Festool on Extreme Makeover Home Edition tonight

[Administrator_JSVN]

Our Facebook friend, Ken Barone of Spotless Contracting Services, participated in a build in Long Island for Extreme Makeover Home Edition recently. The episode airs tonight and I expect we make catch a few glimpses of the Kapex and other tools in use during the build. Check it out and let us know if you spot some Festools on the set of the build.

[popcorn]

PS - You can see the Kapex in the background of these shots:

801_Paul Dimeo Swim final.mov

 

[Brice Burrell]

The problem is we'd have to watch the show.... I like Festool tools but not enough to watch that crap, I mean, that quality program. [wink] [big grin]

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Ah, come on Brice. It's for a good cause (usually). Although it's admittedly been a couple of years since I last watched an episode.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Brice,

I'm a little confused by your comment.  I have seen the show every once in a great while, mostly back in the days when Ty was on his apparent coke high (not the soda), but there's obviously a joke or info I'm missing, so can you either fill me in as a post or PM me to kill the suspense.

Thanks!

Ken 

 

[Brice Burrell]

I'll admit the show is to help people out and that's a good thing but I couldn't sit through even one episode of all that wholesome goodness.  No jokes Ken, I just don't like the show.

 

[JJ Wavra]

I love to know what these home owners do when their property tax bill comes.

OR maybe it is just a chicago area thing but if we tripled the square footage of our home i would have to move.
[tongue]

JJ

 

[peter halle]

Brice,

I'm a little confused by your comment.  I have seen the show every once in a great while, mostly back in the days when Ty was on his apparent coke high (not the soda), but there's obviously a joke or info I'm missing, so can you either fill me in as a post or PM me to kill the suspense.

Thanks!

Ken  

Ken,  I am not speaking for Brice at all here.  I think that last year they did a "build"  here in Virginia for a needy family.  Several of the contractors who worked on the job I have known for years - the painting contractor for instance I have known and used since 1995.  The stories I have heard about what we don't see on the show are interesting.  For instance, because of the EXTREME schedule, they have massive dehumidifiers going trying to dry out the project and it's materials so that there will not be issues later.  The painter told me that you came away at the end of the day feeling dehydrated just from that.

I love the concept of giving back to those who give back.  But, in my opinion, this show is reality TV and not a showcase of construction or construction techniques, and by condensing the project into a timeframe that is unrealistic in the real world and also likely to cause callbacks for issues, it really is not real at all.  For example, there are numerous shows where they pour a slab.  Then in less then a week they have a finished home with hardwood floors.  What about acclimation time?  How much moisture will continue to be released over a long period time?  What will those floors look like in one year?  Viewers won't remember or care, on to the next episode.

I think that shows like this perpetuate the perception that anything can be done in a shorter period of time and just as well if you throw enough resources at it.  That may work in many industries - but as long time construction contractors such as yourself know - mother nature and physics play a huge role here.  These people certainly end up so much better than they were, but what doe the finished project look like 12, 18, 24 months later?

All this being said, in case you or anyone feels that I am being hard on those who participate in this program:  THANK YOU FOR DOING SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE IN NEED!  These families are chosen for admirable and just reasons and many live in deplorable conditions.  For those who can't participate in the program - I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE IN NEED!  

Peter

 

[gojira]

The show did a build in Austin, TX a few years back. About a year later, the local paper did a follow-up. The recipients were still living in the home and did not express any complaints about construction quality. The contributors had paid off the mortgage on the property. The property tax and insurance did go up but that was all they had to pay, so it evidently worked out OK for them. I imagine utility cost increased as well but I do not recall them indicating that this caused any issue.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Brice and Peter, thank you for the info.  I know what you guys mean, but you've got to admit, it is kind of funny watching Ty act like a wind up toy on 16 cups of Starbucks.  [big grin]

 

[nickao]

I can't watch the show either. For every one home that actually does not fall apart 3 are and the owners are suing. I think the show is a big joke, not the helping, but the actual construction. Actually, I think 50% of the people helped have said they would not do it again and are not happy. I am sure Googling can verify the unhappy people. I just hate the show. It really  gives clients and laymen unrealistic expectations of what remolding is all about. 

 

[Mr. Jeff Smith]

My feelings pretty much echo what Peter said.

I used to argue that volunteers would be better spent on working on Habitat homes, but I'm not sure I believe that either.  With such a gluttony of unoccupied homes currently in America I feel likes the skills would be better used in pro bono efficiency repairs for aging homes if anything.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Jeff,

Towns in my state have that.  The carpenters union has been participating in these annual events for years.  Local businesses donate the materials.  People interested in taking part or those in need of work should inquire at their township offices to see if they offer that.

 

[Mr. Jeff Smith]

Hi Ken,

Yeah, I know such things exist.  The point I guess I was trying to make is that those activities seem to make much more economic sense for everyone involved.  (And I say this as someone who has been involved in H4H for nearly 10 years now)

 

[Texastutt]

I liked what TOH did in Boston with that old run down duplex.... NOW that was an experience, and MUCH more true to life.

 

[dustpup]

I love to know what these home owners do when their property tax bill comes.

OR maybe it is just a chicago area thing but if we tripled the square footage of our home i would have to move.
[tongue]

JJ

I know that we're getting off the topic of Festool being publicized on reality shows, but for a story detailing what has happened to several of the home improved by Extreme Makeover Home Edition, click here:

[url=http://www.loansafe.org/extreme-makeover-home-edition-foreclosures]http://www.loansafe.org/extreme-makeover-home-edition-foreclosures[/url]