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Build Your Dream Home in the Country - Season 1 - Episode 13: Yorkshire Epic DIY Renovation Eng Sub
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00:00Have you ever thought about building your dream home?
00:03That's the dream, it's so exciting.
00:05We are actually building a house.
00:08With prices going through the roof, why spend a fortune buying?
00:12They're going to look out and see all of this, and it's worth it.
00:15It's absolutely cracking.
00:17When you can build a home you've designed yourself.
00:20I'm the boss.
00:23I'm Mark Miller, and I've been in the trade for over 30 years.
00:27What a beautiful way to build a home.
00:28Not a house, a home.
00:31In this series I'm helping people achieve their new home dreams.
00:35What could possibly go wrong?
00:36As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day.
00:39It's arrived!
00:41Whether they're assembling a new kit house, building an extension, or rebuilding a crumbling wreck.
00:48It's a bit terrifying because it's a lot of work, isn't it?
00:52Yeah.
00:52You don't have to be rich or a designer.
00:55We talked about it for so long and finally...
00:58We're here.
00:59I'm going to show you how to create your forever home for your family.
01:04Ian and I are expecting another baby.
01:07If you're brave enough to take a leap and build your own.
01:12Guys, what a transformation!
01:15And wow, what an amazing place to live!
01:18Build your dream home in the country with me, Mark Miller.
01:25This time, I'm off to the remote Yorkshire countryside, where two 20-somethings have fallen in love with each other,
01:31and this mammoth project.
01:34You're joking me!
01:35Oh, my giddy-an!
01:37Turning this into their forever home means a top-to-bottom renovation, remodelling the roof and adding a three-storey
01:45side extension.
01:46And they'll be doing most of the work themselves.
01:48So that wall is basically 600 millimetres thick.
01:54They face disasters.
01:56If we take this beam out, it leaves a pocket, and the brickwork could collapse into that.
02:00Living on a building site.
02:02There's my pillows, look.
02:04The mattress is under there.
02:06It's the biggest DIY project I've ever seen.
02:10Guys, yous have taken on the most enormous challenge.
02:15With its big open spaces, it's easy to see the appeal of the east riding of Yorkshire.
02:21Especially if you go on lots of dog walks.
02:24I've come to East Yorkshire to meet this young couple who have taken on a property in a very unusual
02:29location.
02:29Because I've just come over that bridge, and this house is set between a river and a canal.
02:34And they want to make their family home here.
02:39Plumber Ben and healthcare assistant Jordan are both in their 20s.
02:44They met online five years ago through their mutual love of their four-legged friends.
02:49I've always had dogs.
02:51Between me and my mum, we've got 14.
02:53Yeah, I've got two.
02:56The thing is, if we didn't have dogs, we might never have actually met.
02:59Come on, Ely.
03:00My grandparents showed dogs first, and then my mum took over, and I followed on.
03:07So Ben's from my family who showed dogs as well.
03:10Yeah, dogs are a massive part of our lives.
03:11Come on, Ely.
03:12Ben.
03:13Good party.
03:14As love blossomed, these two began looking for a home where they could carry on the family tradition of breeding
03:19pedigree dogs.
03:21Ben moved in with Jordan's family for 18 months while the couple searched for the perfect project.
03:27It did start off with buying a plot of land to build our own.
03:30Yeah, and then we, yeah.
03:31Then it turned into a renovation.
03:32We looked at quite a few, and I liked it.
03:35She didn't.
03:36She liked it.
03:37I hated it.
03:37We saw this place, and we both agreed, which is rare.
03:40They bought this repossessed home, a former 19th century inn, for £376,000 in 2019.
03:49Complete with outbuildings, nearly an acre of land, and no neighbours.
03:53It's the ideal place to start their dog breeding business.
03:56The land and the outbuildings and everything was perfect.
03:59We just knew, didn't we?
04:00Yeah.
04:01Go walk next to the river.
04:02There's miles and miles.
04:0420 miles.
04:04Yeah, there's nobody.
04:06There's nothing.
04:08Renovation work was put on hold during the pandemic, but now they're starting building
04:12again this rundown wreck.
04:15So that's really the next thing.
04:17Insulation for down there.
04:19But it could take a while, as the workforce will total one plumber, Ben.
04:25I started off as a labourer, so I've seen it done, and I've done bits and bobs.
04:29But, yeah, never everything on my own.
04:34Literally everything.
04:37After buying their home, they can only afford £100,000 more to renovate.
04:42To keep costs down, not only is Ben doing all the work himself, he's also living on site.
04:48At the minute, life here is pretty basic, and it's just get up and get out and get building.
04:54Until Jordan can find a new job nearby, she's staying at her parents' 100 miles away.
04:59It's another huge sacrifice these lovebirds are making to turn this dream forever home
05:05into reality.
05:06So I work 12 and a half hour shifts, so it's three or four days a week.
05:11With it obviously being that distance of an hour and a half, if I've only got one day
05:14off in between, I can't really come down, because by the time I get here, start, it's
05:18time to go back to get up for the next day.
05:24Ben is already well underway, building a three-floor side extension and adding a dormer to the
05:29roof.
05:30But the work has already swallowed up 80 of the couple's £100,000 budget, without touching
05:36the interior.
05:46It's September.
05:47I'm on my way to meet Ben and Jordan and see how I can help with their extraordinary
05:52first home together.
05:54How are you doing?
05:55All right, yeah.
05:55I've walked down here, my eyes are still closed.
05:58On the count of three, I'm going to turn around and look at it, because I've seen nothing.
06:02One.
06:03One.
06:04I can't wait.
06:05Oh, my giddy, Anne.
06:07Yeah.
06:08I know.
06:08Have you got like 16 children or?
06:10Seven dogs, but that's about it.
06:12Yeah, I've got dogs.
06:13Oh, my God, it must be a love story.
06:15It must be a love story.
06:16Why have you taken this on?
06:18I don't know.
06:21It's the home forever.
06:22Yeah.
06:22Oh, my goodness.
06:23Do you want to show me what it's like?
06:24Yeah.
06:24Because I'm in the state of shock.
06:26Yeah.
06:27Unbelievable.
06:29Unbelievable.
06:32Front door.
06:32Yeah, well.
06:34Yeah.
06:34Hey, welcome.
06:35Oh, well.
06:37What's this room?
06:38This is just going to be our lobby area.
06:40You'll come straight through into the cinema room at the back.
06:43Cinema room?
06:44What else you do with a room with no windows?
06:46Guys, you have taken on the most enormous challenge, and I'm three foot through the front door.
06:54Their side extension, a new dormer room in the roof, will create an impressive four-bed home.
07:01The extension will be rendered to stand out from the original stone walls, and green windows
07:06and dormer will add a modern feel.
07:10Inside, on the ground floor, they want a large entrance hall, utility room with shower, cinema
07:16room, and a bar.
07:18On the first floor, they want a huge, open-plan, L-shaped kitchen dining room with spacious living
07:25area.
07:26The floor above it will have three bedrooms and the family bathroom.
07:30And the new dormer level at the top will have their massive main bedroom, including free
07:36standing bath, and with large windows for the stunning views.
07:42I can see how the side extension gives the home better flow and proportions, but this is
07:48a huge project for two young first-time buyers.
07:51They may be madly in love, but is this build brilliant or bonkers?
07:56In my head, as a builder, different levels means a lot more work, a lot more steps, a lot
08:03more money, a lot more time, a lot more thinking.
08:06We like the fact that it was not your average, everyday house, and it was a little bit weird.
08:12Special.
08:13Yeah.
08:14Well, at least you got that right.
08:17How did you actually find this house?
08:19I found it, didn't I?
08:20Yes.
08:20And the fact it had a swimming pool.
08:22I said, not a chance.
08:23Not a chance.
08:25No!
08:26It's got a swimming pool as well!
08:29Outside.
08:29Yeah.
08:30Oh, my giddy, Anne.
08:32So we booked a viewing, and then it was the first house that we both agreed on.
08:37The interior needs so much work.
08:40There's practically nothing here.
08:42But I'll tell you what, the building work Ben's done looks great, like the new dormer
08:48in the roof, which will become the couple's main bedroom.
08:51I'll tell you what, this is very impressive, because your trade is plumbing, isn't it?
08:55Yeah.
08:55And you've cut this roof in yourself?
08:57Yeah.
08:58All by yourself?
08:59All by myself.
08:59Yeah.
08:59So you've got a dormer coming on this side?
09:01From one end of the double rafter to the other, that's the size of the dormer.
09:05Just trying to get the view straight across down there, which is kind of what I've been
09:09doing it all for.
09:10Ben still has to finish building the roof up here, which he needs to do sharpies to get
09:15watertight before winter.
09:17The weather's going to break in the next few days.
09:19I know.
09:19And you've got to get this roof on.
09:20Yeah.
09:21At least get it covered.
09:22Forget about everything else that's going on down there, concentrate on one part of the
09:25building at a time.
09:25That's an impressive bedroom, an incredible view, it's an incredible dream, and I can't
09:31wait to see it finished.
09:32Neither can I.
09:33I honestly don't know what to say.
09:38This is just unbelievable.
09:40The first time they've built property, and they've found the biggest property between
09:45Sheffield and Durham, and they've decided to do it.
09:50It's huge.
09:53Coming up, Ben and Jordan set up home together.
09:56So I have now got a new job, which is local, I'll be moving down here.
10:01And we're actually going to live together for the first time.
10:04And it's far from a dream come true.
10:06I think when you envision moving in with your partner for the first time, it's something
10:10you don't envision moving into a building site.
10:14It's time to get tough and dig deep.
10:17You are joking me.
10:30It's late September in Yorkshire, where love-struck 20-somethings Ben and Jordan are transforming
10:36this former inn into their dream forever home.
10:39They've got nearly an acre, but not just for them.
10:42Everything's around the dogs, isn't it?
