0:00:04 > 0:00:06I'm travelling up and down the country
0:00:06 > 0:00:09tracking down cowboy builders who could be operating
0:00:09 > 0:00:11in a town near you.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13The builders put the wrong roof on.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17And that particular night, after erecting it, it blew off.
0:00:17 > 0:00:22I can't believe how many bodged jobs these so-called builders leave behind.
0:00:22 > 0:00:27All I saw were guys with sledge hammers and rubble and rubble and rubble.
0:00:27 > 0:00:32With our team of good guys, we'll right the wrongs and help give people their lives back.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36- Oh! Wow!- What do you reckon?- Wow!
0:00:36 > 0:00:39I'll pass on all my hints and tips in the hope it will help prevent you
0:00:39 > 0:00:42from falling into the cowboy trap.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54'Today, we're in Cheshire and North Wales,
0:00:54 > 0:00:58'two separate stories but with one very surprising twist in the tale.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02'Both homeowners wanted work to start quickly
0:01:02 > 0:01:04'so hired builders who could start straight away.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08'The Hibberts wanted major renovation work done on their new house.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10'They ended up with financial disaster.'
0:01:10 > 0:01:13I think it's been the worst three years of my life.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15I've been ill through it.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18It was really bad, the way he left the property.
0:01:18 > 0:01:24'Single mum Liz Edge wanted a conservatory to give her disabled daughter more space.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28'But her cowboy builder left her with no conservatory and no money, either.'
0:01:28 > 0:01:32I used to say to myself how stupid you've been.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36I was having flashbacks of counting the £20 notes out to him.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39And if only I'd not bothered
0:01:39 > 0:01:44and made him wait for the money till he finished his job like I should've done.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50'First up, we're in Cheshire where Christine Hibbert and her husband Alan
0:01:50 > 0:01:54'bought a seven-bedroom farmhouse that needed a lot of work.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56'They really wanted it to be their dream home.'
0:01:56 > 0:02:01Well, we bought the property, and it was in a tired state,
0:02:01 > 0:02:05it was a working farm, from an elderly couple
0:02:05 > 0:02:10and we knew that we'd have to spend a considerable amount of money on the property
0:02:10 > 0:02:12to get it to a standard we were happy with.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15'The house needed major refurbishment.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19'Extensions on each side, a damp course, changes to the layout,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22'new woodwork, central heating and plastering.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25'Christine and her husband knew it was a huge job
0:02:25 > 0:02:30'so they felt reassured when their mortgage advisor recommended a local builder.'
0:02:30 > 0:02:34We came across a builder who was recommended to us by our mortgage advisors.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38Felt a little bit secure that at least we weren't picking someone out of the Yellow Pages.
0:02:38 > 0:02:43We met, we had the verbal discussions around what type of work needed to be done.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47We'd already got architects' plans that we'd had drawn up previously
0:02:47 > 0:02:52and we gave him those plans and said, "That's what we need you to build."
0:02:52 > 0:02:56'The Hibberts' builder promised military efficiency.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00'He told them he'd been a regimental sergeant major for over 20 years.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03'They were expecting army precision on this building job.'
0:03:03 > 0:03:06He kept telling me that he'd been an RSM
0:03:06 > 0:03:11and he was used to organisation, planning, getting things done on time, project management,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14and said that he'd set up this building company
0:03:14 > 0:03:19and they were doing incredibly well and the reason why he was free is they'd just been let down on a job.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23When they realised their builder was available,
0:03:23 > 0:03:26the Hibberts seized on the opportunity to get their work underway
0:03:26 > 0:03:30so they could be back in their home as soon as possible.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32'Take a tip from me...
0:03:34 > 0:03:38'Experienced builders are usually booked up for months in advance.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47'One month in, and Christine was worried.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52'All she could see was the builders taking down walls and nothing being put up.'
0:03:52 > 0:03:55All I saw were guys with sledge hammers
0:03:55 > 0:04:00and rubble and rubble and rubble of bricks.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04I saw no materials being delivered to the site.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07'Christine suspected things weren't going to plan.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11'She called in a building inspector to check over the work.'
0:04:11 > 0:04:15I knew there were things that probably weren't right but I couldn't put my finger on them
0:04:15 > 0:04:20but I thought if I got some experts, I'd be in a better place.
0:04:20 > 0:04:25And we actually... I turned up and met people here.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29The builder was already here working away, demolishing stuff,
0:04:29 > 0:04:34and the building inspector started going around, taking quite detailed notes.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38'The building inspector confirmed Christine's suspicions.'
0:04:38 > 0:04:42The building inspector said, "I don't believe these walls are tied in"
0:04:42 > 0:04:45and the builder said, "Yes, they are tied in."
0:04:45 > 0:04:50And the building inspector pushed the walls and, of course, they collapsed.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54And, at that point, the builder just got very irritated
0:04:54 > 0:04:58and called all his guys, told them to stop work,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01said he wasn't going to be treated like that and walked off the site.
0:05:01 > 0:05:06'The Hibberts' home ended up in complete devastation.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08'The extension walls had to be taken down.
0:05:08 > 0:05:14'Emergency builders were called in just to make their home safe and the work had to start all over again.
0:05:14 > 0:05:19'The family had to take out another mortgage to pay for the work to be redone.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21'But now they're out of cash.'
0:05:21 > 0:05:25We've got a part of the house which we've not been able to finish
0:05:25 > 0:05:28and that's a flat roof, which is leaking like a sieve
0:05:28 > 0:05:31and way past its sell-by date.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35The roof should've been taken off and a hip roof should've been placed back on.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38It should've been damp coursed
0:05:38 > 0:05:41and, obviously, plumbing and rewiring in there.
0:05:41 > 0:05:46The flat roof is still on. We've basically run out of money.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48'The Hibberts wanted two extensions
0:05:48 > 0:05:51'and a complete revamp inside.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54'They paid their builder £35,000,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57'but all they were left with was rubble and ruin.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01'Remedial work has fixed most of the damage caused by the cowboy,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04'but they've still got a whole room that's unusable.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08'The flat roof leaks and is causing water damage that's getting worse.'
0:06:08 > 0:06:13This is the room that's still a mess. I've made it into a bit of a study
0:06:13 > 0:06:15cos I work for myself and I need somewhere to work.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20But the ceiling itself is pretty bad.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24Obviously, if you went on the flat roof, you'd be able to see how bad it is.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28All this damage here is water that comes through the roof.
0:06:28 > 0:06:33You can see how old the flat roof is and how it should've been made into a hip roof.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Obviously, that was the extension there that they put in,
0:06:36 > 0:06:38but we had to take it all down
0:06:38 > 0:06:42because it hadn't been tied into the wall so it was wobbling.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46So it was just so dangerous, we absolutely had to have it knocked down.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49'Christine wanted to warn others about her cowboy builder.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52'She contacted her local council
0:06:52 > 0:06:55'but was shocked to find they already knew all about him.'
0:06:55 > 0:06:58When I realised he was known to the council, it was just absolute...
0:06:58 > 0:07:01I think my whole body shook, actually. It was dread and horror.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05I think it was almost as though the dots were getting joined together
0:07:05 > 0:07:08and my worst fears were coming to reality.
0:07:08 > 0:07:13'And this whole disaster has, of course, put a lot of pressure on Christine and Alan.'
0:07:13 > 0:07:16It's put an absolute massive strain.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19I've been married for the best part of 30 years
0:07:19 > 0:07:22and, like every couple, you have your ups and downs,
0:07:22 > 0:07:26but this has put a massive, massive strain on us.
0:07:26 > 0:07:31Emotionally, financially. We've argued about it.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Christine's hope of finally completing her dream home
0:07:34 > 0:07:38has had to be left on hold until she gets her extension completed.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41'I want to find out what we can do to help.'
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- Hello. Are you Christine?- I am. - Hi, I'm Clive from Cowboy Trap.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49- Do you mind if I come in and have a chat about the problem? - Please come in.
0:07:53 > 0:07:58What can we do in the short space of time that we've got
0:07:58 > 0:08:01that would help you?
0:08:01 > 0:08:03If there's any way that we can get any help,
0:08:03 > 0:08:08just to get that flat roof into a roof that is not going to leak
0:08:08 > 0:08:13and eventually collapse, then that would be just great.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17You leave that with me, all right? We'll see what we can do for you.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21Christine really needs to get her extension sorted out.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24It's time to bring on the good guys.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36'Coming up, an independent chartered surveyor gives us his opinion
0:08:36 > 0:08:40'on what the Hibberts were left with by their cowboy builders.'
0:08:40 > 0:08:44What I'm seeing is basically a house in a complete state of disrepair.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50'Heading west now, we're off to Wales.'
0:08:50 > 0:08:52We're in Pensarn to meet Liz Edge
0:08:52 > 0:08:55who just wanted an extension to her bungalow
0:08:55 > 0:08:59so that she'd have more room to care for daughter Lucy.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02'Liz is a full-time carer for 14-year-old Lucy.
0:09:02 > 0:09:07'They moved from Manchester to the North Wales coast looking for a bit of the good life.'
0:09:07 > 0:09:11I love North Wales. For ten years I've been coming to my mum's caravan.
0:09:11 > 0:09:16So I decided then, that's where I wanted to buy the house.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19And that's what I did. I've followed my dream.
0:09:20 > 0:09:25'Liz wanted to make alterations to her new home so she could care for her daughter,
0:09:25 > 0:09:29'including a warm, bright room to make the most of the sunshine.'
0:09:29 > 0:09:33I decided to buy the house and put a conservatory on it for Lucy
0:09:33 > 0:09:37to make it that bit bigger, cos I'd come out of a large house
0:09:37 > 0:09:40and this is a lot smaller than what I had.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42'Lucy is severely disabled.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45'She's also partially sighted,
0:09:45 > 0:09:47'so having lights around her gives her comfort.
0:09:47 > 0:09:52'Liz wanted to use the conservatory to give Lucy her own space.'
0:09:52 > 0:09:55I just want to use it as a light room for her,
0:09:55 > 0:09:59put lights in it, also her wheelchair,
0:09:59 > 0:10:01a chair she sits in in the day.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05She has milk which she's fed through in her stomach,
0:10:05 > 0:10:08so I was going to keep all her equipment in there.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11It was an extra room for Lucy, really, and her toys.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14During a visit to the local bowling club,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17a friendly samaritan suggested a builder to Liz.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20But all wasn't as it seemed.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24A couple of men approached me and said to me,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27"If you ever need any work doing, come in and see us.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30"We have the guys who can do work for you.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32"You've got to be very careful who you get.
0:10:32 > 0:10:38"There's an awful lot of cowboys around and you've got to watch who you have in your house to do work.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42"We'll put you onto someone who does a really good job and won't let you down."
0:10:42 > 0:10:47'Liz was new to the area. She thought these chaps were doing her a favour.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50'She asked them to put her in touch with the builder.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52'But she was shocked when he called her within the hour.'
0:10:52 > 0:10:57He said to me, "I could start Monday, have it finished for you for Christmas."
0:10:57 > 0:10:59I was very impressed.
0:10:59 > 0:11:07I had the money there to have it done, so I thought, "Yeah, I'll let this man do it for me."
0:11:07 > 0:11:12'Liz had a budget of £10,000 left over from the sale of her previous house.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15'She asked the builder for a quote to build a new conservatory
0:11:15 > 0:11:17'and to make some minor changes inside.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22'She wanted the loft hatch moved, spotlights in her bathroom and a front window replaced.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25'He wanted to know how much she had to spend.'
0:11:25 > 0:11:27He did ask me how much money I had
0:11:27 > 0:11:31and I didn't think, at the time, much about that.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35I told him I'd just sold my house in Manchester
0:11:35 > 0:11:39and I had £10,000 cash in the bank from the sale of my home.
0:11:39 > 0:11:45And his reply was, "Oh, for cash, I can do you a really good job.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50"I can do you a conservatory and other work round your house."
0:11:50 > 0:11:52'Take a tip from me...'
0:11:59 > 0:12:01'..to calculate the true cost of your job.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04'Liz agreed the price with her builder,
0:12:04 > 0:12:08'all the money she had, and they started work the following week.'
0:12:08 > 0:12:11Eight o'clock, the whole lot, four of them,
0:12:11 > 0:12:16all started work, the equipment started arriving.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Work started straight away.
0:12:20 > 0:12:25But within one week, his workmen had left him.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29His joiner and his labourer
0:12:29 > 0:12:33had had a row on my property and gone.
0:12:33 > 0:12:38There was nobody, only the trainee bricklayer.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41So it wasn't looking good after one week, really.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44'Things went from bad to worse
0:12:44 > 0:12:47'when the roof on Liz's new conservatory blew off.'
0:12:47 > 0:12:53It was lifting and lifting and I said, "That's not going to stay on much longer."
0:12:53 > 0:12:58And why I laughed, I don't know, but I expected it to go.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00And it did. It blew off.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03One night on, it blew off.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06'This is absolutely shocking.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09'The roof was put on one day, and the next night, it was off.'
0:13:09 > 0:13:12I phoned the builder, told him what had happened
0:13:12 > 0:13:16and he said he would come to the property and remove the rest of it.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20Which, three days later, while I wasn't in,
0:13:20 > 0:13:23he did come and take the rest of it down.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27And that's the last I heard or seen of him.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30'Liz's builder abandoned ship.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33'But she desperately needed extra space for Lucy
0:13:33 > 0:13:38'so she scrimped and saved for another builder to come and finish the job.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40'She's got her conservatory now,
0:13:40 > 0:13:44'but the other shoddy jobs left by the original cowboy are still in a state
0:13:44 > 0:13:47'and Liz has no money left to fix them.'
0:13:47 > 0:13:50I haven't got any money saved, I've got nothing.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54And I realise I need my conservatory finishing.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59And the bathroom, what he done, the loft hatch.
0:13:59 > 0:14:05And I've had to save and it's took me nearly 17 months to finish my conservatory
0:14:05 > 0:14:08and it's been a real struggle paying for it.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10So, really, I've paid twice.
0:14:10 > 0:14:16'Liz handed her original builder £9,700 in cash.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19'She wanted a new conservatory across the back of her home,
0:14:19 > 0:14:25'and inside, she wanted her loft hatch moved and spotlights installed in the bathroom.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28'She ended up with nothing but shoddy, half-done work.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31'Her bathroom and bedroom ceilings were left in a mess.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35'Outside, all she got was a dwarf wall and a concrete base.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39'Liz became so ill with the stress that her friend, Bernard, was worried.'
0:14:39 > 0:14:44She has lost a tremendous lot of weight, she's depressed,
0:14:44 > 0:14:48and it made her job more harder seeing to Lucy.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53'Bernard was even more anxious about the impact on Lucy.'
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Well, the little girl, he's robbed her.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58I mean, how can anybody...
0:15:01 > 0:15:05..rob a child who is so severely disabled?
0:15:07 > 0:15:11Liz just wanted an extension to make her and her daughter's life easier.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15It's time for me to find out just what's been going on.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20- Hello. Are you Liz?- I am.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23- Hi, I'm Clive from Cowboy Trap. - Pleased to meet you.
0:15:23 > 0:15:28- Do you mind showing me the damage that these rogue builders have caused?- Come in.- Let's have a look.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34- Right.- Come into the bathroom.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37- Yep.- Yeah. There you go. - OK. Very nice.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40- What was there, Liz?- A loft hatch.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44- All right. And then he's removed the loft hatch.- Yes.
0:15:44 > 0:15:50And put in a chunk of any old bit of timber, which it looks like he mixed mortar on
0:15:50 > 0:15:54and then just cut it with a chainsaw and stuck it up there. It's not very good.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56Did you want anything else doing in here?
0:15:56 > 0:16:01Spotlights. I wanted spotlights in the ceiling, in the new ceiling.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03And did he say he could do them for you?
0:16:03 > 0:16:07No, he said you couldn't have spotlights in the ceiling.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09You can have spotlights.
0:16:09 > 0:16:14They have to be moisture-resistant to resist the steam and whatever else
0:16:14 > 0:16:18and they also have to have fire hoods on them to protect them from combusting in the loft space.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21- So I am glad he didn't do that job. - Me, too.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25Cos I'd be worried about how he'd fitted them. But you can have them.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29- Anywhere else we need to look at? - Yes, the bedroom next door.- Show me.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32'The loft hatch in Liz's bedroom is a mess.'
0:16:32 > 0:16:36- I don't like that.- Nor me. - That is pretty awful, isn't it?
0:16:36 > 0:16:40- That's what you call butchered. - Do you reckon?- Oh, definitely.
0:16:40 > 0:16:45It's not even level, it's standing proud of the ceiling at one end and flushed in the other end.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49- So where else are the other problems?- Well, the conservatory.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53- So, I can see the conservatory's actually up.- Mm.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56So what did your original builder actually do?
0:16:56 > 0:17:00The concrete base and the wall and the footings.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02- So he did the footings, the building work.- Yes.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07'I can't believe this cowboy has took nearly ten grand from Liz,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10'leaving her and Lucy with nothing but a bodged job.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14'I want to find out how we can bring some happiness back to their lives.'
0:17:14 > 0:17:18What could we do for you that would make you happy?
0:17:18 > 0:17:24Just my bathroom, as you can see, has been left like that, and the bedroom.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27I just can't get round to doing them.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30- I'd be delighted if you could finish them for me.- OK.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34That's what we'll crack on with. We'll get the good guys in and sort it out.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39'We've got loads to do, fitting those spotlights, replastering the bathroom ceiling
0:17:39 > 0:17:45'and making good the bedroom loft hatch. We need to bring sunshine to Liz and Lucy's back yard.'
0:17:45 > 0:17:50What kind of so-called builder leaves a vulnerable family in a state like this?
0:17:50 > 0:17:53'It's time to bring on the good guys.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03'Coming up, we hear what an independent surveyor thinks of Liz's cowboy's work.'
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Very amateurish, rough.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13'We're back in Cheshire, where Christine Hibbert and her hubby
0:18:13 > 0:18:16'bought an old farmhouse that needed major renovation.
0:18:16 > 0:18:21'But when a building inspector queried the quality of their builder's work,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24'their cowboy builder upped and left.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27'Christine and her family found themselves with nothing but rubble.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31'They've had a lot of remedial work done,
0:18:31 > 0:18:34'but a leaky roof is still causing chaos.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37'The good guys are keen to start, but before they do,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40'I want an independent surveyor to check things out.'
0:18:41 > 0:18:47Well, the extension that hasn't been completed is in a very poor state.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51It's got a flat roof which has certainly gone well beyond its useful life.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54The felt is blistering. It's exposed to the sunlight,
0:18:54 > 0:18:58so that the bitumen is degrading.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00And there are signs of leakage internally.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02I've been shown a series of photographs
0:19:02 > 0:19:07which describe the state of the building at the time that the builder left the site.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10What I'm seeing is a state of demolition.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13There's hardly any sign of any construction work.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18Based on the photographs that I've seen, I can't give it anything out of ten, so zero out of ten.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24'Our good guys are ready to help Christine and her family complete their home.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28'They'll be taking off the old roof and replacing it with a perfect pitched one.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32'Warren is leading our team today, so I want to find out, what's the plan?'
0:19:32 > 0:19:35The plan of action is to strip the flat roof off.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38- Yep.- We're going to build up the end gable,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41put a new lean-to across, carry the block work up
0:19:41 > 0:19:45- and put a new pitched roof on. - So you're going to put a pitch on
0:19:45 > 0:19:48- rather than a flat, which is always going to be better.- That's right.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51We're going to follow the plane of the existing roof.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54That sounds like a cracking little job to me.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57- How long is it going to take to do, Warren?- Two to three weeks.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00OK. Two to three weeks, nice pitched roof, I can't wait to see that.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03- But, for now, great to have you on board, Warren.- OK, thank you.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06'While Warren gets going,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09'I want to find out from Christine how she fought back.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13'The Hibberts took their bad builder to court. They gathered evidence and witnesses.
0:20:13 > 0:20:18'But despite winning their case and being awarded £123,000,
0:20:18 > 0:20:20'their builder hasn't paid them back a penny.'
0:20:20 > 0:20:24Take me to a real dark time. Cos you've lost 35 grand.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Well, it's a lot more than that.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30- It's a lot more than that. - Explain. Why?
0:20:30 > 0:20:34We got, in the meantime, a quantity surveyor to do a full report for us,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37took the pictures, which I think you've seen,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40I think there were about 66 pictures,
0:20:40 > 0:20:42all of which we used for the court case.
0:20:42 > 0:20:47And the work that was assessed, in terms of the damage that was done,
0:20:47 > 0:20:51to get the property in a state that we could restart the build again
0:20:51 > 0:20:53came to £99,000.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57So to literally put right and sturdy the building
0:20:57 > 0:21:01and put things in the way that it needs to be to get back on schedule,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04because of the damage that had been caused, was £99,000.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10That is a shark bite. There's no two ways about it. That is huge.
0:21:10 > 0:21:17Which meant that the budget that we'd put aside was wholly inadequate.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20But we picked ourselves up
0:21:20 > 0:21:24and started taking boards off, one after the other,
0:21:24 > 0:21:29and just physically just pulled it together one bit by another and just got on with it.
0:21:29 > 0:21:34It's taken us two and a half years to do that and it's been really unpleasant.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38And we decided that we would have to take this individual to court.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43And that took 12 months or more to get him into court.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45And where are you at this very point?
0:21:45 > 0:21:48We took him to court and we won the case a year ago.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51- And have you seen any money? - Not a penny.
0:21:51 > 0:21:58He's avoided every way of getting out of paying a penny.
0:21:58 > 0:22:04Well, I personally hope you get that money back in the end.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07I think there's always hope.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11'The initial remedial work just to make the Hibberts' home safe
0:22:11 > 0:22:14'cost a staggering 99 grand.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18'And then they had to start the renovations and extensions all over again.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20'They've lost a fortune.
0:22:20 > 0:22:25'I want to find out how they ended up with the cowboy builder who led them to disaster.'
0:22:25 > 0:22:29How did you go about finding your builder?
0:22:30 > 0:22:37Our builder was recommended to us by our financial advisor.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41That's a surprise. OK. That's shocked me.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43It shocked us, too.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47The father and son, who were the financial advisors
0:22:47 > 0:22:52who'd arranged our mortgage for us, they've done previous work for us,
0:22:52 > 0:22:56and they agreed the funding in advance
0:22:56 > 0:23:00because we took the least mortgage possible,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03were trusted by us and they said,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06"We've got a builder who we know is available,
0:23:06 > 0:23:12"we've done some work for him and he's one of our clients. Would you like to meet him?"
0:23:12 > 0:23:17This builder, if he's using him as a financial advisor, he's helping put money into his pocket,
0:23:17 > 0:23:21and vice versa. They're scratching each other's backs, if you like.
0:23:21 > 0:23:26'The Hibberts made the mistake of going for a friend of a friend recommendation.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28'Take a tip from me.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40'Christine and her husband have lost a huge amount of money.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43'With the massive emotional strain that brings,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46'they've got a lot of questions they want answering.'
0:23:46 > 0:23:52What kind of builder walks off the job, leaving it unfinished and in a total mess?
0:23:52 > 0:23:56It's time this cowboy gave us some answers.
0:23:56 > 0:24:01If you had an opportunity to speak to him now,
0:24:01 > 0:24:05what questions would you like to ask him?
0:24:05 > 0:24:10I guess it would be, "What possessed you to take a building contract on
0:24:10 > 0:24:13"of substantial value and a substantial size
0:24:13 > 0:24:17"when clearly, in court, you absolutely admitted to the judge,
0:24:17 > 0:24:20"and it's in the judgement document, that you are not a builder?"
0:24:20 > 0:24:23That would be my main thing. And also,
0:24:23 > 0:24:26we've got a judgement against him,
0:24:26 > 0:24:30he owes us a substantial amount of money, when are we going to get paid?
0:24:30 > 0:24:36I'm going to offer you the opportunity, here and now, to speak to him on the phone.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40Be nice and succinct and stay calm.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44- Regardless, just stay calm. Here we go. Are you ready?- Mm-hm.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47- There you go. - PHONE RINGS
0:24:47 > 0:24:50'Christine does get through, but only to the answerphone.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53I've got a couple of questions that I'd like to ask you
0:24:53 > 0:24:56and I'd like to give you the opportunity to reply
0:24:56 > 0:24:58while we've got the BBC with us,
0:24:58 > 0:25:03so could you please give me a call back as soon as you get this message on this number.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05Thank you.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09OK. Well done. That wasn't very nice, very succinct.
0:25:09 > 0:25:15- As I say, the chances of him calling back are pretty slim.- Mm.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19OK, this is always fairly tricky, making the phone call and everything,
0:25:19 > 0:25:21so I'm going to thank you for that,
0:25:21 > 0:25:26Hopefully, he'll get back in touch with us, but for now,
0:25:26 > 0:25:28sit tight, because we've had the good guys in
0:25:28 > 0:25:31and I can't wait to show you what the good guys are capable of.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36But hopefully, this will steel you to think there are good guys out there who can do the work.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38- OK. Thank you, Clive.- Thank you.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42'The builder wasn't picking up today, but when our office spoke to him,
0:25:42 > 0:25:46'he said he'd rather not comment for legal reasons. He may want to keep quiet,
0:25:46 > 0:25:50'but I've got something to say to cowboy builders everywhere.'
0:25:50 > 0:25:53You know who you are and now we know who you are.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55And by revealing your cowboy tricks,
0:25:55 > 0:25:58we'll prevent others from falling into your trap.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01'Coming up, I hope Christine is going to be impressed
0:26:01 > 0:26:05'with the roof she's been waiting three long years for.'
0:26:05 > 0:26:08Doesn't it look absolutely beautiful?
0:26:10 > 0:26:15'Back in North Wales, we're helping Liz Edge and her daughter Lucy
0:26:15 > 0:26:18'clear up the mess their bodging builder left behind.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22'Liz handed over almost £10,000 in cash to a cowboy builder
0:26:22 > 0:26:27'who promised to complete a conservatory, redo the bathroom and move a loft hatch.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32'But all she ended up with was a wrecked garden outside and a bodged bathroom ceiling inside
0:26:32 > 0:26:37'before he walked off the job. Liz has had to scrimp and save to put right her conservatory,
0:26:37 > 0:26:41'but her bathroom's still in a mess. Before the good guys step in,
0:26:41 > 0:26:45'I want an independent chartered surveyor to check it over.'
0:26:45 > 0:26:49From what you've seen from the outside, before we talk about the inside,
0:26:49 > 0:26:51what is not to your liking on the outside?
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Well, the render. It's started to break down,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58it's been exposed for far too long.
0:26:58 > 0:27:04It should've been covered up within a week of the original coating.
0:27:04 > 0:27:09The bell-cast strip at the bottom, I don't know where the damp proof course is, could be above or below.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12I wouldn't be too optimistic that there is any.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16Now, inside, she used to have a loft hatch in the bathroom
0:27:16 > 0:27:19and it's just been boarded over. What do you think to that?
0:27:19 > 0:27:23Very amateurish, rough. Basically, it needs to be taken down
0:27:23 > 0:27:26and the ceiling needs to be re-plated and skimmed.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29- And he's also been trying to find joists, as well.- He has.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32By just drilling bore holes all over the place.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36Yes, it's trial and error. You're going to hit them eventually.
0:27:36 > 0:27:43Which brings me, as our independent surveyor, to our mark out of ten for the work that he's done.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47Well, from what I've seen, from this and photographs,
0:27:47 > 0:27:50he's definitely a minus man. Probably minus two.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Minus two is simply nothing to be proud of.
0:27:53 > 0:27:58Let's hope he gives up and doesn't put anybody else through this sort of thing again.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01'Our good guys are ready to get started.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05'Evan's leading the team and he's got a plan of action.'
0:28:05 > 0:28:08- Evan, what's the plan? - In the bathroom,
0:28:08 > 0:28:11we've got to trim round the hatch, get rid of that old piece of ply,
0:28:11 > 0:28:15put some new timber in there, reinforce it and then plasterboard it and skim it.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19- Anything else in the bathroom? - Four spotlights going in. Some new spotlights.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22Oh, fantastic! You're going to do the lighting.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27She doesn't know about that, so I can't wait to show her. I'm sure she didn't expect the lighting.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32And then we've got to paint the ceiling, a couple of coats of emulsion.
0:28:32 > 0:28:37- And then in the bedroom? - In the bedroom, we've got to take the loft hatch,
0:28:37 > 0:28:39realign that, get it square again,
0:28:39 > 0:28:43put architraves round it, skim, make good the ceiling,
0:28:43 > 0:28:46reinforce around the ceiling and paint the ceiling.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50What about from the outside point of view? What are you going to do out there?
0:28:50 > 0:28:54Outside, the red sand render is going to be hacked off, it's no good.
0:28:54 > 0:28:59Take it off, the inspector's here to see if there's a damp course,
0:28:59 > 0:29:02then put a new stainless steel bell cast on,
0:29:02 > 0:29:06render it in silver sand and cement and pebble-dash it and finish it off.
0:29:06 > 0:29:10- How long do you think it's going to take?- About three days.
0:29:10 > 0:29:15Three days, fantastic. I can't wait to show her what the good guys are capable of.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17- Great stuff.- Cheers.- Cheers, Clive.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21'Liz has suffered at the hands of an utter cowboy.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23'After handing over almost ten grand in cash,
0:29:23 > 0:29:26'she was left with a bodged, incomplete mess.
0:29:26 > 0:29:31'She had to pay a second builder another six grand to rebuild the conservatory.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35'And being a full-time carer for her daughter, it's been tough,
0:29:35 > 0:29:37'both financially and emotionally.'
0:29:37 > 0:29:39How dark were those days?
0:29:39 > 0:29:45Because we talk about financially losing £9,700.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49But you're now... Say, for instance, you're with your daughter,
0:29:49 > 0:29:53your dream is in absolute tatters,
0:29:53 > 0:29:57take me to that night, or the day after,
0:29:57 > 0:29:59where the roof has blown off,
0:29:59 > 0:30:02you're £9,700 lighter.
0:30:04 > 0:30:08What is that like? How does that feel?
0:30:08 > 0:30:11At the time, all I could do was cry,
0:30:11 > 0:30:13He ruined my Christmas.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15I did ring his home.
0:30:15 > 0:30:20I never asked him for my money back. Never once at first.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24All I asked the man to do was come back
0:30:24 > 0:30:27and finish what he'd started.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29You couldn't possibly leave me like this
0:30:29 > 0:30:32knowing, as well, that it was for my daughter
0:30:32 > 0:30:36and the situation I was living in.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38How could you do this?
0:30:38 > 0:30:42I never thought he could. I really thought he would come back and finish it.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45What was left to do? What did he need to do?
0:30:45 > 0:30:49Well, the whole of the wooded structure had to come down,
0:30:49 > 0:30:52so I was left with the dwarf wall
0:30:52 > 0:30:55and the foundations were fine, I was told,
0:30:55 > 0:30:58so it was, like, a roof,
0:30:58 > 0:31:01the structure from the wall upwards,
0:31:01 > 0:31:03plastering, everything, really.
0:31:03 > 0:31:07They did quote me £7,000 to do it.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11- You've got to be kidding? - To get on with it and start it...
0:31:11 > 0:31:15No conscience whatsoever. In fact, he was compounding the whole thing
0:31:15 > 0:31:20by lifting your hopes that he was going to..
0:31:20 > 0:31:23He said he was sorry to me. It made it worse now.
0:31:23 > 0:31:28Now, you've had more remedial work done since. How much has that cost you?
0:31:28 > 0:31:30About £6,000.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33Ohh! You only had ten grand in the first place!
0:31:33 > 0:31:36Yeah, well, it's not happened overnight.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39It's taken me about 17 to 18 months to do it.
0:31:39 > 0:31:44So you've had to throw another six grand at this.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48'Liz made the mistake of paying her original cowboy upfront,
0:31:48 > 0:31:53'so there was no reason for him to come back and finish the job. Take a tip from me...
0:31:59 > 0:32:05'Liz's builder abandoned the job, leaving her and her daughter struggling to cope with the mess.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08'She can't believe how someone could leave them in the lurch like that.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11'We need to put things right.
0:32:12 > 0:32:18'Coming up, I can't wait to see the look on Liz's face when she sees what the good guys can do.'
0:32:18 > 0:32:21Ohh! Wow!
0:32:23 > 0:32:27'The last three years have been hard for the two ladies whose stories we're hearing today.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30'Two ladies both burned by a bad builder.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34'But these ladies had more in common than you might guess.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37'They met each other for the first time 18 months ago.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40'And they had plenty to talk about.'
0:32:40 > 0:32:43Now, here's the surprise in both of today's stories.
0:32:43 > 0:32:49Liz in Wales and Christine in Cheshire live 40 miles apart and about an hour's drive away.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53But they were both done over by the same cowboy builder.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57'Christine was given Liz's number by one of the bad builder's colleagues.'
0:32:57 > 0:33:00So I drove round to Liz's house,
0:33:00 > 0:33:04knocked on the door and it was very emotional. Very emotional.
0:33:05 > 0:33:10'The first Liz knew of her cowboy's other capers was when Christine called.'
0:33:10 > 0:33:14Shocked to meet her, really.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17But glad she'd contacted me. I wanted to speak to somebody
0:33:17 > 0:33:19who'd gone through the same thing, really.
0:33:19 > 0:33:26We did have a lot in common and she had a lot of anger for this man, which I had, as well.
0:33:26 > 0:33:31'Christine knew she'd done the right thing when she heard Liz's story.'
0:33:31 > 0:33:35I think we probably had two hours of just floods of tears and emotion.
0:33:35 > 0:33:40And we realised that, whilst my building project
0:33:40 > 0:33:46was obviously much bigger, it's all relative, isn't it?
0:33:46 > 0:33:50We both went through the same emotion and feelings and anger.
0:33:50 > 0:33:54'Usually, a problem shared is a problem halved.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56'But this cowboy had caused double the trouble.
0:33:56 > 0:34:01'At least after all the anguish, our two ladies had become firm friends.'
0:34:01 > 0:34:04She's still in contact with me, yeah.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08And that's helped me. So it's been really good of her.
0:34:08 > 0:34:13- Yeah. I'd like to thank Christine. - She sounds like a really good friend.- She's been good support.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16Yeah, she has been a good support.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20'We're finishing up in Cheshire now, where Christine Hibbert and her family
0:34:20 > 0:34:24'wanted to turn a gone-to-seed farmhouse into their dream home.
0:34:24 > 0:34:29'But their nightmare builder, who'd also conned Liz, left them with nothing but rubble.
0:34:29 > 0:34:35'They've shelled out for remedial work, but a leaky roof still means a whole room is unusable.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38'The Hibberts have paid for the lion's share of the work we're doing,
0:34:38 > 0:34:42'but we've sourced the good guys, and I think they'll do her proud.
0:34:42 > 0:34:47'But before we show her the good work, I want to know what employing a cowboy has taught Christine.'
0:34:47 > 0:34:52What have you learned from having a cowboy builder in your property that you can take forward
0:34:52 > 0:34:56to the next time you ever need any tradesperson?
0:34:56 > 0:34:59Do your homework, do your checks,
0:34:59 > 0:35:01check it out every which way you possibly can.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05Take up references. Go see some of the work that they've done,
0:35:05 > 0:35:11don't just take their word for it. Check them on the websites if they say they're registered to anything.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14Get two or three different quotes, don't just take the first person.
0:35:14 > 0:35:19And be very guarded with people who say they can do the work straight away cos a job's fallen through.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23Just tell me what it was like before we arrived.
0:35:23 > 0:35:28The room was very dingy,
0:35:28 > 0:35:32because water had been leaking and there were lots of water marks down the wall.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36It really, really was on its last legs.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39Now, before we take a look at what the good guys have done,
0:35:39 > 0:35:44let me just tell you that we're not quite there yet, there's still some little bits here and there,
0:35:44 > 0:35:49but I'm really happy about what I'm about to show you and the capabilities of the good guys.
0:35:49 > 0:35:55Now, are you ready? Because I want to go and show you what the boys have done outside with that roof.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58- Oh, yes, I can't wait!- After you.
0:35:58 > 0:36:00'After all Christine's trials and tribulations,
0:36:00 > 0:36:05'I can't wait to show her the beautiful new room and stunning new roof.'
0:36:05 > 0:36:07- Gosh.- So, this is most unusual
0:36:07 > 0:36:10because we're looking at a roof.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13A lot of people take roofs for granted,
0:36:13 > 0:36:16but this is a class act. It's slate.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20It actually takes a lot of work
0:36:20 > 0:36:25- to get a slate roof right. And certainly the flashing... - It looks beautiful, doesn't it?
0:36:25 > 0:36:27Doesn't it look absolutely beautiful?
0:36:27 > 0:36:30It is just absolutely fantastic.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33- Thank you so much. - We are so pleased.
0:36:33 > 0:36:39- It looks brilliant, honestly. - There's still work to do. They've got about a day's work left.
0:36:39 > 0:36:44They'll finish that off nicely and then put your guttering up and that's all you've got to have.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47Just to know we're going to be going forward not backwards
0:36:47 > 0:36:51is just a massive, massive relief. Thank you so much.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54Christine, before it starts to tip down with rain yet again,
0:36:54 > 0:36:59- let's go inside and see what they've done with your sun room come office. - Oh, great.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03'Inside needs to dry off, too, but I think Christine will love it.'
0:37:03 > 0:37:06- Look at this.- Oh.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10Goodness me. Oh, my God.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14I couldn't see this from the outside, I could just see the plastering.
0:37:14 > 0:37:19Oh, my God, Clive, it's just... Magnificent I think is the word.
0:37:19 > 0:37:23Thank you. It's absolutely magnificent.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25Well, I'm really chuffed you like it.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29- From the bottom of my heart, I can't thank you enough.- It's a pleasure.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31- Keep those cowboys at bay. - I sure will.
0:37:32 > 0:37:37'The Hibberts' cowboy builder left them with nothing but dangerous work and a demolition site.
0:37:37 > 0:37:43'Extension walls that weren't tied into the existing property, unsafe structural woodwork,
0:37:43 > 0:37:47'rubble everywhere and a flat roof that needed proper fixing.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50'A pitched slate roof is a big undertaking.
0:37:50 > 0:37:55'The Hibberts have paid for most of the work we've done. Our good guys have given them peace of mind.
0:37:55 > 0:37:59'The slates are stunning, the flashing is fantastic
0:37:59 > 0:38:03'and inside there's a perfect plaster job.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06'Christine has finally got the spacious room she was after.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12'Time to finish up back in North Wales.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16'Liz Edge and her daughter Lucy suffered at the hands of the same cowboy
0:38:16 > 0:38:21'who did dangerous work for the Hibberts. We've been repairing the scars which are a daily reminder
0:38:21 > 0:38:23'of this cowboy's trail of destruction.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27'Before Liz sees the finished work, I want to find out what she's learned.'
0:38:27 > 0:38:31What do you think you've learned from having a cowboy builder on your property?
0:38:31 > 0:38:36I will only go off recommendation or see the work first
0:38:36 > 0:38:38before I have anything done.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41- Fantastic.- Yeah. - And no paying up front.
0:38:41 > 0:38:45- Never again.- Never pay up front. - No, I have learned.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47'Our good guys have been hard at work.
0:38:47 > 0:38:51'Evan and his team have been working on the outside walls,
0:38:51 > 0:38:55'getting busy in the bathroom and sorting out the loft hatch.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58'I want to find out how they've been getting on.'
0:38:58 > 0:39:01So what have you done and what's left to do, Evan?
0:39:01 > 0:39:05At the moment, we've done the ceiling, all the ceilings have been skimmed,
0:39:05 > 0:39:07the hatches have been reformed,
0:39:07 > 0:39:11the old loft ladder has been realigned,
0:39:11 > 0:39:15- been squared up properly.- Great. - It's all been finished off now.
0:39:15 > 0:39:20What about outside? Cos you've got Tom busy here at the moment.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23He's preparing for doing the final pebble-dash finish,
0:39:23 > 0:39:27getting all that ready to go now, so we'll finish all that off.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30- A few more hours and we'll be done. - Brilliant.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34'Liz's dodgy bathroom ceiling, no-good loft hatch in her bedroom
0:39:34 > 0:39:37'and unfinished conservatory will soon be things of the past.
0:39:37 > 0:39:43'But I want one last reminder of how bad things were before I show her the finished work.'
0:39:43 > 0:39:49Just remind us, before we arrived, what it was like both outside and inside.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53Well, outside was like a builder's yard.
0:39:53 > 0:39:59Even just in my bathroom, we've had a big hole there for nearly two and a half years.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02And the bedroom, as well. The loft hatch and that.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06We've actually done a little bit more than you requested,
0:40:06 > 0:40:11so I'm going to show you first of all the bathroom, then the bedroom, then we're going to go outside.
0:40:11 > 0:40:16- First of all, we're going to start in this bathroom. Shall we go see? - Right.- Come on.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19Come and take a look at this, missus.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25Ooh! Wow! A proper bathroom ceiling!
0:40:27 > 0:40:29Do you see any remnants
0:40:29 > 0:40:33- of where that... - Where's that all gone?
0:40:33 > 0:40:35All those little holes, I forgot about them.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39- You must notice something else. - That's just what I wanted. My spotlights.
0:40:39 > 0:40:44- Let there be light. - What I was told I couldn't have!
0:40:44 > 0:40:49Now, we have got another room to look at before we go outside.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54Check this out.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Come in and have a look at this now.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01Ohh. Another wow.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04- This is what you wanted originally, wasn't it?- Yes.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07However, there were problems outside
0:41:07 > 0:41:11and we decided to tackle them, as well.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15So, do you want to come and have a look? Come with me.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20- Come and check this out.- Ohh.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23- What do you reckon to that? - I can't believe it.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26That horrible scratch that had been up there all that time,
0:41:26 > 0:41:29Evan's taken that away now. New scratch coat underneath
0:41:29 > 0:41:33and then you've got your top coat render. There's even more.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36- Are you ready?- I am. - Let's go out front. Come on.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42- Oh, wow!- There is no doubt about it, that now looks the business.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45Just remind us what the sides of the window looked like.
0:41:45 > 0:41:51All broken brick, big holes in. Totally unfinished.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54As I say, just getting those curves looks so fantastic.
0:41:54 > 0:41:59- Brilliant. Thank you. - Are you happy, Liz?
0:41:59 > 0:42:03- More than happy.- Great! You look after yourself. Good to see you.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07- Take care. And look after this house. See you, Liz!- Bye!
0:42:07 > 0:42:11'Liz was left with a clapped-out conservatory,
0:42:11 > 0:42:14'a bodged bathroom ceiling, no proper lighting
0:42:14 > 0:42:16'and a bedroom loft hatch that needed to be fixed.
0:42:16 > 0:42:21'The bathroom now looks the business, with the spotlights Liz wanted and a finished ceiling.
0:42:21 > 0:42:26'The bedroom ceiling is sorted, too. A tidy loft hatch and everything has had a lick of paint.
0:42:26 > 0:42:31'Outside, the conservatory wall has been re-rendered and pebble-dashed
0:42:31 > 0:42:34'and the front window has been properly finished.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38'Liz and her daughter can now enjoy their home by the sea.'
0:42:39 > 0:42:44You know, I'm really chuffed that Liz and Christine are now happy with their home improvements.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47But remember, not all builders are cowboys
0:42:47 > 0:42:51and if you do your research, you won't be falling into the cowboy trap.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55'Tell us your tale.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08'Help us round up the cowboys.'
0:43:10 > 0:43:14Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:14 > 0:43:18E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk