0:00:02 > 0:00:03Welcome to DIY SOS,
0:00:03 > 0:00:06coming to you from beside the seaside, beside the sea,
0:00:06 > 0:00:11down on the south coast in Littlehampton. We're here to help Mike and his two sons.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13They've had a horrible couple of years
0:00:13 > 0:00:16living in this mess.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20It is the smallest house we've ever done, but the biggest job.
0:00:20 > 0:00:25It is six weeks of work in just nine days.
0:00:25 > 0:00:30You were going to do this - not draw it on a piece of paper, build it.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Quick, we are not here for four days!
0:00:32 > 0:00:38Luckily, we have got an army of local volunteers lined up to help Mike get his home and his life back.
0:00:38 > 0:00:44- This is better than we could have imagined.- Yes, this is a DIY SOS - The Big Build.
0:00:49 > 0:00:5453 year-old Mike Purdie from Littlehampton used to have a pretty normal life.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Five years ago,
0:00:56 > 0:01:02I was married, working hard, doing OK, had the big family house
0:01:02 > 0:01:08and two young teenagers, and things were going really well.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Unfortunately, like many families, things did not work out.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Mike and his wife divorced three years ago.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17He bought a derelict 18th-century cottage for a song -
0:01:17 > 0:01:21somewhere he could spend weekends with his teenage sons Jack and Sam.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25So I found a property through the Internet. This cottage.
0:01:25 > 0:01:32And I had a builder who specialised in flint stone cottages recommended to me,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35and he turned up five days after I bought it
0:01:35 > 0:01:37and everything was going fine.
0:01:37 > 0:01:43Mike handed over what money he had - £38,000 -
0:01:43 > 0:01:46to turn a dilapidated house into a home.
0:01:46 > 0:01:52Everything went reasonably well for two or three months and then he stopped coming.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54He became less reliable.
0:01:54 > 0:02:01Until after about five months, he was not turning up at all on site. I realised I had a problem with him.
0:02:01 > 0:02:06I could not take in the fact that he had gone and taken all the money
0:02:06 > 0:02:10and that he was not answering the phone any more.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12With the builder gone
0:02:12 > 0:02:16and Mike penniless, he was left living in a building site.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20The house is pretty well wrecked.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24The internal walls I had to put up,
0:02:24 > 0:02:28I've got concrete floors, concrete walls that are flaking.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31There are no ceilings.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35There's no hot water.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38The electrics are all running off extension leads.
0:02:38 > 0:02:43And it leaks like a sieve and it is completely unheatable.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46The terrible conditions in the house
0:02:46 > 0:02:50have had a life threatening effect on 16-year-old Sam.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55I'll just show you my bedroom now. Be careful of that bit.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57I don't know if you can see it,
0:02:57 > 0:03:01but there's a lot of dust floating about. You put something down,
0:03:01 > 0:03:03pick it up and it is covered in dust.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06That can be a problem with my asthma.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10I've woken up in the night, often needing an inhaler
0:03:10 > 0:03:13or sometimes needing an ambulance, which has happened.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17It'd just be brilliant if there wasn't that dust there.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23There is the feeling that I failed, even though I know
0:03:23 > 0:03:25it wasn't my fault.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27People who have been in the same position
0:03:27 > 0:03:33say that if you're going to be conned by somebody who is good at it, you won't know it is happening.
0:03:33 > 0:03:39I just think it is appalling that there is one man who can have a conscience to take
0:03:39 > 0:03:44that much money and leave a man and his family in that kind of situation.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47And not seem to care either about it.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50And the effect that it's had on Dad, it's not right.
0:03:50 > 0:03:56Thousands of people agree, as Mike found out from an on-line consumer rights forum
0:03:56 > 0:04:00where he posted a plea for help.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03I stumbled upon this website three months ago. I thought,
0:04:03 > 0:04:09"I'll put a post up and say, 'This is really getting to me and I don't know how to move forward.'"
0:04:09 > 0:04:15I posted and someone came back and there is now be over 3,000 posts on the board which are in public.
0:04:15 > 0:04:21I was just blown away by the number of people that replied - 150,000 people have read it.
0:04:21 > 0:04:26Some of Mike's supporters contacted DIY SOS asking us to help him.
0:04:26 > 0:04:32I have had hundreds and hundreds of private messages from people saying, "Keep going."
0:04:32 > 0:04:36But the financial ruin and stress on his family pushed Mike
0:04:36 > 0:04:39into a deep depression, which has left him unable to work.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45I miss how he used to be.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49Just the way the depression and the house and having it not finished
0:04:49 > 0:04:52- has affected him and in some ways has changed him.- Yeah.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57I think it's safe to say we do miss him the way he was.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00Bye!
0:05:01 > 0:05:06The side effects of living in a place like this for so long with so little help...
0:05:08 > 0:05:10..have...
0:05:12 > 0:05:16..really come very close to ruining my life and my kids'.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23'Well, we can't let that happen.'
0:05:23 > 0:05:25This is the living room.
0:05:25 > 0:05:30- It is?- Well, it will be, or it was always going to be.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34There is a range of features.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38This plywood was my idea which covers up
0:05:38 > 0:05:42an eight-foot square hole which is where the patio doors were going to be.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47This goes through to the garage which you saw from the outside.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51And this I had always hoped would be a kitchen
0:05:51 > 0:05:55with a sort of breakfast area or something like that.
0:05:56 > 0:06:03'It is clear that Mike desperately needs our help, but this house is in a terrible condition.'
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Is there any point in talking about design or are you happy for us
0:06:06 > 0:06:10to get as far through the construction and things as we can?
0:06:10 > 0:06:14- You really want a place for you and your boys, don't you?- Yes, yes.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17I mean, you talk about changing lives,
0:06:17 > 0:06:22- this is just huge.- Normally, we ask people to pack up their stuff
0:06:22 > 0:06:26and leave, but there isn't much to pack up.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29No, I have been living out of boxes for two years.
0:06:29 > 0:06:35Could you bear to walk away from it for a few days and let us have a go at it?
0:06:35 > 0:06:37I'd love to.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41Mike's house is small, but we have a big plan for it.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44As well as turning his garage into a desperately-needed kitchen,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47we're going to add a conservatory at the back
0:06:47 > 0:06:48to double the ground-floor space.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52And we're going to do all the bedrooms too.
0:06:52 > 0:06:57It is like a doll's house until he puts his head out, then it's like an ogre's.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01- Are you saying he's fat? He'll take offence.- I never said he was fat.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Usually, at this point, the boys would be whacking plasterboard
0:07:04 > 0:07:09on the walls, but we can't start that because of a bigger problem...
0:07:09 > 0:07:16The house may be small, but every room is riddled with structural headaches.
0:07:16 > 0:07:22Before we can even think about making this a home, we have to make sure it does not fall down.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25The little house has big issues.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29See the big damp patches on the wall where the water has been trapped?
0:07:29 > 0:07:35'This cottage has limestone walls, which basically means water can flow in and out as it pleases.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39'The only way to keep the water out is to apply a sand-and-cement tanking system
0:07:39 > 0:07:43'before we plasterboard, which means the walls will stay waterproof.'
