MovieChat Forums > Property Brothers (2011) Discussion > Wasteful

Wasteful

posted 9 years ago by mille-91651
19 replies | jump to latest

One of my biggest problems with this show is that they never try to salvage anything they rip out of the house! They just tear it all apart and throw it in the dumpster instead of salvaging, selling, or donating it. I realize that it would take a bit more time to do, but these people are always at the top of their budget and could use a little bit more cash. Money aside, they throw away things all the time that are often in good shape and just need a little TLC or could be donated.

In one of the first episodes, one of the brothers just tosses a perfectly good (although pretty ugly) chandelier in the dumpster without giving it a second thought. They also almost never refinish the existing hardwood floors and opt for replacing the entire floor, which costs a ton of money when the existing floor would look really nice when refinished and would have that rustic look that is unique.

If you've seen Rehab Addict then you know what i'm talking about. She is always trying to fix old pieces rather than buying new, refinishing old hardwood floors, and had salvage crews come in and take away things for free (or she gets money for them) and they are used elsewhere. She always ends up with beautiful rooms that are one of a kind instead of cookie cutter and she keeps costs low.

During one episode in season 1, I was pleasantly surprised when they used the existing cabinets and brought in matching doors for the ones that were gone, rather than gutting the entire kitchen. You could not tell that they had brought in new ones to match the existing ones, and it was very cost effective. Sometimes cabinets just need a fresh coat of paint and new hardware.

[–] bingoboss 9 years ago

I agree. I think the days of handing the homeowners a sledgehammer to bash apart outdated kitchens just for kicks are short lived. It seems really tone-deaf nowadays.

I realize it takes longer to dismantle old cabinets, remove tile, haul materials to salvage, etc. But if the rationale is "to save time and money," that's problematic. Because what you are really doing is just shifting the burden onto the local community that has to pay for dealing with the stuff in a landfill. To see that kind of wastefulness on a TV show, just for entertainment, makes it worse.

Even if cabinets are ugly as sin, someone will take them if you offer them up for free. Salvage yards would probably like your old tiles and light fixtures, too.

[–] explore1440 9 years ago

Exactly! Cabinets could be used in a basement or garage. When I renovated my house I planned on having Habitat for Humanity pick up the old kitchen cabinets. However, they were so low quality they literally fell apart when we removed them. I did give as much as possible to charity.

I know someone who works for a waste management company and she couldn't believe how much there is in a landfill.

[–] SataiDelen 7 years ago

When I remodeled my kitchen, I donated the stove/oven, dishwasher, and old washer and dryer to charity, and I gave my old fridge to a friend of mine who needed a "new" one because her old one didn't have decent freezer space.

When I redid my downstairs bathroom, I moved the cabinet with sink upstairs to replace a pedestal sink so I'd have some counter space upstairs, and same with the downstairs toilet. So, I don't understand why shows like this can't do the same, especially when it comes to the wood floors. Unless the floors have termite damage or rot or something like that, there is no reason why they can't be sanded down and re-stained!

My biggest pet peeve with this show was when they would look at a bathroom that had a claw foot tub and one of the brothers would talk about how old and dated it was, and how "no one" wants a claw foot tub. Um, excuse me??? I know a LOT of people (myself included) who would LOVE to have a claw foot tub!!!

So I agree with those of you who say that this show goes for trendy a lot of the time over tasteful quality. And their whole obsession with Quartz and Marble??? Over Granite??? No thank you. To me, nothing beats Granite. You can't put a hot pot or hot anything directly on Marble, and I don't think (though I could be wrong) that you can do that with Quartz either. However, I put hot pots and pans and other things on my Granite ALL THE TIME and there is now warping/cracking/staining, etc. I mean, think about it. It was sitting on a mountain for how many thousands of years under the hot beating sun. So like that slogan for that really nice watch I can't think of the name of, "It takes a licking and keeps on ticking!" That's Granite.

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[–] mille-91651 9 years ago

what you are really doing is just shifting the burden onto the local community that has to pay for dealing with the stuff in a landfill

I didn't even think about that, but that is very true! I totally agree.

[–] LadyMarysHat 9 years ago

I so agree with you. Not only do they never try to salvage anything to donate but they often waste the homeowners money by not attempting to refurbish anything. they are often seen tearing out original features like hardwood floors and replacing them with NEW hardwood floors, which is just stupid and environmentally illogical and not in the least cost effective since sanding and re--staining old hardwoods is so much more economical. Nicole Curtis does it all the time in order to save money and preserve as much of the original home as possible.

And apparently they love cookie cutter junk and hate 'vintage' features like wainscoting and claw foot tubs in 100 YEAR OLD houses. They tore out both in last nights ep of 'Buying and Selling'. After seeing that I was done forever with Property Brothers. Just had to come here and rant.

[–] mille-91651 9 years ago

Exactly.
I will say that in the later seasons they do use more salvaged wood, refinish hardwood, and paint over existing cabinets. Thank goodness. Still not often enough for me though. They only do it when the couple needs to save money, not because it's the right thing to do.

[–] LadyMarysHat 9 years ago

Honest to goodness Jonathon would have torn out that beautiful wainscoting or that lovely old claw foot tub last night over my dead body! I'm not kidding! He tried to tell the homeowner that 'buyers don't want to see that'! Umm, for people in the market for a 100 year old house that is PRECISELY WHAT THEY DO WANT TO SEE. Oooooh it just burns me up!

[–] mille-91651 9 years ago

I haven't seen very many episodes of buying and selling, so I can't say much to their willingness to salvage on that show. But yeah that is ridiculous! Not every buyer wants a soaker tub and a glass shower with the same exact tile in it as every other house they do!

[–] aromatic_ring 8 years ago

Yep, I recently saw the episode where they got rid of a claw foot tub. I was like, "Are you kidding me?!"

I hope they gave it to a company or somebody that wants one.

[–] Planet-38 8 years ago

I don't know where you live, but where I live, all charity organizations I have dealt with will refuse to take donations that are not in almost perfect condition. The explanation I have been given is that they want to sell it in their thrift stores. Apparently, there are no indigent individuals shopping at thrift stores, just people with money trying to find a "find". I used to shop at thrift stores, but in recent years, I now just shop the sales at major department stores where I can get quality new items at a bargain instead of overpriced used items. (Most thrift stores in my area have set prices regardless of quality or condition. For example, all pants are a set price, all tables a set price, etc., instead of priced by quality of item.)

I now just set out my used items on the curb during bulk pick up times and let whomever can use it, take it.

[–] sedativchunk 8 years ago

Well, I don't know if this is all entirely true. I remember these guys in more than one occasion shopping at at cheap places. They helped sell a couples old home and helped renovate it by reusing the old stuff and also buy some cheap junk (literally) that they could spice up and make a nice home out of.

I agree those, the majority of time these guys just demolish everything. I also like that other show with the blonde chick because she never wastes good things, including furniture, flooring, the works.

[–] dakotasdad 8 years ago

Drives me crazy when they take out original custom-made wood windows that are in good condition and replace them w/manufactured windows that usually destroys the design of many houses.

[–] ryansassy1 8 years ago

From an aesthetic point of view, I would agree with you: except that the new double pane windows are much more energy efficient, offer UV protection (no fading carpets), AND block out the sound 10 times better than old fashioned wood-pane windows. You also have an added bonus that when your windows are not made of wood, you don't have to worry about painting/cleaning the mullions, or whether or not termites will be attracted to them.

-Sincerely, a homeowner who recently replaced the original mid century wood windows in her home for all the reasons mentioned above :).
_________________________________
"I'm sorry, but.." is a self-contained lie.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] robocop-37224 8 years ago

Rehab addict says it all. What she does with old furniture is Amazing. Every show on HGTV and DIY should take a page from her show!

[–] mikebryner 8 years ago

Watching them destroy perfectly good cabinets is always troubling, but today I watched them smash a granite countertop and almost got sick. (Craig and Laural)

[–] DodgersRule 8 years ago

I think granite is over-rated but if I had it I wouldn't get rid of it! What was the reasoning?

[–] LadyMarysHat 8 years ago

They could have taken it out in one piece and donated it to Goodwill!!! WHAT IS THEIR PROBLEM!?

[–] xxpo 8 years ago

Just posted a message to the CHIP GAINES board about the exact same issue.

But since THE PROPERTY BROTHERS are also now doing a commercial where they encourage people to REUSE or DONATE the CABINETS and other APPLIANCES,

perhaps they also read your message and have taken it to heart???

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