0:00:02 > 0:00:04Hello, and welcome to DIY SOS, this week coming to you
0:00:04 > 0:00:07from Stoke, with my team, but also with a huge army of people.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09Yes, every single person here
0:00:09 > 0:00:12has volunteered to help us make a difference to a family
0:00:12 > 0:00:14who, to be honest, have had a tough time of it.
0:00:14 > 0:00:19This is DIY SOS - The Big Build.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24This house has not been looked after for years.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26The house is dying.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30It's one of the biggest jobs we've ever attempted.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32I'm going to go and get a hard hat.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39We don't have problems, we have solutions. Don't we, boys?
0:00:39 > 0:00:43When this came out, I took a second look and thought, "We've been living in this!"
0:00:43 > 0:00:45It's months of work.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49One, two, three.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53But we've got just nine days to transform this house into a home.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57I can't believe the difference this will make to this family.
0:01:06 > 0:01:14We're here today to help Haydn, Jenny and their three daughters, Sarah, Sophie and youngest Sasha.
0:01:15 > 0:01:22They live here, in this three-bedroom terraced house in Stoke-on-Trent.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Well, we bought this house as an investment opportunity originally.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28We definitely wanted to buy some more.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Yeah, we saw ourselves in the future
0:01:31 > 0:01:33as being some sort of property tycoon.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Wow, how we have dreams!
0:01:35 > 0:01:39But their dreams were shattered when Haydn started to suffer severe
0:01:39 > 0:01:45bouts of stomach pain and had to give up work as a skipper of ships.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Doctors discovered Haydn was suffering from a rare abdominal cancer.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55A neuroendocrine tumour is unfortunately what they found,
0:01:55 > 0:02:01and instead of it being like a lump it's like a spattering through the cells.
0:02:01 > 0:02:06It's a hormonal cancer, and it's very difficult to detect. It's untreatable.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14We don't like to think about the inevitability, of course.
0:02:14 > 0:02:15Does anybody?
0:02:15 > 0:02:19But if we can prolong it and be as happy as possible
0:02:19 > 0:02:23in the in-between bits, that's what we're aiming for, really.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26With money very tight and none to invest in the house, Haydn tried
0:02:26 > 0:02:32to fill the holes in the brickwork using expandable foam just to try and make everything watertight.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Needless to say, it hasn't worked very well.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41And inside, two of the three bedrooms are still uninhabitable.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45The family are all forced to sleep together in just one room.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47This is Mum and Dad's bed.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51This one's Sophie's.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56This one's my bed.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00And then this one here is Sasha's bed.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05It's not just the sleeping arrangements that are causing this family of five stress.
0:03:05 > 0:03:12They all share this dingy bathroom, which is not ideal considering Haydn is battling abdominal cancer.
0:03:12 > 0:03:13My dad's not very well,
0:03:13 > 0:03:18and he needs a bathroom in the morning,
0:03:18 > 0:03:25and then we can share one downstairs or upstairs, it doesn't matter, and he can have one to himself.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29Eventually, we thought we'd just tell
0:03:29 > 0:03:36the kids so they'd get used to it, so when it happens it's not a shock which might make it worse for them.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39And sometimes it hits them the same. They wake up, especially Sophie,
0:03:39 > 0:03:45I think - she'll wake up and she'll say something like, "I hate that cancer,"
0:03:45 > 0:03:47and gives her dad a hug and weeps.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51And then instantly gets over it.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55- With Sarah, it's inspired her to want to be a doctor.- Yeah!
0:03:55 > 0:03:59She really wants to be a doctor, go to university and find a cure for it.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01There's tremendous love.
0:04:01 > 0:04:07I find out while I'm in the bathroom they give me so much time, they've tiddled in a bucket
0:04:07 > 0:04:09rather than disturb me. And it's quite touching
0:04:09 > 0:04:13when you find out they didn't moan about that sort of thing.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15It's so sweet.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Where are they? Oh, here they are.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24The trouble is you've had to stay in one room, haven't you?
0:04:24 > 0:04:28You're living at the moment pretty much in one room because of the state of the house.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30So what are you hoping for?
0:04:30 > 0:04:34What's the most important thing? if we could only do one thing...
0:04:34 > 0:04:38- The most important is that Sarah's now coming up to 12...- Right.
0:04:38 > 0:04:44..and I'm awkward in the night, so this timing is fantastic,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47cos I was starting to think, "It's not right."
0:04:47 > 0:04:49So bedrooms for the girls.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Bedrooms for the girls is the key thing.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55We're going to do as much as we possibly can, obviously, cos despite the fact
0:04:55 > 0:04:59that you weren't aware, or really aware, of the situation you were in,
0:04:59 > 0:05:01- this isn't a home. - We've made it home,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04but because we've actually ignored the state of the walls,
0:05:04 > 0:05:09- the state of the windows, because if we looked at them, I'd be tearing my hair out every day.- Yeah.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12I mean, when this all came out, I really did take a second look
0:05:12 > 0:05:15and think, "Oh, my God, we've been living in this."
0:05:15 > 0:05:20And we have only tackled, as you are well aware, the bits of the house that are liveable.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23And if you worry about that all the time, it does make you ill.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26I was sort of pretty close to a nervous breakdown a couple of years ago
0:05:26 > 0:05:30with all this kicking off, and I had to let something go.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34And one must not worry about it as long as we're well and happy.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37We'll do as much as we can, but we can't promise where we'll get to...
0:05:37 > 0:05:40- Of course. - ..because it depends who turns up.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Looks like we're going to need an army to get this house sorted.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46Just as well it looks like an army's turning up.
0:05:46 > 0:05:51The tradespeople of Stoke have done us proud.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53OK, thanks, everyone. Bye!
0:05:53 > 0:05:54It's amazing.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57- Thanks, everyone.- See you later.
0:05:57 > 0:05:58A pretty good turnout, isn't it?
0:05:58 > 0:06:00It is, isn't it?
0:06:00 > 0:06:02It's the most we've ever seen on the first day.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04- How will we get them all in? - I don't know!
0:06:04 > 0:06:09And we've got one more person to jam in as well. Our designer this week is Charlie Luxton.
0:06:09 > 0:06:14From designing pavilions for the Olympics to suburban semis, he's done the lot.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Charlie's background is in architecture,
0:06:17 > 0:06:23and his ethos is to create simple, beautiful, timeless buildings underpinned by sustainability,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26and it's the fusion of architecture and design that we need on this job.
0:06:26 > 0:06:33We're completely redesigning the space inside to make the house more family friendly.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38So, what can you do on a semidetached in the middle of Stoke?
0:06:38 > 0:06:41A lot of what we're doing here is about space planning
0:06:41 > 0:06:45and making the building work for the family. They're cramped into very few rooms.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48A lot of it's about trying to get them the bedrooms they need,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51about extending the building on the two floors here,
0:06:51 > 0:06:52but also, in doing that,
0:06:52 > 0:06:54we've also tried to try and keep it
0:06:54 > 0:06:56with as small a surface area as possible.
0:06:56 > 0:07:02If you think about seals that live in the Arctic, they're kind of fat
0:07:02 > 0:07:05and round, so they've got a small surface area so they keep warmer.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08At the moment this building's got a big outrigger at the back
0:07:08 > 0:07:11and it's got lots of surface area, so we'll make it more boxy
0:07:11 > 0:07:16and, in doing that, add some more rooms and then wrap the whole thing in insulation.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20- Ah, I knew we'd get to insulation! - We'll get there somewhere.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23So you're going to turn this house into an Arctic seal?
0:07:23 > 0:07:24HE LAUGHS
0:07:24 > 0:07:29The same strategy as a seal, yeah, the same thinking as goes with a seal and a tea cosy.
