0:00:04 > 0:00:08Up and down the country, cowboy builders are blighting people's lives.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11We're all very, very tearful, you know.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13Cos you don't know what to do.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16I'm here to expose their dirty tricks
0:00:16 > 0:00:19so that homeowners can ride them out of town.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21It was left in a complete state.
0:00:21 > 0:00:26We've probably got to spend 17,000 to £20,000 to put it all right.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30I know the best ways of sorting the good guys from the bad.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34- Oh!- Oh, my God!
0:00:34 > 0:00:39I'll be sharing that advice to help prevent you from falling into the cowboy trap.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51Today, we're in Croxley Green, near Watford in Hertfordshire.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55We're meeting a couple with two children, who've been together 17 years.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57They're about to get married.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00They decided to move in with the bride's mum
0:01:00 > 0:01:03and extend their house to create a granny annexe.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05But plans for the wedding were thrown into chaos
0:01:05 > 0:01:09when they hired a cowboy builder to build their extension.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12I have not enjoyed any preparation for the wedding.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15My mum is mother of the bride.
0:01:15 > 0:01:21She should have been out choosing flowers and favours for the tables
0:01:21 > 0:01:23and stuff like that. No.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26The wedding almost turned into a funeral
0:01:26 > 0:01:30when the cowboy builder turned their house into a death trap.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33They told us we needed to switch off the gas supply straight away
0:01:33 > 0:01:36because with the flu pumping into the premises,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39we could all die from carbon monoxide poisoning.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44We're in Hertfordshire, where office manager Angela Green
0:01:44 > 0:01:47and DJ Michael Bickham are about to get married.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51They've been together 17 years and have two children,
0:01:51 > 0:01:54five-year-old Charlie and 11-year-old brother Ryan.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58When Angela's dad died, they moved in with mum Shirley
0:01:58 > 0:02:02and planned to build her a granny annexe on the side of the house.
0:02:02 > 0:02:07My parents bought the house when I was 11, so 27 years ago.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11My dad worked really hard, paid the house off.
0:02:11 > 0:02:16I lived here until I was 26, when I met Michael.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19He had a flat in Watford and I moved in with him.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22In Watford. We then had our son Ryan.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26And we then got a house in Watford.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30Then we had Charlie. When Charlie was two years old,
0:02:30 > 0:02:34my dad suddenly passed away.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Shirley and her husband paid off the mortgage some years ago.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41The family would take out a new mortgage to pay for the work.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44The existing garage would be converted and extended
0:02:44 > 0:02:47to create a new bedroom, shower room and larger kitchen.
0:02:47 > 0:02:52They decided they'd come and live with me, otherwise I'd have had to sell the house.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54I couldn't afford it on my own.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57So they decided they'd build the extension on the side
0:02:57 > 0:03:02so that I could have my own space and they could have the rest of the house
0:03:02 > 0:03:04so we wouldn't be on top of one another.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08Angela's fiance Michael would decorate the new extension
0:03:08 > 0:03:10to help keep the costs down.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14Then the builder came up with another way to reduce his final bill.
0:03:14 > 0:03:19He quoted £25,000 and that was to build our entire existing garage
0:03:19 > 0:03:24and to make it so it was a usable and liveable area.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28That included a utility room, where we had to supply the utility,
0:03:28 > 0:03:35a shower room with us supplying the shower and toilet and so on.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37And I had to decorate it.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41He then gave us a cash price for £22,500.
0:03:41 > 0:03:46And we decided to go with the cash price because we thought we were getting a deal.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50The builder started the job in the first full working week of the New Year.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53The extension would be completed by March,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56in plenty of time for the June wedding day.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58It started off fine.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02And then it got to... They were here for a little while
0:04:02 > 0:04:06and then because of the snow they had to stop for about a week,
0:04:06 > 0:04:08then they started again.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12And they used to get here about quarter to eight in the morning
0:04:12 > 0:04:17and they always made sure they were gone before my daughter got home from work.
0:04:17 > 0:04:24Because all he was doing was asking me for more money, more money, more money.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27At this stage, the builder offered to do extra work.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29But for extra cash.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Towards the end of the building going up and the roof going on,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35he approached us about the driveway
0:04:35 > 0:04:39saying he wanted to get it done because of the flooding we used to have down the side of the building.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44It always flooded our drive and went down into the side of the garage.
0:04:44 > 0:04:50He knew my mum had a big issue with this. She's a worrier and it really worries her.
0:04:50 > 0:04:56He said, "We need to get the driveway done because when it rains it'll run into the drive
0:04:56 > 0:05:01"and go into the foundations and your extension will fall down."
0:05:01 > 0:05:04He gave me a price of £4,500 to do the drive.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08That was for concrete, not block paving.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11I said, "I can get it done for less than that for block paving."
0:05:11 > 0:05:15He said, "You can't." I said, "I've had three quotes already.
0:05:15 > 0:05:21"I've had local builders round and they've all given me the same quote, which is a lot less than yours."
0:05:21 > 0:05:24I then said, "If you can't match that price,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26"I'll get someone else in to do it."
0:05:26 > 0:05:31He didn't like it that I was going to get somebody else involved on the site,
0:05:31 > 0:05:33so he said, "OK, I'll do it for £3,000."
0:05:33 > 0:05:38By this time, the builder knew Mum Shirley was the one with access to the cash.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41So he phoned her while the couple were at work
0:05:41 > 0:05:44and asked her to get the money straight away.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46So she went down to the bank again.
0:05:46 > 0:05:52£3,000. He dug a hole, put loads of rubbish on the front,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54put a board over the hole and left it.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58Mud in and out of the house,
0:05:58 > 0:06:00just rubbish everywhere.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06The builder quoted a cash price of £22,000 for the extension,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09to which he added £6,000 for the kitchen
0:06:09 > 0:06:14and now he'd increased the cost of the job to £29,000, with a new drive.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18Michael can't believe what the family got for their money.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21We gave the builder a £3,000 instalment
0:06:21 > 0:06:24to do our driveway.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28He's dug it out to this point
0:06:28 > 0:06:31and pretty much left it like this.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34It's supposed to go down to the extension and through the gate.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37I haven't got a clue how to do a drive.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41My partner's got to come out to this on her wedding day
0:06:41 > 0:06:47and get into the car. Probably ruin her dress or maybe trip over on her big day.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50I don't think it's going to be nice for her to come out to this
0:06:50 > 0:06:53on her special day.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56So the builder didn't lay the new drive before he left,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59even though he took all the money up front.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Hopefully he made a much better job of the new granny annexe extension.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07This is the front of our lovely new extension.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12As you can see, it's not finished!
0:07:14 > 0:07:19The window was supposed to be the size of where the blockwork has been taken out to.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Which he's not bothered to change.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27The rendering on that side of the building has not been done.
0:07:27 > 0:07:32His comment to that was "I can't do the rendering on the side
0:07:32 > 0:07:38"because of the lean-to here." It's clear corrugated plastic which could easily be removed
0:07:38 > 0:07:40and replaced at a cheap price.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46If you want to come in, I'll show you the rest.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50We've got no floor in the extension,
0:07:50 > 0:07:53which he was supposed to screed.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57He's left exterior rendering where there should be plasterboard.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59The flue to the gas where he's built
0:07:59 > 0:08:03the roof round where the flue was still in, and pumping out on us.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06The council have said this needs to be tied in properly
0:08:06 > 0:08:09to support the concrete, or it must be removed.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11We might need the roof removing when that's done.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16The shower room.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18The walls move!
0:08:20 > 0:08:22The walls don't line up properly,
0:08:22 > 0:08:26so if there was a door to be put on, it wouldn't line up.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31He's left exposed sewer pipes, exposed drain pipes.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33There's four exposed drain holes in here.
0:08:33 > 0:08:38The council have told us, the inspector has told us,
0:08:38 > 0:08:44that this area is too small where he's built and it needs to be redone
0:08:44 > 0:08:49cos he's not put the right size wood in and the right insulation won't go in there.
0:08:49 > 0:08:55There's supposed to be built in cupboards here so there's space for my mother-in-law's clothes.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58We've got no floor in the liveable area of the extension.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00It's an absolute nightmare.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03I just wouldn't know where to start
0:09:03 > 0:09:07if I was to come in here and start sorting things myself.
0:09:07 > 0:09:08I'm not a builder.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Six months ago,
0:09:12 > 0:09:18Michael, Angela and mum Shirley took out a loan and paid their builder £29,000.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21The extension is uninhabitable.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23This door that leads into the garden...
0:09:27 > 0:09:29..it doesn't shut properly.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31It's not been fixed properly, the whole lot.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33It moves.
0:09:37 > 0:09:44We can't lock this door so we've got no security on the extension that's been built.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48There's no rendering on the exterior of the extension.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50The windows he's put in are wrong.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54They should have a triple vent on the top of all the windows
0:09:54 > 0:09:56to stop damp building up inside the room.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00It obviously needs re-doing where he hasn't put the right ones in.
0:10:00 > 0:10:06This wall here was part of the original garage which he's built in to.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10I approached him because the wall was actually wobbling.
0:10:10 > 0:10:15I don't know if you can see, he's tried to repair this part of the wall again.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19So we can't close the door now, or lock it.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24He started to do some rendering on the building over there.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28He's done probably 1.5 metre square rendering and then just stopped.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33He explained to me he couldn't render the other side of the extension
0:10:33 > 0:10:37because there's a tree there. There's a tree a foot from the extension.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40The building's not watertight.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44The blockwork, he's just left it like this
0:10:44 > 0:10:46so it'll get damp if it's not sorted.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51Down the other side of the building, it hasn't even got a first skim of cement on the walls,
0:10:51 > 0:10:53so that is exposed to the elements.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56I can't believe this is what the family's been left with
0:10:56 > 0:10:58after parting with so much cash.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Coming up, I find out just how bad this build really is.
0:11:01 > 0:11:06I'm thinking to myself, "Where are the genuine skills of the builder here?"
0:11:09 > 0:11:14We're in Hertfordshire, where a family's plans to add a granny annexe to the house
0:11:14 > 0:11:18so they could all live together comfortably, have gone horribly wrong.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21Angela and Michael have been together 17 years
0:11:21 > 0:11:23and have two children, Ryan and Charlie.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26But they're also just about to get married.
0:11:26 > 0:11:31When Angela's dad died unexpectedly, the couple decided to move in with mum Shirley
0:11:31 > 0:11:33and build an extension to create extra space.
0:11:33 > 0:11:38Work started in January, but the job has come to a complete halt.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41The unhappy couple have been jilted by their builder.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44This family were left thousands of pounds out of pocket
0:11:44 > 0:11:46and their dream in tatters.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50It's time for me to meet them and find out exactly what happened.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54In just two weeks' time, Angela and Michael are getting married.
0:11:54 > 0:11:59But they've barely thought about the wedding because of the mess they've been left in.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03There will be four generations of family here on the big day
0:12:03 > 0:12:07and amazingly, it was a relative who recommended their builder.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11How did you go about finding the builder to do the work?
0:12:11 > 0:12:15I went on the internet, the local directories.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20I got a few local builders to come round and give us quotes.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24Then my great uncle, who's an electrician,
0:12:24 > 0:12:27did some work for this particular builder
0:12:27 > 0:12:30and he passed on the number to us.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34So originally we had them round before we applied for the mortgage
0:12:34 > 0:12:36so we knew how much to take out.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40And he came round. He wasn't the cheapest quote,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43but he wasn't the most expensive.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47- So you had three quotes? - I think we had about five quotes.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Great. The more, the merrier, I say.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54This guy, did you feel came recommended from your relative?
0:12:54 > 0:12:59Yeah, I suppose so because if he thought he was going to be bad,
0:12:59 > 0:13:02he wouldn't have passed on the number.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05- Yes.- So that, sort of, to me, I thought,
0:13:05 > 0:13:10"He's going to be a safer bet than the other ones."
0:13:10 > 0:13:14Just the fact that my uncle had done work for him and passed the number on,
0:13:14 > 0:13:19- I thought he had to be sound. - It cemented the deal, to a certain degree.
0:13:19 > 0:13:24Even though, did you go and look at any of his previous work that he'd done?
0:13:24 > 0:13:30- No.- OK, so it was more or less the reason this guy won the deal
0:13:30 > 0:13:33- was because he was recommended. - Yeah.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36'Angela and Michael made a common mistake
0:13:36 > 0:13:39'when they took a family member's recommendation for a builder.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43'He'd worked with the builder, but hadn't seen a finished job.'
0:13:43 > 0:13:47Take my tip. Your family and friends may know some great builders,
0:13:47 > 0:13:49but don't just take their word for it.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52For any builder you're considering hiring,
0:13:52 > 0:13:55go and see some previous finished jobs.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03'Unfortunately, Angela and Michael didn't do this.'
0:14:03 > 0:14:08We said "We still have to apply for the mortgage." We wanted to know what it would cost
0:14:08 > 0:14:10so we knew how much to take out.
0:14:10 > 0:14:15He then over the 18 months constantly phoned and phoned
0:14:15 > 0:14:19- "Do you want the work done? Do you want the work done?"- Over 18 months.
0:14:19 > 0:14:24- So he was constantly phoning you up, "Do you want the work done?"- Yes.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28- And you were saying?- Um, well, he was quite clever
0:14:28 > 0:14:33because he'd try and always speak to my mum rather than with me or Michael.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35- He never...- Why?- Soft touch!
0:14:36 > 0:14:40- So he knew that you guys were tough nuts to crack.- Yeah.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44- So he was talking with Mum.- Yep.- OK.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48One particular morning, Michael wasn't at work
0:14:48 > 0:14:52and the phone rang and he came downstairs and he said it was him.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56"Do you want this done or not? I don't want to lay off my labourers."
0:14:56 > 0:15:01- Michael just said, "When we're ready, we'll contact you." - Well done.
0:15:01 > 0:15:06After this happened, I found out from Mum that he'd been ringing her every month
0:15:06 > 0:15:09to make sure it was still on, but she never told me.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14Angela's really worried the house she grew up in looks such a building site.
0:15:14 > 0:15:20I wonder what we can do to help Angela and Michael before their special day arrives.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22What I'd like to know is what can we do
0:15:22 > 0:15:27that would make your life brighter
0:15:27 > 0:15:32and help for that big day in the short space of time we've got.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34- Driveway!- The driveway done.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38- So she hasn't got to come across the drive in her dress on the day. - Course!
0:15:38 > 0:15:42The dress! You couldn't go over that drive the way it is at the moment.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45And my 86-year-old... Cos my dad's not here,
0:15:45 > 0:15:49my 86-year-old grandmother is going to give me away.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52Aw! How sweet is that?
0:15:52 > 0:15:54That's fantastic!
0:15:54 > 0:15:59So we need to come across a nice drive to start with. To begin with.
0:15:59 > 0:16:00That's for sure.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02Before the good guys come in and start work,
0:16:02 > 0:16:06I want to have a look at what the builder left behind.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09The thing that really worries me the most is this gas flue.
0:16:09 > 0:16:15The dangers of all those emissions that are coming out of that exhaust
0:16:15 > 0:16:19could have put the family at risk. Fatal risk, the worst-case scenario,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22and then hospitalisation. It's awful.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25And as I look around more and more,
0:16:25 > 0:16:27I just think to myself,
0:16:27 > 0:16:30"Where are the genuine skills of the builder here?"
0:16:30 > 0:16:32I don't get it. Check this out.
0:16:32 > 0:16:37Where he's put the window frame in and the door. First, the door doesn't fit correctly.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41In fact, I'll try and open that. You can hear it.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44You can hardly shut it back again.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47I'd have to lift that up to sit it in properly.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49But worst of all... Let me just do that.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53Look at this.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57I could push that out altogether. It could just collapse
0:16:57 > 0:16:59down into the actual patio area.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Just outside the patio area, what have we got?
0:17:02 > 0:17:04It's like a children's picnic area.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06That is deadly. It's dangerous.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09The whole place is just an absolute mess.
0:17:09 > 0:17:16Considering that they have now spent £29,000 on this build,
0:17:16 > 0:17:20I've got to be honest, in my opinion, a total disgrace.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23There are way too many problems here for us to tackle.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26But the driveway is the pressing issue.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29With all the family due here for the wedding in a few weeks' time,
0:17:29 > 0:17:32getting the outside safe is the top priority.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35I know just the team for the job.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38It's time to bring in the good guys.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49Coming up, an independent chartered surveyor
0:17:49 > 0:17:54gives his verdict on the gas flue the builder left pumping toxic fumes into the extension.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56They really need to think about it.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01If it gets up to about 12,500 parts per million,
0:18:01 > 0:18:03three breaths and you're dead.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08We're in Hertfordshire with Angela and Michael
0:18:08 > 0:18:12who were left jilted by their builder eight weeks before their wedding.
0:18:12 > 0:18:17Like most brides, Angela wants to leave for her big day from the family home.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20We're going to clear up the mess the builder left
0:18:20 > 0:18:24and lay a new drive in time for the wedding in two weeks.
0:18:24 > 0:18:29Paul is leading our team of good guys. What's the plan of action?
0:18:29 > 0:18:32- Paul, good to have the good guys on board.- OK.
0:18:32 > 0:18:37- There's a lot of bad things have gone on in this property, as you see.- You could say that!
0:18:37 > 0:18:40What is your plan for the next few days?
0:18:40 > 0:18:43We're going to dig it out. That's the first thing.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45Set in a new soakaway.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Sort the drainage out. Put scalpings down.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52Then some sand, and they want it block paved, so we'll lay some blocks.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55- Thanks for that, Paul. - No problem, Clive.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58They'll be well chuffed with what the good guys can do.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01While the good guys get started outside,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04I want independent surveyor Arnold Tarling
0:19:04 > 0:19:08to give me his verdict on the quality of the builder's work inside.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Arnold, you've had a chance to have a good look round this place.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15Let's put it like this, it's a nightmare!
0:19:15 > 0:19:17It certainly is, Clive.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19What have you seen that is not to your liking
0:19:19 > 0:19:21apart from that driveway?
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Apart from the driveway, well, first of all,
0:19:24 > 0:19:29was the horrendous fact that they left the gas flue installed in an enclosed space.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31That is lethal.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34You really need to think about it.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38If it gets up to about 12,500 parts per million,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40- three breaths and you're dead!- Yeah.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43This is it. They're playing with people's lives.
0:19:43 > 0:19:48They're coming and doing jobs, undertaking work - electrical and gas work -
0:19:48 > 0:19:51that they're not qualified to do and so this sort of thing happens.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55For me, that's got to be the worst part about his whole build.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59It was the worst part. The tragedy was, they didn't actually do any gas work.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02They should have done the gas work, but didn't.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Just basically, when you think about this,
0:20:05 > 0:20:07you're building an extension round a gas flue.
0:20:07 > 0:20:13Surely that should send alarm bells to the builder. "I can't do that. I've got to sort it out
0:20:13 > 0:20:15"before I even consider enclosing it off."
0:20:15 > 0:20:19Definitely. There is no excuse for the builder to have left that in there.
0:20:19 > 0:20:25What about the rest of this extension? There's loads going on in here that just isn't right.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28- What have you spotted? - What have I spotted?
0:20:28 > 0:20:32The bathroom. The fan goes straight into the roof void.
0:20:32 > 0:20:38There's no duct, so all the damp from the shower will go straight in there and cause rotting.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40Doors and windows aren't installed properly.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42There was missing insulation.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46Do you believe that this guy had any building skills whatsoever?
0:20:48 > 0:20:50I think some of his workmen did.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53The brick and blockwork looked fairly OK,
0:20:53 > 0:20:58but he certainly didn't know much beyond that. I think he was relying on other people's knowledge.
0:20:58 > 0:21:03Let's cut to the chase. Your input is so valuable to us, Arnold,
0:21:03 > 0:21:05as our independent surveyor.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09What mark out of ten would you give these guys for the work they've carried out.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12I was going to give them one for turning up,
0:21:12 > 0:21:15but with the gas, it's off the scale.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18I can't think of a number low enough.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20You can't think of a number low enough for the gas
0:21:20 > 0:21:25- and one out of ten, just for turning up.- Yeah.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29Arnold's mark for the lethal gas flue is off the scale.
0:21:29 > 0:21:34It's time I sat down with Angela and Michael to find out why the builder left mid-job.
0:21:34 > 0:21:40They didn't know anything was seriously wrong until they called in a plumber to quote for a new boiler.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45When was the first stage there was real problems and you needed to talk to the builder?
0:21:45 > 0:21:50When our plumber came to give us a quotation for the new boiler system to go in.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Describe what the problem was.
0:21:52 > 0:21:57It was the fact that the builder had left the gas flue to our original gas boiler
0:21:57 > 0:22:00pumping out into the extension which he'd built.
0:22:00 > 0:22:05He'd built the roof round the actual unit that held the flue in.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09He didn't bother to tell us. If it wasn't for the fact that our plumber told us,
0:22:09 > 0:22:13"You've got gas fumes pumping out into your extension."
0:22:13 > 0:22:15So we had to cut our gas supply off straight away
0:22:15 > 0:22:20because obviously we didn't want anyone to die because of it.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24And that's the first that I had any real problems.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27I had a problem with the time it was taking him.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30I could see he wasn't putting in full days.
0:22:30 > 0:22:36- Enclosed space. Carbon monoxide fumes pumping out. - For about a month.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41And he didn't recognise that that was a problem?
0:22:41 > 0:22:44That is ridiculous. I just don't get it.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48He would have known that that was an exhaust flue for that boiler.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50He ignored what was going on.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54When I confronted them, the guy stood there, shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know."
0:22:54 > 0:22:57My words to that - I went ballistic.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01I've got children. There's five people living in the house.
0:23:01 > 0:23:06I ripped him to pieces. I didn't physically abuse him, but I verbally went mental at him.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09To prevent the serious risk to the family,
0:23:09 > 0:23:13relocating the gas boiler should have been planned from the outset.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29Because the family's builder built the extension around the gas flue,
0:23:29 > 0:23:34potentially lethal fumes were pumping directly into their home.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39Once you found out from the plumber that the gas flue was dangerous,
0:23:39 > 0:23:44what was your immediate reaction, even before you phoned the builder?
0:23:44 > 0:23:49I was horrified. Absolutely horrified to know that that could have killed all of us.
0:23:49 > 0:23:54Absolutely horrified and gobsmacked at his incompetence as a builder.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Absolutely gobsmacked.
0:23:56 > 0:24:01His reaction, when I mentioned the flue was he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't know."
0:24:01 > 0:24:03He doesn't know!
0:24:03 > 0:24:09I just ripped him to pieces. I went round the whole build, dragged him round - not physically,
0:24:09 > 0:24:13but I dragged him round the whole build and pointed out everything. That took a while.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16- What was his responses? - He just didn't care!
0:24:16 > 0:24:22He didn't have an answer for anything. He was like a little boy who didn't know what was going on.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25It was like a headmaster having a go at a pupil
0:24:25 > 0:24:29and the pupil stands there like... all cowed.
0:24:29 > 0:24:30Unbelievable!
0:24:30 > 0:24:32I just don't understand it.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35I can't understand why you're pointing out...
0:24:35 > 0:24:39- I'm assuming you're not a builder, Mick.- No.- Right.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41So you're pointing out problems
0:24:41 > 0:24:44and he is just going either, "That's not a problem",
0:24:44 > 0:24:48or "I can rectify that" or "There's nothing wrong with it."
0:24:48 > 0:24:52He didn't say he'd change it. He wasn't interested in what we had to say.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54His words were, "I don't care."
0:24:54 > 0:24:58- Did he return after that time? - Um...- Yeah.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02After I'd kicked off at him that day about the flue and the rest of it,
0:25:02 > 0:25:04he disappeared off the site for three days
0:25:04 > 0:25:09- and he refused to come back. - He came back with the plasterer.
0:25:09 > 0:25:10I'd spoken to him on the phone.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14He said, "I feel really intimidated", blah, blah, blah.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18I said, "I had every right to scream at you the way I did with how you left us."
0:25:18 > 0:25:22I said, "If that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have had to kick off."
0:25:22 > 0:25:27- He comes back.- He came back after the phone conversation I had with him.
0:25:27 > 0:25:33- He came back with another labourer of whatever.- Plasterer, wasn't it?
0:25:33 > 0:25:36They started to do a square-and-a-half, a metre square,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39of rendering on the outside of the building.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42We disappeared out to pick up the children from school.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46In that time, he'd loaded all his tools up and gone.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50He took that opportunity as soon as you left the property. He was off.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54He'd got 29 grand and he left you in a real state.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56What do you do?
0:25:56 > 0:25:59I was still gobsmacked again.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03Gutted. He'd left and I realised he'd left and done one with our money
0:26:03 > 0:26:06and left us in that state and I didn't know what to do.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08I just... I almost cried.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12- Mum did. I did.- It caused a few arguments in the household.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16It's caused rows between us, rows with the mother-in-law.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19"Why did you give him the money?", and so on.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24So we got a quantity surveyor out to go round the build.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28- He was gobsmacked as well!- He reckoned it would cost about £7,000
0:26:28 > 0:26:30to complete what work was there.
0:26:30 > 0:26:35Obviously he didn't check the building thoroughly to see all the problems he has caused.
0:26:35 > 0:26:40Michael's reaction, when he found out the family had been at risk, caused the builder to leave.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Coming up, I find out from an expert
0:26:43 > 0:26:45about the huge risk to the family
0:26:45 > 0:26:48from the gas pumping out of the boiler flue.
0:26:48 > 0:26:53Unfortunately, in the last 12 months, 18 people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
0:26:54 > 0:26:59In Hertfordshire, we're helping Angela get ready for her wedding day.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02There are four generations of family coming to celebrate.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06But mum Shirley is ashamed of the way the front of the house looks
0:27:06 > 0:27:08since their builder abandoned the job.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12If it had been left like it was, I couldn't have watched her walk out.
0:27:12 > 0:27:17No way could I have watched her walk out. It's going to make so much difference.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20It makes the whole house look different.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24The builder, despite taking three grand extra to lay a driveway,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27walked off without laying a single block.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Fortunately, our good guys are on the job now.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Hey, Paul. The boys are back in town! It looks good.
0:27:35 > 0:27:40Already you've made a massive impression on this drive. Tell us what you've done.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42We're putting down concrete now.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45We've just finished the backfill of the soakaway.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49Now we're going to put the scalpings on. The lads are loading it up.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52- OK.- Then we'll whack it down with this vibrating plate.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55And compact it all. The next thing is sand.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58- Sand's on board. And then the blocks.- Great!
0:27:58 > 0:28:02- We're going great guns.- I'm amazed in such a short space of time,
0:28:02 > 0:28:04how quick you've got on with this driveway.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08It's been a bit easier than I thought it would be.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10We've got a good team working together.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14- Brilliant. I'll leave you to it. I'll see you later.- Lovely.
0:28:14 > 0:28:20When the builder built the family's extension over the outside gas flue without cutting off the boiler,
0:28:20 > 0:28:22he put the family in grave danger.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27I've brought in Gas Safe technical manager Jamie Cooper to explain why.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32What were the real dangers of escaping carbon monoxide through that exhaust
0:28:32 > 0:28:35that was now fully enclosed in an extension?
0:28:35 > 0:28:37The danger is it's fatal.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40Unfortunately, if that boiler wasn't working correctly
0:28:40 > 0:28:44and producing more carbon monoxide than it was ever intended to do,
0:28:44 > 0:28:48and it was coming into this enclosed space, we've got a doorway here,
0:28:48 > 0:28:50an old extractor fan up there,
0:28:50 > 0:28:53there's avenues for the carbon monoxide to get back into the house.
0:28:53 > 0:28:58That's when you'll start feeling unwell - headaches, nauseousness, breathlessness.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01They're all first signs that something's not right.
0:29:01 > 0:29:05In the last 12 months, 18 people died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
0:29:05 > 0:29:09About another 350 were exposed to the effects of carbon monoxide
0:29:09 > 0:29:13and were hospitalised for a matter of hours, possibly weeks.
0:29:13 > 0:29:18It's those incidents we need to get to and investigate to stop them happening.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22Of course, in this case, it's been just bad news all round.
0:29:22 > 0:29:27Explain where you think this builder, although it's really obvious, where he went wrong.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31Obviously the builder, for whatever reason,
0:29:31 > 0:29:35has decided to build the extension out without getting the boiler moved.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39They've put the extension out and completely enclosed the flue.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42Even a correctly operating and well-maintained boiler
0:29:42 > 0:29:45still produces small levels of carbon monoxide.
0:29:45 > 0:29:50But they're designed to go in the atmosphere, to get diluted by air so they're not a hazard.
0:29:50 > 0:29:55But coming into a space like this, then instantly the room will start building with fumes.
0:29:55 > 0:29:59It'll feel stuffy and uncomfortable and you'll have carbon monoxide in there.
0:29:59 > 0:30:05Another thing about this particular boiler is it draws its air to burn from in here. OK?
0:30:05 > 0:30:11So all the air is going back into the boiler. And if it's taking in bad air,
0:30:11 > 0:30:13full of fumes as it would be here,
0:30:13 > 0:30:17then it starts a cycle of creating more and more carbon monoxide.
0:30:17 > 0:30:21So if that had been left on, and this room kept filling up with carbon monoxide,
0:30:21 > 0:30:24it would create more and more carbon monoxide.
0:30:24 > 0:30:30The more it builds up, the more it can come back into the house and that's where the massive danger is.
0:30:30 > 0:30:35Total negligence. This guy could have caused, let's face it,
0:30:35 > 0:30:37- a fatality.- Yes. - At the end of the day.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40Even worse, it could have been more than one.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45To help prevent the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in your home,
0:30:45 > 0:30:47there is a simple step you can take.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54These devices are readily available from hardware and DIY stores.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57They cost a relatively small amount of money
0:30:57 > 0:31:00for the peace of mind and safety they provide.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02About £20 will buy an alarm
0:31:02 > 0:31:05which gives audible and visual warning
0:31:05 > 0:31:07when carbon monoxide is detected.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17A carbon monoxide alarm would have given the family adequate protection.
0:31:19 > 0:31:25Coming up, I want to know just how out of order things really got when Michael confronted the builder.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27On a scale of one to ten,
0:31:27 > 0:31:33with one being the most gentle, and ten being the most aggressive, where were you?
0:31:36 > 0:31:39We're in Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, helping a young family
0:31:39 > 0:31:43whose plans for a granny annexe went badly wrong.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45They paid their builder £29,000
0:31:45 > 0:31:48but the extension is uninhabitable.
0:31:48 > 0:31:53Abandoned new extensions are one of the biggest problems I come across.
0:31:53 > 0:31:54So here are my top tips...
0:31:59 > 0:32:01Don't be sketchy with your dreams.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05Get a qualified architect in to draw up your plans.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09Don't let your builder interpret your dreams on the back of an envelope.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20Get your plans approved by the local authority
0:32:20 > 0:32:21before work starts.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24If your builder says you don't need planning,
0:32:24 > 0:32:26don't take his word for it.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34If you don't, the authorities can order your new extension is demolished.
0:32:34 > 0:32:40Get at least three builders to price up your plans and give you a detailed quote.
0:32:40 > 0:32:41The most common mistake
0:32:41 > 0:32:44is to hire the first builder in the door
0:32:44 > 0:32:46or the middle quote and then hope for the best.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52Be clear about which stage your builder will stop work.
0:32:55 > 0:32:57Don't extend on the cheap.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00You could pay dearly in the end.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04If one of the quotes sounds like a bargain price, be very wary.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10A cut-price job usually means lots of corners cut.
0:33:11 > 0:33:17Never pay up-front. Always insist on a contract with detailed stage payments.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19The cowboys love cash.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23Pay up front and you'll be lucky if they're still around at the end of the job.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31Hold back a percentage in case there are any snags later.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33No need to worry with our guys.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36They've almost finished work on the new drive.
0:33:36 > 0:33:42Now the front of the house will be safe when the family arrive for Angela and Michael's wedding.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44My mother-in-law is giving her away.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46My mother-in-law is 86.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49No way could she have walked across there.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52Angela would have had to carry her across!
0:33:52 > 0:33:54- Stop yourself there, Paul.- Hi.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56- How you doing? All right? - All right, mate.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59- This looks the bee's knees. - Thank you.
0:33:59 > 0:34:05Tell you something, the change from the last time I spoke to you is amazing.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09Just tell us what you've done and what you've got left to do.
0:34:09 > 0:34:14What we've done, we've had to dig it out and get all new levels.
0:34:14 > 0:34:20Compact the ground. The put a thing called MOT, or scalpings down, compact that.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22Then sand, compact that again.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25Then we put the blocks on and we had to compact them as well!
0:34:25 > 0:34:27So everything is rock solid.
0:34:27 > 0:34:32So even if a heavy vehicle came on here, there'd be no welling or anything.
0:34:32 > 0:34:38Then we've got to put on the silver sand, put that in the joints.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41- We compress it again. - That's the kiln-dried stuff, yeah.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45And it just locks all up then. Locks the whole thing up.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48What's the final bit to do? I know you're ready to fire up the wacker.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52That is the final bit, really. We just go over it one more time.
0:34:52 > 0:34:56Get rid of any blemishes, get the sand right into the joints. That's it.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00- Your boys have done a cracking job. I'll let you carry on. - Thanks, Clive.
0:35:00 > 0:35:05Tremendous job. I can't wait to show Angela and Michael what the good guys can do.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07They'll be excited to see this.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10This build ended badly for two reasons.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13First, the poor and dangerous quality of the work.
0:35:13 > 0:35:19Second, Michael's reaction when he confronted the builder about the potentially lethal gas flue.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23The builder said he felt intimidated and refused to continue.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25So we're not going to phone him today.
0:35:25 > 0:35:29But I want to know just how out of order things got.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32Now, you say, "absolutely kicked off with him."
0:35:32 > 0:35:35I need to get to the crux of this, mate.
0:35:35 > 0:35:37On a scale of one to ten,
0:35:37 > 0:35:42with one being the most gentle and ten being the most aggressive, where were you?
0:35:42 > 0:35:44Verbally at number ten.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49- You were verbally at number ten on the scale.- Yeah.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52I almost stepped over the edge and lost total control.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54I ended up walking off.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58Screaming my head off at him, and said, "Looks like you're fleecing me."
0:35:58 > 0:36:03As I walked off, I said, "Trading Standards, you're going to get the lot, mate."
0:36:03 > 0:36:06And his words were, "Sue me."
0:36:09 > 0:36:13Looking back again, with those wonderful hindsight glasses on,
0:36:13 > 0:36:19do you believe that maybe you went over the top?
0:36:19 > 0:36:22Or do you believe that it's fully justified?
0:36:22 > 0:36:25Cos I'm a big fan, before you say anything,
0:36:25 > 0:36:26I'm a big fan of dialogue.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30And if this was the first time you'd noticed everything,
0:36:30 > 0:36:36maybe, I don't know, do you think you should have been different in that approach?
0:36:36 > 0:36:38When I approached him, I was calm.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41I was pretty calm about the situation.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44It was the reactions I got from him started ticking in my head
0:36:44 > 0:36:47thinking, "What the hell have we done employing this guy?"
0:36:47 > 0:36:51Maybe I could have gone about things a different way.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55Maybe not been so verbal or so aggressive with my voice and that,
0:36:55 > 0:37:00but no, I think I was well within my rights to react the way that I did.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02Michael has learned the expensive way
0:37:02 > 0:37:06how not to negotiate with your builder when things go wrong.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10The builder told us he was too intimidated to return to work on the property.
0:37:10 > 0:37:15But he admits he made a mistake when he built round the gas flue and he shouldn't have done.
0:37:15 > 0:37:16Take my tip.
0:37:16 > 0:37:21If you find yourself in Michael's shoes, don't let anger rule your head.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27It's important to hear what he has to say
0:37:27 > 0:37:31in case you've misunderstood something or made a mistake.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35If you can't agree, call on the experts like Consumer Direct.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39Take their advice about how to resolve your dispute calmly.
0:37:39 > 0:37:44Coming up, I hope our good guys' work can make Angela and Michael's big day complete.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48- Oh!- Oh, my God!
0:37:51 > 0:37:53With the wedding just around the corner,
0:37:53 > 0:37:58our team of good guys' work is done. But before I show them their new driveway,
0:37:58 > 0:38:01I want to ask Angela and Michael to describe just how bad it looked
0:38:01 > 0:38:04before we arrived.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07Just remind us what it was like out there.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09- It was a nightmare. - Like a junk yard.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13They'd dug all the dirt up, there was dirt everywhere.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16- Great big hole in the middle. - It was dangerous.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19A board over the hole to walk over.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21It was an absolute mess.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23How long had it been like that?
