Episode 7 Getting the Builders In

We're all obsessed with having lovely houses.

-Wow!

-Jaw drop.

-Looks great, doesn't it?

-It does, it's so impressive.

But the road to perfection isn't an easy ride.

Whoa! What have you done?

I've had enough. Literally...

How do you choose the right builder for the job?

That's another seven years bad luck, as if I need it.

We've scoured Britain for pairs of builders...

I really hope we get this job, because we are nearly out of fuel.

THEY LAUGH

..who think they've got what it takes...

We will go in full guns blazing, I think.

..to pitch against each other...

The job's in the bag.

..and win work.

Can you come round and pull me out?

That's what happens when you get to 40, mate.

Only one pair will win each job.

-Told ya!

-Got one in the bag, brother.

-But...

-Whoops!

-..they are going to be put through the ultimate wringer.

It is like dealing with the Three Stooges.

The losing pairs will be scrutinising their work.

Can anyone else hear the sucking of builders' teeth?

For our first job, we are in a part of the country famous for its horse racing.

A popular market town just 45 minutes from the capital,

where a semidetached house costs more than double the national average -

we're down south in Epsom, Surrey.

Looking to get the builders in are solicitor Zoe and accountant Kevin...

Bye-bye, Daddy!

..and their two children, Imogen and Ethan.

We found this house thinking it just needed an upgrade as it just hasn't

been redecorated since the 1970s.

And we've made some progress on the house in that time,

but there's still lots of work to do.

And he doesn't mean shifting a few boxes.

Although some rooms have been done, others are a little...

..unfinished.

We inherited a 1970s bathroom in green.

It was a hideous sight, so they ripped it out.

You've got a wiggle bottom!

And the whole family have high hopes for their bijou bathroom.

We are looking to put in something that feels a little bit luxurious,

but it's something we are using every day, so practical,

but also something we're going to enjoy.

And the budget for their dream en-suite?

We think 7,500 is a realistic figure.

Kevin is an accountant, so...

The budget will have a contingency,

but there is no chance they will be going over that contingency.

Sounds like a healthy budget for an en-suite.

But it's easy to spend, spend, spend on any bathroom,

so our builders have plenty of ideas to keep the costs down.

When ordering materials, get them through your plumber.

He will be able to get the trade discount

and order the kind of materials

that they're used to using and like to work with.

Decide what you want and measure up.

Do you want a walk-in shower, and is there space for one?

Before you order anything,

always check the taps and the valves because depending on the type of

boiler, that could limit what you can install in the property.

Three pairs of builders have worked up plans for Zoe and Kevin's bathroom.

All three teams are determined to win.

-Bit posher than your house, mate, innit?

-Dunno, mate.

-What do you reckon?

-Mine's bigger, mate.

So, let's see which motley crews are going up against each other.

Selling their ideas are burly bears, Simon and John...

Hello, all right?

..who are hoping that they are not only first in, but last out.

Oh! All right, mate.

Don't go through that bit.

THEY LAUGH

Too much breakfast.

There are two things these buddies love more than anything - biscuits...

-Rich Tea.

-My favourite is a chocolate biscuit.

-And he is quite cuddly, aren't you, mate?

-Yeah.

..and leaving everyone with a smile on their face.

We always seem to have a good rapport with a client, don't we?

I left him in the morning and he's ruined the place!

LAUGHTER

Simon and John's bathroom idea is "less is more".

I'm just keeping it simple.

The feature is the shower and the tiles leading to the shower.

That's it. Tiles everywhere.

It's just, in a space like this,

it just clutters it and it makes it darker.

Simon and John are going for an uncluttered look,

keeping tiles to a minimum.

But will it wash with Zoe and Kevin?

What we try to do is keep it quite simple.

You just want to be led into the room.

And the focal point wants be the shower.

And it would be, I think, if you go along the lines of having tiles everywhere.

Sure, yeah.

If you eliminate big costs of tiling whole areas,

you could maybe spend that money and allocate that to other things in the bathroom as well.

You'll have LED lights here,

in the plinth, so they come on as soon as you walk into the bathroom.

-And they can light up the niche as well.

-I see.

And also we can put in one big long mirror across to make the

bathroom obviously look a lot bigger.

Simon's funkier bit is above the door, we are going to frost the glass.

We will put a frosted bit on there.

-With "Mum and Dad".

-"Mum and Dad's Room", or something.

LAUGHTER

-Keep out.

-Nice touch.