0:07:29 > 0:07:30Beautiful.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Charlie's got some big plans for this house.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39Along with wrapping a thermal layer or tea cosy all around the exterior of this property,
0:07:39 > 0:07:41we're knocking through downstairs
0:07:41 > 0:07:44to make a large contemporary kitchen/diner cum family room.
0:07:46 > 0:07:52Upstairs, we're completely changing the layout so the three girls will each have a bedroom of their own.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54Mum and Dad will have their own room, too,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57with the en-suite bathroom that Haydn so desperately needs.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01To do all this, we're going to have to increase the footprint of the whole house
0:08:01 > 0:08:05by adding a two-storey extension, yes, two-storey extension, at the rear.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10To keep the build on schedule, this extension has to be up in the next two days.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11- You are...?- Jas.
0:08:11 > 0:08:16- And you're doing the extension bit, the sip erection?- Yeah.- What's that?
0:08:16 > 0:08:21We're going to erect your extension up here, ground floor, first floor, roof on.
0:08:21 > 0:08:22How long do you reckon that'll take?
0:08:22 > 0:08:24With luck, we'll be done today.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28Why is it so quick? Is it a prefabby kind of thing?
0:08:28 > 0:08:29It's all off-site manufacturing.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32It's all being prefabricated in the factory to drawing.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Just lift it off one piece at a time.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37- Up you go.- Nice. And what do you do on the team?
0:08:37 > 0:08:40- I own the company.- Oh, it's your company? Is that right?- Yeah.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42Oh, that's nice! That's good.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46- Thank you. But you've donated this, haven't you?- Yeah.- Why's that?
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Erm, a bit of a difficult one.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51I saw my surgeon last night, and...
0:08:51 > 0:08:55- Oh!- ..I haven't got a lot of time left, either.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57So it was a bit of a synergy between
0:08:57 > 0:08:59the householder and me.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03Yeah, so that's...
0:09:03 > 0:09:05So you're in trouble with cancer as well?
0:09:05 > 0:09:10Yeah, I've got a tumour. I saw my surgeon last night, so they're
0:09:10 > 0:09:12getting me in for surgery. What will be will be.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15- Should you be at work at the moment, then?- Well, what am I going to do?
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Sit at home and do nothing and climb the wall?
0:09:18 > 0:09:20No, you've got to do what you've got to do.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Life goes on, doesn't it? And if I can help, well, why not?
0:09:23 > 0:09:27Well, we'll try and have a laugh over the next couple of days, shall we?
0:09:27 > 0:09:29I'm only going to be here today, maybe tomorrow,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32- and then I'll pop back on Friday. - We'd love you to.
0:09:32 > 0:09:38What an amazing woman, and I genuinely didn't realise Jasmine's situation was quite so serious.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Yet she's here to lend a hand.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45The family's predicament seems to have touched a nerve with the local trades,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48and they're continuing to turn up in their droves.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Do you know we've got 50 people on site today?
0:09:51 > 0:09:54- 50.- 50.- Is it 50?
0:09:54 > 0:09:55- It's 50.- How many is it?
0:09:55 > 0:09:57There's about 50 people on site today.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59I've counted it up. It's got to be nearly 50.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02I gathered that myself. I counted them up.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04- And how many was it? - I got about 50.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07'Hold on a minute, seriously, if we've got over 50 people
0:10:07 > 0:10:09'in this house - let me do a quick calculation.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11'50 x 12 x 14,'
0:10:11 > 0:10:16carry the 6. That's over four tonnes of people in there, and Jules hasn't even had his lunch yet!
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Don't want to prop nothing up in case it goes.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22I think it may be an idea to strengthen it,
0:10:22 > 0:10:24cos there's a lot of blokes upstairs.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27There's a few cracks in the house, isn't there? Yeah.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29It just looks a bit like a bag of biscuits.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32It just looks like it could crumble at any point.
0:10:32 > 0:10:38And the banging of the jackhammer, the vibrations, it's all working its way down.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44The scale of this job is ridiculous.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46A roof light could go in here, which is why I want
0:10:46 > 0:10:50to get this as high as possible, so that we can get as much light as possible down through there.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55Charlie's changing just about every internal wall in the whole house,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58which means we're going to be making one hell of a mess.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01You think that's better than keeping that one, do you?
0:11:01 > 0:11:05If people have got to nip up and down stairs because Haydn's in bed, it's just a shorter route.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08He's also overseeing the more designery stuff for us,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11so that means cushions, colour charts and fluffy things,
0:11:11 > 0:11:13all the things that will make this house a home.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16- You're quite in touch with your feminine side, aren't you?- Yeah.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20- I don't know how to take that, but I'll take it as a compliment. - I mean it as a compliment.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23- OK.- A lot of men think they have to be...
0:11:23 > 0:11:28I think the thing is that the more you do design, you don't design for yourself, you should design
0:11:28 > 0:11:33for other people, and therefore it's about stepping into other people's heads and sort of picking up
0:11:33 > 0:11:40on the little things that you notice about them and the way they live that you can then design for them.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42We design for the people, not ourselves.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44- Exactly.- You're not trying to show off here?- No.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48You're very confident in what you do. You don't need to show off.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50This man's expensive. He's difficult to book.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53"Book early to avoid disappointment" Charlie
0:11:53 > 0:11:54That's what they call him!
0:11:54 > 0:11:57It's clear Charlie's got some big ideas,
0:11:57 > 0:12:02but is this worn-out building simply too far gone to handle the change?
0:12:02 > 0:12:07With all the bashing and banging we're doing inside and out, a huge crack has appeared,
0:12:07 > 0:12:11and it looks like one of the end walls is starting to come away from the house.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Hang on a sec.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17It's looking a little bit loose through here, so that crack goes all the way up.
0:12:19 > 0:12:24So much movement, and if you put your head against the house here... Oh, my goodness.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27You can feel that, can't you? That is extraordinary.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30All the work going on in the house is literally shaking it to bits.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Whoa. Whoa, whoa!
0:12:34 > 0:12:37What moved up there?
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Right, OK, move away from the corners.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Can you get the camera out, everything?
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Oh, my God.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46It's blowing the gable out.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48It's blowing the gable out.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50Tell them to steady.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54If the end wall of the house falls down, that will be it, game over.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57- Where was that movement, mate?- This really is as bad as we've ever seen.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00We've got to solve this problem before we can carry on.
0:13:00 > 0:13:06This house has not been looked after for years. The house is dying,
0:13:06 > 0:13:08it's basically dying on its feet.
0:13:08 > 0:13:13Everybody's on edge, including Simon, the structural engineer, and that's worrying.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16There's been a subsidence problem in the corner in the past
0:13:16 > 0:13:18and the gable wall has peeled out
0:13:18 > 0:13:21- and that's caused the vertical cracks between the two windows.- Yes.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24So there's now nothing holding that corner back.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28So when we're working in that area, the corner's wobbling and there's a danger that it leans out.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31- Yes.- So if we don't do anything, it could be a big problem.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33We should consult our own genius.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36Are you worried about the end of the building falling off?
0:13:36 > 0:13:38No, no-one's said anything.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42- 'He's either fearless or stupid.' - That won't fall off!
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Answers on a postcard. I know what I'm going with.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47See ya later.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51Work on the dodgy end of the house has had to stop until we solve the problem,
0:13:51 > 0:13:55but the crane is up and running, so we can start putting up the two-storey extension.
0:13:55 > 0:14:00It's basically like a flat-pack piece of furniture, but on a far bigger scale.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04We should be able to knock it up in no time, or at least I know a lady who can.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06That's my lunch box!
0:14:06 > 0:14:12It's funny, cos people look at timber frame and go, "Oh, yeah, but timber, it's not like brick."
0:14:12 > 0:14:15But then, some of the Elizabethan houses,
0:14:15 > 0:14:18they're all timber framed, and they've been around 400, 500 years.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Saxons were using it. That's what they built with.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23- They're still finding the remains of them.- Yeah.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27Now, you might be asking yourself why are we building an extension
0:14:27 > 0:14:30onto a bit of house that appears to be falling off.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Well, my Rubenesque Devonian friend can explain all that.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37This trying to hold the house together has held us back quite a bit, hasn't it?
0:14:37 > 0:14:41It has, cos the extension will help, and that will obviously give it...
0:14:41 > 0:14:47Once the floor joists are in and the roof's on, that'll give all this corner more stability.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49That's one part of the solution.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51The other part is clever, too.
0:14:51 > 0:14:56What we're going to do is strengthen the end wall that's falling down with small steel bars.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59These bars are held in place with epoxy resin,
0:14:59 > 0:15:04which is basically incredibly strong glue which is used to stick wings onto aeroplanes.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Luckily for us, it works on brick as well.
0:15:07 > 0:15:12It's similar to coopering a barrel, when you get a timber barrel, you wrap steel cables round it.
0:15:12 > 0:15:17We're giving this building that's collapsing and sagging tensile strength. It's a brilliant system.
0:15:17 > 0:15:18Very clever.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23That's the great thing about this job. There's always someone,
0:15:23 > 0:15:25out of all these people, has a way round something.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28That's the thing, getting round things, not running away,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31getting round it, getting over it and getting it finished.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34At long last, it looks like we're actually getting somewhere.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40The foundations are going in, ready for the extension
0:15:40 > 0:15:44and we're holding that gable end of the house on
0:15:44 > 0:15:46with resin fixings and steel straps.
0:15:46 > 0:15:51Then we can drop the big, insulative tea cosy over the top and make it nice and warm.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57- What are you up to?- Hiya, mate. Organising the labourers.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01We're getting the architraves and skirting boards, all the old stuff from downstairs out.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Why don't you go and see what Martin's up to?
0:16:04 > 0:16:06What we've got going on in here
0:16:06 > 0:16:08is we're sticking a new steel structure in here,
0:16:08 > 0:16:10which is going to do two jobs.
0:16:10 > 0:16:15It's going to put strength back into the building and make this an all-open-plan living space.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Julian's over there, and Chris. Find out what they're up to.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24Ripping all the skirting boards and the architraves off,
0:16:24 > 0:16:28so as soon as the electrics are done, we can start plastering, get these walls plastered.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31And this is going to be a hallway.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33There'll be an opening through there
0:16:33 > 0:16:36and an opening through there to free up the bedrooms.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40And finally, my little electrician friend.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43I've got loads of electricians all round the house.
0:16:43 > 0:16:49We're rewiring it, all the old stuff's coming out and all the new stuff's going in.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53Just goes to show, miracles can happen. Billy just made sense.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58After a scary day of things almost falling down,
0:16:58 > 0:17:02it's a relief to see the first floor of the extension starting to go up.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06That's quite handy, isn't it? That's the first one, Jas.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09It's all cranes and construction. I love it.
0:17:09 > 0:17:10Impressive, isn't she?
0:17:10 > 0:17:16Compared to the time it would take to build a conventional brick extension, this is remarkable.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19The thing is that the Americans have basically been building buildings
0:17:19 > 0:17:23in a very similar way for years and years and years.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27They call it balloon framing, so they'd make a timber frame on the floor
0:17:27 > 0:17:30and then just pull it upright and nail it together.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32It's an impressive system,
0:17:32 > 0:17:35especially with the speed with which it goes up.
0:17:35 > 0:17:36It's amazing.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39That was last night. This is today.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Morning! Yes, a new day and almost a new house.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46The extension's coming along and I've got no reason to be grumpy.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50I'm going to make a concerted effort to be less offensive today, whatever the boys throw at me.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52It was a good catch, that, wasn't it?
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Ah! Morning! How are you?
0:17:55 > 0:17:57- What's that?!- Gloves.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01They're not gloves! They're women's gloves! Look at them!
0:18:01 > 0:18:05Where did you get them, a little backstreet shop in Rome, did you, down by the Spanish Steps?
0:18:05 > 0:18:07I thought you might be in a better mood today.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10I am. That's cheered me up no end, that.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12Or at least, I thought it had.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Overnight, some windows have been smashed in the house.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18It's not the first time the family have been victims of vandalism.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21It must be terrifying for them, especially the girls.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24They were the victim of criminal damage, I believe, last year, in November.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28But overall, in the electoral ward which this house falls into,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31of which there are about 14,000 residents,
0:18:31 > 0:18:35you know, we average one, maybe two damages a week.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38What happened is they're worried the area will get a bad name
0:18:38 > 0:18:41cos we're here when something horrible's happened!
0:18:41 > 0:18:43I can tell you straight away, it's a lovely area.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46The people have been so supportive.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49People say, "It's a rough area, it'll be difficult."
0:18:49 > 0:18:51It's fine. Most of the people are really nice round here.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54It has a strong sense of community spirit.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55We really had that come through.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57They're decent, hard-working people.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Well, you can see that by the number who've turned out to join in here.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04Do you know much about the family?
0:19:04 > 0:19:05No, only what I've read.
0:19:05 > 0:19:11He's very ill and he's only got a little bit of time left.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Got to be hard for the family, you know what I mean?
0:19:13 > 0:19:15- But also, living in this...- I know!
0:19:15 > 0:19:17Well, it's mind-boggling to me.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19I just can't see as they've lived in it.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22Extraordinary that they lived in this environment.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26- So you're happy come along and help out?- No problem at all, yeah.
0:19:26 > 0:19:31Jump at the chance, really, y'know? Just to help somebody out who...
0:19:31 > 0:19:34needs it more than us, y'know?
0:19:36 > 0:19:38Things happen, don't they?
0:19:38 > 0:19:41But it's nice that there's a lot of the local builders
0:19:41 > 0:19:44who can just jump on this and help out, isn't it?
0:19:44 > 0:19:47- And the tradespeople of Stoke just keep coming.- There's three kids.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50- They need the rooms.- And a local fencing company turned up
0:19:50 > 0:19:55to see what they can do to stop this mindless vandalism from happening again.
0:19:55 > 0:20:02What we're going to do to give them this bit of privacy is to run a timber fence on the top of this wall.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06All these people have volunteered their time to help out
0:20:06 > 0:20:13but none of them would be here had it not been for one person, the family's health visitor, Sheila.
0:20:13 > 0:20:14Tell us why you decided to write in to us.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17I happened to say to Jennifer, "How's your house coming on?",
0:20:17 > 0:20:23because I knew they'd come up here and I knew that they were trying to do this house up.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27She just kind of said what had been going on,
0:20:27 > 0:20:32how poorly Haydn had become and the house had come to a standstill.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35And when she showed me what the house was like,
0:20:35 > 0:20:39it was acceptance - "This is what we've got and we'll work our way through it."
0:20:39 > 0:20:43I came to Jennifer and said, "Would you mind if I referred you to DIY SOS?"
0:20:43 > 0:20:47And she said, "Would you do that for me?" "Yeah!"
0:20:47 > 0:20:49And it just snowballed from there.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53So, having come up with that idea and done it, were you expecting this much to be going on?
0:20:53 > 0:20:55I feel quite humbled, really, I suppose!
0:20:55 > 0:20:59I just can't believe the difference this is going to make to this family.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03And all these people are volunteering and doing all this work.
0:21:03 > 0:21:08I think they're going to be excited. I can't think of another word.
0:21:08 > 0:21:14It seems not a big enough word for how they're going to feel!
