinking that if everything is working then our home’s electrical system must be in good shape and operating properly. That is not the case! Just like anything in our home we must take the right steps to make sure our electrical is done right and meets our needs, especially if buying a new property or renovating.

In this podcast episode, Mike Holmes speaks with special guest and long-time friend Frank Cozzolino, Licensed Electrical Contractor as they discuss the basics of electrical safety, who you should hire for your electrical work, and what you need to know to protect yourself and your family from a possible fire hazard. They also talk about what to watch out for when buying a house, especially an old property, and why an electrical inspection is important —you’ll leave this episode with the proper knowledge to own it right and protect it right.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about the importance of electrical safety, hiring the right people, and making sure the job is done right.

Water, we drink it, cook with it, and use it in daily tasks. It is an essential part of our daily lives, but how well do you know your water and how clean it is? The water sources in our homes can be filled with contaminants from lead and calcium to bacteria and viruses, and even radon. However, with the proper filtration systems, Kinetico’s water filtration solutions, you can ensure that the water flowing in your home is clean and worry-free.

On this podcast episode, Mike Holmes is joined by water experts Dan Lake from Elgin Pure Waters and Michael Crepeault from Kinetico Waters, as they dig deep into the issues that can be found in your water, what signs to watch for to know your water is unsafe to use, testing your water, and finding the right filtration system for your home. Whether you rely on municipal water or well water, this episode will cover what you need to know to improve the quality of water in your home.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about everything you need to know about improving your water quality and the importance of water filtration systems.

Thinking of adding a backyard pool but don’t know where to start? Worried about the time and money it will take to get a pool installed? Or the maintenance? You don’t have to worry anymore because with Leisure Pools installation can be as fast as 2 days, with best-in-class material to last generation after generation. Plus, learn about how their pools can be used all year long, even during the cold winter months.

On this podcast episode, Mike Holmes speaks with special guest Heather Laing, Sales Representative from Leisure Pools as they cover everything you need to know about getting a pool installed at home. From materials and styles, to the installation process, and maintenance, you will  have everything you need to get started no matter the size of your backyard.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about everything you need to know about fiberglass pools and getting a pool installed in your home.

Kitchens and bathrooms are the heart of our homes. We spend so much time in them, that it is important to find the right materials that are functional, facilitate the workflow process, and contribute to a healthy lifestyle. From beer faucets to their clean home product series, Kraus does just that, with their innovative sinks and faucets that are high quality, functional, and affordable.

In this podcast episode, Mike Holmes speaks with special guests Todd Alexander and Michael Rodriguez from Kraus USA as they discuss the future of sinks and faucets and how design can help improve not only efficiency but also our health. They also talk about the importance of good kitchen and bathroom design, and how to plan it right and build it right —you’ll leave this episode thinking about your next kitchen and bathroom remodel.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about new innovations in kitchen sinks and fixtures, and picking the right materials for your home.

From the air we breathe, to the water we drink, and even the lighting in our homes, these are all factors that contribute to our overall health. With COVID-19 affecting our daily lives, it has become more important than ever to make sure we take the right steps to build healthier homes that boost our immunity, health, and lives.

On this podcast episode, Mike Holmes speaks with special guest Andrew Guido, Building Biologist to uncover what constitutes a healthy home and the steps you can take towards creating a healthy living environment for you and your family. They discuss everything from improving the air quality, to testing for radon and taking the proper steps to mitigate it, making sure you have the right level of moisture to avoid mold growth, and more.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about building a healthy home.