0:07:43 > 0:07:47- What is the plan then?- Same with there, the walls are thin here.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51Normally a flint construction, you've got an 18-inch wall.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54These are so thin that they're just sucking water in, so...
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- If we tank them, that should keep the water out?- Definitely.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59And bolster them in terms of structure.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01That's right, yes, bind it all up.
0:08:01 > 0:08:06So we have to take all the plaster off the walls that is already on here?
0:08:06 > 0:08:10This is what has trapped the damp because the moisture is in the wall.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14- The plasterboard is sucking the damp out of the wall.- Yeah.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19All right. So it has all got to come off. It means we're going backwards before going forwards, really.
0:08:24 > 0:08:29While the boys upstairs are getting down to work, downstairs, we are making a breakthrough.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35# Bum-ba-do-ba-da-do... #
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Thank goodness he has got a lovely garden.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40With the state of the house...
0:08:40 > 0:08:47We're going to dig all this out, put in a new floor in here and we're going to build like a...
0:08:47 > 0:08:51like an orangery. We are going to have to dig down 600mm,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54- which is over half a metre...- Yep.
0:08:54 > 0:09:00And we have got to put a new floor in here that's driven in on spiral piles into the ground.
0:09:00 > 0:09:06- Then it is laid out on beams. - How are you going to get a machine in to dig spiral piles in?
0:09:06 > 0:09:11There is no access to the garden. How are you going to get all the rubble out?
0:09:11 > 0:09:16How are you going to lose half a metre of soil out which is going to be several tons
0:09:16 > 0:09:19and isn't there enough going on with the house already?
0:09:19 > 0:09:23- Yes, there is.- Final question - aren't you an idiot?- Yes.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26'Not only are we dealing with a house that is falling down,
0:09:26 > 0:09:31'fills with water and needs major structural work - monkey boy wants an orangery.'
0:09:31 > 0:09:35- What?- I forgot to tell you. We have got to put a new garage floor in.
0:09:35 > 0:09:36What?!
0:09:36 > 0:09:42'It is not Mark's fault. The garage-cum-kitchen is as damp as the rest of the house
0:09:42 > 0:09:46'and the local building inspector is, well... being a building inspector.'
0:09:46 > 0:09:49How deep do you want this floor?
0:09:49 > 0:09:51What do you need in this floor?
0:09:51 > 0:09:55A damp-proof membrane and a bit of insulation.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58There's hundreds of thousands of houses around the country
0:09:58 > 0:10:00which don't have damp-proof membranes in them.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03OK. This house is very old.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Flint work - no damp-proof course.
0:10:06 > 0:10:11What we do not want is a kitchen with damp and mildew behind all the units.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13'To be fair, he has got a point.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17'That does mean moving 15 tons of earth, though.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20'Then again, every cloud has a silver lining.'
0:10:22 > 0:10:24- Julie would like to have a go. - Hello!
0:10:24 > 0:10:28I've always wanted to have a go at one of these.
0:10:28 > 0:10:29- May I?- Yes. Put them on.
0:10:29 > 0:10:34What you have to do is put your hand there, that's the go button.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38OK? And take the bounce.
0:10:38 > 0:10:39Yeah? Great.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Take the bounce...
0:10:43 > 0:10:47MACHINE WHIRS
0:10:50 > 0:10:53CHEERING
0:11:01 > 0:11:04So we better get a move on.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06There is 25 local builders volunteering on-site today
0:11:06 > 0:11:12and there's wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow and skip after skip of rubble to shift.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16WHIRRING STOPS
0:11:16 > 0:11:20Do you know if there is a problem with the tea-making facilities?
0:11:20 > 0:11:23- Midday, no tea yet. - I wanted tea as well.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Outrageous really.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28I think I might go on strike.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32Strike? Strike? Strike.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38- Don't drink tea. - MACHINE WHIRS
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Will someone please get the kettle on?!
0:11:42 > 0:11:47The wonderful thing about these jobs is that all kinds of people rock up to help.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52This is Nicola from Mike's mob. She has never met him,
0:11:52 > 0:11:55but she has been supporting Mike on-line on his forum.
0:11:55 > 0:12:00He wrote on the forum, telling us about the house and the fact that
0:12:00 > 0:12:02the builder had run off with all his money
0:12:02 > 0:12:07and about his living conditions, but what struck me was just how low that post was
0:12:07 > 0:12:13and I kind of got the feeling that he needed help in terms of just getting his spirits up.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Saw him improving really, his moods, and being more motivated
0:12:16 > 0:12:21and suddenly it just took off and all of us responded to him.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25I'd come along that way with him and I had to be here
0:12:25 > 0:12:28and see what was happening and see if I could help.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33So, that is why I'm here today, even though I have come all the way from Glasgow.
0:12:33 > 0:12:38That's nice, isn't it? She makes a cracking cup of tea as well.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45- So this is going to be a what? - This is going to be the kitchen. - Really?- Yes.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48- You can have a window here.- Yes, we will replace the garage doors.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Any wall you put in will not look normal. This being a flint house,
0:12:51 > 0:12:55you will have to put a flint wall in and we can't do them.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59No, we have one of the best flint workers this side of London
0:12:59 > 0:13:02coming to do a flint wall at the front.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07We'll do the facing on the inside in blockwork so that we can get on with the plastering inside.
0:13:07 > 0:13:13- That is good.- And he'll reinstate all the detailing around the window as well so it will be pretty.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17We have cleared the best part of a metre of rubble in here already,
0:13:17 > 0:13:20which makes it more difficult for the vertically-challenged.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Hilarious(!)
0:13:22 > 0:13:24LAUGHTER
0:13:24 > 0:13:26- Can her reach 'em?- No!
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Who put them up there?
0:13:28 > 0:13:33I used to like this house because I could reach everything. And...
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Come on!
0:13:42 > 0:13:43Christ!
0:13:43 > 0:13:48This man here, who's staying very quiet, has just booked three cubes
0:13:48 > 0:13:52of concrete for 4.30 tonight - for this room.
0:13:52 > 0:13:544.30!
0:13:54 > 0:13:57We'd better get it prepped and ready.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Best you get digging then, Paddy.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01Let's go! Come on, Paddy! Come on!
0:14:04 > 0:14:08Five skips' worth of rubble today.
0:14:08 > 0:14:13Tanked out half the building. It's amazing.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15It is absolutely brilliant.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Great start. Only day one.
0:14:17 > 0:14:22It's really nice we're seeing the builders can do an amazing job and be very friendly
0:14:22 > 0:14:28- and generous, given that it is a builder who put him in the situation in the first place.- Very true.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34And we have met our first big deadline.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37That is the last of the concrete going into the front room,
0:14:37 > 0:14:41which represents the end of a very spectacular day for us.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Somewhere in the region of 30 to 40 tons of rubble and soil
0:14:44 > 0:14:48out of that front room and back area, which'll be the orangery.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52All in all, a pretty spectacular start.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00'I am a few miles away meeting Jack and Sam
0:15:00 > 0:15:04'to find out how they have coped living in a building site
0:15:04 > 0:15:06'for the last two years.'