0:21:14 > 0:21:19What's happening here is a local miracle, thanks to all the amazing people who've turned up to help.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23This transformation is going to mean the world to the Spice family,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26making a dream a reality.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29Part of Charlie's design is an open-plan kitchen/diner.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32To do this, these steel beams are going in so the upstairs
0:21:32 > 0:21:37won't fall into the downstairs when we take the kitchen walls out.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39All we've got to do now is put them in.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43They'll be resting on the last two structurally sound walls left in the kitchen.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47At least, they were until we turned up.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50The problem is that this morning...
0:21:50 > 0:21:55I saw a pencil line on the wall, thinking it was the opening size.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59- Yeah...- So I got Mat to stitch-drill a line down.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02- So YOU did it!- Yeah!
0:22:03 > 0:22:07No-one's pointing any fingers but Mat and Jules have just made a mistake
0:22:07 > 0:22:11and they've started to knock down the part of the wall that the beam will to sit on.
0:22:11 > 0:22:16This means the wall is now too weak to support the beam.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21This is a serious problem and we need to sort it out fast.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25If only someone were on hand to come up with a genius solution.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29Oh, I hate Knowles, right?
0:22:29 > 0:22:32Outside, we were quietly trying to have a conversation about the wall
0:22:32 > 0:22:35being stitch-drilled, and old Super Lugs walked up
0:22:35 > 0:22:38and he said to me, "Oh, look, there is an easy way to get round it.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41"You know the resin they're using at the back of the house?
0:22:41 > 0:22:43"Why don't we inject the holes with that?"
0:22:43 > 0:22:45I said, "Don't be ridiculous."
0:22:45 > 0:22:48The guy from the company walked in and said, "Why don't we pump resin into it?
0:22:48 > 0:22:52"It'll be stronger than the brick wall originally was."
0:22:52 > 0:22:54This is hurting him so much!
0:22:54 > 0:22:56- Not just a pretty face, is he? - Not even.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Not even a pretty face.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02It's the very same epoxy resin system we're using to hold up the wall outside.
0:23:02 > 0:23:07It worked there, so why wouldn't it work in here? It's a good job I'm here, really.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13That'll to be it now. All night, he's going to be going, "Check me out. that was my idea."
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Take the camera off of him.
0:23:16 > 0:23:21I can't stick that smug look on his face any longer.
0:23:22 > 0:23:27I think since I've reached the point of 40 years old,
0:23:27 > 0:23:30one mistake in 40 years isn't bad going, is it?
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Very good, Jules!
0:23:33 > 0:23:37After a few setbacks, to say the least - no names mentioned, Julian...
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Chip it out some more, please.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42..it's good to see the second floor of the extension going in.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45That's the way to build an extension, isn't it?
0:23:45 > 0:23:50And amazingly, at the end of day two, the roof is on!
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Fabulous.
0:23:55 > 0:23:56Let's go home.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07Morning, ladies! I must commend you on your roast pork last night, ladies.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10It was probably the best roast dinner I had...
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Apart from what your wife cooks.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17No, it's got to be said. You've got to say it when it's meant.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- Oh, good luck, mate!- She's been easing off on the roasties.
0:24:20 > 0:24:25Do you believe he's actually dissing his wife's cooking in front of six million people across the country?
0:24:25 > 0:24:29- I'm not dissing it. - Claire, I'm saying to you... - Her cooking is phenomenal.- Right.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33It's just the quantity of the roast dinners that we're lacking of.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35Spread out over the year...
0:24:35 > 0:24:38She does a mean roast
0:24:38 > 0:24:41but I'd like one every Sunday, and they're not there. They're not happening.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45- Remember, as a kid, you always had a roast dinner.- Every Sunday.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48- Do you get a roast dinner every Sunday now?- Yeah.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52See, Claire? See?! The rest of 'em do! I'm not!
0:24:52 > 0:24:57I have a feeling the only roast dinner he's likely to see is the one that Claire dumps over his head.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01Charlie, quick, change the subject. Please, talk about insulation or something.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05What's really good about this system is, increasingly what we're realising
0:25:05 > 0:25:08is that it's not just how well insulated a building is,
0:25:08 > 0:25:12it's about how much draughts you get into it, so by sticking this insulation
0:25:12 > 0:25:15over the outside of the building, not only does it make it much warmer,
0:25:15 > 0:25:18but it stops all of that air leaking into it.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22The critical thing is, our energy costs are going through the roof,
0:25:22 > 0:25:26so all of this stuff will be happening all over the country, all the time.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29You and I and everyone around here will be doing it
0:25:29 > 0:25:33over time, because as energy goes up, it gets more and more affordable.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37Charlie, proving that insulation can be fun.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39But not as much fun as this...
0:25:39 > 0:25:42That's Christopher with a pre-emptive strike, a phone call home to the missus,
0:25:42 > 0:25:46saying, "I've done this hilarious thing, I was only joking, love.
0:25:46 > 0:25:47"I didn't mean anything by it."
0:25:47 > 0:25:51He knows how much trouble he's in about the roast dinner thing now.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53Pre-emptive strike for the missus, was it?
0:25:53 > 0:25:56"Just having a bit of a laugh with the guys, don't worry when it comes out."
0:25:58 > 0:26:01She's moved my bed into the garage.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03Has she!?
0:26:03 > 0:26:06No. Like I said, you can't knock her cooking,
0:26:06 > 0:26:12she's a very good traditional... The best traditional cook. It's just, I think...
0:26:12 > 0:26:15she's worn out on a Sunday and the last thing on her little mind...or on her huge...
0:26:15 > 0:26:17Oh, dear! Oh, God no.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19I'm just digging...
0:26:19 > 0:26:22- The last thing on my beautiful...- I'm not even going to stand by you now.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26- It's nothing to do with me, he's on his own. - The last thing on her mind...
0:26:26 > 0:26:27Do you want to move in with me?
0:26:27 > 0:26:31- A couple of months moving in with me in London.- Could I? - I think you'll have to, mate.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35Probably best not to think about it, Chris, just bury yourself in work.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Then, there's plenty to do, upstairs walls for a start. I'm slightly lost up here, now.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Everything's changed.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46Over there you've two bedrooms, two little bedrooms.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49- Yeah. Then you've got a hallway. - A hallway here.
0:26:49 > 0:26:54So that becomes the en suite to this major bedroom, which is mum's,
0:26:54 > 0:26:57leaving you one, two, three girls' bedrooms.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59It's flying up, isn't it?
0:26:59 > 0:27:04These internal walls are being put up to create the separate bedrooms the family needs.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07The problem with walls is - you can't see through them.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Luckily for us, Charlie's come up with an ingenious solution
0:27:10 > 0:27:13to make the new rear corridor bright and airy.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18I need to get a roof light into here, and what I'd like to do is, see that whole opening up there,
0:27:18 > 0:27:22I'd like to make that a light...funnel,
0:27:22 > 0:27:26funnel, tunnel thing up to a rooflight to drop natural daylight in there,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29so then it comes down into the stairs and lights this whole area.
0:27:29 > 0:27:34- But, to do that, I think we're going to have to move the loft hatch. - Two, three, lift!
0:27:34 > 0:27:39Meanwhile, downstairs, things are really coming on and the first steel beam is going in.
0:27:39 > 0:27:44This is going to completely open up the kitchen/dining area.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48- You happy?- Yeah, spot on, that.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50The extension is up to two floors
0:27:50 > 0:27:55and we've got patio doors here. We're going to have to build some kind of step down here, aren't we?
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Otherwise it'll be a big jump for them to get out.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01Come into the old kitchen, where we've now created a utility room in there,
0:28:01 > 0:28:03and where Julian is in there, what'll that be?