Simon and John have gone for a simple modern design,

saving on tiles and allowing for state-of-the-art lighting,

and a wall length mirror.

But does a minimal look mean minimal cost?

So, it breaks down into 5,500 labour, and 3,500 materials.

Right.

Simon and John's quote is £1,500 over budget.

So, can the rivals come in any cheaper?

This is what I'm talking about, Michael! I like it.

Next up against Simon and John are smooth operators Martin and Mick.

-Nice job. Nice people to work for.

-You keep seeing nice people to work for.

-I keep thinking we've worked for some horrible people.

-No, but...

Just going to cut this new worktop into place.

This building duo think they are two parts of a well-oiled machine.

The horrible stuff, basically.

I think Mick is lying a bit there.

I'm just the brawn, he's the brains.

We won't tell him, because his head starts to swell a little bit.

-I must admit, I'm a man who likes a bit of clean work.

-Clean.

Inside. Yeah, nothing too messy.

As long as he's got a keyboard, he's fine.

Have you seen what he's done all afternoon?

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight... Ten tiles.

Put that drink down. You ain't got time to drink that.

So, come on, boys, what are you going to do to win this job?

What about electric underfloor heating?

It's in the budget. We've got a tiled floor. It's not a huge area.

It's a good idea to suggest, isn't it?

It might help us win. It may help us win them.

There's nothing worse than getting out of a shower onto a cold floor.

Now they've just got to hope their underfloor heating idea won't give Zoe and Kevin cold feet.

So, we've spent some time upstairs,

having a look at your potential bathroom.

Have you ever considered underfloor heating? Electric underfloor heating?

We hadn't in the bathroom.

-Cold tiles.

-Coming out of the shower,

it's very nice just to have a slightly warm surface.

Tiles can be cold.

-Is that electric or...?

-Yes, electric.

-2.20.

-What I did take from the brief

is they have been planning this for a long time.

I think they have got a very good idea of what tiles they want to use,

what kind of vanity units they want to put in, showers and stuff.

So it might be, in this case,

that we get all the functionality right on it -

what we think will go where, how to run everything -

but, creatively, we take a step back.

I'm just here to try and make you have your dream bathroom,

and if you've been looking at brochures for nine months,

then I think you know better than I do what you want.

We would probably prefer you to pick everything out.

I mean we can help you buy that,

because we do get better discounts and stuff.

-Sounds really good, actually, yup.

-Yeah?

So, that's essentially it.

Right, the important bit - money.

Martin and Mick are pitching to keep Zoe and Kevin's tootsies warmsies,

with underfloor heating and a tiled floor,

while leaving the bigger items for them to buy themselves.

So, just how will they price this one?

So we've come to a price which is 4,200.

Does your price include the underfloor heating element

-and the tile adhesive grout?

-Absolutely, absolutely.

All trims, adhesive, grout, all of that is covered.

-Supplies.

-All your plumbing fittings, all the sundries.

-This is literally just the big items that you'd be responsible for.

-OK.

That price is over three grand under budget.

But Zoe and Kevin will still need to buy the shower unit, the toilet,

the sink and all the tiles.

-Brilliant.

-OK?

-Thank you.

But this job's not won yet.

Next in are diamond geezers Elliott and Paul.

Halfway tiled in this area.

They will be desperate to beat their rivals.

They've travelled over an hour to get here.

-Then we are, look, a jumpy tile.

-Yeah, we'll make a feature of it.

I'll open the door first.

The key to any good relationship is knowing who's in charge.

He's used to being a boss, but obviously, he ain't the boss of me.

It's my way or the highway.

He thinks it is, yeah.

-Elliot?

-Yes, mate.

But they can at least agree on one thing.

Bathrooms is what we do, it's what we're good at.

That's what we love, innit?

This job should be just up your street, then.

So, what's your grand plan?

The tiles are going to go halfway round.

And the way we would lay it out in here, we have got the nice long walls,

it's not a small area.

Portrait is really a no-no. It's landscape.

It does make the room feel bigger.

Who knew that landscaped tiles could make room feel bigger, eh?

But that's exactly what Elliott and Paul have in mind for Zoe and Kevin's bijou en-suite.

Basically, the way this room is situated, you have got the long walls there.

So we are thinking, straightaway, maybe like grey 600, 300 tiles.

The best way is to lay them, not portrait, they're called landscape,

-long ways, makes the room look bigger.

-Yep.

We get a nice feature wall on here. Be a completely different tile,

maybe we will go for, like, a sort of rough sort of

stony lookalike porcelain tile.

On this main wall here, you want a different tile.

It might be like a sort of split stone sort of look.

-They're really cool just for a feature wall.

-OK.

Their big idea is to tile the entire bathroom using rectangular tiles to

make the room feel bigger.

But at what price?

We are prepared to go with a £4,000 labour only charge.

Elliott and Paul's quote has come in a whopping three and a half grand

under budget, but doesn't include any materials.

-Thank you very much for your time.

-Thank you.

-It's been a pleasure.

They've all pitched, but Zoe and Kevin don't have to go with any of them.

What was the potential problems that everybody else spotted?

-You two turned up!

-LAUGHTER

The builders can't do any more, and now they all have to wait.

-We are agreed on who to go with?

-Yeah, I think so.

Will it be Paul and Elliott's tile extravaganza,

under budget at four grand labour only?

Martin and Mick's heated floor, also under budget at £4,200?

Or Simon and John's stripped back look,

the highest quote at nine grand, including all materials?

-Who do you reckon?

-Don't know.

Only the winner's phone will ring.

It's the best man on the day.

LINE RINGS

Oh!

Hello?

We would like to commission you to redo our en-suite bathroom, please.

Oh, fantastic!

'Oh, no we're really happy about that.'

What swayed it for you?

Cos you saw that we had chosen quite a lot of materials already.

-That was quite helpful.

-Thank you. We will speak to you both soon.

-Cheers, bye.

-Bye for now.

-Got one in the bag, brother!

Martin and Mick have nailed it. But that's bad news for the losers.

It's business. We all went and give our best.

Yeah, no objections.

-Good luck. Fair play, mate.

-Yeah.

Yeah, Martin, he's a very pretty builder.

I want to see what he can do with them hands. I'm not too sure.

Well, boys, you'll be able to watch Martin and Mick's every move.

Zoe and Kevin need to get organised and order the suite and tiles they

want before Martin and Mick can start.

But that's not the only thing that needs to be thought about when fitting a new bathroom.

Bathrooms go in in stages.

The first fix is right at the beginning.

If you change your mind once we've put the pipework in,

it could be an expensive fix.

Be warned, we might have to turn off the water for the entire house.

So have your meals planned so that you don't go hungry!

Bathrooms generally take a week to install, but they can take longer.

So have a think about where you want to shower,

go to the toilet and brush your teeth.

A few weeks later, Mick and Martin arrive at Zoe and Kevin's.

The tiles have been delivered, the suite is on its way,

they're ready to get going, and the losers are all eyes.

It should be good, this.

Before they get cracking, a thoughtful touch to help keep Zoe and Kevin's carpet clean.

My nan used to put this on her furniture.

Oh, bless him.

Martin's armed and dangerous and eager to get going.

Try and have some health and safety, eh?

It's Ali G!

THEY LAUGH

Going to try and take some tiles off the wall.

DRILL WHIRS

Got no gloves on to protect them lovely hands.

He's going to chip his nails, isn't he?

Martin, you don't need that, mate. They are only put on with adhesive.

While Martin gets his hands dirty,

Mick removes another '70s feature - the coving.

The tiles are coming off a bit rough, so...

No point worrying about it, just a bit more work to the plasterer, eh?

With a mountain of work ahead of them,

Martin and Mick have drafted in a couple of extra hands.

That is one thing about us, mate, we do the job start to finish.

Tell you what, they come off bad, don't they?

Bit of dust, bit of dirt. Make it look like you've earned some money today.

When you're ripping out, making a mess, keep your area clear.

-Clearing up behind him.

-Tidy job, happy job.

Not only is it good for, like, stopping yourself having accidents - key -

but not only that, it keeps your morale up.

If you can see a clear area, you can see what you've got in front of you,

it makes the job a bit easier than walking around in rubbish.

-He's a good boy, isn't he?

-Yeah.

-You and him'd get on well.

-I love him.

-You do, don't you?

-I do love him.

Now, now, don't be jealous, John.

No real surprises just yet. We'll see how this floor comes up.

Tempting fate, Martin?

Got a feeling that floor runs underneath.

If it goes underneath, we'll have to cut up against the wall.

As the floor continues under the wall,

they're going to have to cut it. Not so easy.

Oh, come on! Put that bum away, man!

Oh, he's got his bum out, hasn't he?

Yeah, he's on the "get my bum out" team.

It's going to take forever, that.

-THEY LAUGH

-I think he could be right, that could take forever.

-Is he still there now?

-Yeah, here is!

Time to pull out the big gun, AKA Mick.

Well done, Mick. Mick's got it.

Shortly followed by the full brigade.

Who is that? There's three, four of them in there now.

They've got some friends on this job, John, ain't they?

With team demolition's din echoing throughout the house, Kevin pays a visit.

Ripping everything out?

-Got to go backwards, Kev, before you can go forwards.

-Yeah, looks like it.

-I'll let you know if it gets worse.

-OK.

-Oh.

-It will get worse.

-All right, I'll leave you to it.

-You're in safe hands, Kev, don't worry.

-See you later.

Don't go in there, Kev.

HE LAUGHS

It's been a messy day,

but the room is now cleared and ready for the new bathroom to go in.

For our next job, we're in the middle of a major city,

in an area buzzing with families and commuters.

The average house here costs about £230,000,

almost bang on the national average.

We are in East Didsbury, in Greater Manchester.

This four-bed semi belongs to football mad couple Jane and John.

John, can you bring that bag and spare kit with me? Is that all right?

They have lived here with their two young children for four and a half years.

When we bought this house, we basically bought the space and the location.

We love where we live. But it's needing a lot of work.

Piece by piece, we've been doing the rooms, and our bedroom's one of the

rooms that definitely needs finishing off.

It's not the bedroom itself that's the problem.

There's one item of furniture that's particularly annoying.

This is the problem I've got, is... Look at the state of this!

I can't actually find anything in here.

The wardrobes currently drive me absolutely insane.

Because the room is always untidy, and because they're not very usable,

I end up just not using them and I just dump all my stuff.

I live out the washing basket or the chair or the door.

And I do that male thing of just walking past all her stuff and just ignore it.

But to complicate matters, there is a chimney breast bang in the middle of the wall,

so, having made-to-measure wardrobes is the only option.

Doesn't sound cheap.

So, what kind of cash are they willing to splash to solve their storage woes?

Our budget is probably about £3,500, realistically, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-We're not looking at a very top end specification.

We want something that is going to work for us.

-And be a practical solution.

-Yeah.

We put on the back burner, and then now this year we really do

need to pick that job up and get it done.

Getting the storage right in their bedroom is clearly important to Jane and John.

But there are a few things to consider if you are planning bespoke cupboards.

If you are getting new bedroom storage then think about

everything that you want to put away,

from the clothes to even an ironing board,

and then measure up to maximise the space.

Once you've agreed a design, stick to it,

because if you don't, it's only going to push the price up.

Do your research.

Have a look online, have a look in showrooms,

that way you won't miss a neat design trick.

So it's tool belts at dawn as today's trio go head-to-head

to pitch for Jane and John's wardrobes.

You have got a bit of a wild look in your eye there.

First to arrive are grafters Alex and Chris.

-Hello.

-Hi, Jane.

It's an hour round-trip to get here, so they'll be hoping is time well spent.

-Seems like all we ever do is root round people's cupboards.

-I know!

These two have worked together for the last three years

and they think it's a match made in heaven.

We complement each other very well.

Chris tends to be a lot more artistic than I am.

I suppose I'm a little bit more the practical side.

I've got a big head, so I'll probably get it stuck!

HE LAUGHS

I've been doing this for probably 30 years.

Didn't you paint the Titanic!

They'll need to come up with an unsinkable idea to win this pitch.

Maybe, have like a boutique style.

So we will have like a mirror.

-OK.

-And have like...

-Shelves.

-Glass shelves going across.

Basically the whole thing is, let's try and glam it up a lot more.

-Yeah.

-Give them something fresh, up-to-date.

-Yeah.

Will Jane and John like this glam look?

We've got a lit mirror with glass shelves either side.

We're just trying to make it a bit more glamorous.

-A bit more showy.

-Yeah, sure.

-A bit more modern.

-That's the style that we've tried to go for.

Now, this is the whacky bit.

-Right.

-We put a rail right across.

-Right...

-Or build into like two-thirds of the way up

and we put a library ladder in.

It will take us a lot over, but it's very unique.

-Is that a ladder?

-It is a ladder. Me drawing is not that bad, then!

-No. No.

-This ladder will go all the way across.

-Yeah.

-This is bespoke.

So, we are utilising every inch of space.

From wall-to-wall, from floor to ceiling,

we need to maximise every square inch.

-We never quite have enough space, do we?

-No.

And that's what we've tried to go for, and obviously with the ladder incorporated in it.

So these two grafters have gone all out on the glitz and glamour.

Their boutique-style dressing area features an illuminated mirror,

glass shelves, bespoke fitted cupboards,

and what every lady wants when they're

getting ready to go out - a ladder.

But what's the damage?

The final total for that...

-..£4,700.

-Right.

-OK.

That's £1,200 over budget.

Now, we know that's pushed it over.

We knew with maybe some more inventive ideas it may well go over.

Part of the challenge was how can we use that whole space better?

Sounds like they have got Jane and John thinking,

but they are not the only ones pitching.

Next in are family firm Tracy and Daryll.

-Hi, we have come to look at the wardrobes.

-Come in.

-Hi there.

-I'll show you through.

Oh here we go, love. This is something for you to work your magic on.

-Do you want to do some overall measurements, Daz?

-OK.

Not that I'm telling you what to do or anything.

Is the gas on? Do you want me to switch the gas on?

-Just check and see if it's on.

-OK?

It's clear who wears the trousers in this family business.

I have been doing this now for 15 years

and the fact that one of my sons works with me is an absolute bonus.

It's warming up. Not very hot, Daz.

Throughout the house there is not a job that we, you know, can't tackle.

-I like to think... I describe you as being multi-skilled.

-Yeah.

Praise indeed.

Now you just need to come up with a winning idea.

We could look at some bespoke storage, nice shelving,

whatever, for bits and pieces behind on the chimney breast side of it,

and equal storage either side, making it male and female related.

The sense of it ought to be like your finishing area,

where, once you're dressed and ready to go out,

and you're putting your make-up on and putting your jewellery on,

that you've got all your accessories in one place.

So, a central dressing area with his and hers wardrobes either side.

Will Jane and John go for it?

When you've got your male and female wardrobe, all your other bits and bobs are in with it.

-Some electrics for your shaver, hairdryer all those bits and pieces.

-Yeah.

-And then somewhere for you to put your jewellery, cosmetics...

-Yep.

-..your toiletries...

-Just putting it all away.

..and with your own sort of dressing station area and in the centre.

Rather than just the wardrobes,

we'll try and sell them on the idea of having something that's...

-That it all matches.

-That will incorporate other furniture around the room.

If we can bring bedside tables in with the budget,

-and cabinets either side of the bed, then let's try and do that.

-Yeah.

If we provided you with bedside tables that matched the wardrobes...

-Right.

-Cos we're just thinking, once the wardrobe doors are in,

whether the stuff that you've got in there is going to look a bit out of place.

-It's always worth considering.

-Yeah. Yeah.

Tracy and Daz's his and hers wardrobes will be fitted with acrylic

sliding doors, with a dressing table inside

and some matching bedside tables.

But what will these extras do to their quote?

We came up with a price - £2,950.

If you want to remove the other areas of the bedroom and just stick with the wardrobes,

we feel we can comfortably bring it in at £2,550.

Tracy and Daz's two options are both under the £3,500 budget.

But it's not over yet.

No-nonsense lads Mark and Chris are still to pitch.

Get some measurements. Bring out the laser.

This straight talking twosome think they have got customer service nailed.

You go to every customer that we've done work for, you know,

-and generally they don't go to anyone else.

-No.

A bit of upfrontness, almost cocky, but never cocksure.

Sounds like fighting talk.

But you'll need a killer idea to beat the other teams.

So, it's a simple format, really, isn't it?

-Yes.

-What they have got.

They like they like to hang their trousers up that way, full-length, not folded.

So, is it a matter of going back to the same format, but a different material?

It is time to talk it through with Jane and John.

-So we was going to go all out and think, "let's take it all out."

-Yeah.

But we had a rethink just before we came in and we're only designing

something very similar in those two alcoves to what you've already got.

So, this is what we propose.

-Right.

-Keeping the two sections that are in the alcoves.

-OK.

-Because the carcass, it is not...

That's not where the money is at on the job.

-It's the doors, isn't it?

-It's the doors. The doors are so much money.

So, that's where we're looking at going.

I'm thinking sliding doors opening,

so they're able to open in the middle as well.

Everybody wants a sliding door in this sort of situation, I'd say.

You would be looking at something roughly like that.

-Yeah, sure.

-It would be complete, full sliding doors.

You would certainly be looking at fitting four doors and going from wall to wall.

Now, you have maybe got two mirrored doors and two plain doors.

-Yeah.

-Or some sort. Yeah?

Mark and Chris' pitch hinges on posh sliding doors

with a mirrored finish,

keeping the existing cupboard carcasses,

but will it wash with Jane and John?

We've worked out that would cost you...

-..£4,040.

-Right.

Those sliding doors have pushed the price £540 over budget.

-It's nice to meet you.

-Thanks ever so much.

All the pitches are in, but will Jane and John like any of them?

The doors that we've gone for on this, we're talking,

-mega money, mate.

-12 grand.

Well, we've certainly got creative on this one, didn't we, baby boy?

-Boom!

-LAUGHTER

The teams have done everything they can.

All they can do now is wait.

Will it be Alex and Chris' boutique design, top price at £4,700?

Tracy and Daryll's his and hers solution, under budget at £2,950?

Or Mark and Chris' posh sliding doors, mid-price at £4,040?

It has been really tough.

-Yeah.

-Have we made a decision?

-Yes, we have made a decision.

Only the winners' phone will ring.

PHONE LINE RINGS

-Hello.

-Hi, is that Tracy?

-Hi, there.

-We'd love you to come and work with us on our wardrobe project.

Oh, that's fantastic, Jane. Thanks so much.

No, we look forward to kind of meeting up and actually going through

-some more of the details with you.

-I'm really pleased, Jane.

I hope we'll do you proud and give you what you want.

-I'm really looking forward to it. We're really excited now, aren't we?

-Yeah.

Speak to you soon. Bye now. Bye.

It's so exciting!

With winners Tracy and Daz over the moon...

-I want to kiss you. Can I kiss you?

-No.

..the losers have come down earth with a bump.

Yeah, we shot for the stars on this one, and it looks like on this occasion

the star just fizzled out at the end.

It's about getting the customer what we want,

and at the end of the day what they wanted wasn't us.

Never mind, boys.

You'll still be able to keep a beady eye on Tracy and Daz.

Having building work in your bedroom can be seriously disruptive.

So, what's the best way to help things run smoothly?

Double-check the design before the builder starts.

That way, it will be spot on right from the beginning.

If you're having your bedroom done,

clear everything out, and if you can sleep in a different room.

We've got more space work to work, we will get the job done quicker.

It's the first day of the build at Jane and John's house.

-This will be good.

-Yeah, I want to see how they have done this.

And the losing builders are watching Daryll and Tracy's every move.

Jane and John decided to go for the cheaper option of just fitting a new

wardrobe, and Daz is here bright and early.

It's certainly a one man job, taking these out.

-One man job?

-THEY LAUGH

So, yeah, nice welcome break. A bit of peace.

You never know what you're going to find when you start taking something like this out,

so, make sure there is no nasty surprises for getting everything in tomorrow.

And we've got power behind here already, which we didn't know about.

It's a nice little thing to find.

-We knew that was there, didn't we, mate?

-A Brucie bonus, yeah.

For the next few hours, Daz is a man on a mission,

and it isn't long before those hated cupboards are a distant memory.

Not a bad a morning's work. Quite pleased.

He has done well for the morning there, hasn't he?

-Time for a brew.

-Yeah.

So, it's out with the old...

He's probably going to resell that, knowing Daz.

..and in with the new.

To speed up the job,

Tracy and Daryll have had the wood for the bespoke wardrobe pre-cut to measure.

This has all been cut off site, with the idea that it will all go in perfectly

and there won't be any problems.

But it's a 70-piece jigsaw puzzle.

-I hope they're all marked up.

-Yeah.

So, they've drafted in fitter, Adrian, for a bit of extra muscle.

It keeps me a slender figure this, you know, carrying big,

heavy things like this around.

THEY SCOFF

And you'll be needing those muscles to get the new two-and-a-half metre

high doors up the stairs.

We have sort of measured whether they will come up.

In theory they will, but whether in practice they will is another story. So...

Famous last words.

Are you ready there, mate?

-They're big doors.

-Yeah.

-Wow.

Big old doors.

Right. Left. Laughing.

-Monsters, them, aren't they?

-Yeah.

She might have to get her paintbrush out later.

You all right there?

Oh, it's tight.

Stop there.

THEY LAUGH

To me. To you.

Yes, it is all starting to look a little bit Chuckle Brothers.

Right...

That's it.

Oh! Get out, Mum!

It would be no fun if it was too easy, would it?

Time for a brew.

I'll put the kettle on.

-Yeah.

-It's always time for a brew.

With the doors safely in,

Daryll and Adrian use their expert joinery skills to fit all these pieces of wood together.

-One man job.

-Yeah.

With the chimney breast slap, bang in the middle of the wall,

they have worked out the best configuration of shelves

that will maximise the storage.

That's the bare shell of it,

but there's going to be a mirror in the centre there

and then each side is going to have drawers in the bottom.

Daz may think it's all going well,

but his harshest critic is about to unexpectedly show up.

Mum.

-Tracy turned up in her Jag.

-Yeah.

-THEY LAUGH

-Hello, there.

-You all right?

I can't wait to go up and have a look and see what's going on.

So, Mum, what do you think?

Carcasses are going in now.

Everything seems to be fitting well and going in well.

Doors have come in. Phew, didn't have to take any windows out, so that was a good one.

Let me see. Oh, they're lovely.

-Acrylic.

-I really like the doors.

Sounds like a thumbs-up from Mum.

-Do you need anything?

-We've run out of milk, actually.

Do you need me to go and get some?

"Mum, go and get me some milk."

Daz loves his brew.

All right, love, thanks, have a good day.

Tracy may be boss, but she can't help being Mum.

And we'll be back later to see how they're getting on.

Back down south in Epsom...

..Kevin and Zoe's en-suite was in pretty poor repair

so they've hired smooth operators Martin and Mick to work their magic and bring it up to scratch.

-It looks like they're ripping the whole house down.

-Yeah.

It's the central heating gone down, look.

-Job done.

-Plumbing and plastering done.

Cables for the electrics in, and the new chipboard floor down.

Now they can crack on with hottest star of the show,

the underfloor heating.

Which was one of our main sales points, that won us the pitch.

It is very important not to put the heating underneath toilets

cos it actually dries out the bowl.

With the heating sorted out,

it's now a race to the finish to get it all done.

First, self-levelling latex is poured on to the floor to make sure

it's ready for tiling.

-Mick has changed, hasn't he? He looks different without his beard.

-He's got younger, hasn't he?

Next the vanity units go in.

This is going to be the cupboard that's going to have the sink going over the top.

And then the tiling.

We are running out of time a little bit because Zoe and Kevin go away on

holiday this weekend, so we'd like to finish before they go away.

I like the tiles on the floor, though.

Where is Mick, anyway?

Yeah, he has been missing, hasn't he?

Finally, it's finishing touches and Mick has appeared!

-Oh, my word!

-He turned up!

-Look!

Just in time for a very important job.

I'm just putting the last knob on.

Hopefully the client will be happy.

It gives you that wow factor.

Let's close the door. That's us done.

Mick, he gets to close the door!

Martin and Mick have worked eight long days on this en-suite.

Obviously it was empty. Nothing in there at all.

It'd half been started.

So, will the losers give them the thumbs-up?

I'm looking forward to seeing what they produce, mate, yes.

It's now a bright, modern bathroom.

-It looks good, boys.

-It is, innit? In all fairness.

It does look good.

That '70s look is long gone.

What sets that job off for me is the tiles, isn't it?

-Beautiful.

-Very nice.

And the cherry on the cake, that underfloor heating.

A tidy job, isn't it, in all fairness.

-That's a lovely, lovely bathroom.

-Yeah.

-Really nice.

So, the builders like it,

but now it's the moment of truth for Martin and Mick.

What will Zoe and Kevin think?

-Yeah!

-It's nice.

I really like it.

It's a big improvement on the 1970s bathroom that was

-here before.

-Yeah, it looks very smart.

Yeah, I think they have done a really good job.

-What do you think?

-Yeah, it was positive.

Have to check out the underfloor heating.

-That should be really nice actually.

-That'll be a nice luxury in the cold evenings.

They look made up, mate. They look proper chuffed, don't they?

Who wouldn't be happy with that? That's a marvellous, lovely job, isn't it?

The mirror is at the right height, which is good.

It works for me.

I hope that it won't date badly.

I hope it will stand the test of time as a modern classic.

Happy customer. Ready for the next one.

And it all came in at the quoted price of £4,200.

Back up north in East Didsbury,

Jane and John's bedroom was less of an oasis and more of an "Oh, dear".

Look at the state of this. I can't actually find anything in here.

With their overcrowded and outdated wardrobes causing nothing but grief,

they decided to get mum and son team Tracy and Daryll in.

-Oh, they're lovely.

-Acrylic.

So far, they have fitted the carcass for a brand-new wardrobe and got the mammoth doors up the stairs.

All that's needed to complete the job are a few finishing touches.

So, here is the mirror.

Hopefully it has been cut to the right size.

We're about to find out.

Mirror, mirror on the wall.

Easy does it now, lads.

One mirror.

It'll take a couple of hours, but it is an instant grab adhesive,

so it will be right.

HE MIMICS SHATTERING SOUND

It fits. That's a result.

With the carcasses in place,

the runners for the sliding doors need to go in.

For them to run smoothly across the floor, it needs to be level,

which it's not.

We put in these base bits for the rails to sit on, which will be level.

So that's how we get around the uneven floor.

Beautiful. I'm right on the edge there, mate.

The measuring for these rails has to be exact for them to work.

No pressure!

And at £120 per rail,

cutting them in the wrong place could eat into their profits.

We'll share the blame for this one, I reckon.

Ah, see, look at that.

Perfect cut, that.

Nice cut. Very nice cut.

Chuffed.

And as if by magic, look who is back!

-Hello.

-All right? We're up here.

Nice and easy for me to get through.

-You can put it on the bed if you want.

-Yeah. It's OK, don't worry.

-Here is Mum now. Cracking the whip.

-Cracking the whip.

-Crack the whip, yeah.

-Happy?

-I'm very happy, yes.

-Good stuff.

-Great stuff. Yeah.

Now, the only thing I've spotted, and you're probably going to tell me

I don't need to even worry about it.

-Don't say it then.

-Well, no, I have to say it because that's what I'm here for.

-The gap at the top.

-There isn't one.

Ah! It's not finished. Sort your gap out.

The one that's not finished.

-Oh, right, it's not finished. Is that the reason?

-Right.

-OK, fine.

I knew you'd have the right answer. OK, no worries.

THEY CHUCKLE

-On the stairs.

-Out.

-OK. Sorted.

-Yes, Mum.

-Yeah. There is the door!

HE LAUGHS

With the new dressing table and wardrobes up,

the next thing to decide on is a practical lighting scheme.

The homeowners went for LED lighting inside the wardrobes,

a shaving socket for John, as well as spots above the mirror.

But just when it was all going so well, Daz hits a snag.

In here we have a shaver point and to try and keep it sort of concealed,

it's inside that shelf.

The problem being you can't get the plug in the shelf.

-THEY LAUGH

-Oops.

Cut a panel. That's what he needs. He needs a hatch.

The solution is cut a hole here that we can feed it through and plug it in,

but rather than look at some unsightly hole,

we're going to put this cover over.

We find a solution to what, you know, could potentially ruin the work we've done.

-Well done, that lad.

-Good recovery.

Right, that's it. Job done. Just tidy up now and I can go home.

Daz has spent four days building Jane and John's wardrobes.

-There wasn't much space in there.

-No.

-The chimney breast stood out a mile.

So, what did the rival builders think of his work?

Let's see if he has done himself justice, eh?

-He has done a great job.

-Yeah.

-That looks really, really nice.

-So, yeah, a round of applause to them.

-Yeah.

A great job by them.

There are stylish sliding doors...

-What a nice job.

-Really nice job.

I like that idea of it going all the way across.

Not quite the doors we were fitting.

..which revealed bespoke shelving to hide the chimney breast.

-I think that's excellent.

-Yeah.

-I can't fault that.

And a dressing table with a practical lighting scheme.

-A lovely job there, mate.

-Yeah.

That's really nice. I like the end result.

The builders have given it the seal of approval.

But now Tracy and Daryll are going to find out what Jane and John think.

-Right, ready for this?

-The moment of truth.

-Yeah.

Here we go.

Let's have a look in the middle.

A bit nervous, I must admit.

That's a really nice slide to the doors, look.

-Excellent.

-Turn the lights on. Yeah, it's good, isn't it?

-Good, I'm glad they're pleased.

-Ah, yeah.

No, I think we did the right putting these shelves in because

actually they are much more usable, aren't they?

Wow, that's really good.

What do you think?

It looks really good with the lighting on.

-I've got my shaver socket in there.

-Yeah, it works quite well.

John was happy with that, then. That was really important for him.

Yeah, it's much better cos there is a lot more space.

Loads of space. Excellent.

So much stuff in there as well.

-It was a big wardrobe, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-You can fit a lot in.

We were a bit unsure about a couple of bits,

but now it's in and it's finished, and all our stuff is in there,

albeit we're still tidying up a little bit, actually it works really well,

-so we're really pleased with it, aren't we?

-Yeah.

Right, let's get a shirt, get changed and let's go.

Looks like another satisfied customer.

-Well done.

-Well done. Good lad. Well done.