0:15:06 > 0:15:10It is not somewhere I would want to live or even want to stay,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14but you guys have constantly stayed there despite the state of the place. Why have you
0:15:14 > 0:15:20continued to do it? It would be easier to say, "I do not want to come round."
0:15:20 > 0:15:22It is backing him up,
0:15:22 > 0:15:28making sure he is all right and coping, because it sounds cheesy, but we are all in this together.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30We have all been thrown in the situation.
0:15:30 > 0:15:37So I think if we were just to say, "I do want to come over because Sam's going to have an asthma attack,"
0:15:37 > 0:15:43- it would crush him.- It would make things worse because it is something for him to look forward to.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48At the end of every week, we will come down and make things better for a few days.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52He's always made it clear that that's what gets him through it.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54Dad-and-sons time tends to be getting together,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57enjoying each other's company and going out, doing things.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Has there been much of that over the past couple of years?
0:16:01 > 0:16:05- There's been nothing at all. - Christmases - what are they like?
0:16:05 > 0:16:07Christmas... Last year was interesting.
0:16:07 > 0:16:13We had decided to go with a very low-budget Christmas
0:16:13 > 0:16:17and decided not to get each other presents.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Our Christmas tree was LED fairy lights
0:16:20 > 0:16:25stapled in the shape of a Christmas tree to the bit of wood covering the back door.
0:16:25 > 0:16:31How much of a change have you seen in him since he has known we're coming to try and sort it out?
0:16:31 > 0:16:33It has been immeasurable.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35He has been so excited.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39And so much happier that he's got something to look forward to.
0:16:39 > 0:16:46In a matter of days, he's going to have a home to go home to, instead of just a building site.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50That is the idea, but right now it is still a right old mess.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58Julia, how are we going to turn it into a home?
0:16:58 > 0:17:04Right, this very narrow little space here is going to be the sitting room. It's been a nightmare
0:17:04 > 0:17:08to design because it is so narrow and you've got the staircase coming down.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11It will be a bigger staircase in here as well.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14It is, and a rather more attractive one.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17I am trying to use colour in a psychological way because colour
0:17:17 > 0:17:20- is important to your mood. - You say that, but is it?
0:17:20 > 0:17:23- It is, very. - You say that, but is it?
0:17:23 > 0:17:28- When you look at a colour, if you at red, what do you think of? - Bullfighting.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32There we go, passion, anger, spirit, vitality.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36- Dining room and conservatory. - Absolutely. Best use of the space out here,
0:17:36 > 0:17:41so it can be indoors-outdoors, opening onto the deck if we get that far.
0:17:41 > 0:17:47These boys have done an amazing job. This was mounded up here when we came out. They have done nothing
0:17:47 > 0:17:51- but shovel and wheelbarrow. - I would like to design the garden.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55- Design what?- Design the garden. I have been told I can have a go.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59- I love gardening.- Who's going to lay it for you and plant it?
0:17:59 > 0:18:01I have no idea. I will do the planting.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04- Where will we... - I don't know, I do not know!
0:18:04 > 0:18:06La la la la la la la!
0:18:08 > 0:18:11That is hardly a negotiating technique, is it?
0:18:11 > 0:18:13SHE LAUGHS
0:18:13 > 0:18:17DRILLING You let the drill do the work.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21Billy is all about technique - unfortunately it means he works really slowly.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23He ain't finished yet.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32Look at that, mate. That is a drill!
0:18:32 > 0:18:36Done. Look at that - seconds.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38Not an hour of you....
0:18:38 > 0:18:42Yeah, but when you push the cables through it is going to push up.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46I was drilling it square so the cables could pull straight through.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48He's talking rubbish, in't he?
0:18:48 > 0:18:51It is all about pulling and pushing!
0:18:51 > 0:18:55- It isn't.- It is!- It isn't! - Where is the next he's going to do?
0:18:55 > 0:18:58It'll go in a loop and go up...
0:18:58 > 0:19:01I would rather have it straight through so you go direct.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04His way is quicker! We are not here for four days!
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Done!
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Done!
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Tell you what, we work well together.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18He has a go at me not being fast, so someone comes along and does 'em quicker.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Nice one, Nick. Like it, son, know what I mean?
0:19:21 > 0:19:22All right, Phil?
0:19:22 > 0:19:28The flint experts have arrived to build the new wall but the building inspector has spotted a problem.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31The steel holding up the front of the house is corroded.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36This steel could potentially rust and delaminate in the same manner as that
0:19:36 > 0:19:42and it will compromise the wall, so first prize would be to hoick it out.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46This is quite a serious moment for us, isn't it?
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Yes, because it could all potentially go.
0:19:49 > 0:19:56If it goes, it is like an hourglass or a sand timer.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00It will start to break down and start falling in on itself.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04If we lose the front of the house, that bit there...
0:20:04 > 0:20:09Game over. They will not be able to rebuild that in the time we've got.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11No. Because it is such a slow process.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17So it is out with the old and in with the new - carefully.
0:20:19 > 0:20:24And quickly. Those metal props are holding up the front of the house.
0:20:24 > 0:20:30It is all gone off. Once they support that, then he'll be able to do the job he turned up to do.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33It'll be about eight hours behind by then.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36- At least.- A day.- A day.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39That is not the only thing that has got behind schedule.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43We have seven rooms to do from top to bottom, all of which need
0:20:43 > 0:20:48multiple layers of damp-proofing and we're not even close to where we usually start a big build.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51In three days, the kitchen is supposed to be fitted.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53We're not going to be ready.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56When is it coming?
0:20:56 > 0:21:00- The kitchen? Sunday morning. - We have got no chance.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05- That is not going to happen. - I have to agree with Mr Nick. - Can he not do it Monday?
0:21:05 > 0:21:07He is booked up.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11Seriously, have we been put that much back by all this?
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Yes. Yes. When are we going to get the kitchen fitter back?
0:21:15 > 0:21:19If he is booked up, he is booked up. He cannot start cancelling jobs.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22Pain laugh. His back is obviously gone.
0:21:22 > 0:21:28- He said something funny about me and has hurt his back. - It does not happen that often.
0:21:31 > 0:21:32Take yourself out.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36ALL: Ooh!
0:21:36 > 0:21:41Yours went, didn't you? It has been a few years since yours went, how did you cure yours?
0:21:41 > 0:21:45- I lost weight.- Is that what it was? - Yeah.
0:21:45 > 0:21:46LAUGHTER
0:21:46 > 0:21:49I'm only just round the corner!
0:21:49 > 0:21:54Thankfully, there is one part of this build guaranteed to get us back on track.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Fire in the hole, go for it!
0:21:57 > 0:21:59MACHINE WHIRS
0:21:59 > 0:22:03The base for the conservatory will be built on a fancy new
0:22:03 > 0:22:07system of piles that are screwed a couple of metres into the ground.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11Within a few hours, we will be able to get cracking on that new conservatory.
0:22:11 > 0:22:16- So how far do you pile in here? - I'm hoping about three metres.
0:22:16 > 0:22:23It might go slightly lower. Normal pile depth is roughly around four metres, but we're close to the sea.