0:28:03 > 0:28:08- Bathroom.- Thank you very much. The acro props are holding up the ceilings here and in there,
0:28:08 > 0:28:10because the beam has now been dropped
0:28:10 > 0:28:14and is now going to add a piece on there which will go through here.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18Complicated steelwork, but it will hold up the whole of the middle of the house,
0:28:18 > 0:28:20so it's important. Duck through here.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23Back off a bit, not too far, and come with me up the stairs.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27Sorry, coming through. That's going to become a bathroom and small dressing room area.
0:28:27 > 0:28:31Used to be able to go through here but it's been boxed in and will be plastered over.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34You'll noticed if you look past Vic, the wall's been knocked down
0:28:34 > 0:28:37to create a balcony that you can look over to the stairwell.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40- My buddy, Christopher! - Hello, mate, all right?
0:28:40 > 0:28:42Yeah, who is... You tell them, what are you doing?
0:28:42 > 0:28:46Getting this room ready so the plasterers have something to do.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48We can crack on downstairs boarding.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51- Failing that, me, George and Mat will have to do it. - The whole house?- Yeah.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54And all this in just a few days.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Extraordinary, isn't it?
0:28:57 > 0:28:59Why are these people working so hard?
0:28:59 > 0:29:03They're here to help a family whose financial and medical problems
0:29:03 > 0:29:07have led them to living in a semi-derelict house.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10When a family has money troubles, the kids are hardest hit
0:29:10 > 0:29:13but despite all that Jenny and Haydn have been through,
0:29:13 > 0:29:19they've worked hard to find inventive ways to keep their girls entertained on pocket change.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23Explain to me what it is you do. I don't understand what overpainting is.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26The flowers here look kind of white and not very colourful.
0:29:26 > 0:29:32We get a pink or a red and maybe go over them and make them look brighter and more prettier.
0:29:35 > 0:29:40I can imagine the kids love it, don't they? Painting over original paintings, a couple of quid a go...
0:29:40 > 0:29:43- That's right.- Exactly, and it's a bit nicer than painting by numbers.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47So, while it's obviously been tough, financially,
0:29:47 > 0:29:51at the same time it's sort of meant other opportunities, and...
0:29:51 > 0:29:57It's quite delightful, really. We have enough time to go and pick damsons, to pick blackberries,
0:29:57 > 0:30:01and to have that much time to be able to do that, that's a luxury in our days.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03You're taking a very positive view towards your illness.
0:30:03 > 0:30:08Not many people, I think, who had the diagnosis you had would say, "It's great because I get more time
0:30:08 > 0:30:10"to spend with the kids and go and pick damsons."
0:30:10 > 0:30:12I'm a millionaire, the time with the children now.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14Tell you what, I like this idea of the over-painting.
0:30:14 > 0:30:20I was wondering if the girls, now that we've chosen one, will you show my friend Charlie how to do it?
0:30:20 > 0:30:24If we meet up and show him how to do an over-painting?
0:30:24 > 0:30:25I'd love to, it would be really fun.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27I think this one.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30£4. And then £1.79 for the other one.
0:30:30 > 0:30:34Talk to the lady, have a negotiation, see if you can get a couple of quid off.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36- It's always good to negotiate. - It is a charity shop.
0:30:36 > 0:30:43You know, you're right, I'm sorry, it is a charity shop, I'm sorry, you're quite right.
0:30:43 > 0:30:44See you later.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46Wow, what an inspirational family.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49It's amazing to see such a positive take on life, considering
0:30:49 > 0:30:54the rough times they're going through, and that lie ahead.
0:30:54 > 0:30:58Back on site, we're all working hard to get Jenny, Haydn and the girls back home.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01The only way we can do this with just a few days to go
0:31:01 > 0:31:05is to use brute force and cutting-edge building techniques.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09Like this new roofing system, that's gone on in less than four hours.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12That is nice.
0:31:12 > 0:31:17And we crimp the bottom so there's no raw edges there, and on this side it's crimped as well.
0:31:17 > 0:31:24So, it's a very neat-looking system, but the beauty of it is, this will be on very, very quickly.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26It's really nice.
0:31:26 > 0:31:30And it does look superb, it looks like a zinc roof, but it's about half the price.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34- It's half the price of a zinc roof, is it?- At least.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37New roof, new walls, the upstairs is coming on leaps and bounds.
0:31:37 > 0:31:42Good, right then, last trowel and then it's fine-filling these rooms,
0:31:42 > 0:31:45ready for the decorators tomorrow morning.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48Whereas, downstairs, with only three days to go,
0:31:48 > 0:31:54the boys are still knocking through into the new extension to create the open-plan kitchen.
0:32:07 > 0:32:13Morning! Time is running out, and this two-storey house is a house of two stories. See what I did there?
0:32:13 > 0:32:17Two stories, you see, like in... Never mind.
0:32:17 > 0:32:22Upstairs is getting its first lick of paint, but downstairs we're a long way from colour and cushions.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28What I'm worried about, we've got to pull up all upstairs, we're going to
0:32:28 > 0:32:31pull the kitchen and the family room and that room together.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34We'll probably end up losing the front room, because we just haven't got the time.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38We ain't going to be finished building by Tuesday.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40Yeah, that's how it's looking at the moment.
0:32:40 > 0:32:45If this is your house, and you had an outside exterior light,
0:32:45 > 0:32:50would you have it centre of that wall or centre of the door?
0:32:50 > 0:32:54I think, to be honest, if that's all you've got to worry about, you're in a good place,
0:32:54 > 0:32:57- to be honest.- All right, that's it, I'm not worried no more!
0:32:57 > 0:33:00At least on the outside things seem to be going to plan.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03The thermal underlayer or tea cosy is almost in place, and the lads can
0:33:03 > 0:33:06start to apply the render on top. All the way up the side, there.
0:33:06 > 0:33:14It needs a bit of paint now and it'll look lovely, it'll look like a properly, normally rendered house.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18This is a pretty big project, isn't it, to wrap an entire house and extension and all the rest of it?
0:33:18 > 0:33:22From our point of view, you've done an enormous amount for us here.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25I'm just interested to know why you decided to join in and help out?
0:33:25 > 0:33:27I think it's just a worthy cause.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30We heard the story about the family, and obviously the gentleman
0:33:30 > 0:33:35with his cancer has three young daughters, and it's a fantastic project to get involved in.
0:33:35 > 0:33:41It is a fantastic project, and downstairs we're really cracking on with the plastering.
0:33:41 > 0:33:45Do you know, my missus is the cleverest person I've ever met, do you know that?
0:33:45 > 0:33:48She's lovely, your missus.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50Does a mean roast dinner, as well.
0:33:50 > 0:33:55Yeah, nice one, Chris, nice to see you climbing out of that enormous hole you dug yourself earlier.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58While the boys are making the downstairs pink, Charlie's nipped off
0:33:58 > 0:34:04to find his inner artist and help the girls paint the pictures we bought at the charity shop.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07I'm interested in what...what is the idea, what are we going to do?
0:34:07 > 0:34:09I don't really know what we're going to do.
0:34:09 > 0:34:15I know we've got some paintings and some paint, and no-one told me much more than that.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19What we're going to do is paint over it.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22You paint over that? And what's the point, why are you painting over them?
0:34:22 > 0:34:27Well, because you see how dull this one is, and the dresses and the colours?
0:34:27 > 0:34:32I know it shows detail, but it doesn't show that much bright colours, it looks pale.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34You hang it up and it looks a lot better than it did before.
0:34:34 > 0:34:39Because you're the biggest, you can have the biggest paint brush.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42So it's a print of a painting.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44Nice blue sky.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49Tell me, how do you enjoy school?
0:34:49 > 0:34:52Yeah, school's great, because I would like to be a doctor when I'm older.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54- Would you?- Yeah.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57That's fantastic. How long have you wanted to be a doctor?
0:34:59 > 0:35:01Since I was little.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05Really? I think this is such a brilliant idea.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07I've so enjoyed this.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10I'm going to have to go home and get some paintings
0:35:10 > 0:35:14from the local charity shop and get my kids to do this.
0:35:14 > 0:35:15I think they'd really enjoy it.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21So you're looking forward to, what,
0:35:21 > 0:35:25you've got two days now until you get to see the new house.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28I know, it's really exciting.
0:35:28 > 0:35:29Are you really excited?
0:35:31 > 0:35:34My little girl always says, how many sleepovers until something?
0:35:34 > 0:35:39- So you've got two sleepovers until you see the house.- I know.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42Really exciting because you don't know what it's going to look like.
0:35:42 > 0:35:47And there are a lot of people working on it, a lot of very generous people giving up their time.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50We're very, very grateful.
0:35:56 > 0:36:01For Haydn, I just feel enormously sorry for him that he's not going to see his kids grow up,
0:36:01 > 0:36:06which is an absolute tragedy, but also for those little girls not to have their dad around
0:36:06 > 0:36:11and also to sort of know that he's not going to be around to see him getting iller,
0:36:11 > 0:36:15it must just be very, very difficult.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17It really gives you the sort of motivation
0:36:17 > 0:36:22to try and get it right for them, to try and get their bills down, because they're really struggling.
0:36:22 > 0:36:23They don't have any money.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25Everything that we can do to make their life
0:36:25 > 0:36:30less expensive, to make it warmer, to make it more comfortable, to give Haydn a nice bath that he can get to
0:36:30 > 0:36:37easily from his bed when he's really feeling bad, that's going to make the quality of their life so much better.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40It's an amazing thing to be involved in.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42I know what you're thinking, ladies.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44Attractive, good heart, good with kids...
0:36:44 > 0:36:47Sickening, isn't it?
0:36:47 > 0:36:50We're on track to finish the house on schedule, but disaster!
0:36:50 > 0:36:52Of all days for us to get heavy rain.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55Really quite bad news, this, isn't it? Trying to get
0:36:55 > 0:36:58the front of the house finished, and you can see it's running
0:36:58 > 0:37:03around the back of it, just off the back of the roof there, running down the face of the building.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05It's just going to wash everything off.
0:37:05 > 0:37:12Until it stops raining, all we can really do is plug the leaks, blow hot air onto the side of this house
0:37:12 > 0:37:15and hope the render doesn't wash off.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18Looking on the bright side, we've hit a plastering milestone.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20The boys have been working like demons.
0:37:20 > 0:37:25It's been a mammoth task and the downstairs is almost done.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27Incredible.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30- Hello, Nicholas.- How are you, Julian?
0:37:30 > 0:37:33I haven't had a chance to chat to you very much - you've been so busy.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36- This is the last of it, though, now, this room?- Last room, last room.
0:37:36 > 0:37:41Because your chosen trade is general builder, but you're a plasterer, aren't you?
0:37:41 > 0:37:43But you're not really in love with plastering, are you?
0:37:43 > 0:37:45I haven't got a chosen trade.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48You don't get the joy out of plastering that, say, Chris does.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52- He seems to get a joy from it. - I do it for a couple of days, but then I've had enough.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54I want to move onto something else.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56I didn't really choose to be a builder, to be honest.
0:37:56 > 0:38:01When I left school with no qualifications, my dad just happened to be building a house.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03So I just went to work with him.
0:38:03 > 0:38:09Then we got caught in the first recession, so then we went jobbing building from that point.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12We just recently built five more houses.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16That's gone Pete Tong because of this recession.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18You've bought perfectly for both recessions.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22Yes, yes! It's the planning side of it that's the downfall.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24And the timings.
0:38:24 > 0:38:25Logistics, possibly.
0:38:25 > 0:38:31- So, get into building.- And lose £250,000.- Yeah!- Yeah, great.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36That's cheered him up.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38It makes you think, though, doesn't it, really?
0:38:38 > 0:38:42We really need to try and pull together to help people who often, through no fault of their own,
0:38:42 > 0:38:47have found themselves in difficult circumstances and are struggling with day-to-day life.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50While a lot of people are finding it financially difficult at the moment,
0:38:50 > 0:38:54because of what has happened, it's been a bit more than financially difficult for you.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58I think the finance is really secondary, if you know what I mean.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01We've turned from a family that we thought we were doing OK
0:39:01 > 0:39:06to virtually destitution, which is a bit of a shock.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10And then with illness in the family so heavily...
0:39:10 > 0:39:12prevalent and dominating life, it's...
0:39:12 > 0:39:14How are you doing with it?
0:39:14 > 0:39:20You've got to be strong for the girls, but how are you doing with the announcement suddenly
0:39:20 > 0:39:25- that your partner has a terminal illness?- It really, really hit me hard to start with.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29Very tearful. Every time I saw Haydn, it was terrible.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31I'd just, like, burst into tears and give him a hug.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33Then he said, "You know,
0:39:33 > 0:39:36"you can't live like that. We've got to get on with it."
0:39:36 > 0:39:40How do you begin to prepare the children for that?
0:39:40 > 0:39:42How much do they know?
0:39:42 > 0:39:46They know it all. We've been totally honest with them from the word go.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48They've really had a lot of their tears already.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50Occasionally it hits them.
0:39:50 > 0:39:55Something triggers it and they go, "Oh, Daddy, I don't want you to die. We love you."
0:39:55 > 0:39:57That really hits us both.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01Their dad has said there's no way you've got to spend time mourning me.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03Life is for living.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06Remember me. I'll live on in your memories.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13Doesn't bear thinking about, really, does it?
0:40:13 > 0:40:17Jenny and Haydn's situation has really struck a chord with everyone on site
0:40:17 > 0:40:23and they're pulling out all the stops to do the best they can possibly do for the family.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26Alan from the local fencing company has really done the business.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29We've had a lot of people do amazing things all over the building.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32I have to say, this has been one of the things that has worried me
0:40:32 > 0:40:36because of the incident that happened on the first day and the family going forward.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40- Have you got kids?- I have, yeah. I've got two kids of me own, so it...
0:40:40 > 0:40:45hits home when you've got your own children and you think you wouldn't like to see it happen to your own.
0:40:45 > 0:40:46No, well, hopefully people,
0:40:46 > 0:40:51now that they know what the situation is with this family, will just leave them alone
0:40:51 > 0:40:55to try and get things together and start their lives properly, really.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57- That's good, that's good.- Thank you.
0:40:57 > 0:41:02The house is really starting to take shape now. The sun is shining and things are looking up.
0:41:02 > 0:41:07For the first time this week it's actually warm in Stoke, which means two things -
0:41:07 > 0:41:12the walls have at long last got a chance to dry and the weather is causing havoc for our cameramen.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16I'll tell you what's happening is, we're in Stoke, right,
0:41:16 > 0:41:21and this camera was actually hired in Stoke and it's warm today and it can't cope.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27Southern softies, coming up here, criticising everybody.
0:41:27 > 0:41:32Hang on, hang on a sec. I've got to ask you, does no one ever say to you,
0:41:32 > 0:41:36maybe a change of hairstyle? How long have you had that hairstyle?
0:41:37 > 0:41:3953 years.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41I'm never going to be bald.
0:41:41 > 0:41:45- That's the kind of question you think but don't ask.- Is it really?
0:41:45 > 0:41:47'Yeah, maybe he's got a point.'
0:41:47 > 0:41:50Perhaps I should leave the talking to the others for a bit.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53The roof's been insulated, this amazing two-storey extension has gone up,
0:41:53 > 0:42:00we're putting the finishing touches to the big insulation tea cosy we've wrapped the whole building in.
0:42:00 > 0:42:05Hello, mate. All the plastering, all the woodwork, everything painted out, looking nice.
0:42:05 > 0:42:09Here we go, we've created this lovely aperture. We've put the steels in
0:42:09 > 0:42:13and we've got a complete walkthrough from the family room into the new kitchen.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15Bathroom out the back. Utility room around there.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17Absolutely fantastic.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20This was the window that looked through to the back garden.
0:42:20 > 0:42:25Now it's a walkthrough into the new extension en suite.
0:42:25 > 0:42:29The skylight window is throwing light onto the balcony overlooking the stairwell.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32Beautiful, isn't it?
0:42:32 > 0:42:36With a workforce of well over 50 trades turning up on most days,
0:42:36 > 0:42:39it's pretty impressive to see what we have achieved already.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42I'm very pleased to be doing the work.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45It's very nice to contribute.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47It's really good to be able to come and help out.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51It's a real good feel-good factor about the place, everybody
0:42:51 > 0:42:54working really hard, trying to get it done for the family. Fantastic.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57- You've has been in here, doing this. It's your team, isn't it?- Yes.
0:42:57 > 0:42:59That's been helping us out?
0:42:59 > 0:43:01What's the trick to good papering?
0:43:01 > 0:43:04So many people try papering and make a mess of it.
0:43:04 > 0:43:08- Specifically, me. - Read your instructions.
0:43:08 > 0:43:13There are instructions, are there? I've never known that. I've never even looked. What, on the wallpaper?
0:43:13 > 0:43:18Which paste, repeats, soaking time, adhesives.
0:43:18 > 0:43:21- Really?- All the information.
0:43:21 > 0:43:24So I've never once looked at the wrapping on a roll of paper.
0:43:24 > 0:43:27I didn't even know there were instructions. Isn't that typical?
0:43:34 > 0:43:38It's the final push. Charlie really has played a blinder.
0:43:38 > 0:43:40He's gone on a bit about insulation, I know, but that's his thing.
0:43:40 > 0:43:43This house will save the family money on their energy bills,
0:43:43 > 0:43:48it looks brilliant, and even our site rubbish is going to be recycled.
0:43:48 > 0:43:53So you can take any timber off a building site and turn that into fuel?
0:43:53 > 0:43:59Yeah, providing it's biodegradable, it can all be recycled and re-used to provide power.
0:43:59 > 0:44:04So it actually reduces waste down by about one to seven.
0:44:04 > 0:44:08So for every seven skips you have, you'd only have one if you use that machine.
0:44:08 > 0:44:12Let's talk about the interesting bit. Let's talk about the tractor!
0:44:14 > 0:44:15Love tractors, me.
0:44:15 > 0:44:18He really does love tractors.
0:44:18 > 0:44:22Come on, Jules, stop messing about. We've got a house to finish.
0:44:22 > 0:44:27Looking pretty good, though, isn't it? The scaffolding is coming down and the end is in sight.
0:44:27 > 0:44:30I can almost see it. Nothing is going to stop us now.
0:44:30 > 0:44:34I shouldn't have said anything, should I, really?
0:44:35 > 0:44:40Good job we found it, though, before the plumbers come down really, isn't it?
0:44:40 > 0:44:44It's not bad when you think we've had subsidence, the corner of the house nearly fell off,
0:44:44 > 0:44:48the wall plates in the roof moved,
0:44:48 > 0:44:53we had to rewire the building back in and we had to underpin the building.
0:44:53 > 0:44:55And we've had one leaking pipe.
0:44:55 > 0:44:59You've got to stop picking these easy jobs, that's why.
0:45:09 > 0:45:15Just nine days ago, we arrived in Stoke to find a family with nowhere else to turn.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21Because of Haydn's ongoing battle with terminal illness
0:45:21 > 0:45:23and the financial pressures this brought with it,
0:45:23 > 0:45:29there was simply no way the family could undertake the work to fix up the home they so desperately needed.
0:45:34 > 0:45:38We've actually ignored the state of the walls and the windows.
0:45:38 > 0:45:43If we looked at them, I'd think, "Oh, my God, we've been living in this."
0:45:45 > 0:45:50It was a situation we could never have solved on our own.
0:45:53 > 0:45:59And it was only with the help of an army - and I mean an army - of local trades giving their time to us,
0:45:59 > 0:46:02that we've managed it.
0:46:02 > 0:46:06Amazingly, in just over a week, we've put up a two-storey extension,
0:46:06 > 0:46:10firmly insulated and rendered the outside,
0:46:10 > 0:46:17and fitted new windows and doors throughout, making the house extremely energy efficient.
0:46:21 > 0:46:24Downstairs has been transformed beyond recognition.
0:46:24 > 0:46:29We've knocked through to create a stunning kitchen-diner come family room,
0:46:29 > 0:46:32which will become the heart of this home.
0:46:45 > 0:46:50This elegant space has been designed with simplicity in mind.
0:46:50 > 0:46:56Charlie's primary aim here was to give this family a functional yet beautiful kitchen-diner
0:46:56 > 0:46:59that will help to see them through the tough times ahead.
0:47:12 > 0:47:17The front room is now a bright, happy play area, somewhere for the girls to relax and hopefully
0:47:17 > 0:47:22be inspired to fulfil their creative ambitions in the future.
0:47:26 > 0:47:30Outside we've managed to stop the end wall falling off the house,
0:47:30 > 0:47:36and we've built an extension to increase the space on the ground floor and the first.
0:47:39 > 0:47:43For me, it's the upstairs that was the real revelation of this build.
0:47:43 > 0:47:47We've completely redesigned the layout, dividing the front bedroom into two,
0:47:47 > 0:47:50to give each of the younger girls a room of their own.
0:47:56 > 0:48:02We've created a hallway to give independent access to the back bedroom, which will give Sarah,
0:48:02 > 0:48:06the eldest, her own room for the first time in her life.
0:48:12 > 0:48:15Haydn and Jenny have now got their own bedroom, too.
0:48:15 > 0:48:18We've continued the theme of timeless elegance
0:48:18 > 0:48:23with the addition of simple cornicing and a beautiful antique bed.
0:48:23 > 0:48:28But the real difference for Haydn is the en-suite bathroom,
0:48:28 > 0:48:32giving him the privacy he'll need in the difficult months ahead.
0:48:43 > 0:48:47Although we can't solve this family's problems, we can at least
0:48:47 > 0:48:54help make the time they all have left together as stress-free and happy as possible.
0:48:56 > 0:49:03I hope you like what we and all the amazing tradesmen of Stoke
0:49:03 > 0:49:05have done for you.
0:49:05 > 0:49:06Open your eyes.
0:49:06 > 0:49:08SHE GASPS
0:49:09 > 0:49:12It's the most beautiful...
0:49:12 > 0:49:17- Isn't it big?- I couldn't believe it would be changed...
0:49:17 > 0:49:19- so dramatically.- Wow.
0:49:19 > 0:49:23It's clean, it's flat-walled, it's beautiful.
0:49:27 > 0:49:28- Nick!- Don't thank me, honestly.
0:49:28 > 0:49:32I've done the least of it.
0:49:32 > 0:49:34God, thank you, everybody.
0:49:34 > 0:49:38The generosity has knocked us for six. Just look at this.
0:49:40 > 0:49:41So that's the front room.
0:49:41 > 0:49:44THEY LAUGH
0:49:46 > 0:49:50- It's beautiful!- The dining room, somewhere you can sit. - What a dining room!
0:49:52 > 0:49:55- Go on, have a wander through. - After you, darling.
0:49:58 > 0:49:59The kitchen!
0:49:59 > 0:50:02Look at this kitchen!
0:50:02 > 0:50:05This house looks so modern now!
0:50:05 > 0:50:07Whose house is it?!
0:50:07 > 0:50:09What happens to this derelict we lived in?
0:50:09 > 0:50:11Gosh, what a posh cooker.
0:50:14 > 0:50:17You got it all in and it all works.
0:50:19 > 0:50:21That's really a lovely living space.
0:50:24 > 0:50:26- You like it?- I can't believe...
0:50:28 > 0:50:31..I can't believe that other people could do this for us.
0:50:31 > 0:50:36I'm astounded. that somebody could paint the wall, or do the outside,
0:50:36 > 0:50:38fabulous.
0:50:45 > 0:50:46- Oh, my goodness!- Wow.
0:50:56 > 0:50:59Gosh, a vanity unit. The girls will love that!
0:51:01 > 0:51:05Gosh, it's fantastic.
0:51:08 > 0:51:10You've got to look over your shoulder as well...
0:51:10 > 0:51:14Oh, wow! That's so cool!
0:51:14 > 0:51:15Goodness.
0:51:23 > 0:51:26- Wow!- Whoa!
0:51:26 > 0:51:29- What's that?- In there?
0:51:29 > 0:51:33The first part is a dressing room...
0:51:33 > 0:51:34A little en-suite.
0:51:36 > 0:51:39New house then?
0:51:39 > 0:51:41It's all new house, it didn't exist before.
0:51:41 > 0:51:44It didn't exist... nine-and-a-half days ago.
0:51:49 > 0:51:54- The idea is that this can be your area so on your bad days... - I can get out of everybody's way.
0:51:54 > 0:51:57- Fantastic. Oh, thanks.- You can look after yourself in the bath,
0:51:57 > 0:52:00take your time in here, the rest of the family can operate out there.
0:52:00 > 0:52:03There's another bathroom downstairs they can use
0:52:03 > 0:52:05without having to come and interrupt.
0:52:05 > 0:52:07That makes it so easy for me.
0:52:07 > 0:52:11And I don't get in the way either.
0:52:16 > 0:52:20Now that we've shown it to you, how has it changed for you?
0:52:23 > 0:52:31I can just say it's like a soothing armchair in the mind, my mind sits in now, going into the future.
0:52:31 > 0:52:36Thank you, everybody. Thank you, everybody, that chipped in and gave so generously.
0:52:42 > 0:52:43What do you think, Sasha?
0:52:43 > 0:52:45This is your room.
0:52:47 > 0:52:51You don't know a bed until you've bounced it, do you?
0:52:52 > 0:52:56SHE LAUGHS
0:53:06 > 0:53:10I like pink! I do!
0:53:10 > 0:53:16- Wow.- Isn't it wonderful that when you're a child you can go, "This is how happy I am"?!
0:53:29 > 0:53:34- What do you like most about your new bedroom?- Everything.
0:53:37 > 0:53:39- SHE SQUEALS - Would you be happy with that one?
0:53:39 > 0:53:41Yes!
0:53:41 > 0:53:45That's not yours, either. Do you want to come and see yours?
0:53:45 > 0:53:52Yours is at the end of the corridor here, past the balcony, past the skylight window which you missed.
0:53:52 > 0:53:54Down past all the pretty lights.
0:53:57 > 0:53:59Oh, my God!
0:54:04 > 0:54:07You're allowed to try out the bed, it's yours now.
0:54:09 > 0:54:11It's really comfy and bouncy.
0:54:12 > 0:54:15It's more than I have dreamed of.
0:54:19 > 0:54:23All right? You like it?
0:54:23 > 0:54:25Yeah.
0:54:25 > 0:54:27It's a bit different, isn't it?
0:54:37 > 0:54:40It's a lot to take in.
0:54:40 > 0:54:42It's a big change, I know.
0:54:42 > 0:54:44I know it's a big change.
0:54:47 > 0:54:49Doesn't it make your heart flutter?
0:54:49 > 0:54:51Isn't it just fantastic?
0:54:54 > 0:54:56It's all quite grown-up and arty, isn't it?
0:54:56 > 0:54:59It's the best ever.
0:54:59 > 0:55:02- Are these happy tears, or sad tears? - Happy tears!
0:55:04 > 0:55:07A big change, isn't it?
0:55:07 > 0:55:11- This going to be a nice place to live now?- Yeah!
0:55:11 > 0:55:13You're the best.
0:55:13 > 0:55:15Yeah, you are the best, thanks.
0:55:15 > 0:55:20- It's all right. - Thank you so much for all of you.
0:55:22 > 0:55:24Oh, wow!
0:55:26 > 0:55:28The picture you did, girls.
0:55:28 > 0:55:32- And that!- It's wonderful!
0:55:32 > 0:55:35- How did we do?- Brilliant!
0:55:35 > 0:55:38Beyond wildest expectations.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41Thank you!
0:55:41 > 0:55:43Actually, not me,
0:55:43 > 0:55:47what I'd like to do is take to outside and introduce you to some of the people - not all of them,
0:55:47 > 0:55:49because some days we had 60 people here
0:55:49 > 0:55:51and not all of them have been able to come back -
0:55:51 > 0:55:55but some of the people that have been working on this, you can say hello
0:55:55 > 0:55:59'and maybe even say a few words to them because they don't get to hear this.'
0:55:59 > 0:56:02APPLAUSE
0:56:11 > 0:56:16- YOU guys deserve the clap! Thank you.- Yeah, you guys do.
0:56:16 > 0:56:18I don't know what to say.
0:56:18 > 0:56:24Everybody, and all the hours that have clearly gone into this, it's absolutely overwhelming.
0:56:24 > 0:56:27You've made our family a dream home.
0:56:27 > 0:56:28Thank you, all of you.
0:56:28 > 0:56:30Each and every one of you.
0:56:30 > 0:56:33And everybody that's not here that's also helped.
0:56:33 > 0:56:37I've heard there have been hundreds of you and thank you.
0:56:37 > 0:56:40We are absolutely blown away by people's generosity.
0:56:40 > 0:56:45We heard there were more volunteers in Stoke-on-Trent to help than anywhere else.
0:56:45 > 0:56:48CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:56:50 > 0:56:53They even like the thermal stuff, they're excited about that, too!
0:56:56 > 0:56:59- It's an absolute transformation. - It's a difficult question to ask
0:56:59 > 0:57:04but I have to ask it because the guys here know the situation of family is in.
0:57:04 > 0:57:08But the weight it takes off your shoulders given the circumstances you are in...
0:57:08 > 0:57:11I was going to leave these guys an old...
0:57:11 > 0:57:15and apparently that wall nearly fell down when you were fixing it!
0:57:15 > 0:57:21So any dad, or mum out there knows exactly how freeing that is.
0:57:21 > 0:57:24Thank you so much. There's nothing greater.
0:57:24 > 0:57:26Thank you, everybody.
0:57:26 > 0:57:30- The truth is at this stage I normally make a speech but I can't. - VOICE CRACKS
0:57:35 > 0:57:38I know this lady.
0:57:38 > 0:57:40You going to hospital soon?
0:57:40 > 0:57:44- Very good luck. - What will be will be.
0:57:46 > 0:57:49At least you guys are sorted, that's what matters.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54This is the lady that started it all.
0:57:54 > 0:57:56Our health visitor, Sheila.
0:57:56 > 0:58:01We wouldn't have any of this if she hadn't filled out the form. Thank you, darling.
0:58:02 > 0:58:05Haydn said to me earlier, "I don't believe there can be
0:58:05 > 0:58:10"generosity on this scale" - but it doesn't come in one big lump, it comes in small slices.
0:58:10 > 0:58:17It all adds up, though, to one big snowball of good will and that's helped Haydn and the family
0:58:17 > 0:58:22look forward to a future, although still uncertain, at least safe and secure.
0:58:22 > 0:58:24It's amazing what you can do, isn't it?
0:58:51 > 0:58:54Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:58:54 > 0:58:57E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk