Inside design: Mike Holmes

He says he's seen it all. And we believe him. During his career as a contractor, Mike Holmes developed a reputation as the renovation rescue man, becoming the go-to guy for jobs botched by others. Substandard structural supports, leaky windows, even dangerous electrical wiring -- Mike has been confronted with more than a few reno nightmares. This is the stuff dramas are based on, he thought to himself, and a TV show was born. HGTV's Holmes on Homes walks viewers through sometimes horrific, often amusing renovations, highlighting major mistakes as Mike and his crew fix them. We asked him to troubleshoot some typical bathroom projects.

S@H: It seems to us that there are way too many horror stories about bathroom renovations.
MH: You're right. That's partially because bathrooms are one of the most frequently renovated rooms. They have to endure lots of use and stand up to steam, mildew and water. But beyond that, bathrooms are often renovated poorly. I've done over 100 bathrooms; in 80 per cent of those cases I found myself redoing work that should have been done right the first time.

S@H: What are the biggest mistakes made by contractors?
MH: Bad contractors will convince you that all you need is a modest facelift. They do a surface job that fails to address all of the major underlying problems -- wet insulation, rotting drywall, an insufficient vapour barrier, flimsy support structures. The client is seduced by the low price tag, but they end up paying for it in spades down the line when the bathroom falls apart and needs to be gutted. I once tore up a newly tiled floor, because the contractor hadn't properly reinforced the joists and the floor was sagging. I can tell you right now that if your house is over 30 years old, a facelift isn't going to do it. Even if the bathroom itself has been done in the last decade, I'd bet a more thorough job is required. As a rule, if you have bathroom tiles that need to be replaced, you've got a bigger problem than you think.

S@H: It sounds like getting the right contractor is critical. How do we distinguish the good from the bad?
MH: There are some good ones out there who'll really help you realize your dreams. But there are also lots of bad ones, and those are the ones who walk through the house with a clipboard listening to you talk, nodding and making notes. They'll itemize a list -- one that you essentially created -- add prices and hand it over to you. Instead, you want a contractor who digs around and explains what he thinks you need, both cosmetically and structurally. The other big warning I have is this: don't assume all contractors know the latest products and technologies. Most contractors get used to using the same old stuff and they don't keep up with industry developments that really make bathroom renovations better and more affordable.

S@H: What sorts of industry developments do you think are having the biggest impact?
MH: Drywall, for example, is just a wick for moisture, so you'll end up with unbelievable mould. But today we have a membrane we can use to coat walls, making them completely waterproof. Copper pipes used to be considered a huge improvement over the old galvanized ones, but now we have plastic pipes that don't corrode, and they fit together like a dream. They don't cost any more than copper and can be installed much quicker, saving you time and money. I recommend IPEX brand pipes.