0:38:23 > 0:38:25About six weeks.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28- Maybe a bit longer. - Six, eight weeks.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32It was pretty tricky, wasn't it, to clamber over that board and whatever.
0:38:32 > 0:38:36- Generally, it absolutely looked a mess, didn't it?- Yeah.
0:38:36 > 0:38:41What would you do differently next time when you're getting a builder in?
0:38:41 > 0:38:43Get some good references.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45- Loving that. - A portfolio of their work
0:38:45 > 0:38:49so you could see for yourself, maybe go round to a property they've worked at.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53You said "maybe" go round and have a look.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57I want you to definitely go round and have a look.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00Anybody can create a portfolio.
0:39:00 > 0:39:05- I'm happy you've picked up on those points.- We've learned from this.- Yeah!- The hard way.
0:39:05 > 0:39:11It is a hard way. Sadly, it still looks like it's an ongoing problem.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14But what are you hoping for?
0:39:14 > 0:39:19A nice new drive that she can walk across on her big day without tripping over loads of mess.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21Some nice photographs.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25- That's important to you, isn't it? - Yeah.- Big style.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29I hope you'll like what we've done. Those guys have worked fantastically well.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32I hope you're really going to enjoy it.
0:39:32 > 0:39:37So are you ready to take a look at what that threshold is going to be like
0:39:37 > 0:39:41for when your Mick here carries you over after you get married?
0:39:41 > 0:39:44- Let's go!- Come on, then!
0:39:44 > 0:39:47Angela and Michael are in for quite a surprise.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51The front of the house has been transformed from demolition disaster
0:39:51 > 0:39:53to dream driveway.
0:39:55 > 0:39:56- Oh!- Oh, my God!
0:39:58 > 0:39:59Wow!
0:39:59 > 0:40:02What a difference!
0:40:03 > 0:40:05- It's unbelievable. - That is amazing, isn't it?
0:40:05 > 0:40:08That's what the good guys are capable of.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11But not only that,
0:40:11 > 0:40:14they noticed that your wall could do with a bit of a painting.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16Look at that!
0:40:16 > 0:40:20They've actually painted the wall as well.
0:40:20 > 0:40:22OK? The paving goes all the way round the side.
0:40:22 > 0:40:27They've re-hung that set of doors as well, cos they were hanging off.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30So they've re-hung those and they've paved all the way
0:40:30 > 0:40:33to what is still not a very nice extension!
0:40:33 > 0:40:37- But at least it's paved. That's the main thing.- Excellent.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40- I can't believe it. - They've done a good job!
0:40:40 > 0:40:44So when you're stepping out now, on that big day,
0:40:44 > 0:40:46car's waiting for you,
0:40:46 > 0:40:51you won't have to be thinking about walking over a piece of flexible chipboard!
0:40:54 > 0:40:57You'll be able to now walk out, proud as punch,
0:40:57 > 0:40:59ready for that big day.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01- Thank you!- You're welcome. - Thank you!
0:41:01 > 0:41:06When we arrived, the house was stranded in the middle of a building site.
0:41:06 > 0:41:11With the wedding day looming, Angela dreaded she'd ruin her dress leaving the house she grew up in
0:41:11 > 0:41:13before she even reached the bridal car.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16Our team of good guys has banished those blues
0:41:16 > 0:41:20with something not old or borrowed, but brand spanking new.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22A lovely block paved drive
0:41:22 > 0:41:26so that Angela can depart in style. And after the honeymoon,
0:41:26 > 0:41:29groom Michael can carry her over the threshold with a smile.
0:41:29 > 0:41:34You know you've got the good guys in when they don't stop at the beautiful paving.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38We've whitewashed the house and re-hung the gates too.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43All I'm going to say now is, have a cracking wedding day.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46I hope it's a fantastic future for you.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49I know there's still things to do. Try not to get too stressed out.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51Just have a damn good time!
0:41:51 > 0:41:53- Fantastic.- Great.
0:41:53 > 0:41:57- Thank you very much! - It's been an absolute pleasure. Hope you enjoy it.
0:41:57 > 0:42:01- I do hope you can move on. Congratulations, missus!- Thank you!
0:42:01 > 0:42:03- All right?- Thank you, sincerely.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07You take good care of yourself now. And have a good time.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10Enjoy that wedding. Charlie, you've gone all shy!
0:42:10 > 0:42:13Take it easy and enjoy!
0:42:13 > 0:42:15- Thanks very much. - See you soon. Good luck.
0:42:16 > 0:42:21You know, now I think Angela will be able to leave the house one happy lady.
0:42:21 > 0:42:25I hope that we've paved the way to their future happiness.
0:42:25 > 0:42:29But remember, always keep your cool and be firm and clear with your builders.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33That way, you won't go falling into the cowboy trap!
0:42:33 > 0:42:37Two weeks after we completed the driveway, the wedding day came around.
0:42:37 > 0:42:41Angela was given away by her 86-year-old gran,
0:42:41 > 0:42:43and when the bridal car pulled up,
0:42:43 > 0:42:45they were able to drive away in style.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48I'm glad our team of good guys was able to help Angela and Michael
0:42:48 > 0:42:51begin married life with a smile!
0:43:16 > 0:43:19Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd