11 Women Renovators Who Empower Us to Pick Up the Sledge Hammer Too

On her first construction job, Sherry made sure she showed up on time and knew her stuff: "I worked twice as hard as the guys on the crew and took shorter breaks," Sherry told <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/mike-holmes/photos/mike-holmes-jr-sherry-holmes-share-what-learned-from-dad-1922783/#currentSlide=7">HGTV.ca</a>. Working for her dad — a guy called <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/holmes-makes-it-right/hosts/">Mike Holmes</a> — as part of his construction company gave her the skills and the confidence to succeed as a woman in the trades. She hopes others will follow in her steel-toe-clad footsteps. As well as helping her dad and brother, Mike Holmes Jr. on <em><a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/holmes-and-holmes/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Holmes and Holmes</a></em>, she is one of the star of HGTV's <em><a href="https://www.hometowin.ca/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Home To Win</a></em>.

As an interior designer and host of a brand-new HGTV show <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/windy-city-rehab/"><em>Windy City Rehab</em></a>, Alison combs Chicago looking for heritage homes in need of a lot of TLC. Her signature renovation move is to recognize and restore unique historical features. During a recent HGTV panel discussion, Alison had this to say about her experiences working in a male-dominated field: "Some of my contractors are like, you know, 'I’ve never been talked to like that.' And I’m like, 'Uh, do you mean you’ve never been talked to like that by a woman?'” Nailed it! <br><br> Find out <a href="https://www.slice.ca/money/photos/women-became-CEOs-under-30/#!Maike-van-Niekerk-Women-CEOs-Under-30" rel="noopener" target="_blank">women who became CEOs under 30</a>.

No stranger to house flipping, <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/flip-or-flop/hosts/">Christina Anstead</a> (formerly El Moussa) has filmed seven seasons of <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/flip-or-flop/"><em>Flip or Flop</em></a> buying up rundown properties in L.A. and turning them into real-estate gold. Whether it was cockroach infestations or kitchen demolitions, Christina was down to do what was needed to get top dollar — while wearing white skinny jeans and heels, of course. <br><br> Find out <a href="https://www.slice.ca/money/photos/things-successful-women-do-every-day/#!1-Get-Up-Early-Thinkstock-148995187-resized" rel="noopener" target="_blank">20 things successful women do every day</a>.

Lifting up people (and crumbling foundations) is <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/home-town/host/">Erin</a>’s mission on <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/home-town/videos/"><em>Home Town</em></a>, where she and her woodworking husband Ben rehab old homes in small-town Mississippi with the hopes of revitalizing their community. Trained as a graphic designer, it’s her artist’s eye that makes her a whiz at imagining interiors and putting that sledgehammer in just the right place. <br><br> Related: Get a behind-the-scenes look at Erin Napier's design process on the exclusive HGTV web series <em><a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/home-town/blog/erinspired-home-town-behind-the-scenes-erin-napier-design-1925273/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Erin'Spired</a></em>.

With five seasons of <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/fixer-upper/"><em>Fixer Upper</em></a> filmed and 12 years running her construction company with husband and show co-host <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/fixer-upper/hosts/">Chip Gaines</a>, it should come as no surprise that Joanna has more than 100 home renovations under her (tool) belt. "I was actually a communications major and had never done design...but we found this little fixer-upper building and tackled that project together in the first year of marriage," Joanna told Glamour.com. Now, Joanna breaks down (gender) barriers and smashes walls alongside the rest of the crew. <br><br> Related: Find out <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/fixer-upper/photos/12-things-you-didnt-know-about-chip-and-joanna-gaines-of-fixer-upper-1052500/#" rel="noopener" target="_blank">12 things you didn't know about Chip and Joanna</a>.

After relocating from Sudbury, ON, to Nashville, TN, in pursuit of a music career, this songbird found a different calling with fellow Canadian and husband <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/masters-of-flip/hosts/">Dave Wilson</a> — flipping houses on <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/masters-of-flip/"><em>Masters of Flip</em></a>. A licensed relator and design pro, Kortney knows that if you want a job done, you sometimes have to do it yourself — even if it involves a crowbar and lot of wood dust. <br><br> Find out what the <a href="https://www.slice.ca/money/photos/highest-paying-jobs-in-canada-for-women/#!CEO-Highest-Paying-In-demand-Jobs-for-Women" rel="noopener" target="_blank">highest paying in-demand jobs for women in Canada</a>.

In a true Canadian-fashion love story, Linda met her now-hubby <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/property-brothers/hosts/">Drew Scott</a> at Toronto Fashion Week back in 2010. We got to see Linda’s fashionable flare and passion for crafting on <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/property-brothers-at-home-drews-honeymoon-house/"><em>Property Brothers at Home: Drew's Honeymoon House</em></a>, where she worked alongside her then-fiancé and brother-in-law Jonathan Scott renovating their mid-century L.A. home. We are looking forward to seeing more of Linda on upcoming episodes of <em><a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/property-brothers/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Property Brothers</a></em>!

This dynamic <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/good-bones/host/#karen-e-laine">mother-daughter duo</a> doesn’t wait around for others to do the work that needs doing — they step in, hammers raised, ready to take on the tough jobs. On <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/good-bones/"><em>Good Bones</em></a>, they find derelict houses in neglected Indianapolis neighbourhoods and breathe new life back into them. Their relationship shows the power of women supporting women!

As the design/DIY expert on <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/"><em>Save My Reno</em></a>, <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/hosts/">Sabrina</a> not only knows how to make a floor plan flow but also welcomes homeowners into her workshop to give them hands-on lessons in refurbishing and woodworking. At home with a sander or a soldering iron in her hand, Sabrina’s upcycling skills are enviable. <br><br> Related: Find out why Sabrina Smelko is loving her <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/photos/sabrina-smelko-tells-us-why-she-loves-her-new-life-in-beautiful-british-columbia-1924863/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">new life in beautiful British Columbia</a>.

Redesigning and renovating backyards-that-time-forgot is the name of the game on <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/backyard-builds/"><em>Backyard Builds</em></a>. Enter <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/backyard-builds/hosts/">Sarah Keenleyside</a>, a seasoned designer who studied Environmental Design at OCADU and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty — as in literally digging in the dirt to get the project done on time and on budget.