Love the videos but I have a question. Why isn't there a hand rail going down to the door?? It seems that if one would trip and fall, there would be a lot of concrete to bash one's body on...
I wonder if this wall still stands after almost 20 years since this episode. The clay soil may have pushed in even the 12 inch wall. I think they should have used vertical rebar from the foundation to the top every 16 or 24 inches and filled the hollow blocks with concrete. - What do you think - did the Holmes retaining wall last 20 years?
It will last my house is over 35yrs old and is a concrete block foundation built on a abandoned quarry that was filled with rock and clay. None of the houses have any cracks
This past summer I watched a crew working on an old house that had been vacant for a few years. One day I watched as two of the crew removed the sock from all of the French drain they were about to install. I've seen enough of the videos to just shake my head as I walked past. The downspouts on the front were sent straight into the ground. and there was no apparent exit along the front of the house into the street nor any concrete repairs on the sidewalk. Now, did they run it to the back of the house? I don't believe so as there was no signs of disturbance into the alley behind the house. So as to tie into any piping that ran under the alley. So, I guess we shall wait and see how long it takes for that basement to flood. Overall they did a pretty nice job on the exterior of the unit. I was sad to see that so much of the backyard was torn up for parking pads.
I’d blame the inspectors. After having a spec house built I came away with a distinct dislike of inspectors as not a single one actually inspected anything. On one, which he knew I did a lot of the work, he was there to inspect the trench and lines for power and water between the house and pump house. The trench was 4’ deep and 3’ wide… and completely full of water. He came out in the rain, looked at the water in the trench and said “bury it”. He had no idea if the proper pipe, ere, spacing, ANYTHING was done properly. But the county got their inspection fee.
Always funny how this show proves how stupid the whole system is. Almost every episode Mike talks about contractors not getting a permit... this one did and just ignores the plans he submitted. The inspector didn't help either and still passed the construction. Once again this show just proves how useless all that red tape is and that it always seems to favor the worst type of contractors.
Just think what they'd do without building codes and permits at all. We have to keep in mind that this show didn't randomly sample permitted projects. They only broadcast the disasters, so even if 99% of permitted projects are fine, this show would only showcase the 1% of failures. I love the show, but we shouldn't over-generalize.
And we see one of the terrible problems with permits.. The criteria are created by the lazy or self interested, and overseen by the ignorant and self interested. Codes, regulations, permits, etc all are less than worthless.. At best they look good on paper but they always protect the scoundrels in power: The bureaucrats... I've been a contractor for decades and never once has a permit or code improved any job I was on. VERY often they made me make the job of a lower quality. Mike has experienced this as well, even if he won't admit it.. Codes are not written by experts as he assumes. They are written by one of three groups: Mindless bureaucrats who just want to coast by, manufacturers who want to force everyone to buy their product, and the worst of the worst, trade unions who want to jack up prices and prevent alternatives to their inflated price services. Great contractors exist in all areas of the trades, but once you rely upon government and force you are advertising that your skills are inferior. Giving a free pass to the inspector is dishonest.. Sorry..If the coercive method worked this episode would never have existed... The inspector would have never passed it.. As a logician (as well as contractor, I know that the argument for the government intervention and rigid control is proved ineffective by this example.
I can built walls and cliffs pretty close to water on my video game island. But then it is only but an approximate representation of reality. Roofs never leak either on my video game island.
I grew up in a Brick, Missionary family. Even I learn how to minor brick laying. That job was bad. Like really bad. I hope the people that had to have you fix this will take a copy on this video & show it to their cousin. So that he will stop recommending the guy who did the job!
I see it all the time and now again here, how can somebody expect a CMU retaining wall to do its job without proper steel and fully grouting the wall. I did not see any steel tied in to the footing or any horizontal steel installed in this wall.
All the talk about code then they go and dig a trench 8 straight down. Should have a 45 degree slope on the ditch if you want people down in there working. If not it has to has trench boxes at a minimum. B
I'm not sure I've ever heard Mike be impressed by the workmanship on the finish work here. And yet, they made a few dumb decisions at the start of the project that wreck everything, and it all has to be ripped out. That's gotta be frustrating for the crew, let alone the homeowners.
The whole project looks like a bad idea to me. Dig a trench, insert stairs, a window and a wall. Those stairs look like they will always be damp and icky, collecting rainwater, snowmelt and dead vegetation. The room inside will never really be nice, never getting sunshine or a breeze. The soil looks like heavy clay. When wet in weighs a lot and exerts serious pressure against a retaining wall. 8 inches or 10 inches, it will never give up. Eventually it will bulge out and come down.
I'd have dumped the clay and backfilled with the smashed old blockwork, then the same crushed rock as over the weeper, then gravel, then sand. Compact it it all and lay the pavers once.
Never hire a friend or family member as a contractor. They are useless. Hire a real licensed and insured contractor and get permits. Permits means that an inspector has to come and pass the work before you can proceed.
So let's let's the city off the hook must be a lot of bad contractors/ city insecters down east god on Mike to show the bad building habits/ inspections down east
Even with drawings staring him in the face, he STILL screwed it up. Cut corners just to save a few bucks & put MORE in their pocket. Not to mention that he covered things up BEFORE the inspector could approve it. At least a third of trades people should NOT be in this business !! There is NO excuse for this kind of shotty work. There is NO workmanship anymore. Just get in get out & get paid !! It’s pure BS !! The rules & laws HAVE TO be BEEFED UP & given teeth to go after these dangerous morons !!
Isn't it largely the government's fault? The government has their hands into everything, therefore everything is the government's fault. How many people would do quality work, if there wasn't such a rush to get to the next job and pump for money so as to pretend like we are rich while paying all the taxes and fees?
I don't like masonery, as an ex roofer, but these guys... Man, watching this is a pure joy.
Could watch these guys work for hours, especially the masons. Such professionalism. Sadly the guy laying the block passes away a year later
I really enjoy hearing and seeing Mike's ethics and determination to do it right. If only others had the same qualities...
"Mike Holmes Rips Out Sloppy Work" could be the title of every episode of his show ever...
No handrail on those stairs?
Love the videos but I have a question. Why isn't there a hand rail going down to the door?? It seems that if one would trip and fall, there would be a lot of concrete to bash one's body on...
That is a VERY good question...
When basement walkout was redone my city required a handrail on it
Wow, a new Holmes on Homes upload. This is a good pace of job.
Never use family or friends to do work for you on off in your house, it destroys families and friendships.
Kinda like loaning money to friends and family. Never a good idea to do that, either. When you give 'em money, just write it off in your own mind.
And in some cases, it destroys the house.
That's BS... just don't lie to yourself about their abilities. And Handel it like any other contractor. The inspector should have caught the mistakes
That is a lot of digging to do but Mike is going to get it fixed up and done right
I wonder if this wall still stands after almost 20 years since this episode. The clay soil may have pushed in even the 12 inch wall. I think they should have used vertical rebar from the foundation to the top every 16 or 24 inches and filled the hollow blocks with concrete. - What do you think - did the Holmes retaining wall last 20 years?
I was thinking the same thing, Vertical rebar every 16" in full height grouted cells.
It will last my house is over 35yrs old and is a concrete block foundation built on a abandoned quarry that was filled with rock and clay. None of the houses have any cracks
I would not have backfilled with that clay soil, would have backfilled to gradewith clean stone.
where's the handrail
You need geogrid to prevent the wall from falling in. Without it, this will occur again with freezing and thawing.
That excavation is a death trap. It needs to be benched at maximum 4ft intervals.
Love how you do things
Man are there any guys like this in the state of Delaware
Is no roof covering needed? What happens when the drain inevitably gets clogged or covered with leaves? What then keeps the rain out?
Mike, I see no rail on those steps. That's a lot of steps for no railing.
i thought Monday was Holmes Inspection uploads?
why not fill it with concrete the inside cavity of the blocks? Here in Hungary u not only have to use concrete to fill the blocks but also rebar.
This past summer I watched a crew working on an old house that had been vacant for a few years. One day I watched as two of the crew removed the sock from all of the French drain they were about to install. I've seen enough of the videos to just shake my head as I walked past.
The downspouts on the front were sent straight into the ground. and there was no apparent exit along the front of the house into the street nor any concrete repairs on the sidewalk. Now, did they run it to the back of the house? I don't believe so as there was no signs of disturbance into the alley behind the house. So as to tie into any piping that ran under the alley.
So, I guess we shall wait and see how long it takes for that basement to flood.
Overall they did a pretty nice job on the exterior of the unit.
I was sad to see that so much of the backyard was torn up for parking pads.
That was cool
I’d blame the inspectors. After having a spec house built I came away with a distinct dislike of inspectors as not a single one actually inspected anything.
On one, which he knew I did a lot of the work, he was there to inspect the trench and lines for power and water between the house and pump house. The trench was 4’ deep and 3’ wide… and completely full of water. He came out in the rain, looked at the water in the trench and said “bury it”.
He had no idea if the proper pipe, ere, spacing, ANYTHING was done properly.
But the county got their inspection fee.
Doesnt your code require handrails going down the steps????
Always funny how this show proves how stupid the whole system is. Almost every episode Mike talks about contractors not getting a permit... this one did and just ignores the plans he submitted. The inspector didn't help either and still passed the construction. Once again this show just proves how useless all that red tape is and that it always seems to favor the worst type of contractors.
Just think what they'd do without building codes and permits at all. We have to keep in mind that this show didn't randomly sample permitted projects. They only broadcast the disasters, so even if 99% of permitted projects are fine, this show would only showcase the 1% of failures. I love the show, but we shouldn't over-generalize.
Question i have is why is there no handrail on the stairs. My basement stairs out to my backyard required a handrail by my city code
How comes they don't reinforce the wall with rebar ? Where the heck is the railing those steps are steep. And that's a place where it can be slippery.
I wonder how much the rebuild actually costs
Where is a code handrail?
And we see one of the terrible problems with permits.. The criteria are created by the lazy or self interested, and overseen by the ignorant and self interested.
Codes, regulations, permits, etc all are less than worthless.. At best they look good on paper but they always protect the scoundrels in power: The bureaucrats...
I've been a contractor for decades and never once has a permit or code improved any job I was on. VERY often they made me make the job of a lower quality. Mike has experienced this as well, even if he won't admit it..
Codes are not written by experts as he assumes. They are written by one of three groups: Mindless bureaucrats who just want to coast by, manufacturers who want to force everyone to buy their product, and the worst of the worst, trade unions who want to jack up prices and prevent alternatives to their inflated price services.
Great contractors exist in all areas of the trades, but once you rely upon government and force you are advertising that your skills are inferior.
Giving a free pass to the inspector is dishonest.. Sorry..If the coercive method worked this episode would never have existed... The inspector would have never passed it.. As a logician (as well as contractor, I know that the argument for the government intervention and rigid control is proved ineffective by this example.
Exactly, we need less government control and more honest competition.
scary how close to that pool , they lucky it did not blow out and fill the basement with pool water
I can built walls and cliffs pretty close to water on my video game island. But then it is only but an approximate representation of reality. Roofs never leak either on my video game island.
Question: why not fill the 12” or 10” block with course grout and rebar?
Yea, I was surprised they didn't pour a few columns into that blockwork, along with rebar and a capping beam
I also wonder that, good heavy rebar and heavy duty cement grout, make it totally solid.
I grew up in a Brick, Missionary family. Even I learn how to minor brick laying. That job was bad. Like really bad. I hope the people that had to have you fix this will take a copy on this video & show it to their cousin. So that he will stop recommending the guy who did the job!
😊❤
I see it all the time and now again here, how can somebody expect a CMU retaining wall to do its job without proper steel and fully grouting the wall. I did not see any steel tied in to the footing or any horizontal steel installed in this wall.
All the talk about code then they go and dig a trench 8 straight down. Should have a 45 degree slope on the ditch if you want people down in there working. If not it has to has trench boxes at a minimum. B
that wall should have had rebar in the footer up into the block. then filled with concrete.
Sand makes the worse fill ever. It always wants to move unless it’s fully encapsulated with concrete.
first love the show
So let's go on safety leave a man in a hole while pouring gravel.? Good job Mike
Code dont require a hand rail??
Is puting worker in danger a point of the show 😮? The man reciving rocks in a trench without shielding😮😮
Not filling the cores with grout? Hmm
I'm not sure I've ever heard Mike be impressed by the workmanship on the finish work here. And yet, they made a few dumb decisions at the start of the project that wreck everything, and it all has to be ripped out. That's gotta be frustrating for the crew, let alone the homeowners.
I would love to see the ordinal contractor try to defend is work after seeing the work deconstructed
Umm where is the handrail? Opps
The whole project looks like a bad idea to me. Dig a trench, insert stairs, a window and a wall. Those stairs look like they will always be damp and icky, collecting rainwater, snowmelt and dead vegetation. The room inside will never really be nice, never getting sunshine or a breeze. The soil looks like heavy clay. When wet in weighs a lot and exerts serious pressure against a retaining wall. 8 inches or 10 inches, it will never give up. Eventually it will bulge out and come down.
I'd have dumped the clay and backfilled with the smashed old blockwork, then the same crushed rock as over the weeper, then gravel, then sand. Compact it it all and lay the pavers once.
Or at the very least an awning over it.
What good can come from rain cascading down those stairs in a good storm
Never hire a friend or family member as a contractor. They are useless. Hire a real licensed and insured contractor and get permits. Permits means that an inspector has to come and pass the work before you can proceed.
Not ever contractor know how to do every job. Owner said problem contractor hardly on site.
So let's let's the city off the hook must be a lot of bad contractors/ city insecters down east god on Mike to show the bad building habits/ inspections down east
too bad it only has like 3 season
Holmes on Homes had eight seasons. This is only season 3.
Masonary is not a word
Masonry is a word
How about Misonary? 😉
Even with drawings staring him in the face, he STILL screwed it up. Cut corners just to save a few bucks & put MORE in their pocket. Not to mention that he covered things up BEFORE the inspector could approve it. At least a third of trades people should
NOT be in this business !! There is NO excuse for this kind of shotty work. There is NO workmanship anymore. Just get in get out & get paid !! It’s pure BS !! The rules & laws HAVE TO be BEEFED UP & given teeth to go after these dangerous morons !!
Isn't it largely the government's fault? The government has their hands into everything, therefore everything is the government's fault. How many people would do quality work, if there wasn't such a rush to get to the next job and pump for money so as to pretend like we are rich while paying all the taxes and fees?