10:45Yeah, pretty much.
10:45The house is our bit, and the dogs is everything else.
10:49Yeah.
10:49There's a big garden around the corner, and we're going to build kennels and runs out
10:54there.
10:54And so then this bit is going to be for storage for our stuff for the dogs.
10:59And the next one's going to be a feeding room, and then there's going to be a grooming
11:03room, bathing.
11:07Ben and Jordan plan to breed pedigree dogs here, but first they need to sort out their own
11:12home.
11:13And there's lots to do.
11:15A bit terrifying, because it's a lot of work, isn't it?
11:19Yeah.
11:20Ben's still working full-time, so he's living on site to make sure he can put in all the
11:25extra hours possible on the build.
11:27We've got the tap outside, so we do washing-ups from the kettle, washing myself from the kettle
11:34and the cold.
11:36It's as basic as basic can go.
11:38This is when we didn't have drains and nowt.
11:42With only £20,000 in the bank, neither of them can afford to quit their jobs to focus on their
11:48home.
11:49It is literally full-time, because we're both, well, we have to pay. We have to pay the bills,
11:53we have to pay the mortgage, we have to pay for the house to be done. So every penny literally
11:58comes in and then it goes back out again.
11:59The couple are desperate to live together, but until Jordan can find a job nearby, she's
12:04got to stay at Mum's, an hour and a half away. Jordan would love to help on the build, but
12:09right now, it's just Ben, all by himself.
12:13Whenever I fit, where it's like two days off in a row, then I come down. But there can
12:18be some times where it's like a few weeks and I haven't even been here.
12:26Knowing how much work Ben's got ahead of him, I'm back a week after my first visit to help
12:31him get the dormer window done on the top floor. Then he can finish the roof and get watertight
12:36before winter. They're going to look out and see all of this, and it's worth it. It's
12:42absolutely amazing. Ben's been working alone on this project
12:45for a year now. Let me show you how not having a team on a monster build like this means
12:51everything
12:52takes much longer.
12:53I want to see how long that's going to take, okay? So basically, if I time that from now.
12:58It takes one and a half minutes for the hoist to reach the floor. Then I load it with its
13:03maximum of four blocks and run back up, six minutes in, and I can finally start hoisting
13:10the blocks up.
13:10It's basically taken nine minutes to do four concrete blocks, and I'm knackered. Wow.
13:18So far Ben's used roughly 600 blocks on the build, and that would have taken him around
13:2490 man hours. It's impressive, but no wonder it's slow going on this build. Thankfully, he's
13:31drafted his mate Matt to help with the roof. There are some jobs you just can't do by yourself.
13:37I'm helping them build the frame for the dormer window and to check out Ben's skills.
13:43All right, that's plum at that. 12.95 Matt. He's good, he's got it all in his head,
13:48hasn't he?
13:48Very good. I think he must have memorised them plans.
13:50Does he sleep at night?
13:52Yeah.
13:53Yeah, he does.
13:53Somehow.
13:54For a plumber, Ben's doing a fantastic job, but he's got to get his angles exactly right.
14:00He's taking that head all the way across. Yeah. So you've got to get that one flush.
14:05Yeah.
14:06There. And then you've got to nail that, haven't you?
14:09Yeah.
14:10If I hold that in place, and you can nail that from there. Come on. That's the one.
14:17So let's get a diagonal on that. This strut will help keep the window frame securely in
14:21place while we build around it. So it's vital it's perfectly positioned. Put the bubble on
14:27that. Is that nice? Yeah. Hold on. No, it needs to go that way a wee touch. Right? Yeah, slightly
14:35means a lot when it comes to fitting the windows. Right, go ahead, pin that. Right, that's you
14:43square. Here's a young couple who are very much in love with big, big dreams to make a
14:49family home. They've got skills. I don't know how many skills they've got, but this is such
14:54a big job, it actually frightens me.
15:04Over the next three weeks, Ben really cracks on. The flat roof dormer structure is finished,
15:10ready for the external cladding. Ben and Jordan are fitting fascia boards, ready for the gutters.
15:19And they're paying a roofer to fit the tiles. That's the one, that's the baby. Lift it,
15:26it's everything to the bottom of that gut I've just done.
15:31And there's more good news. So I have now got a new job, which is local,
15:36I'll be moving down here. And we're actually going to live together for the first time.
15:43I'm delighted they'll finally be living together. It just shows the commitment they have to the
15:48project and each other. There's no kitchen, no bathroom, no windows, and winter's just around
15:55the corner. So we ordered the windows in June. Yes, June. They said a six to eight week wait?
16:03Yeah, about 13, 14 weeks later. No, it's 15 now. It's 15. Jordan's coming from a centrally
16:09heated house, to a house with no windows. So, a little bit worried, a bit more stress,
16:17a bit more pressure. Yeah, I am excited to come down because, like, it's my house and I don't live
16:24in it.
16:26Just three weeks later. Hello. Hello. Welcome to paradise.
16:32It's the big day Jordan's moving in. It's exciting times, but not quite the home Jordan had dreamed of
16:39moving into. I think when you envision, like, moving in with your partner for the first time,
16:44it's something you don't envision moving into a building site. There's so much work to be done in
16:51every room. It must be love. So, yeah, kitchen roll bottles. The mattress. Yeah, there's my pillows, look.
17:04Mattress is under there. You literally got one mattress. She's going to kill me for showing you this.
17:10And then this is just to try and keep, because obviously when I'm up there, I'm dropping all the dust
17:13down.
17:18In mid-November, with winter around the corner, Ben is still fitting pre-painted green cladding and
17:25trying to get the dormer watertight. We've got the flabbergraft roofing done. We've got the cladding
17:31halfway, probably just over halfway. We've had the windows fitted and the door.
17:36And there's more bad news. The couple's £100,000 billed budget has all been spent.
17:43We're at the stage where my first budget is a little bit out the window. Yeah, naivety,
17:50jumping in at the deep end. I should have sat down with Jordan for a start instead of just doing
17:54it
17:54in my head and saying, it'll cost this. We're going to get to the bank. We're just going to
17:57increase the mortgage a bit. Ben works through Christmas and the new year on his own.
18:04It's bitterly cold and conditions on site are too much for Jordan.
18:08So, Jordan was happy to go back to her mum's over for Christmas.
18:11In a bath. I don't think she left the bath for two days.
18:14Ben might have moved out for a bit too, but there's work that can't wait.
18:20After six months of delays, the extension windows have arrived and they can at last get this area watertight.
18:27Means we can now get on with the inside. So, we're getting there. It's a big day.
18:37Come the new year, Jordan's back on site and so am I.
18:43The couple have a plan to make life here more bearable and they need my help.
18:48Good morning.
18:50Good morning.
18:50Wow, you've done loads.
18:52She doesn't think we have.
18:54What's the next job?
18:55Utility and shower room.
18:57Which is what you've been after, isn't it?
18:59You can tell, can't you?
19:01Is there still roses round the door, still madly in love with each other?
19:04Yeah.
19:04We've got one bedroom, haven't we? One tap outside.
19:06I love you. Just complete your nutters. It's brilliant. I love this challenge.
19:13Show me inside. I want to see what you've been doing.
19:16Come on in.
19:17Oh, you absolute maniacs.
19:21Their plan is to focus on completing the utility room and the shower room in the ground floor extension.
19:27It will give them somewhere to cook and clean until they finish off the actual kitchen on the first floor.
19:34There's a water supply in here ready for plumbing, but the extension is still separated from the house by the
19:40original end wall.
19:43Until we add a door, there's only one way in.
19:46So I'm going to set a step ladders.
19:50Not that deep, really.
19:53And then all the way over here, and they'll be able to get their water from here.
19:58So, our mission is to create a doorway to connect the original home with this utility and shower room.
20:05This should be simple.
20:06I'm going to grind straight down the two lines.
20:09We'll take this out.
20:09Take this brick height.
20:10And then we'll start again.
20:12Start again?
20:13Yeah, on the stone.
20:15That stone wall behind us?
20:16Yeah, the foundation wall.
20:19These red brick walls are mainly for decoration.
20:23Even so, cutting them away is hard work.
20:26And this is the easy bit.
20:29There we go.
20:32This is the original stone wall.
20:35The outside of the house.
20:36That's going to be a major bit of removal.
20:39Let's see if the drill is going to be long enough to get through the wall.
20:44It wants to be.
20:44Otherwise I'll be here all week.
20:45Well, the drill bit is long enough, but only just.
20:53You are joking me.
20:55Hold on.
20:56Stick a tape measure on that.
20:58All the way.
20:59So that wall is basically 600 millimeters thick.
21:04Yeah, I don't think it'll be today.
21:07They're right to prioritise getting some creature comforts in.
21:11This is going to be a long build.
21:14After that, they need to tackle one floor at a time.
21:17Get up top and start coming down.
21:20As you're doing it, the work's getting easier.
21:22Yeah, yeah.
21:23Because you're not climbing to the moon every day.
21:26Working top to bottom means you can finish each level off
21:29and never go back on your builder's boots.
21:32What a remarkable couple.
21:33They're positive and they're punching forward and they're getting things done.
21:36They've almost got the building watertight and that's really important.
21:40But now they need a plan.
21:42Just focus on one area. The build's too scattered. They're all over the place.
21:46And I don't want this building to break those incredible people.
21:52Coming up, just when it looks like Ben and Jordan are on the home straight.
21:57Through here, they finish something. It's absolutely incredible.
22:01They face delays and discover dangers.
22:05There's a floor joist right directly above it.
22:08Of course there is.
22:08And if we take this beam out, it leaves a pocket and the brickwork could collapse into that.
22:22In Yorkshire, Ben and Jordan are two and a half years into creating their dream
22:26four-bed home for themselves and their four-legged friends.
22:30Living on site has been a tough start to their new life together.
22:33Do they? Do!
22:37Well, once the heating's on, we'll be all right, won't we?
22:40Yeah. Could be.
22:44But by early March, things have turned a corner.
22:47Ben's finished the doorway that connects the original house to what will be the home's utility
22:51and shower room on the ground floor extension.
22:56They have laid a new cement floor, followed by the plumbing and electrics,
23:00and now Ben is starting to insulate and put up plasterboard.
23:04So you've got the water behind them plasterboards coming out there for your washer.
23:08Sink will be here, mains coming in there, and that all disappears into my boiler room,
23:13which is just a mess in there at the minute.
23:15Once finished, the utility's shower will finally give them somewhere to cook and clean.
23:21Elsewhere, they've taken my advice and they're working their way down one floor at a time,
23:25from the top to the bottom of the build.
23:28The hardest bit is getting everything up here, three flights of stairs,
23:31and I've got to get all the boards up here yet.
23:36But it's slow progress.
23:37Both are still working full-time to bring in the money to keep the build going.
23:44This leaves just evenings and weekends for DIY.
23:54It's July, four months since I was last here,
23:57and eight months since the couple first moved in together.
24:00I'm really hoping this place is starting to feel like home for them.
24:04Hello, guys.
24:05Hi.
24:06Look what I found.
24:07Do you know what this is?
24:08It's a water car.
24:10Have you got any water?
24:11Yes.
24:15We've got water on site.
24:17Cold.
24:17Well, show me round.
24:22Right, I've got to clean my glasses because I can't believe this.
24:25Right?
24:26This looks exactly like it was before when I was here.
24:30Through here, they finished something.
24:32It's absolutely incredible.
24:35Guys, honestly, are these my glasses?
24:39This isn't, this is like the real world.
24:42Yeah.
24:42Yeah.
24:43Yeah.
24:43Normality, civilisation.
24:45Yeah.
24:48Wow.
24:49Flip me, guys.
24:51Looks all right, doesn't it?
24:53It's all together.
24:54Come on, I want to see the rest of the house.
24:56It's a huge step forward to have a shower and a utility room they can use as a temporary
25:01kitchen until the proper one gets fitted upstairs.
25:04But what about the rest of it, starting at the top?
25:07This is the master bedroom.
25:09You are having a bubble!
25:12It's massive!
25:14It's the size of the original house.
25:16This is the full floor space of the original house?
25:19Yeah.
25:19The main bedroom on the dormer level is a whopping nine and a half by six and a half meter
25:25space.
25:26And then we've got the bath to put in.
25:30Because you're having a free-standing bath up here.
25:32Yeah.
25:33This is really exciting but the pressure is on with the dormer level as Ben is paying for trades to
25:39come in.
25:39How long have you got to get this room finished?
25:42So...
25:43The bed comes at the end of the month.
25:44So you've basically got three weeks to get this ready?
25:46So, floor to finish, stud walls to get up and first fix electrician to come in.
25:51And then the boarders come in?
25:53Yeah.
25:54Plaster board?
25:54Everything.
25:55No, plaster.
25:56And skim everything?
25:57Yeah.
25:59Before the trades can start, Ben has to finish the flooring and the stud work in the dormer.
26:04So there's a lot of work still to do on the tight deadline.
26:09Especially for one man.
26:10I hope he's up to the challenge.
26:13How's Ben been getting on then?
26:14Because he really has taken a huge amount to work on.
26:18Yeah.
26:19He gets stressed sometimes, but we work well together because when he gets stressed about something,
26:24it doesn't really bother me.
26:25So I like to talk him round from it.
26:28And, but like I said, like, look at what you've done.
26:30Like, not, no, not many people can say they've done what he's done.
26:34So that's a really big part of your job is keeping him positive.
26:36Yeah.
26:37Sometimes it gets hard.
26:39Like, you just get sick of living in it.
26:42But me and Ben never have it at the same time.
26:44I think that works well.
26:45You think you'll do this again?
26:47No, never.
26:48Never, never leaving this place.
26:57Over the next few weeks, Ben ups the pace to get the underfloor heating, flooring and
27:02stud work in the master bedroom completed in three weeks.
27:07Along with helping Jordan rip out the old floor below, ready for the new one.
27:12I told you, all in one.
27:13Oh, and guess what?
27:15They've passed another crucial milestone.
27:17We have hot water.
27:19Oh, yeah, that's a can of a big one.
27:20Yeah, finally got some hot water.
27:22It's not off the boiler, it's just off an immersion heater, but it's hot water.
27:25Ben's been living here through the build for two and a half years now.
27:29He's certainly earned himself a hot shower.
27:39It's now August and I'm heading back to check on Ben and Jordan.
27:44The last time I came up to see Ben and Jordan, they promised me that they would have that enormous
27:50bedroom floored, plasterboarded, insulated and skimmed.
27:55So hopefully they've got that done.
28:00Are you ready for this?
28:01Well, as ready as I could ever be.
28:04I'm enjoying the fact that the staircase, I'm enjoying the fact there's a floor!
28:08There is.
28:10Wow, you can actually walk through.
28:12You've got the bed up here.
28:13Yeah, we've actually got a bed, not a mattress on the floor.
28:15Right, this is just beautiful.
28:18Look at the size of it.
28:20It's just huge.
28:22It's mint, isn't it?
28:23It's mad, isn't it?
28:24But why is it not plastered?
28:26Supposed to be coming at the end of this month now.
28:28This month?
28:29Yeah.
28:30For this floor, it's not just nearly a month and a half behind.
28:33Delays like this cost money, something these two don't have a lot of.
28:38I'm worried they've taken on a money pit they can't afford to finish.
28:42You've got a £100,000 budget.
28:44This is £250,000, this build.
28:46No.
28:47Oh, really?
28:47No, more than 60.
28:49How are you going to finance the other £60,000?
28:52We just took a bit more out on here.
28:54You borrowed more on the property.
28:56Yeah.
28:56You're not including your labour in that, obviously.
28:58No, no, that's free.
28:59No.
28:59I wish I could get paid.
29:01Yeah, that's free.
29:02Is there anything else I could help you with today?
29:04We can get the plumbing in for the bath.
29:07Sounds simple, but as with everything in this project, there's a twist.
29:11Because I've got underfloor heating, we've got a couple of spots we can't hit.
29:15So you've drilled from underneath?
29:16Yeah.
29:16A quick measure and then we're away.
29:1914 and 50 from there.
29:22Because Ben and Jordan laid the underfloor heating in the room before deciding where
29:26the bath would go, we have to be careful we don't drill through any pipes.
29:31Yeah, 13 is right under the middle of the bath.
29:34We have to drill a hole through the floor for the bath waste pipe.
29:38One small nick in the underfloor heating pipes would mean ripping that section out and repairing it.
29:44Right, what have we got?
29:46We've got to drill up 1,300 in that one and 1,450 in this one.
29:50Do you want to go for this?
29:51Yeah, I'll have that.
29:52Here we go.
29:54Okay, so I'm in there.
29:56I want to clear that.
29:58I'm drilling from below and Ben from a ball.
30:02It's vital we miss these pipes.
30:05Oh, that's a beauty.
30:08Oh, nice tap, isn't it?
30:11Fantastic.
30:13It's clear that if I wasn't here this would be nearly impossible as a one-man job.
30:18Ben's underneath me putting pressure on the straight connector which goes onto this chrome pipe.
30:22You winning?
30:23Yeah, we're there.
30:25When you're doing this on your own, that would take like four times as long because
30:29you've got to put pressure on the joint onto the chrome pipe, haven't you?
30:31Yeah, so I've literally got to hold it and twist it with one hand and hold the pipe with my
30:36other.
30:36It's great.
30:37I like this form of communication.
30:45It's September, a month after my visit and in the master bedroom, the plasterer still hasn't been.
30:52So in between taking care of their eight dogs...
31:02Ben and Jordan have decided to do the plaster boarding themselves.
31:07Like everything on this epic DIY job, it's a steep learning curve.
31:13This goes that way.
31:14That's the way it is, I think.
31:16Yes.
31:17Yeah.
31:17It's not confusing me.
31:18It's a huge space that needs boarding up.
31:21It's tough and tricky work for the two rookies.
31:23I'm in awe at how much they're taking on.
31:27Something's not square.
31:29Right, take it down.
31:31We're going to put the flat edge to the...
31:33the cut edge with the angle to here.
31:35That's the way I said I would have done it.
31:37Yeah, the way it's chopped up.
31:38We're going to have to redo it.
31:40Calm down.
31:41The plaster just won't take it, it'll just crack.
31:45I wouldn't be happy if I was plastering it, so do the job right.
31:49Before boarding up, Ben's testing all the pipes to make sure there's no leaks.
31:54Fingers crossed.
31:56So there's definitely nothing over there as we come through into here.
32:01So the cold comes in, shoots off to the bidet and then feeds the sink.
32:07So there's nothing over there.
32:08It's all good.
32:16By December, the plastering's finally happened.
32:19Painting has begun and Jordan's busy bringing her interior designs to life.
32:24When it comes to the interiors in the house, it's pretty much all me.
32:29I ask Ben's opinion on stuff, but he either just goes,
32:33yeah, or just pretends he's paying attention and he's not.
32:37What do you think?
32:39I'm not going to lie, I'm not keen.
32:42I would go for like Magnolia, just everything plain, where I'm a bit more...
32:46I want it to be different. So I find what I want and then I'll shop around to find where
32:52I can get it for the cheapest.
32:54I obviously do spend more than Ben would wish to, but I do try and keep it under control.
33:00With the end of the year in sight, I'm coming back to see Ben and Jordan. I can't wait to
33:05see how far their homes moved on.
33:10I'm coming back in the house of fun.
33:15They've made great progress on the second floor with three spare bedrooms.
33:19Whoa, you plastered, you're insulated, you're motoring on.
33:24Everything on this floor is done.
33:26This is a massive change.
33:29Yeah.
33:30It's galloped on on this floor, hasn't it?
33:32Yeah.
33:34But the first floor where the kitchen diner will go needs a lot of work, starting with a new floor.
33:40So it's out with the old one and ceiling below.
33:44And then a one, two, three. There we go.
33:48And the old beams.
33:49It's not heavy.
33:51You all right with that?
33:52Yeah. Got it.
33:55Ben has replaced every floor in this house to guarantee their dream home lasts a lifetime.
34:01Good job.
34:03But there's one last beam for us to remove, and it's huge.
34:07Talk to me, Ben. What's the crack? Are we taking this out now?
34:10Yes, we're going to take that out.
34:11I'll put some acronyms underneath it, because I don't want to affect the artery there.
34:15OK. Let's do that, then. That's a plan of attack.
34:20As usual, it isn't as simple as we first thought.
34:23Oh, do you know what, mate?
34:24It goes all the way.
34:25It goes all the way.
34:28It's right through into the back brickwork.
34:30This is worrying and could be dangerous.
34:33There's a floor joist right there above it.
34:36Of course there is.
34:37So we'll just cut it.
34:38It's a good job we spotted this here, because this beam
34:41is going all the way through this brick wall, over the top of a steel,
34:46across two timber lintels, and then resting on the back of another steel.
34:50But above the beam is two floor joists, which is supporting the floor back here.
34:55And they're coming in, and if we take this beam out,
34:58it leaves a pocket, and the brickwork could collapse into that.
35:01This really is a head-scratcher.
35:04Wow, that's an original beam, mate.
35:06Yeah, all the way through the building.
35:09Does the beam have to come out, or could you have to just build around it?
35:12Can I just leave it in?
35:14I'm not tiny metres less.
35:15I just thought it was just...
35:16No, good point, good point.
35:19It could build around it.
35:20It's original.
35:21The only thing in the house.
35:23That solves a big problem, right?
35:25The voice of wisdom has just entered the room.
35:28Is it going to stay?
35:29Yes, it is going to stay.
35:30Yes!
35:39It's now nearly three years since the build began.
35:43Ben has completed the kitchen floor, laying it over the original beam, and is now tiling.
35:48It's meant to be a stone effect tile, so it's actually slate, I think.
35:51So they'll be down on the floor in the kitchen, running round into the dining room once that wall's out.
35:57And even some of the units have arrived.
36:00Whilst Jordan paints, paints, and paints her way to the finish line.
36:05I am completely doing all the painting whilst Ben carries on and does other jobs.
36:10Yeah, it's just a big job.
36:11These two fell in love with a dream.
36:14It's taken a lot of hard graft and sacrifice, but that dream will soon come true.
36:21Coming up, I visit Ben and Jordan's epic labour of love one last time.
36:28Yes! Look at what you've done!
36:30I just hope they love it as much as I do.
36:32This is the best bedroom in the world.
36:44It's early February, over a year and a half since I first visited Ben and Jordan's epic extension and renovation.
36:51And I'm back now for one last visit.
36:55The exterior of the house shows how much they've added, and when the new block work is rendered to stand
37:01out from the original brick, it will look stunning.
37:05Hi! Hello!
37:06Do you want to come in?
37:07Yeah, it's freezing!
37:08It is freezing!
37:09I know they've finished the utility, but what about the actual kitchen upstairs?
37:15Before, this room was a dark and cramped mess.
37:23But it's been transformed into a spacious, L-shaped kitchen dining room that starts with a beautiful blend of modern
37:31and rustic.
37:32The slate floor, traditional style cabinets, sink and stove all give off a minimal but homely feel.
37:40Look what you've done!
37:42You are brilliant! This is incredible!
37:45I'm quite happy.
37:47Yeah.
37:47You're quite happy? Honestly guys, you blow me away.
37:51It's absolutely brilliant. Well done.
37:53We're a lovely kitchen.
37:55And all designed by this one.
37:57All designed by you?
37:58Yeah.
37:58Where's the inspiration from?
38:00My head.
38:01Wow!
38:03It's a lovely design, and the floor, you know, it's lovely.
38:06It's got copper colours through the floor, it's really beautiful, which reflect back on the handles of this.
38:11I absolutely love it. Well done.
38:13Dining room?
38:13Yeah.
38:14Yeah, you're good.
38:15There's so much space!
38:19The kitchen leads seamlessly into a large dining room that feels uncluttered, stylish and filled with natural light.
38:29Perfect for entertaining friends.
38:31And we've just left the old and come into the new.
38:35Yeah.
38:36This is the extension.
38:37Yeah.
38:37This is.
38:38It's beautifully designed.
38:39You've got an amazing dining area.
38:41You've got views all the way around the countryside.
38:44It's absolutely incredible.
38:47That's happened because you said, yes, I'm going to build this three-storey extension, you know?
38:53And I do love the fact that this, you come round here, it's still open plan, but it does feel
38:58like a completely separate room.
38:59Yeah.
38:59Doesn't it?
39:00It flows through all right, doesn't it?
39:02It works, I think.
39:03You've actually blown me out of the water.
39:05It's very, very beautiful.
39:07You know, it's just superb.
39:10On the second floor, they've finished the guest bedroom with its own en suite.
39:14Guys, what a bedroom!
39:16It's the colourful room!
39:22What a lovely guest room.
39:24Ben and Jordan have chosen the same paint colour as the kitchen units, giving a fresh and homely feel.
39:30It's very stylish and it has its own en suite.
39:34Is it finished?
39:35Yeah.
39:37Oh, guys.
39:42The exposed brick wall, combined with the freestanding bath and polished tiles, would give a really classy and welcoming feel
39:50to any guest.
39:51This is a bit of luxury, isn't it?
39:53A little bit.
39:54A little bit, yeah.
39:55And this is for the guest!
39:56Yeah.
39:57Do you know what's really lovely?
39:58I love these polished tiles, these glazed tiles coming across this lovely rough wall.
40:03Yeah.
40:03It's a nice finish, isn't it?
40:05Yeah.
40:05It's the one piece of the main original house that we've kind of kept to have to show, isn't it?
40:09So this was actually the outside wall of the house?
40:12The original.
40:13You've done a funky little vanity unit on a sewing machine stand?
40:16Yes.
40:17Where did all that come from?
40:18I've got three different sewing machine stands for the three bathrooms.
40:22So you've just kept lots of bits and you've just incorporated them into the house?
40:25Yeah, yeah.
40:25You've done a lovely job.
40:28Now, on to the top floor and the room I've been dreaming about seeing, the master bedroom.
40:33I'm going to walk in here, backwards.
40:40Yes!
40:41This is the best bedroom in the world!
40:54Ben and Jordan have created heaven up here.
40:56It's an incredible space that's elegantly simple.
41:00It still has the grown-up style to complement the downstairs levels.
41:04But with bolder colours and a super comfy, welcoming feel created by soft furnishings.
41:11And of course, the reason Ben built this enormous dormer, the stunning views.
41:17It's just fantastic!
41:19Isn't it?
41:20Oh my...
41:20Where's my teddy bear?
41:21Oh, it's over here.
41:22I'll just go and get it.
41:24It is absolutely stunning.
41:28It really is.
41:29The view's pretty spectacular, isn't it?
41:31And at night when you see all the lights going by and you're just chilling, it's like the
41:35world's still going on about.
41:36It's...
41:36I like it, but she thinks I'm weird.
41:38But you fitted the bathroom into it as well.
41:41Yeah.
41:41This is just pure luxury.
41:43Yeah.
41:43So it's like a gift.
41:45Yeah.
41:46After all the work, it's the end reward, isn't it?
41:48Yeah, definitely.
41:49It's worth it.
41:50Definitely.
41:50I'd love to have a bedroom this size.
41:52I'd ride a bike around in here.
41:56In fact, it's so big, they've been able to fit a bath and a basin in the room,
42:00and you hardly even notice it's there.
42:03I didn't spot this in my binoculars.
42:06But you've used another sewer machine stand.
42:10Yeah.
42:12This really is luxury.
42:14Beautiful layout.
42:16Nice splash back.
42:17Bath in the middle here.
42:18You've got a view out down the river.
42:20You've done a cracking job, guys.
42:23How much money have you spent?
42:25Around 200 mark, I think.
42:27Yeah.
42:27And how much did you think you were going to spend?
42:29Half of that.
42:31So, let me get this right.
42:33You've gone 100% over your budget.
42:36Pretty much.
42:37And you're still flipping laughing.
42:39When did you actually start this?
42:41July.
42:41July 2020.
42:43Yeah.
42:44So, you give yourself about 11 months to do it.
42:46Yeah.
42:47You were a little bit out.
42:50Possibly.
43:19We'll be in in eight or nine months.
43:20Yeah.
43:22One of a kind.
43:23Yeah.
43:24So are you.
43:28You have done an amazing job.
43:33The build is incredible and the finish is beautiful.
43:37You should be so proud of each other.
43:40I'm really proud of you because I have never known anybody taking on something like this
43:44and do it so well.
43:46And also with so much love and joy in the house.
43:50You know, it's a perfect home.
43:59Ben and Jordan are probably the happiest, most positive young couple I've worked with for years.
44:04They've taken on this huge build and they've created a gorgeous home.
44:09We've still got loads to do, but you know what?
44:13Anybody's going to do it.
44:14Ben and Jordan are going to do it.
44:18Next time, I'm helping a family in Scotland's beautiful South Lanarkshire.
44:22But they battle terrible weather.
44:25Look at this.
44:27Everything's freezing.
44:28Serious hold-ups.
44:30There's nothing happening that's going to help the house be built at any time soon.
44:34And huge overspends.
44:36How are you doing on the budget?
44:37We thought we would do the build for 280 and the build's now at 500.
44:42Will this dream ever become a reality?
45:02Which I am going to do.
45:13This is the husband and his family working with for organizations.
45:13You