Real Renovations

Contractor Jim Caruk and the home owners struggle to complete the finishing details on a complicated and lengthy year-long reno; a job that has been plagued with bad weather and missing trades. Jim also begins a new job, a third floor addition, which almost immediately turns catastrophic.

Jim Caruk deals with the disastrous flood that has struck the early stages of a third-story addition. Meanwhile, the weather's improved and the trades have shown up, allowing Jim to almost complete the kitchen and master bedroom of a year-long reno. Jim meets with Gary, the home owner, to get the final check.

Although deeply stressed by the flood at the third story addition, Jim Caruk and the boys get on with the job. But like all jobs, there are humorous little glitches along the way. Across town, Jim's relieved his year-long reno has come to a close. While it didn't quite end the way he had hoped, the home owners are thrilled with their new renovation and we get a first hand glimpse.

A new job has Jim Caruk worried, what started as a take-your-time-face-lift for a two-story home, has doubled in size but decreased in time. Jim now has only twelve days before the home owners move in. Jim's third story job is finally complete, everyone's happy, he came in on time and the results are stunning.

Jim Caruk begins a major new reno. It's smooth sailing as the two-story house is gutted and an enormous two-story addition is started. The home owners are thrilled, but problems are looming. At Jim's little face-lift, tempers are heating up, pressure is mounting and the stakes are being made.

The two-story reno and addition has Jim Caruk's trades frustrated and baffled as they try and sort out design problems with the roof. Meanwhile, over at the little face-lift job, ready-or-not... the home owners move in.

At the two-story reno, Jim Caruk gets into extra costs as he tries to explain the design problems to the home owners. Foreman Neil expresses his feelings. And Jim is finally finished the little face-lift that turned into a major event. The process was painful, but the final product is spectacular.

The roof is finally figured out at the two-story reno, but what about the switches, the pot lights, the stucco - so many decisions, so little time. Jim talks garbage. And Jim's designer Robin experiences the highs and headaches of renovating her own home.

Foreman Neil gets down to all the nitty-gritty details at the two-story reno, including moving a 2000 pound shed. Meanwhile, Jim Caruk gives the home owners a tour and tries to mention money. At Jim's house the kitchen gets redesigned. And Jim gets a hair cut.

Significant problems at the two-story reno are stressing Jim Caruk out as costs soar and money is lost. At Jim's house-Nick the landscaper makes Jim an offer he can't refuse. And Jim starts a new job. It's a big old house that needs a new kitchen, family room and a lot of TLC.

Jim Caruk breathes a sigh of relief as his problem-plagued two-story reno is finally finished. Elsewhere, a grungy garage comes down and a cute cottage goes up. At Jim's latest reno: inside the homeowners are delighted with the kitchen and family room design and outside Jim and Neil dig a hole.

Jim Caruk is happy to finally see the bricks go up at the painfully slow reno of his own home. Across town, we see a remarkably smooth little kitchen reno from start to finish. Meanwhile, Jim and Neil get into some heavy lifting at the big old house, so Demo Dave and the boys can rip 'er apart.

In a rare moment Jim Caruk straps on his tool belt and gets down to work at his house. Uptown, Jim builds a home theatre. While the results are remarkable, it was a rough ride for Jim. And finally, Jim takes a fond look back at this year's jobs.