0:22:23 > 0:22:28And at the front of the house, the flint guys are catching up as well.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30It is beautiful, isn't it?
0:22:30 > 0:22:34Extraordinary. Where are you going? Why walk out of shot?
0:22:34 > 0:22:36This is a television programme. When the cameras swings round...
0:22:36 > 0:22:40- Yeah.- ..you stand and say something interesting.
0:22:40 > 0:22:41Actually, that's over-ambitious.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43Well, I'll tell you how ambitious it is. That...
0:22:43 > 0:22:45DRILLING DROWNS OUT SPEECH
0:22:50 > 0:22:57That noise is the sound of a journey to the centre of the Earth. We're not supposed to be doing that.
0:22:57 > 0:22:5810 metres.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03- About 11½ now.- 11½ metres?
0:23:03 > 0:23:06- That is not good, is it? - It's not the best.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09I've got a sneaking suspicion that what we have is...
0:23:09 > 0:23:14The vibration draws water into it, so makes it run faster.
0:23:14 > 0:23:19So you have just thumped one of these 10½ metres. How high is that wall behind you?
0:23:19 > 0:23:24- That will be five...- Double the height of that in the ground so far.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26- We know there's sand underneath here.- Yeah.- We think there may be
0:23:26 > 0:23:30- a lot of water in the sand. - I suspect there is.
0:23:30 > 0:23:35This is precisely the problem in earthquake zones where they build on beaches and things
0:23:35 > 0:23:39- cos the earthquake shakes it and water comes to the surface... - Sonic fluxion.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41..and the buildings sink. Exactly!
0:23:41 > 0:23:46We will make a phone call after we put this one in the ground and get
0:23:46 > 0:23:50the test rig down, I can't see any other way out of this.
0:23:50 > 0:23:57That big vibrating pile-driver thing is causing the new flint wall to suffer from sonic fluxion too.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01- You've got vibration out here as well, have you?- Yes.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07Thing is, give us another hour, that'll go off.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09- Really?- Give us another hour.
0:24:09 > 0:24:16The vibration out here is causing the corbel in the corbel wall to vibrate
0:24:16 > 0:24:18and their wall is going to fall.
0:24:18 > 0:24:24It needs an hour for the height that he has got to go off enough for it not to vibrate out.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26So you have a choice.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Well, we don't really have a choice, do we?
0:24:29 > 0:24:34- You can stand here for an hour, can you?- Are you sure?- Yes I'm sure.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36It's frustratingly slow progress today.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42But for the last two years, Mike has had no progress.
0:24:42 > 0:24:47His friend Teresa has seen the impact on Mike and his sons.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Given how depressed he has been about the whole thing,
0:24:53 > 0:24:55can this genuinely make much of the difference?
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Yes, very, very much.
0:24:58 > 0:25:03Because of the change in lifestyle for him, because he will be reunited with his boys?
0:25:03 > 0:25:09Reunited with his boys. He can then feel like most men, they like to feel they're providers, don't they?
0:25:09 > 0:25:13He can now provide a nice venue for his friends to come
0:25:13 > 0:25:18in return for the fact that they have invited him to their houses for the last few years.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21So he can now do that again.
0:25:21 > 0:25:27We talk about coming in helping people out and we say it can make a big difference to people's lives,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30but will it make that much of the difference?
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Yeah. Because he would phone me,
0:25:32 > 0:25:34"I cannot bear being here."
0:25:34 > 0:25:40He'd say, "It is not a home, I need a home. I have not got a home."
0:25:40 > 0:25:43He felt he was not landed.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47This will, I promise, this will make a huge difference to him.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50'But that is only if we CAN get it done.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54'The front flint wall is finished but after eight hours of drilling,
0:25:54 > 0:25:58'the conservatory base is nowhere near ready.'
0:25:58 > 0:26:03Funnily enough, after two days of having 25 people on-site and working
0:26:03 > 0:26:10like crazy, we are not quite at the stage where we would normally start DIY SOS, but we have achieved a lot.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12We are winning.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15I do feel we're winning. We are winning, aren't we?
0:26:15 > 0:26:16Someone tell me we're winning...
0:26:20 > 0:26:26It is day three and, oh dear, the guys are still drilling for Australia.
0:26:26 > 0:26:31This was meant to be finished yesterday, but the piles are down to 15 metres now.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33Piles in there.
0:26:33 > 0:26:38Mary had a little lamb... No, Mary had a little bike, she rode it on the grass.
0:26:38 > 0:26:39No!
0:26:39 > 0:26:44Mary had a little lamb, the midwife was amazed.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46She would be. I would be.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50There is still work to be done.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54The tanking is finished and it is time to give this little house walls.
0:26:54 > 0:27:01I've got to get that lot in there upstairs and just keep everyone going.
0:27:01 > 0:27:06You know? It is very noisy today. It is nice for you, Bobby.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Lovely.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13A noisy, tiny building site is not a happy place.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17Especially if you're from Devon and your name is Jules.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Do you like living, do you?
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Are you getting irritable?
0:27:23 > 0:27:27- I have been irritable all morning. - Why?- It's a nightmare, isn't it?
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Too much to do, not enough space to do it.
0:27:30 > 0:27:36It is just, you know, everyone is working on top of each other. There's been noise all morning.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38Yes.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41It's giving me a headache. I've had nothing to eat yet today.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45Have you worked on a building site before, ever?
0:27:45 > 0:27:47Oh!
0:27:47 > 0:27:49That's your lot!
0:27:49 > 0:27:54My shallots? My shallots just took a beating, thank you very much.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57What is the matter with you all this morning?
0:27:57 > 0:27:59I am fine. We're fine.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03Just got to get on. It is a very small, confined space.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06A very busy day today. That's all.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08What about him?
0:28:08 > 0:28:10It's the noise.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12'He's gone, hasn't he?'
0:28:12 > 0:28:16That noise has sent him over the edge.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20Someone please explain why we're still plagued with this infernal racket!
0:28:20 > 0:28:23The pile is very much akin to
0:28:23 > 0:28:29If you think, a standard foundation is like an elephant's foot or a clog, yeah?
0:28:29 > 0:28:31Our piles are more like a stiletto heel.
0:28:31 > 0:28:37If the ground you're walking on like in your stiletto like your lawn, and the conservatory has a certain amount
0:28:37 > 0:28:41of weight in it, if that ground underneath the stiletto is not strong enough,
0:28:41 > 0:28:45you will push it into the ground and fall over. Which is not what we want.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48'There's a man who knows his stilettos.'
0:28:48 > 0:28:50- Did we hit Australia, or...? - We came close.
0:28:50 > 0:28:56We bottomed out on the Opera House roof but we haven't damaged any tiles. I think we'll be all right.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00Those two there are in and those two.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04- They are solid. They have to set at 13½ metres.- 13½ metres?!
0:29:04 > 0:29:06They are a long way down.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09This will tell us whether at the sand at the shallower depth
0:29:09 > 0:29:13is capable of holding up the load.
0:29:13 > 0:29:20That tiny little pump is going to pull the piles upward with five tons of pressure.
0:29:20 > 0:29:25- If they stay put, we're onto a winner.- That gives us a very happy facial expression.
0:29:25 > 0:29:31- There we go. That'll do for us. - That is five tons? - Just short, four-and-a-half.
0:29:31 > 0:29:37Now we know these piles are holding up for us to build on top?
0:29:37 > 0:29:40- We'll cut these off now. - Beautiful. Beautiful!
0:29:40 > 0:29:44It was supposed to take four hours. It took 12 because of the sand.
0:29:44 > 0:29:49Foundations for a conservatory usually take the best part of a week, so we're still doing OK.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53I've news for you.
0:29:53 > 0:29:54- What's that? - No more compression-hammering noise.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56- That's nice.- You tell me something.
0:29:56 > 0:30:01Was there any need to get excited try and strangle me with a piece of plasterboard?
0:30:01 > 0:30:06You just need to say, "This is beginning to upset me, " and I'll deal with it.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09It wasn't me that tried to strangle you. It was the others.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13That's one job out of the way - not the strangling, the piling.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17Only 347 to go. There's seven rooms to plaster, decorate,
0:30:17 > 0:30:22a kitchen and conservatory to build, new stairs, ceilings and electrics.
0:30:22 > 0:30:27The boys are putting the insulation in, so we've come to check our wiring is right
0:30:27 > 0:30:31and we've realised two of the downlighters are missing.
0:30:31 > 0:30:36So we're quickly putting them in now. It's...it's the way we work.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40We work at 100mph, mistakes are going to happen.
0:30:40 > 0:30:45We got to it before the ceiling went up, so we're happy.
0:30:45 > 0:30:51What we're going to do, we get the plan and make sure it's all right before the boys put everything up.
0:30:53 > 0:30:54Have you seen the plan?
0:30:56 > 0:30:59Honestly, he's terrifying, isn't he?
0:30:59 > 0:31:03Nothing is going according to plan with this house.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06When Mike bought this mini monster three years ago,
0:31:06 > 0:31:09it came with an enormous ivy growing through the side of the building.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14This has really caused problems to the integral structure of this wall.
0:31:14 > 0:31:19It's dug its way in here and it's meant, I understand,
0:31:19 > 0:31:22that rather than being able to render the inside,
0:31:22 > 0:31:28we've now been told we're going to have to put steels right the way through the building top to bottom
0:31:28 > 0:31:32to hold the building up because of the damage caused by that.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35Not great news.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44With only six days left and a mountain of work,
0:31:44 > 0:31:48what we need right now is to keep the build simple.
0:31:48 > 0:31:55I want to build a new blockwork wall up from the front of this so we've got a nice surface to render...
0:31:55 > 0:31:57- Why do you...? - Because this is rubbish.
0:31:57 > 0:32:02Extend this wall around the back a little bit so we can get some more planting in the corner there.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04Are you really having a laugh?
0:32:04 > 0:32:07- No.- I think you are actually. You're having a laugh.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10Let me tell you what I genuinely think you might get away with.
0:32:10 > 0:32:15- You've got a wall which is lovely. - No, it's not.- It adds character.
0:32:15 > 0:32:21- No.- I'll tell you what, there's no chance of that happening, absolutely no chance.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23I wasn't asking you, thank you very much.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26Look, we're building a bloody house.
0:32:26 > 0:32:30When we first talked about this, you were going to come and build this.
0:32:30 > 0:32:35Now you're not going to be building block walls and laying a foundation and rebuilding that wall.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37You were going to do this, not draw on a piece of paper.
0:32:37 > 0:32:42I don't see you building block walls and new frigging fences round there.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44We haven't even got the house finished.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47He's got very emotional recently, hasn't he?
0:32:47 > 0:32:50Hasn't he? Did he not have any lunch today or something?
0:32:50 > 0:32:52He does have a point in as much...
0:32:52 > 0:32:56- I'm having it.- Can't have it. - Having it.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59Anyway, back to the steels.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03Without some serious structural support, the house might fall down.
0:33:03 > 0:33:09Luckily, we've got some experts on hand with the latest equipment.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11Go to the left. Hit it on the right.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18Quality communications, isn't it?
0:33:19 > 0:33:23Any more? Is that it?
0:33:23 > 0:33:26- Another inch.- To the left?- Yes!
0:33:29 > 0:33:31That'll do.
0:33:31 > 0:33:32I think that's it.
0:33:32 > 0:33:37- Are you happy with the way it's going so far?- Over the moon.- Julian? - Yes, very happy.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41- Are you happy so far, Christopher? - Yes.- There you go, we're all happy
0:33:41 > 0:33:43because people have turned out to help us out.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47One way or another, this tiny little irritation of a house
0:33:47 > 0:33:51will turn into a wonderful, glorious place to live by the time we've finished.
0:33:51 > 0:33:57- Who'd have thought that something so small could be so irritating? - It's amazing, isn't it?!
0:33:57 > 0:33:59See you tomorrow, all right.
0:34:05 > 0:34:06I hate him.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14Today I'm not going to be able to get in to work very much.
0:34:14 > 0:34:20As you know, that comes very hard to a person like me who likes to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in,
0:34:20 > 0:34:22but it's plastering day.
0:34:25 > 0:34:27One two three, on the old shoulder.
0:34:27 > 0:34:31Nice to see Julia getting on with that garden.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33Oh, man!
0:34:33 > 0:34:35The perfect shoes.
0:34:35 > 0:34:40We were here yesterday plastering and we're here today plastering.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42We're probably going to be here tomorrow plastering.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46You can't get bored with plastering. Every wall is different.
0:34:46 > 0:34:51It is all nooks and crannies. Slows it down.
0:34:51 > 0:34:56Makes it awkward, everybody gets a little bit bad tempered.
0:34:56 > 0:35:03Don't pressurise me, man. I'm a fat bloke in a very small, confined space.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07Sorry about my language. Yeah, you can't get bored with plastering.
0:35:10 > 0:35:15Rebuilding this house is more than just giving Mike, Jack and Sam somewhere to live,
0:35:15 > 0:35:18they haven't spent any quality time together for years,
0:35:18 > 0:35:22so bonding over a sailing lesson was a good place to start.
0:35:22 > 0:35:29A nice opportunity this for the guys to work together, spend some time together and re-find that.
0:35:29 > 0:35:35After we've gone, they might take up doing this kind of thing more often.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42I'm going to go up the mast and start pulling up this sail.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46You take the slack up here and when I call, grind,
0:35:46 > 0:35:50you start grinding that handle and it'll tension the sail.
0:35:50 > 0:35:51Ready to go about.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58Keep going. ..Keep going.
0:36:01 > 0:36:06Nice racing turn. I don't suppose you guys have had a lot of chance
0:36:06 > 0:36:09to do this kind of stuff together over the last couple of years.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13I haven't seen the boys smile for so long.
0:36:13 > 0:36:18I tell you what, this building business isn't as hard as you think!
0:36:24 > 0:36:28- Nice to see your dad smiling so much as well.- Definitely.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34If we get you back in the house, more time to spend with the boys,
0:36:34 > 0:36:37- which has got to be a good thing. - Yes. I can't wait.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40We're all really thrilled about that.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44Even when you're absolutely rocking along the bottom,
0:36:44 > 0:36:48things can change that you've never imagined.
0:36:48 > 0:36:54If we pull this one off, it would be extraordinary and, genuinely, we're not there yet,
0:36:54 > 0:36:57but they are working very hard, the boys.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01These people that don't know you, that have helped us out this week,
0:37:01 > 0:37:07from the local area, the various tradesmen that have given their time and their money,
0:37:07 > 0:37:09what have they done for you?
0:37:11 > 0:37:17They've kick-started my life and my life with the boys
0:37:17 > 0:37:21to such an extent, it goes beyond imagining.
0:37:21 > 0:37:26If there's a chance for as many of them as possible to come down
0:37:26 > 0:37:29and just...shake their hand.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38Back at the house, Julia is building a garden.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42Oh, no she isn't, she's still just thinking about it.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44No rush, Julia, in your own time.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47Luckily the conservatory guys are a bit speedier.
0:37:50 > 0:37:55This has all come together nicely. One thing that's nice about this is,
0:37:55 > 0:37:59normally, it gets roasting hot in the summer.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03First bit of sunshine - or in the winter - you can be roasting hot,
0:38:03 > 0:38:06but they're using a solar glass that's reflective on the outside
0:38:06 > 0:38:10so you don't end up getting loads of heat coming in.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13You can sit in here and it can be a comfortable temperature.
0:38:13 > 0:38:18Chris and Jules have finally made it out of plastering hell.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21- Nice to be outside, innit? - It is nice to be outside.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26Guess what this is? This is Julia's garden.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32I stopped at those patio doors, didn't I?
0:38:32 > 0:38:35I wasn't going any further.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38Where is Julia? ..Julia?
0:38:38 > 0:38:44Right, good. Can see the wood for the trees now, just about.
0:38:44 > 0:38:49Don't look over there just at the moment because that's not very pretty.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51She has made a start.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53What's she doing?
0:38:53 > 0:38:57That stuff has turned up for Julia's garden she's taking on.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01That's all going to be dropped off here and taken through the house.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04She'll be busy. She's taken on more than she can chew.
0:39:07 > 0:39:11- Couldn't they go over the top? - It would've been helpful.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14Instead, I've got to cart it all through myself.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17- Good luck.- Thank you, thanks for offering to help.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20We did tell you, Julia.
0:39:20 > 0:39:22She's doing the garden construction.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24She's green-fingered.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29- Does she know she's green fingered? - I don't think so.
0:39:39 > 0:39:44Inside the house, Paul the building inspector is here to hopefully give us the stamp of approval.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47It's made a profound difference, absolutely.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49- What do you think of the standard of work?- Very good.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Even though we bombarded it with 40 blokes?
0:39:52 > 0:39:57Yes, it's been a bit tight in there, lots of issues to juggle.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00- The rot to resolve, all the damp-proofing.- Steady, Julia.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03He's going to be so chuffed.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05Oh my God!
0:40:05 > 0:40:11She's a bit grumpy because when we put the conservatory up, she decided she wanted to do the back garden.
0:40:11 > 0:40:17- So we've said, "Nothing to do with us, you get on with it." She's a wee bit grumpy.- Clock is ticking.
0:40:17 > 0:40:22The kitchen is coming along too. We have a happy kitchen fitter.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26- Never fear, we're going to get it done.- High one!- High one!
0:40:26 > 0:40:31- 'And a grumpy plumber.'- My room. - 'He's got a heart of gold really.'
0:40:31 > 0:40:35- What part of "my room" don't you understand?- 'Honestly he does.'
0:40:35 > 0:40:37So we're cooking with gas.
0:40:37 > 0:40:43Houston, we've got a problem. We've got no gas supply for that just yet.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45We were told it was all electric.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49- Who told you that?- Billy.- Why on earth would you ask Billy anything?
0:40:49 > 0:40:54- He's an electrician.- Like I say, why on earth...?
0:40:54 > 0:40:56He put the electricity in for it.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58For the electric oven.
0:40:58 > 0:41:02Plus the drawing shows an electric hob. It doesn't show a gas hob.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06- What drawing?- The drawing for the kitchen.- I've just got round circles to indicate the hobs.
0:41:06 > 0:41:11They're the round circles you have on electric ones.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13Gas is a different drawing.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16- It's my drawings. - I know the difference.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19Yes, I'm the one who made up the flipping drawing.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22I don't have any symbols for gas.
0:41:22 > 0:41:23I don't have the time.
0:41:25 > 0:41:29- Stay calm.- He thinks it's funny.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31I'm not laughing.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35I've had it, I have absolutely had it this afternoon.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38An absolute nightmare.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42Everything has taken five or six times longer than it would do in normal circumstances.
0:41:42 > 0:41:47We asked two or three people, is it an electric hob?
0:41:47 > 0:41:49What turns up, gas over electric.
0:41:49 > 0:41:54It gives you something to whinge about, doesn't it?
0:41:56 > 0:41:59Oh dear, this is not a happy house.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09Two days to go. We've got so much to do.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13I think we need some music, this will get everyone up.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15This will pick the pace up.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18MUSIC STARTS
0:42:23 > 0:42:25Come on, John.
0:42:33 > 0:42:37We need to get skirting boards in, do all the painting,
0:42:37 > 0:42:41get the new stairs in, finish the front of the house
0:42:41 > 0:42:44because tonight we've got to get the floor fitters in...
0:42:44 > 0:42:47What's she doing?
0:42:51 > 0:42:53Good old British bulldog spirit,
0:42:53 > 0:42:57when your back's against the wall, you've just got to fight, dig in, dig deep.
0:42:57 > 0:43:01We'll fight on the beaches. We'll fight in the streets.
0:43:01 > 0:43:06And then everybody joined in and off we went. It was like soldiers.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08- We were like soldiers.- Beautiful.
0:43:08 > 0:43:12No grammar at all but what a heart.
0:43:12 > 0:43:14Julia has found someone to help with the garden.
0:43:14 > 0:43:18She couldn't have done it herself really.
0:43:18 > 0:43:21The new stairs have arrived but they do present a bit of a problem.
0:43:21 > 0:43:24Obviously the pressure is on these boys
0:43:24 > 0:43:27because we can't get anybody up the stairs and get work done upstairs.
0:43:27 > 0:43:33So that's going to be a problem because today is a real turning point on the decoration side of things.
0:43:33 > 0:43:37Decorators standing here, waiting to get up the stairs. What can we do?
0:43:37 > 0:43:42How about you make them fit because I'm stuck upstairs with Julia being made to work.
0:43:42 > 0:43:46This is actually specifically atmosphere purifying paint.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49It's a genius technology.
0:43:49 > 0:43:56This absorbs 98-99% of all solvents, VOCs, chemicals that are in the atmosphere
0:43:56 > 0:43:58and this will absorb for the lifetime of the paint.
0:43:58 > 0:44:03In 10 or 15 years, this will continue to absorb all of those nasty chemicals out of the air.
0:44:03 > 0:44:07- And it's sage, isn't it?- French grey actually. French grey.
0:44:07 > 0:44:12- How is it grey when it's green? - It's French grey.
0:44:12 > 0:44:15So we can start doing colours in the rest of the house now?
0:44:15 > 0:44:19- Start chucking it all over the place?- Yes, definitely.
0:44:19 > 0:44:23I now declare these stairs open.
0:44:23 > 0:44:29Perfect timing, there are only 12 hours left for us to get this house finished. It's all hands on deck.
0:44:29 > 0:44:34All under and over each other. No-one falling out at the moment.
0:44:34 > 0:44:38As well as the local professional help, Mike's Mob has shown up.
0:44:38 > 0:44:42These ladies have been supporting Mike online for the last two years.
0:44:42 > 0:44:45- It's the first time you've ever met? - Yes.- Never met in person.
0:44:45 > 0:44:49We only know each other through what we write online
0:44:49 > 0:44:53so it's a bit of a fright when you actually see what people look like!
0:44:53 > 0:44:57- Why have you decided to come along? - Just to try and help Mike really.
0:44:57 > 0:45:04A lot of us are here today because we can do a tiny little bit. Work a screwdriver perhaps.
0:45:04 > 0:45:09I can't tell you how much this will lift the weight off his shoulders.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14That is a really nice red, a happy red.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18It does cheer you up, looking at it. It is vital.
0:45:18 > 0:45:20What we have here is a video entry system.
0:45:23 > 0:45:26- Hello?- That is beautiful, isn't it? - Anybody there?
0:45:26 > 0:45:31If you ever get a call like this, you actually don't answer the door.
0:45:36 > 0:45:41This is Julia's design feature to hide the steelwork on the wall.
0:45:41 > 0:45:46I don't know what it is either but it will have some lovely LED lights behind it.
0:45:46 > 0:45:50- Looking at the top of that wood... - Billy's plastic trunking.
0:45:50 > 0:45:52Looks lovely.
0:45:52 > 0:45:57- Did you do that?- Do what? - Look at the top of the wood.
0:45:57 > 0:45:59- The wood feature.- Yes.
0:45:59 > 0:46:01- What can you see?- Bit of trunking.
0:46:03 > 0:46:08- You don't want to see that, do you? - All right. What shall we do then?
0:46:08 > 0:46:15- Put it behind the wood so we can't see it. You've got a cable gap.- If we can get it down there, we will.
0:46:15 > 0:46:23It's always me you have to pick on. A bit of trunking out of all that we've done. Always the same.
0:46:23 > 0:46:27- Look what you've gone and done now. - Am I wrong?
0:46:27 > 0:46:34With only a few hours left, Julia's garden doesn't even look close to ready.
0:46:35 > 0:46:39- And as for the upstairs bedrooms... - Mess.
0:46:39 > 0:46:43That pretty much describes the kitchen too. What is going on?
0:46:43 > 0:46:47OK, that's interesting. More worrying than interesting
0:46:47 > 0:46:51when you've only got five or six hours to finish all this off.
0:46:51 > 0:46:55- We need a plan.- OK.- I think you and I should walk round,
0:46:55 > 0:46:58work out exactly what there is left to do,
0:46:58 > 0:47:04start appointing people to get rooms cleared out and getting them in the rooms with the furniture.
0:47:04 > 0:47:08I think you can have the back room now.
0:47:08 > 0:47:13Just put the door on the front bedroom so that's two rooms.
0:47:13 > 0:47:17- What are you doing, Matthew?- I'm going to make a knob.- Make a knob?
0:47:17 > 0:47:22- I'm slightly worried on the time. Help. Are you happy to do that?- Yes.
0:47:22 > 0:47:28- What are you doing? - It looks like I have been lumbered with the job of the shower door.
0:47:28 > 0:47:34Seriously, you need a degree in... degree-ness to fit this thing.
0:47:34 > 0:47:37Look what a community can achieve together.
0:47:37 > 0:47:40I can take care of the housing for this and the doors for this.
0:47:40 > 0:47:46I have never seen anything in this town come together like this project. This has been phenomenal.
0:47:46 > 0:47:51Absolutely incredible to have so much support from all the local trades people.
0:47:51 > 0:47:53They've been astonishing this week.
0:47:53 > 0:47:56This is going to change Mike's life.
0:47:56 > 0:48:02Now we can bring him together with his boys, back into the same house to live together,
0:48:02 > 0:48:07to do things Dad and boys do. Bringing families together is brilliant.
0:48:07 > 0:48:12We've saved the most difficult part of the entire build till last. The shower door.
0:48:12 > 0:48:17The brace bar goes on when we fit this side before we fit this side.
0:48:17 > 0:48:19- Pardon? - It's going to be a long night.
0:48:19 > 0:48:23- Just put it in, man. - No, your boot's in the way.
0:48:23 > 0:48:25Nine days ago, this house was a shell,
0:48:25 > 0:48:31a constant reminder for Mike and his sons of the impossible situation they found themselves in.
0:48:31 > 0:48:36About as far from a home as you could imagine, making them ill and unhappy.
0:48:36 > 0:48:39This really has been the most difficult challenge we faced.
0:48:39 > 0:48:44From stopping the house falling down to damp-proofing the entire place.
0:48:44 > 0:48:49From removing 40 tons of rubble, to building a conservatory
0:48:49 > 0:48:53and turning this shell of a house into a home.
0:48:53 > 0:48:57But after some amazing help from the local community,
0:48:57 > 0:49:03after dozens of men and women gave up their time and energy to work together,
0:49:03 > 0:49:08Mike, Jack and Sam finally have somewhere to share a future together.
0:49:14 > 0:49:20We've given them a modern and sleek kitchen where Mike can prepare proper family meals for his boys.
0:49:20 > 0:49:23We've put the heart back into their home.
0:49:26 > 0:49:33In Jack and Sam's rooms, the blow-up beds have gone, replaced with stylish and exciting design.
0:49:40 > 0:49:44Mike's new living space is full of ultra-modern lighting
0:49:44 > 0:49:49and relaxing colours, with a spacious dining area and a new conservatory.
0:49:49 > 0:49:52It's now a bright and uplifting social space.
0:49:52 > 0:49:57We've transformed the dumping ground at the back of the house
0:49:57 > 0:50:05to a contemporary courtyard garden where Mike can entertain friends and relax with his boys, day and night.
0:50:09 > 0:50:14It's now a place where they can feel safe, healthy and happy,
0:50:14 > 0:50:18where they can get on with the rest of their lives together.
0:50:21 > 0:50:24I hope you like what we and so many new friends
0:50:24 > 0:50:28that we have made here in Littlehampton have done for you.
0:50:28 > 0:50:30Open your eyes.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37Oh God!
0:50:39 > 0:50:41Bit of a shock?
0:50:41 > 0:50:43It is absolutely gorgeous.
0:50:45 > 0:50:49I don't know how you did it in the time. Thank you so much.
0:50:49 > 0:50:53It's a bit special, isn't it?
0:50:53 > 0:50:58I have visualised this so many times over the past two years or so,
0:50:58 > 0:51:01as a way of keeping going.
0:51:01 > 0:51:03Just thinking it is going to be like this one day.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06It is absolutely fantastic.
0:51:06 > 0:51:08That is incredible.
0:51:08 > 0:51:10New staircase.
0:51:10 > 0:51:16I had a ladder and then somebody lent me a staircase. That is gorgeous.
0:51:16 > 0:51:21Are these the things that you'd visualised?
0:51:21 > 0:51:25This is just like a model of what I wanted but so much better.
0:51:27 > 0:51:34What we've done is we have added you a conservatory to treble your downstairs space.
0:51:34 > 0:51:40That is just... I am so grateful, that is going to make such a difference.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43It is just... Wow!
0:51:46 > 0:51:50- You like?- I just love it.- What you need now is a kitchen.- Yes.
0:51:50 > 0:51:53Do you want to come and have a look?
0:51:53 > 0:51:55Lead on, it is just through there.
0:51:55 > 0:51:57I'm not sure I can take this.
0:51:57 > 0:51:59In you go.
0:52:10 > 0:52:12Have a little stroll in.
0:52:12 > 0:52:17- I have never seen anything so nice. - It is beautiful, isn't it?
0:52:17 > 0:52:19It is too much to take in.
0:52:19 > 0:52:21Take a look at your cooker.
0:52:21 > 0:52:26Beautiful sink on your left. Is it what you'd hoped for?
0:52:26 > 0:52:30It is just streets ahead of anything I would have imagined.
0:52:30 > 0:52:34If the view wasn't the same, I wouldn't think it was the same house.
0:52:34 > 0:52:39Oh, this is going to make such a difference.
0:52:39 > 0:52:44- You need an upstairs.- Oh God, I hadn't even thought of that.
0:52:44 > 0:52:47In you go.
0:52:47 > 0:52:49- Oh wow.- Family bathroom.
0:52:49 > 0:52:55- Oh wow, isn't that beautiful! - A couple of others to show you.
0:52:56 > 0:52:58Wow.
0:52:58 > 0:53:01Step into your new bedroom. Pretty cool, huh?
0:53:04 > 0:53:08It is so much better than what I thought it would ever be.
0:53:08 > 0:53:15I am just getting overloaded by how much work people have done and how generous they've been.
0:53:15 > 0:53:17Wow.
0:53:26 > 0:53:28Why don't you pop up and have a seat.
0:53:36 > 0:53:37Oh wow.
0:53:37 > 0:53:41This feels like a dream.
0:53:41 > 0:53:45- Not bad, is it? - Is it the same place?
0:53:47 > 0:53:50This is madness.
0:53:50 > 0:53:53You should see all of it. It is just incredible.
0:53:53 > 0:53:56No more spag bol for Christmas dinner.
0:53:56 > 0:53:58You can do a turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01Somebody is going to have to learn to cook.
0:54:04 > 0:54:07Dining room area, an area for you and your friends to come round, have a few drinks.
0:54:07 > 0:54:12This is better than we could have imagined. This is stunning.
0:54:12 > 0:54:14Incredible, amazing.
0:54:15 > 0:54:18Oh my God. Wow!
0:54:18 > 0:54:22That is incredible.
0:54:22 > 0:54:24- A proper bed.- It's not an inflatable.
0:54:24 > 0:54:30- It's not an inflatable.- It is not going to blow up.- No dust on the floors. No dust anywhere.
0:54:30 > 0:54:35One of the key things we've done is we've used air-purifying paint
0:54:35 > 0:54:38which sucks all of the toxins out of the air.
0:54:38 > 0:54:43This room specifically has been done with you in mind so you're not going to get these asthma attacks again.
0:54:43 > 0:54:45That is amazing, thank you.
0:54:49 > 0:54:53I can't think of any words. It is better than I could've thought.
0:54:54 > 0:54:56Oh!
0:54:58 > 0:55:00Wow!
0:55:00 > 0:55:04It feels so much bigger. This is stunning.
0:55:05 > 0:55:10Do you want to try it out? It's not inflatable,
0:55:10 > 0:55:16- it doesn't lie on the floor.- Is it going to pop?- It is a proper bed.
0:55:20 > 0:55:22Welcome home.
0:55:22 > 0:55:26- Your dad's in a bit of shock at the moment.- Yes, I noticed that.
0:55:29 > 0:55:35- He says it is for all of you guys, but you were very keen that it happened for him.- Definitely.
0:55:35 > 0:55:41- Will this make a difference?- Just seeing him down there, he's beaming.
0:55:41 > 0:55:44I have never seen him so happy.
0:55:44 > 0:55:49It is stunning. Words can't explain.
0:55:51 > 0:55:55The next few weeks, in fact the next few hours, we'll see a difference.
0:55:55 > 0:55:59It is absolutely astounding.
0:55:59 > 0:56:01CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:56:14 > 0:56:17Brilliant. Stunning.
0:56:17 > 0:56:20- That is so clever.- There used to be a garage door there, remember?
0:56:20 > 0:56:25What you have done this week is extraordinary, absolutely extraordinary.
0:56:25 > 0:56:30You can see the difference it's made to Mike and Sam and Jack here.
0:56:30 > 0:56:35It's done something else which is to show people that good things can happen.
0:56:35 > 0:56:40You've come out, given your time and made a massive change to a family
0:56:40 > 0:56:42who genuinely thought it couldn't happen.
0:56:42 > 0:56:47On behalf of the DIY SOS boys, I'd like to say thank you very much to all of you.
0:56:51 > 0:56:56I was trying to think last night, what do you say to this?
0:56:56 > 0:57:01I just want to say thank you, particularly to the people that worked on it.
0:57:01 > 0:57:07And all the supporters that have been there online.
0:57:07 > 0:57:13It is really like waking up from a really bad dream.
0:57:15 > 0:57:18Thank you so much.
0:57:18 > 0:57:22- I want to say thank you to everyone. - The nightmare is over.
0:57:25 > 0:57:28- Absolutely gorgeous. - It is wonderful, it made me cry.
0:57:30 > 0:57:31Brilliant.
0:57:36 > 0:57:41- Thank you so much.- You're welcome, mate, if anyone deserves it, you do.
0:57:46 > 0:57:50- You can do father and son things now, can't you?- We can do anything.
0:57:50 > 0:57:54Beautiful cottage, a beautiful beach, beautiful place.
0:57:54 > 0:57:55Love you lots.
0:57:57 > 0:58:03Everybody has a time in their life where they feel they just can't get by,
0:58:03 > 0:58:08that they've reached the bottom or that nothing's going to change.
0:58:08 > 0:58:11Mike certainly felt that, but look at what has happened.
0:58:11 > 0:58:15Local people have come out, given their time for nothing, to make a change to Mike and his sons.
0:58:15 > 0:58:20That's the key thing. You've got to believe good things can happen and there are good people out there.
0:58:20 > 0:58:22This lot have proved it.
0:58:22 > 0:58:25If you know someone who needs our help, give us a call.
0:58:35 > 0:58:38Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:58:38 > 0:58:41E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk