0:00:07 > 0:00:10I'm on the road again, to help put right some of the wrongs
0:00:10 > 0:00:14that have been done by unscrupulous builders on unsuspecting homeowners.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18I can't bring myself to look at it because it's just dreadful.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22I can't look at the brickwork and I can't face looking at the garden.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26I'm really fed up of hearing horror stories about cowboy builders
0:00:26 > 0:00:30ruining peoples lives, taking their hard-earned cash
0:00:30 > 0:00:32and leaving their homes in a mess.
0:00:32 > 0:00:37I think, honestly, we're not far from a takedown and totally rebuild.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41Not all builders are dodgy and if you take simple steps,
0:00:41 > 0:00:44you'll avoid the bad ones.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47I'm angry at myself for allowing it to go on as long as it did.
0:00:47 > 0:00:53And I'll be finding out the human cost of falling victim to a cowboy builder.
0:00:53 > 0:00:58I'm here to tell those builders right now, we're going to make it so difficult
0:00:58 > 0:01:01for homeowners to fall into the Cowboy Trap.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17We're in the Welsh town of Buckley to meet chemist, Dr Ruth Watson
0:01:17 > 0:01:23who oversees research and development at a big multinational company.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25She lives in this semi-detached house.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27She'd saved her hard-earned cash
0:01:27 > 0:01:30and wanted her dream sun lounge building at the back
0:01:30 > 0:01:32and create an en suite bathroom.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Thanks to cowboy builders, her dream has been left in tatters.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42In 2009, Ruth embarked on an eight-week building project
0:01:42 > 0:01:49which has made her life a complete misery, leaving her over £40,000 out of pocket
0:01:49 > 0:01:53and sleeping on the sofa for nine months.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56I've been waking up in the early hours of the morning
0:01:56 > 0:02:00and it's been cold, dark, listening out for drips,
0:02:00 > 0:02:03wondering where the drips might be coming from.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07Some of the tiles aren't nailed down, they're held down by gravity.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11Strong winds and we're going to wake up to find the roof missing.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16It's snowing, if the walls aren't strong enough,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19the roof is going to come in because the weight of the snow.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23There's no gutters around so water is splashing on the floor
0:02:23 > 0:02:25and coming into the inside.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29Not knowing what I am going to wake up to the next day.
0:02:29 > 0:02:34Then having to go and try and do a full day's work on a couple of hours sleep.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40It all started when Ruth decided to turn the crumbling flat roof
0:02:40 > 0:02:43on her garage into a pitched roof.
0:02:43 > 0:02:48She needed planning permission so took the opportunity to submit additional plans.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53She wanted a new sun lounge extension on the kitchen
0:02:53 > 0:02:55and an en suite bathroom upstairs.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00A neighbour recommended some builders who quoted her
0:03:00 > 0:03:04£31,500 for the eight-week job.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08She agreed to pay in weekly cash instalments.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11I'd found this particular company as a personal recommendation
0:03:11 > 0:03:16by someone very local who they'd done work for already.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21I did actually go to the house of one of the builders
0:03:21 > 0:03:24and saw the en suite bathroom that he'd done
0:03:24 > 0:03:29but I didn't see any construction work that they'd done.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32That, with hindsight, was an error on my side.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35This was Ruth's first mistake.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Taking on builders without construction experience.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44No surprise then that not long into the job alarm bells started to ring.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50Quite soon progress wasn't as it should have been.
0:03:50 > 0:03:55There were some complicating factors and some extra permissions had to be obtained
0:03:55 > 0:03:59related to some waterworks on the property.
0:03:59 > 0:04:04Actually, they weren't interested in doing the paperwork to achieve those permissions.
0:04:04 > 0:04:09They thought they could get away without it and that wasn't going to happen.
0:04:10 > 0:04:16This was a bad start. It was about to get a whole lot worse.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20A lack of plumbing in the en suite meant there was no heating in the bedroom
0:04:20 > 0:04:23and so Ruth had to sleep downstairs.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27I've been sleeping on the sofa for a long time.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30That's not doing me any good.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34I wake up at two, three or four o'clock in the morning with the stress and can't get back to sleep.
0:04:34 > 0:04:40It's just desperately cold. The mains water froze several times.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44I was without water for a couple of days.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46The knock-on effect of the gardens being wrecked,
0:04:46 > 0:04:50which is my pride and joy, but it's not at the moment.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54The work was now ten grand over budget
0:04:54 > 0:04:59and had stretched from an eight-week job to a 12-month job.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Trading Standards advised Ruth to stop paying the builders
0:05:03 > 0:05:06and it was then that they stopped turning up.
0:05:07 > 0:05:12I want to find out more and see what I can do to help.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Hello. Dr Watson, I presume?
0:05:19 > 0:05:22I'm Detective Holland from Cowboy Trap.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25Do you mind me looking at what problems you've got with cowboy builders?
0:05:25 > 0:05:28- Let's investigate.- Please come in.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Let's start up in Ruth's bedroom.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37She hasn't been able to sleep up here for nine months
0:05:37 > 0:05:41as there is no heating because the work on the en suite is unfinished.
0:05:41 > 0:05:46- So this will be like a master bedroom.- Yes.- OK.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50- Where is the problems we've got here?- Plumbing, or lack of it.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Most things are there, they're just not connected.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56I mean, the shower area and everything else,
0:05:56 > 0:06:00a nice big shower but the problems are, of course,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04if that's not plumbed in, there's no waste in there.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07The waste isn't even connected.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10The waste isn't connected and possibly worse than that the tray
0:06:10 > 0:06:13isn't resting on anything other than a couple of batons.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16That could crack and certainly flex.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20So nothing is plumbed in, you've got no sink. Toilets?
0:06:20 > 0:06:24The waste is connected, you can see that through the wall outside
0:06:24 > 0:06:27but there's no water feed to it. It's not usable at the moment.
0:06:27 > 0:06:33There's grouting needs to be done in places, by the looks of things.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37There's settlement going on where the two lots of tiles are splitting apart.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40When you've had a new build or extension,
0:06:40 > 0:06:44it's not unusual to find minor cracks appearing in the plasterwork.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Normally, this is nothing to worry about
0:06:46 > 0:06:49and is simply known as settlement.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54The bathroom is only half finished.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58The shower tray is unsecured and needs to be on a solid foundation.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02There's no plumbing and the vanity unit needs fixing in.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05If we can sort this out, Ruth can have her bedroom back.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09So, looking at the bedroom in general,
0:07:09 > 0:07:15what sort of impact will this make on your life if we can get this turned around?
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Because the plumbing hasn't been completed,
0:07:18 > 0:07:20there's very little heat up here.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24so I've not been able to sleep upstairs while it's been cold.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29It would just be fantastic to be able to come back and have my bedroom back again.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32It would, I completely agree.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34All right, let's go downstairs now.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Time to check out the sunroom-cum-extension.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44Things are bad up here, but that's nothing compared to the chaos downstairs.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49This is where the greatest problems are.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52Although it looks, on the face of it, pretty good, really.
0:07:52 > 0:07:59Yes, the surface and the finish, I have to say, from the naked eye looks fine.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02- It looks OK. - Describe where the problems lie?
0:08:02 > 0:08:06The builders admitted there's not enough insulation in the roof space.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08- So it doesn't meet building regs? - No.
0:08:08 > 0:08:13The tiles on the roof are not the correct ones for the pitch of roof, so they have to come off.
0:08:13 > 0:08:18They don't meet building regs. There's not enough insulation in either wall
0:08:18 > 0:08:22and the insulation is just resting, it's not clipped in to the inner leaf.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Let's just say that's the inner wall, is the inner leaf
0:08:25 > 0:08:28and the outer leaf between the cavity gaps.
0:08:28 > 0:08:33The new regulations, over the last couple of years, you've got to clip the insulation to the inner wall
0:08:33 > 0:08:37so it doesn't bridge between the two, the inner leaf and the outer leaf,
0:08:37 > 0:08:42so that moisture from the outside can't travel through and come inside.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44If they've just left it loose, bang wrong.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47That's the case everywhere.
0:08:47 > 0:08:52And, also, there are not enough wall ties to tie the two leaves together anywhere.
0:08:52 > 0:08:57Now, I have to say, that now becomes scary.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01Without the correct number of ties holding your walls together,
0:09:01 > 0:09:05your building is unsafe and you could be in danger.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12I want to show YOU how the experts do it.
0:09:12 > 0:09:17I'm visiting a specialist college in Warrington where they train the next generation
0:09:17 > 0:09:18of skilled builders.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26Here I am with Dan who's the college lecturer for bricklaying.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29- Dan, why do we need wall ties? - Wall ties are so important
0:09:29 > 0:09:34because they tie the outer leaf of the brickwork to the inner leaf of the block work,
0:09:34 > 0:09:36making the wall more stable and secure.
0:09:36 > 0:09:41- Tell us the reason for the kinks in the middle?- It allows any moisture not to run down
0:09:41 > 0:09:44the tie wire into the building but actually drops off.
0:09:44 > 0:09:49Tie wires should be placed every 900 millimetres long
0:09:49 > 0:09:51and every 450 millimetres high.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54So it's easy enough to spot the wall ties that are in there.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57If you don't see them anywhere at the beginning of the build,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00you can guarantee they won't be there at the end of the build.
0:10:00 > 0:10:05Talk to your builder or seek advice from your local building control officer.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Back at Ruth's house,
0:10:08 > 0:10:11I get to see the full extent of the cowboy job on her extension.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Not only have they failed to install the ensuite bathroom properly,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18is the extension even safe?
0:10:18 > 0:10:24The lack of wall ties and proper insulation is a clear breach of building regulations.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28Let's have a look. First of all, obviously being exposed like this,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31how long has it been open to the elements?
0:10:31 > 0:10:35- Since at least August. - Obviously, this is no good.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40I mean, being exposed like this, it's no wonder you were cold.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44That tells me everything and particularly if you haven't got any insulation.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Even if you've got the best insulation in there,
0:10:47 > 0:10:51still having that open to the elements and the wind howling in.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55We've had some pretty tricky winds of late, as well.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58I can see just from here, we need to look from the side, really,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01the pitch is all wrong for this type of tile.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04- Yes.- That's all got to go as well.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09Just looking at the various bits of expansion foam that they've put in down the sides
0:11:09 > 0:11:14and where the frames are for your doors.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18It doesn't look particularly good, even where they've put the packers in.
0:11:18 > 0:11:23They are quite big gaps. Did they clean any of the mortar of?
0:11:23 > 0:11:26- They haven't cleaned any mortar off anywhere!- Right.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29- They haven't, you are so right. - It's shocking.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Once mortar grips onto a porous brick like that.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37- You can see better there. - It's a real pain to get it.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41At least you've got your damp course in, which is pretty critical.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44A lot of these guys tend to miss that.
0:11:44 > 0:11:49The thing is, we need to try and get an inspection for wall ties
0:11:49 > 0:11:52and see how many wall ties there are in there.
0:11:52 > 0:11:57That will have to be addressed. Let's have a look down the side.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06I just don't get why that has been left open to the elements.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11Rain driving in there is going straight down into the cavity.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13I'm amazed it's not worse inside.
0:12:13 > 0:12:20This is malpractice when you see exposure like that to the elements.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24That is undermining this whole new extension from the inside,
0:12:24 > 0:12:27from the middle, from the outside.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30The whole thing is a right old debacle.
0:12:30 > 0:12:31It's totally wrong.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37Again, as you're outside, what's your heartfelt feelings
0:12:37 > 0:12:41- about what you're seeing? - I can't look at it.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45I can't bring myself to look at it because it's just dreadful.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47I can't look at the brickwork,
0:12:47 > 0:12:49and I can't face looking at the garden.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52They know how much my garden means to me as well.
0:12:52 > 0:12:53That's what makes it worse.
0:12:53 > 0:12:58It took me five years to get it looking beautiful and it's wrecked.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02People don't realise it's not just about the finances,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05it's about how it affects you as a person.
0:13:05 > 0:13:11And what impact it has on your life which really does your head in.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16I'm gutted by what I have seen.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18This is the state of Ruth's garden now.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20It used to look like this,
0:13:20 > 0:13:25but her cowboy builders have turned it into a wasteland.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28I need to find out how she got into this sorry state,
0:13:28 > 0:13:31especially when the builders came recommended.
0:13:33 > 0:13:34Why did you actually trust them?
0:13:34 > 0:13:38What made you make that decision to go, OK,
0:13:38 > 0:13:40they've been recommended.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42It surely wasn't just the recommendation?
0:13:42 > 0:13:47The recommendation, the work that I did see looked OK.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51The thoughts and ideas that they had seemed to be inventive,
0:13:51 > 0:13:54but more than that they had the gift of the gab
0:13:54 > 0:13:56and they said all the right things.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59They sounded completely plausible.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01When I brought them in originally,
0:14:01 > 0:14:05the initial plans were quite simple and straightforward.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08Then the job grew into something bigger.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11I didn't think to go back and reconsider
0:14:11 > 0:14:14whether they had the skills to do that
0:14:14 > 0:14:18because the ball started rolling and it went on from one stage to another.
0:14:18 > 0:14:24I didn't stop to think, actually, it's a conversion specialist company,
0:14:24 > 0:14:27are they really a construction company.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32Remember, if your plans change, think whether your builders
0:14:32 > 0:14:36are still qualified to carry out the new job specifications.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39It will save you a whole lot of grief down the line.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Ruth's final build plans included replacing the flat roof
0:14:46 > 0:14:48on the garage with a pitched roof,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51building an extension onto the kitchen,
0:14:51 > 0:14:53and incorporating an en suite in her bedroom.
0:14:53 > 0:14:59So, work begins in earnest, hopefully.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Did everything seem to be going right?
0:15:02 > 0:15:04What was the first alarm bell that you had
0:15:04 > 0:15:07that you might have thought, "Oh, that's not quite right?"
0:15:09 > 0:15:12The first alarm bell was probably pouring the concrete
0:15:12 > 0:15:13for the foundations.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15- As early as that?- Yes.
0:15:15 > 0:15:20Because the building inspector called me to say,
0:15:20 > 0:15:25"I'm going out to site to inspect, but I won't be passing anything
0:15:25 > 0:15:29"because they haven't asked for permission to do that yet."
0:15:29 > 0:15:31So, she came out and she called me back
0:15:31 > 0:15:33and said, "They're about to pour concrete.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37"I have told them not to because they haven't submitted the application.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39"See what happens when you get home."
0:15:39 > 0:15:43When I got home they'd poured the concrete.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45No, no. No, no, no.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48That is not just an alarm bell.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52That it is just... a horn, a siren going off
0:15:52 > 0:15:59that they've already breached the building notice.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03- The concrete had to be dug out again. - You're joking?
0:16:03 > 0:16:08- When was the next biggie? - General rate of progress, really.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10The neighbour started to make comments
0:16:10 > 0:16:13that the guys were going home at 1 o'clock or so.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16Not actually doing a day's work.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19When I was asking them how long it would take to finish,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22it was always, "a couple of weeks, a couple of weeks."
0:16:23 > 0:16:29The building work had stretched from eight weeks to nearly a year.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32By this time, Ruth had handed over £40,000
0:16:32 > 0:16:34and there was still no end in sight.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38What are you seeing around you,
0:16:38 > 0:16:42bearing in mind you wanted the dream,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45you are now standing in what?
0:16:45 > 0:16:49- Describe to me the problems? - Nothing is actually finished.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52There's walls not finished,
0:16:52 > 0:16:56there's roofs that are not correct.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Plumbing work that's not finished,
0:16:58 > 0:17:03because plumbing work isn't finished I can't get carpets down.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08I can't go back into the bedroom that I moved out of over a year ago.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13The house is desperately cold. There's dust everywhere.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16I did have my mum coming to stay to try
0:17:16 > 0:17:20and encourage the builders to stay longer than a few hours a day.
0:17:20 > 0:17:25It didn't make any difference to them.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27It put a strain on the relationship with my mum
0:17:27 > 0:17:29because we're not used to living together
0:17:29 > 0:17:33and with everything that was going on, there were few arguments.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37Her health suffered massively with the stress of it all
0:17:37 > 0:17:38and she ended up in hospital.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44Ruth felt powerless to sack the cowboy builders.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47They held all the vital paperwork and invoices.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53But in the end, not only did they have no skill, they had no heart.
0:17:55 > 0:18:01One day I got a phone call to say that the business was crumbling.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04- Their building company you mean? - Yes.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07The business was going under, they needed more money.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Unless I could provide more money for wages,
0:18:10 > 0:18:14then they didn't know when or if they could come back.
0:18:14 > 0:18:20What can we do that would help you to climb out of this mess?
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Finishing the plumbing work is a relatively straightforward job.
0:18:24 > 0:18:31If that was done, including getting the radiator into the sun room,
0:18:31 > 0:18:33then I could have my bedroom back.
0:18:33 > 0:18:38Carpets can go down and that can be finished quite easily.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40That will make a huge difference,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43just being able to have a proper bed back.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47I can't wait to show you what the good guys are capable of
0:18:47 > 0:18:50and maybe we can start to lift this heavy weight
0:18:50 > 0:18:54from your shoulders and from your mind.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57And get you being able to move forward.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03'Later our independent surveyor gives us
0:19:03 > 0:19:05'his verdict on the extension.'
0:19:05 > 0:19:09I think, honestly, we are not far from a take down and rebuild.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12'But will it come to that?'
0:19:12 > 0:19:17Don't you worry. We'll sort it out for you, Ruth.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23Ruth has been left with a building disaster
0:19:23 > 0:19:27that has cost her over £40,000 of her life savings.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30Worse still it could be in danger of collapsing
0:19:30 > 0:19:32because of a lack of these.
0:19:32 > 0:19:37Wall ties that hold the inner and outer walls together.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41I've called in independent surveyor Alun Jones
0:19:41 > 0:19:43to see if he confirms my worst fears.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55- Here he is.- Hi. - You must be Alun, how are you?
0:19:55 > 0:19:56- How are you?- I'm very well.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Always great to have you on board
0:19:58 > 0:20:02because we need a second opinion, if you like.
0:20:02 > 0:20:03An expert's eye view.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05- You've had a chance to look around. - Yeah.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08What have you found that's not to your liking,
0:20:08 > 0:20:10and what do you think is wrong?
0:20:10 > 0:20:13- Where do we start? - From the beginning.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15The first thing that strikes me is the roof,
0:20:15 > 0:20:19the pitch of the roof, it's too flat for the tile.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21For the type of tile they've got on there.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25Which will induce wind-driven rain and snow into the building.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28We don't need to really think about rain going in there
0:20:28 > 0:20:31because rain, snow, sleet, hail and wind
0:20:31 > 0:20:34is already going into the open section on the side.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38On the open sides as well. So it's completely unfinished.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42It's definitely not very well put together.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44The brickwork is not very clever. It's very dirty.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48The doorframes... Why have we got timber spaces each side?
0:20:48 > 0:20:54- They could have been measured far more accurately than that. - What about in the cavity?
0:20:54 > 0:20:58Rumour has it that there isn't enough ties in there.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Difficult to say but certainly,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03looking at where the cavity is exposed in the garage,
0:21:03 > 0:21:09the ties should be every block course within 225mm of the opening,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12and they're certainly not there.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15So one has to question whether they are there everywhere else.
0:21:15 > 0:21:21Remedial action for something like that is going to be a real pain.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25- It's a partial takedown. - It is a partial takedown.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29Removing the inner wall, or leaf, of this extension
0:21:29 > 0:21:31would be disastrous for Ruth.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33It's an enormous and costly job
0:21:33 > 0:21:38and I'm keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't come to that.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41If you'd like to go up there and have a quick look for yourself.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44This is where the problems normally lie...
0:21:44 > 0:21:47where you can't see.
0:21:49 > 0:21:50Alun's using a special scope
0:21:50 > 0:21:54to see if he can see any ties in the wall cavity.
0:21:56 > 0:22:02I can swing that through the whole arc and don't feel a wall tie.
0:22:02 > 0:22:08So we've got an arc there, 440mm, and there's no tie.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13And there's no insulation here in this return.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15None in that return.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19What do you believe now the remedy should be?
0:22:19 > 0:22:22Because this has given us a clue.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26Honestly, I think we're not far from a takedown.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Total takedown and rebuild.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31We could possibly leave the outer leaf up,
0:22:31 > 0:22:33take the inner leaf out.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Putting supports in for the roof and the openings.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38I just think...
0:22:39 > 0:22:42..this is just one mad, bonkers, crazy build.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47I need to just get my head around it.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53Alun has confirmed my worst fears.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57This building doesn't meet regulations.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59This is a huge blow.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Do we really have to take down part of Ruth's extension?
0:23:02 > 0:23:05I need to get a second opinion from building control inspectors.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09Fantastic, thank you, sir. Bye.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12I need the local building control officer
0:23:12 > 0:23:15to come out and give us the decision
0:23:15 > 0:23:18as to whether we've got to take a wall down or not.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Whether there's ways around doing it.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22If we've got to take a wall down,
0:23:22 > 0:23:25I'm going to hate to have to break it to Ruth.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27Because I think this will break her.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29There's no two ways about it.
0:23:29 > 0:23:30It's devastating.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35While we're waiting for the final verdict from building control,
0:23:35 > 0:23:39I get our independent surveyor's opinion on this build.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41Your mark out of 10.
0:23:41 > 0:23:46I'll say one, because it hasn't fallen down.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48One because it hasn't fallen down.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51- That's nothing to be proud of at all, is it?- Not at all.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57A damning score from our independent surveyor.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01And there's worse news to follow after a visit from building control.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05My worst fears have been realised about the property.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08We've had building control in, to come and have a look.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12They were good enough to come down at short notice.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16We've now realised the severity of the build.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18The interior walls have got to come down.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21The correct insulation has got to go in.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23The correct ties have got to go in.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26And then the walls rebuilt, re-plastered,
0:24:26 > 0:24:28the roof's going to get done correctly
0:24:28 > 0:24:31and also the insulation on the side wall.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Obviously this bowled us a massive googly
0:24:33 > 0:24:36because I didn't expect it to happen.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40What are your feelings right now, now that you know that?
0:24:40 > 0:24:44We've come a long way really, but what are you feeling?
0:24:44 > 0:24:48Pretty much worst case, almost as bad as it gets.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52I don't know where I'm going to find the money to pay for it.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56We, as a team, are not going to leave you in a mess.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59I think you've suffered enough. This has been a nightmare.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01There is absolutely no doubt about it.
0:25:01 > 0:25:06And I think that it's now time you had a bit of run of good luck.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09- Do you think so? - I could do with a bit.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12All right, well we'll sort it.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15OK. Don't you worry.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18We'll sort it out for you.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22I'm determined we are going to right all those cowboy wrongs,
0:25:22 > 0:25:26and I have a plan to put this extension back on track.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29You just dry your eyes, no more tears or sadness.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31We don't want any of that no more.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35- We are going to look after you, promise.- OK.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42Right, I've sealed off the area, this is now a no-go zone.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44And it's time to bring on the good guys.
0:25:48 > 0:25:53Gareth and Alan are here to tackle this cowboy's job.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56And they've brought along a team to help.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59Now that we know that the inner wall has got to come down,
0:25:59 > 0:26:01this is a much bigger deal.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06Fellas, it's always great to have the good guys in town.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10There's been a lot of different factors involved in this particular job.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14The one factor we do know is it's a right bodge.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18Faced with knowing that we've got to bring the inner wall down,
0:26:18 > 0:26:21what do you think the plan is now?
0:26:21 > 0:26:24We had to take off the tiles anyway.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Then we had to restructure the whole of the roof.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31We had to strip out all of the inside, so that all has to come out.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34The extra we've got to do now is take down these leaves.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36No choice, we've got to take it down.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40What do you think in terms of time? If you give me a rough scale.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44Time-wise, it's going to put another two or three days on the program.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47- We'll get more bodies on it. - We'll do our best.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Thank you, boys, I can't wait to see the finish.
0:26:51 > 0:26:56It's not a pretty sight, but this demolition work is crucial.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59It also confirms what I suspected all along
0:26:59 > 0:27:01about the lack of wall ties.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05There should be one wall tie on every course of breezeblock on here.
0:27:05 > 0:27:06And we have...
0:27:06 > 0:27:09there's just one on that whole section there,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12whereas there should be at least four there.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14This is a tough time for Ruth,
0:27:14 > 0:27:16but with Alan and his team on the job
0:27:16 > 0:27:20we'll soon put a smile back on her face.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24I'm feeling pretty sick and trying not to cry,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27but it's heartbreaking seeing the hammers go through the walls.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29I think once I've got today over,
0:27:29 > 0:27:32then I can start to see the end to it.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35But it's quite a stressful weekend thinking,
0:27:35 > 0:27:37heck, it's all starting again.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40This time with the good guys.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43I'm sending Ruth away for the rest of this build.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46I want it to be a surprise when it's finished.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48And as she heads off...
0:27:48 > 0:27:51- OK, see you in a couple of days. - Will do, bye-bye
0:27:51 > 0:27:54I've had a tip-off this isn't the first job
0:27:54 > 0:27:58these cowboy builders have botched in the neighbourhood.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03It's bad enough that Ruth was caught out by cowboy builders.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06But I've been tipped off that this property,
0:28:06 > 0:28:09which is literally a couple of miles down the road,
0:28:09 > 0:28:11also was hit by the same cowboy builders.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15However, they were using a different company name.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17I want to find out exactly what was going on.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20I'm here to meet owner Jackie Morgan,
0:28:20 > 0:28:22who employed the same builders as Ruth
0:28:22 > 0:28:24for her 32-grand loft conversion.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30- Hello, are you Jackie?- Yes.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33I'm Clive from a program called Cowboy Trap on the BBC.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36I hear you've problems with cowboy builders in the past
0:28:36 > 0:28:38that might be linked to a job we're looking at.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41- Yes, that's right. - Can I come and have a chat about it?
0:28:41 > 0:28:42- No problem. Come in.- Thank you.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44Just follow me upstairs.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50Jackie wanted a loft conversion in her bungalow
0:28:50 > 0:28:53to make room for her elderly parents to move in.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56She first became suspicious of her builders
0:28:56 > 0:28:59when they suggested installing a Juliet balcony,
0:28:59 > 0:29:01which wasn't in the plan.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04It turns out that was the first part
0:29:04 > 0:29:07of everything that started to go wrong.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10Because the builders had actually deviated
0:29:10 > 0:29:12away from the original plans.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14It turns out we weren't allowed to do that.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16Because they didn't get permission to do so?
0:29:16 > 0:29:18In the first place, yeah.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20- It wasn't in the plans.- OK. - In the first place.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24Don't let your builder persuade you
0:29:24 > 0:29:27to deviate from your structural plans.
0:29:27 > 0:29:28If you want to make changes,
0:29:28 > 0:29:32ensure your building control department knows about it.
0:29:32 > 0:29:37Otherwise you'll never get sign-off on your project.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40They said that we could also turn the top of the conservatory roof
0:29:40 > 0:29:41into a walk-on area.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44I wouldn't have let them do that.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48- That would have been a walk on, walk in and walk down.- Exactly.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50- I'm glad we didn't. - I'm glad you didn't.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53I've seen these guys' work and I know what it's like.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57Much of the work here looks fine.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00However, scratch the surface
0:30:00 > 0:30:05and you'll see the horrors these cowboy builders have left behind.
0:30:05 > 0:30:10It wasn't until they'd actually walked off site
0:30:10 > 0:30:12that we realised the consequences
0:30:12 > 0:30:14of what was going on within this build.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17And that has just magnified.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20We're still battling, trying to find out exactly what it is
0:30:20 > 0:30:24that building regs want in relation to what's behind walls,
0:30:24 > 0:30:28what's above ceilings, what's below floor in every single room.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32I wish we'd have known Ruth before she took them on
0:30:32 > 0:30:34because I'd have warned her about them.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36The thing is at the moment
0:30:36 > 0:30:40- you would not have sign-off from your local council.- We haven't.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43That's a problem because it means you're stalemate.
0:30:43 > 0:30:47- If you ever wanted to sell this property.- We can't.- You couldn't.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50No. It's literally affected everything.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54It's caused me, Keith, my mum and dad so much misery...
0:30:55 > 0:30:58..and upset and anger
0:30:58 > 0:31:00that all we've tried to do is provide a home
0:31:00 > 0:31:03for my mum and dad to live in,
0:31:03 > 0:31:07so they didn't have to go into an old people's home.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10That's all we've tried to do and this is how we've ended up.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17- Thanks, Jackie. All the best for the future.- OK, thank you.
0:31:17 > 0:31:18This is the problem.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20You get involved with cowboy builders
0:31:20 > 0:31:25and get a job like Jackie's that looks complete, but underneath it's not.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29Back at Ruth Watson's house,
0:31:29 > 0:31:33Alan and his guys have demolished the old inner wall
0:31:33 > 0:31:35and replaced it with a new wall,
0:31:35 > 0:31:37complete with those all-important wall ties.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40Ruth's been through a lot with this build
0:31:40 > 0:31:44and I want to give her the chance to confront the cowboy builder
0:31:44 > 0:31:46and hear what he has to say.
0:31:46 > 0:31:52Ruth, when was the last time you had any dialogue with your builders?
0:31:52 > 0:31:56The last conversation we had was in August last year.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59If you had an opportunity to speak to them right now,
0:31:59 > 0:32:01what would you like to say to them?
0:32:01 > 0:32:06I would give them the opportunity to put right the remainder
0:32:06 > 0:32:08of what is left on the project.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12This is interesting because a lot of people would think,
0:32:12 > 0:32:14I do not want them back in my home again.
0:32:14 > 0:32:16Just explain why.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19Regardless of how I might feel about the situation,
0:32:19 > 0:32:21the fact remains that I have paid them to do a job
0:32:21 > 0:32:23and they should come back and finish it.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26I'm going to give you that opportunity
0:32:26 > 0:32:29to give them a call for a right of reply.
0:32:29 > 0:32:31It is their chance of a right of reply.
0:32:31 > 0:32:36All I'd say is, have an idea of a couple of succinct questions,
0:32:36 > 0:32:38like that one, you want them to come back.
0:32:38 > 0:32:44When you're ready, the number is already in and ready to go.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46If you want to press the green handset button.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48Here we go. It's ringing.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52Hello, it's Ruth Watson here.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56For legal reasons we can't broadcast the builder's voice,
0:32:56 > 0:33:00but he tells Ruth not to communicate with him on the phone.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04He's gone, he's put the phone down.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07He had no intention of speaking to you whatsoever. He didn't want to.
0:33:07 > 0:33:12Because basically, these guys are on the run. They don't care.
0:33:12 > 0:33:17We know already that they've had a lot of businesses,
0:33:17 > 0:33:21a lot of companies and just liquidated them and moved on.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24They leave behind a trail of people
0:33:24 > 0:33:27that they've destroyed in a lot of cases.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30Like you, it's brought you to your knees.
0:33:30 > 0:33:31We've seen that.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34It's stunning that nobody can stop these people
0:33:34 > 0:33:37from starting up again and again.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40There doesn't seem anything that anybody can do about it.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43There's no recourse for people like myself to go after them.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49Our local builders have been working round the clock
0:33:49 > 0:33:51on Ruth's sun lounge and en suite bathroom,
0:33:51 > 0:33:55after cowboy builders turned her home into a no-go zone.
0:33:55 > 0:34:01The bathroom had no plumbing, the shower tray was unstable
0:34:01 > 0:34:05and the sun lounge extension didn't meet building regulations.
0:34:05 > 0:34:10Building control told us we had to tear down the inner wall
0:34:10 > 0:34:13and Ruth was devastated when I broke the news to her.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19But now Alan and his guys have done us proud.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44It's good to be back. I'm excited about this.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46Let's find out what's been going on.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48Boys, boys, boys how are you?
0:34:48 > 0:34:50Cor blimey!
0:34:50 > 0:34:52How are you, Gareth?
0:34:52 > 0:34:54All right, Alan? How's it going, son?
0:34:54 > 0:34:56- All right. - Nice to see you again, Paul.
0:34:56 > 0:34:57- Nice to see you.- And you.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01Tell us what you've come across, what's been happening since I was last here.
0:35:01 > 0:35:02Any further problems?
0:35:02 > 0:35:05Once we took the wall down, we noticed the outer leaf
0:35:05 > 0:35:08wasn't tied into the main building and we could see fresh air.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12- We could see daylight through between the two walls. - Can't believe it.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16It wasn't tied into the existing property. That is crazy.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20- Any other problems you found? - We've had to alter... reinforce the roof.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24Obviously, new insulation in the roof. Replaster, you name it.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27The roof's all been done externally.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30Yeah, we're finally getting there now. Finishing touches now.
0:35:30 > 0:35:34So the roof has been done for Ruth, that's the key.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36I can't wait to show it now.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38We've got about, by my calculations,
0:35:38 > 0:35:41about 50 minutes roughly before we get Ruth here.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44Do you reckon you're going to crack it in time?
0:35:44 > 0:35:46We're going to Hoover now, I'm sure you can give us a hand.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49I don't mind a bit of that! I don't mind mucking in for sure.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02OK, it's time to take the tape down
0:36:02 > 0:36:06because now the good guys have been in and completed the work
0:36:06 > 0:36:09so it's access all areas.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13Ruth's been away during the building work
0:36:13 > 0:36:16so I can't wait to show her what Alan and the team have done.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21She's late. I'm expecting Ruth any minute really.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28Here she is.
0:36:28 > 0:36:31Ruth, good to see you. How are you?
0:36:31 > 0:36:34Now, I'm really excited about what's cracked off inside there
0:36:34 > 0:36:36- so are you ready to come with us? - Sure am.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39Let's go and have a look, come on. Take my hand.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42I'm saving the best till last.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45First, I have a bonus for Ruth upstairs.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49For the last nine months, she's been sleeping on the sofa
0:36:49 > 0:36:53because there was no plumbing or heating in her bedroom.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56Stop at the top of the stairs a minute because I would like,
0:36:56 > 0:36:59first of all before we go in there,
0:36:59 > 0:37:02remind me what the bedroom and en suite was like
0:37:02 > 0:37:05before the good guys have been in.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07There was no carpet.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10There were items in the en suite, nothing was connected.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13The shower tray was hanging in mid-air almost.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17- What are you hoping to see? - I'd very much like to see a bed.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21- I haven't seen one of those in there for a very long time.- So, today
0:37:21 > 0:37:24we'll see if the bed's in there, have to wait and see.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27Today could be the first day you have a decent kip
0:37:27 > 0:37:30- in I don't know how long.- Yes. - OK, Looking forward to it?
0:37:30 > 0:37:31- I certainly am.- Good, let's go.
0:37:31 > 0:37:36I'm going to open the door and I'll guide you in.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38I'll take your hands.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42Just keep stepping forward. Slightly to your right.
0:37:42 > 0:37:46Tell you what, let's get straight in. Look, this is like Christmas.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49You try and shake your presents, see what you've got.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52- You can't do that! It's not allowed!- OK.
0:37:52 > 0:37:57OK, you know straight away that there's something different on the floor, don't you?
0:37:57 > 0:38:01- Certainly is, yes. - Are you ready to open your eyes?
0:38:02 > 0:38:04Go on then.
0:38:04 > 0:38:08Oh, my word! It's a bedroom.
0:38:08 > 0:38:12It's a bedroom! I like it.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17Do you think you'll be able to sleep in here tonight?
0:38:17 > 0:38:21I think I'll be sleeping there within about half an hour.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23I tell you what, it looks great though, doesn't it?
0:38:23 > 0:38:26I am loving the style as well, by the way. It looks absolutely fab.
0:38:26 > 0:38:31- I am loving the whole thing. Are you?- Stunning.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35It's totally different from what we had here before.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39It was like, floorboards up, bits everywhere.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43There haven't even been any curtains up for a year.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45Now you've got curtains. It's a real sort of,
0:38:45 > 0:38:48hope you don't mind me saying this, like a minx's bedroom.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50HE GROWLS
0:38:50 > 0:38:53It's one of them. I'm loving it.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58I think we've hit the gold standard here in the bedroom
0:38:58 > 0:39:00but what will Ruth make of the en suite?
0:39:04 > 0:39:08- Wow! I've got a shower. - It looks good, doesn't it?
0:39:08 > 0:39:09And real plumbing.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13And real plumbing! You see, it's the basics, isn't it?
0:39:13 > 0:39:18You know, running water, heating. The toilet works.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22Everything about it looks really good. I'm loving the lines of it.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26It's lovely and clean and again, especially with the sanitary ware,
0:39:26 > 0:39:32it really does work well with the size of area you've got to use
0:39:32 > 0:39:34and I think it's a fantastic little layout.
0:39:34 > 0:39:39- Really looks the business. Are you happy?- Very.
0:39:39 > 0:39:43Alan and his guys are ticking all the boxes with Ruth.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46Now she can say, hello, bedroom, and so long, sofa.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50I'm going to take her downstairs now for the piece de resistance -
0:39:50 > 0:39:52the extension.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57And now, you can open your eyes.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00Ooh. Wow!
0:40:00 > 0:40:06- It's back!- Wow! Fantastic.
0:40:06 > 0:40:12- And above all else, safe.- Yes. The walls aren't falling down.
0:40:12 > 0:40:16- The walls are finished.- The walls are finished, the walls are painted.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18The paramount thing was to make sure that ties were
0:40:18 > 0:40:21now in the building. Obviously, all the interior leaf,
0:40:21 > 0:40:24all this interior wall had to come down.
0:40:24 > 0:40:28Even parts of the exterior wall, it was so bad.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32Worst of all, that leaf there on that side,
0:40:32 > 0:40:37that whole wall was not even attached to the original building
0:40:37 > 0:40:40so you had a gap of light. It's crazy.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44That all had to be addressed from a safety point of view.
0:40:44 > 0:40:48It just feels to me, I feel safe walking in here.
0:40:48 > 0:40:53It's a proper room, finally after all this time.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55- Just superb, eh?- I can't believe it.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58The inside of this extension is looking tip-top,
0:40:58 > 0:41:02but it's the outside where Ruth will really see the difference.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06Alan and his team have turned this dodgy cowboy job
0:41:06 > 0:41:09into an extension to be proud of. The previous tiles
0:41:09 > 0:41:13have been replaced with the correct ones for the pitch of the new roof.
0:41:13 > 0:41:18The doors now fit and the end wall has been properly finished off
0:41:18 > 0:41:21but I have one more surprise in store for Ruth.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24Now you know the problem I said before,
0:41:24 > 0:41:27that there was no chance of selling this property
0:41:27 > 0:41:30because you hadn't got building control approval.
0:41:30 > 0:41:31Yes.
0:41:32 > 0:41:38Within here, we have this. It's official and everything.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41It's all typed out, written words all spelt correctly. Look.
0:41:43 > 0:41:48- A certificate of completion of work. - Fantastic.- That's all yours.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50Thank you very much.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52HE HUMS A FANFARE
0:41:52 > 0:41:56- I'll frame it.- Definitely.
0:41:56 > 0:42:01Do you know what, I didn't think we'd ever get to this stage.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04No, not in such a short length of time as this.
0:42:04 > 0:42:10- Does that make you feel happy? - Worth its weight in gold. Wonderful.
0:42:10 > 0:42:15Really important, that is. Is that worth a bit of a hug or what?
0:42:15 > 0:42:17Thank you.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28Our job is virtually complete here apart from one final thing.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31I've got all the evidence on the builder and I'm going to take it
0:42:31 > 0:42:35to the local Trading Standards office so they can investigate it further.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38Let this be a lesson to all you cowboy builders out there.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41We're on your trail. Your days of conning people
0:42:41 > 0:42:44and ruining their lives will soon be over.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48If you've had a problem with builders
0:42:48 > 0:42:52and you would like to tell your story on Cowboy Trap, please call us.
0:42:59 > 0:43:01Or, you can send us an email.
0:43:05 > 0:43:07Help us round up the cowboys.
0:43:14 > 0:43:16Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd