Summary

In an interview with Collider, Holmes Family Rescue warns against risky DIY projects and urges homeowners to educate themselves.

Hiring licensed professionals for tasks outside your skill set can prevent costly mistakes.

The family criticizes popular home trends like concrete countertops and shiplap, advocating for thoughtful design choices.

Holmes Family Rescue saves homeowners from shady contractors, but Mike Holmes Sr., Mike Jr., and Sherry have a warning first: stop DIYing the risky stuff. “I’ve always said, don’t hire a roofer to do your plumbing,” Mike Sr. tells Collider. “Don’t touch things you don’t know. There’s a lot of things that homeowners can do at their home, but let’s be serious, you can screw up your own paint, you can’t put latex over oil. So one, slow down, don’t get so excited to do with the renovation or construction in any which way. Two, educate yourself. Find out what you need to know about what you’re doing, hence, paint. Three, if you’re gonna hire a contractor, check out your contractor.” The family hosts one of HGTV’s most popular home improvement shows, rescuing homeowners from shoddy contractors, but also helping homeowners who try to DIY renovations but hit a wall. Fans tune in not only to watch the transformation but for the family’s signature humor and love they show their clients.
‘Holmes Family Rescue’ Shares How Home Improvements Can Turn Dangerous

“If you burn down your house, and you did that, guess what’s not covered under insurance?”

The family is pro-do-it-yourself, Sherry says. But they don’t want to see a homeowner attempting a fix that could turn dangerous. “There is a time and place that’s appropriate for doing things yourself and a lot of the time, if you don’t know how an appliance works, don’t touch it,” she says. “Electrical. I think that’s my biggest one is a lot of people are like, oh, I could just put this wire here. If you burn down your house, and you did that, guess what’s not covered under insurance? There are a lot of things that you’re not educated about, and especially if it’s something that comes down to flooding your house, burning your house, potentially harming you and your family. Don’t touch it. Simple as that.” Mike Jr. says it is very common to see a homeowner or an unqualified contractor attempting an electrical repair, which is often why they are called. “A contractor that’s like, ‘I’m a carpenter. But I’ll do your electrical as well.’ A master of all trades. It’s the amount of hidden junction boxes you find in shoddy electrical work, which is to Sherry’s point. So if you hire an electrical contractor. Hire a licensed electrical contractor. Make sure you get permits, and at the end of the day, it’s going to cover you. But if you want to do the paint yourself, do the trim. You’ll find out quickly why there are professionals that do this for a living, because it’s not as easy as it looks.” The Holmes family encourages homeowners to hire licensed pros, but Mike Sr. isn’t out to kill the DIY spirit; he just wants people to understand the risks, especially when it’s outside their skill set. “You can act as your own general contractor,” he explains. “You can do the wiring or plumbing, but you need to get a permit. They’ll come in and check it out and tell you if you’re doing it right or doing it wrong. Is it worth the risk? I always say it this way. I’m a contractor. I’m not a mechanic. I don’t fix the vehicles I drive. I take them to a professional.”
Think Twice Before Following These Home Trends — the Holmes Family Says Some Are Just Plain Dumb

“You know what I hated, that was really, really popular? Shiplap.”

While there are dangerous DIY projects, there are also some home improvement trends that can ultimately be an expensive eyesore. “This is what homeowners do. They watch TV, and they’re like, ‘I want that bathroom, I want that kitchen!’ And I get the excitement,” Mike Sr. says. “It’s inspiration. But here’s a great example. All of a sudden, people wanted concrete countertops. Like they’re forming and making their own. That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen. What does concrete do? It absorbs.” Mike Jr. interjects that concrete countertops can be sealed.

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“But a lot of people don’t realize that they need to seal it. That’s the problem,” Sherry adds. “If we’re talking about design trends, you know what I hated, that was really, really popular? Shiplap. There was a time that was super trendy, and I’m not insulting anyone who loves it. If you love it, that’s fabulous for you.” Another trend that Mike Jr. is surprisingly seeing less of is open-concept floorplans. “I think during the pandemic, people were like, oh, we have these open concepts home. We have no space for ourselves,” he shares. “So now I feel like actual closed-off designated rooms have made a huge comeback, which is trending now. Personally, I do like open concept for certain areas, but having your own office, having your own space where you’re like, ‘I need a minute. I’m overwhelmed. I need a place to go, or I have a call.’ Head to the man cave, the garage.” Holmes Family Rescue premieres on Wednesday, June 4, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV.