0:00:02 > 0:00:04We're in the midst of a low-cost self-build revolution.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06We're building walls!
0:00:06 > 0:00:10It's harder than ever to get onto the housing ladder, so a few
0:00:10 > 0:00:14brave, ordinary people are resorting to the seemingly impossible...
0:00:14 > 0:00:16This gets the adrenaline going.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21..building their own home from scratch for less than £100,000.
0:00:21 > 0:00:26If we tried to buy a house with that space, we couldn't afford it.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30Architect Piers Taylor and me, Kieran Long, are back
0:00:30 > 0:00:35and coming to the aid of six families attempting this toughest of challenges.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36It's difficult looking at the budget
0:00:36 > 0:00:39- and your bank account just literally going down.- Yeah.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41We'll try to help them with design dilemmas...
0:00:41 > 0:00:44You arrive at a blank wall. I mean, is this what you want?
0:00:44 > 0:00:47..challenge them to think bigger...
0:00:47 > 0:00:51It just inspires me to want to go home and crack on with it.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53..and search out innovative solutions that make
0:00:53 > 0:00:56the most of their meagre budgets.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Whoa, look at that!
0:00:58 > 0:01:00We'll all be pushed to the limit...
0:01:00 > 0:01:02Oh, no!
0:01:02 > 0:01:06..as we attempt to turn these ordinary self builds into outstanding homes.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09If anyone thinks it's easy, they're an idiot!
0:01:10 > 0:01:14This time, Jo and Andy are trying to create an energy-efficient eco-home.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16It's hard when you're not designers.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18"Will that work, will it not work?"
0:01:18 > 0:01:22But will their no frills approach mean they end up living in a bunker?
0:01:22 > 0:01:26It could be really harsh and cold if you're not careful.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Being priced out of the property market
0:01:40 > 0:01:44and stuck in a rental cycle is a problem many face.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48I'm on my way to Lincolnshire today to meet a couple who,
0:01:48 > 0:01:52after years of moving around, are finally putting down some roots.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55But they are not just building any old house - they're trying to build
0:01:55 > 0:01:59an ambitious eco-home for less than £100,000.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04After over a year and a half of planning,
0:02:04 > 0:02:08Jo'ann and Andy have embarked on an extraordinary challenge.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12I never thought I'd get to a point in life where I'm building my own house.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16You've got to pinch yourself. "Really? Us? We're doing that?"
0:02:16 > 0:02:18Are we just going to bend it?
0:02:18 > 0:02:19Ooh, OK!
0:02:19 > 0:02:20Should be fun!
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Feed it all the way to the end.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26I just do as I'm told.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30But, for Jo, getting to this point hasn't been easy.
0:02:30 > 0:02:35A turbulent childhood and debt has meant a lifetime on the move.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Yeah, I've had a bit of a property journey, shall we say.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42Erm, we are up to 30 moves.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46'I've never been anywhere longer than five years.'
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Having Frank, now 12,
0:02:51 > 0:02:53was a defining moment for Jo.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56It transformed the way she wanted to live.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Overnight, it just went... My whole life just turned around on me.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03All of a sudden, I cared about my environment,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06I cared about the food I was going to give Frank,
0:03:06 > 0:03:10the air he was going to breathe... Yeah, it was massive for me.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Nine years ago, she got together with Andy, and the family was
0:03:15 > 0:03:20desperate to get on the property ladder in a way that wouldn't harm the environment.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24But with money tight, there are few options.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27- There's nothing local to buy for the budget.- No.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30It got to the point where I actually thought, "Nothing else will do."
0:03:30 > 0:03:33By doing that, we needed to build our own.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37They looked into buying a small plot, but a price tag
0:03:37 > 0:03:41of around £65,000 made it a non-starter.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44Then Jo had an idea...
0:03:44 > 0:03:47My mum's got this really big garden and they're not gardeners.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51So, I said to Andy, "We could build it on Mum's garden."
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Come on then...
0:03:53 > 0:03:57When we were asked about it, it was a bit... You know, had to think about it.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00She said, "But I need to speak to Tony," my stepdad.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03"It might take me a bit of time. You know what he's like with new things."
0:04:03 > 0:04:04Come on, then.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07'And then we thought, "Let's do it." You know?'
0:04:07 > 0:04:09And it's lovely to give them the chance to have their own home,
0:04:09 > 0:04:11build their own home.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18They've spent the last five weeks overseeing the blockwork,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21and Jo's part-time job in a primary school has allowed her to
0:04:21 > 0:04:23project manage the build.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25- These are overlooking windows.- OK.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27- Yeah, that's fine.- No worries.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30I will be doing the electrical work -
0:04:30 > 0:04:31I'm a qualified electrician -
0:04:31 > 0:04:34in my spare time, or holidays from work,
0:04:34 > 0:04:36- and you're going to help, aren't you?- Yeah.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38- Electrician's mate.- Yeah.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42Just work so hard. We really do give each other lots of support.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44- Tightens it up again, doesn't it? - Yeah.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47To fund their dream, they've scraped together savings
0:04:47 > 0:04:50and have taken a mortgage of £75,000.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54This build needs to come in under 100k, but Jo and Andy
0:04:54 > 0:04:56are aiming for even less.
0:04:56 > 0:05:04- We're HOPING to do the whole thing for 85,000.- Yeah.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07- With a contingency.- Yeah, so we have got a contingency.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10There is no more money...
0:05:10 > 0:05:13I don't think! Not as far as I can tell!
0:05:14 > 0:05:18For me, this house isn't just a house, it's our family home.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22And it'll be really lovely to put down some roots
0:05:22 > 0:05:25and hopefully stay put for a few years.
0:05:25 > 0:05:26Cos I've just had enough of moving.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30I just don't want to move any more ever again.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33And it'd be ours, and it's just going to be lovely.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40Jo and Andy are attempting to build a very energy-efficient home.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Dense concrete floors, thick insulated walls
0:05:43 > 0:05:47and triple-glazed windows should help retain heat in winter
0:05:47 > 0:05:49and cool the house in summer.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Power will be generated by solar panels on the roof,
0:05:53 > 0:05:57where rainwater will also be collected for day-to-day use.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02It's a unique design, and although slightly bigger than the
0:06:02 > 0:06:07average UK new-build, at 78 square metres, there's a lot to pack in.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Upstairs, there's a bathroom and two bedrooms.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12To save costs, they've decided to leave
0:06:12 > 0:06:16the rough construction materials on show throughout the house.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Down the enclosed concrete staircase, there will be a small
0:06:20 > 0:06:23entrance lobby with double doors opening out onto their sole
0:06:23 > 0:06:25living and dining space.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Five weeks in and it's going up fast.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Before they get any further, I want to understand why they've
0:06:32 > 0:06:35settled on such a stark design.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39This is a unique opportunity to create an amazing home.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42We need to ensure they end up with one that's worth all the effort.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45I can see from the plans that it's a wholly blank
0:06:45 > 0:06:47north elevation with no windows at all,
0:06:47 > 0:06:49which is a bit for forbidding...
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Straight away, the blank north wall is because that's where all
0:06:52 > 0:06:55the cold comes from. So we've got 200 mil of insulation
0:06:55 > 0:06:58going on the concrete block, then we've got the wood cladding.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02200 mil of insulation, plus the blockwork, plus the outer
0:07:02 > 0:07:04cladding, I mean, it's like living in a castle.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Yeah, it is. It's like a big warm blanket going round.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Yeah, we need to try and put some glazing on the south elevation
0:07:10 > 0:07:13but we were limited due to overlooking,
0:07:13 > 0:07:16so the best next option was the west for the evening sun.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18Which is almost entirely glass.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Entirely, yeah, to get as much of the solar gain as we can.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25A lot of concrete in there, which will retain all of that heat,
0:07:25 > 0:07:29that solar gain, and then lets it out slowly, keeping that constant
0:07:29 > 0:07:31temperature, which is really important.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33So, in a way, this is a house that passively heats
0:07:33 > 0:07:37and cools itself because it's well insulated and you allow the sun in?
0:07:37 > 0:07:38Yeah, definitely.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41That's quite unusual, isn't it, because a lot more insulation,
0:07:41 > 0:07:43having solid cast concrete slabs and so on,
0:07:43 > 0:07:45is not what builders like to do.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48Yeah, builders don't like to do it, actually. It's abnormal for them!
0:07:48 > 0:07:51I can see on the drawings, solar panels.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55So how much will this reduce your typical electricity bills by then?
0:07:55 > 0:08:01Because we're low energy anyway, I would hope to get to nearly zero.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05- Really? Wow.- Should do. Very close. - Yeah. That's extraordinary.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10'The average UK household energy bill tops £1,000 a year,
0:08:10 > 0:08:14'so the potential future rewards are considerable,'
0:08:14 > 0:08:18but low-cost builds ordinarily rely on inexpensive construction.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21Here, they're doing the exact opposite.
0:08:21 > 0:08:27Well, I think it's probably costing us around about the 30,000 mark.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30- It's a good proportion...- It certainly is a good proportion.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32..but you're talking about core materials
0:08:32 > 0:08:35that you would have to buy anyway, insulation, windows...?
0:08:35 > 0:08:39Yeah, definitely. We'll probably increase the specification of them.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Along with the solar panels, they are investing over
0:08:42 > 0:08:45a third of their budget in an effort to make this home sustainable.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48This means stripping out costs elsewhere.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52Eg, floorings, we're sticking with a concrete floor.
0:08:52 > 0:08:57Plaster, coving, skirting boards... we're not having any of that stuff.
0:08:57 > 0:08:58We will be quite basic.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02I don't think we'll be lavishing out on anything that's cutting edge.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08I'm worried they're so concerned with the sustainability of the build
0:09:08 > 0:09:12that they're not seeing how plain and dark their home could end up being.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16But what will the house look like from the street?
0:09:16 > 0:09:21Well, we've got a rendered system round the south and half of the front.
0:09:21 > 0:09:26- The other half of the front and the north is a timber-based cladding system.- Right.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30Just sawn wood. Let's keep it as cheap and as simple as we can.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32- What's the roof material? - Metal clad.- Metal clad.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35- I mean, it's a lot of materials in a small build.- There's loads!
0:09:35 > 0:09:38It's hard when you're not designers, so it is quite difficult for us
0:09:38 > 0:09:42to actually think, "Will that work, will it not work?"
0:09:42 > 0:09:43When in doubt, stick it all in!
0:09:43 > 0:09:47- So, when in doubt, chuck all the materials at the wall and see what sticks?- Yeah!- Great.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49- THEY LAUGH - It's one strategy!- Yeah!
0:09:56 > 0:09:58We face a huge challenge ahead -
0:09:58 > 0:10:02finding ways to improve every corner of this home for these novice
0:10:02 > 0:10:05self-builders without blowing that minuscule budget.
0:10:05 > 0:10:10- This is going to end up being quite a mass of concrete.- OK.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13While we can't change the overall shape of the house,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16there are still major design pitfalls that could be avoided.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19I want Piers Taylor to scrutinise their plans.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25This is to be commended. This is the model of a good, efficient
0:10:25 > 0:10:27affordable house now.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29The problem for me here is that, in a way,
0:10:29 > 0:10:31the delight of it has been forgotten.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35And it's so, I suppose, focused on doing the right thing,
0:10:35 > 0:10:38they haven't really thought about the joy of it, the beauty of it.
0:10:38 > 0:10:39That feels right to me.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41They're quite modest people and they constantly say,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44"We don't need more than this. This is the space we need."
0:10:44 > 0:10:47And I just wonder if they've really thought through just what they could
0:10:47 > 0:10:50gain out of thinking a bit more ambitiously.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53They're just so compromised, these rooms.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Thus, it's really important to get every square inch to
0:10:55 > 0:11:00work as hard as possible so it feels more spacious, more generous.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02Tell me what your take is on the exterior.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04It looks too complicated.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07If they want so little and want a modest building, why does it bother
0:11:07 > 0:11:09with all these changes of material?
0:11:09 > 0:11:12I think it probably could be simplified.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15There's a lot to prove here, that you can do a really well-considered,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18well-insulated, well-performing house for a tiny budget.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23With just £85,000, it's a tall order to create
0:11:23 > 0:11:27a house that will tick the eco box and the homely one.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30The ground floor structure's up and the form work is in,
0:11:30 > 0:11:33ready for the concrete floor above.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37Their goal to build a practical, nil-bill home is at a critical stage...
0:11:39 > 0:11:43..so with no time to waste, Piers is racing to Lincolnshire.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51What's interesting, in terms of sustainability, the biggest thing
0:11:51 > 0:11:54is building a building well and making it well-sealed.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58The other thing is you're building a building which has exposed finishes.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02- And most people would think of a concrete block as an ugly old thing, but here it is.- It's gorgeous.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05- It looks like granite or something. - Certainly does, yeah.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07- It doesn't need to be hidden. - It doesn't.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11And that's a big mind-set change because all of that stuff is designed, usually,
0:12:11 > 0:12:16to be covered up, so here you're taking quite a big risk, in fact.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20Some of the contractors we've got involved haven't done anything like this before.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24You've really got to have eyes around everywhere and making sure they're
0:12:24 > 0:12:27not just going back to old habits, because that's what they want to do.
0:12:27 > 0:12:32The mat concrete blocks absorb light, and the downstairs room
0:12:32 > 0:12:35already looks worryingly dark and small.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39But heading up onto the roof shows that if they can find ways to bring in light,
0:12:39 > 0:12:44they can increase the sense of space within even this small structure.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46I mean, for me, in terms of the ground floor, which this is
0:12:46 > 0:12:50a facsimile of, you really want to maintain this sense of space.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54And what you don't want to do is start shutting this down
0:12:54 > 0:12:57and making it feel dark and oppressive.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00And the beauty of this, the drama, is something you need to hang on to.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04Oh, definitely. Keeping the light, keeping the space, but also...
0:13:04 > 0:13:07- Yeah, it's got to stay functional. - Yeah. That's really important.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Jo and Andy's focus on affordable function
0:13:13 > 0:13:15risks being at the cost of good design.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21Piers must find ways to address that limited downstairs space to try
0:13:21 > 0:13:23and make it feel lighter and brighter.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27The critical thing is that every square inch has to work really hard.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31He must first tackle their dark and cramped entrance hall.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35You know, to have such a big porch for this seems to me...
0:13:35 > 0:13:37- I suppose, too space-hungry.- Mm.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40Certainly, I would get rid of those double doors, actually,
0:13:40 > 0:13:44and putting an opening there will make this seem much bigger.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48You could actually just angle that wall there, and it's a
0:13:48 > 0:13:53sense of arriving into a space that has slightly more generosity there.
0:13:53 > 0:13:58A clever but simple alteration to the stairwell could have a big impact.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03You could actually cut a hole in that stair wall
0:14:03 > 0:14:07so, from here, you looked into an open stair
0:14:07 > 0:14:09and, you know, as you came down, you looked into this room.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12The inside of that oval... Orange or something would be lovely.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15- Would be lovely, wouldn't it? A real feature.- Really nice, really nice.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18And you'll even borrow some of this light that comes down...
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Instead of being a dark hole, cos that's what it's going to be
0:14:21 > 0:14:24- at the moment, which is a bit of a slight concern.- Yeah.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30Piers' ideas have additional advantages.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Removing the planned double doors between the lobby
0:14:33 > 0:14:36and main living zone would not only save money
0:14:36 > 0:14:40but also make the whole ground floor feel like one larger space.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43To then bring more light in and increase
0:14:43 > 0:14:48the generosity of the room, the utility room wall could be angled.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50And by opening up part of the wall onto the stairwell,
0:14:50 > 0:14:54a feeling of spaciousness is created as well as allowing light to
0:14:54 > 0:14:57pour into the dark concrete staircase.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01Each idea is a low-cost alteration designed to increase
0:15:01 > 0:15:04the sense of space in the compact living area without altering
0:15:04 > 0:15:06the footprint at all.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10But will Jo and Andy be flexible enough to see that making
0:15:10 > 0:15:15brave changes at this stage could massively affect the final outcome for the better?
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Actually redesigning some of it can be a bit scary.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20If we do implement any changes,
0:15:20 > 0:15:23are they going to start rising the costs?
0:15:23 > 0:15:25And that is something we're very, very conscious of.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28But we're definitely open to the changes, aren't we?
0:15:28 > 0:15:31Yeah, I'm up for any changes, as long as they're practical.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Yeah. And within our reach.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41Do you want these teas, guys?
0:15:42 > 0:15:45It's three and a half months into the build,
0:15:45 > 0:15:49and Jo and Andy have spent 45 of their £85,000 budget
0:15:49 > 0:15:51in their quest for maximum efficiency.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55The second floor's carcass is complete.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57The internal walls for the family bathroom
0:15:57 > 0:15:59and bedroom are taking shape.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01And today, the roof's going on.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Rather than traditional roof tiles, they've found a prefabricated
0:16:06 > 0:16:09material more typically used on warehouses.
0:16:09 > 0:16:14It's long-lasting, low-maintenance, lightweight and recyclable.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17It's brilliant, I'm really chuffed.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20It's basically board, insulation and metal tin all in one.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23It's almost like a one-stop roof.
0:16:23 > 0:16:28You know, lift it off the lorry and, a couple of hours later, it's done.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31These prefabricated panels come with insulation embedded
0:16:31 > 0:16:34and are an unexpected bargain compared to buying
0:16:34 > 0:16:38and fitting the elements separately, for which they'd budgeted 12 grand.
0:16:38 > 0:16:44The roof fitted will cost us about £6,000.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46It's a great saving,
0:16:46 > 0:16:51but this industrial finish is still pretty unconventional for a home.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55This is the first time we've ever put it on a dwelling, yeah.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57It was different. It's...
0:16:57 > 0:16:59I suppose it's...
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Yeah, it's different to see it on a house, you know what I mean?
0:17:02 > 0:17:07Yeah, I think the non-standard parts of the building can pose issues with tradesmen
0:17:07 > 0:17:09because they don't see it from our point of view.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11I think they sometimes look at it a bit funny
0:17:11 > 0:17:15because it looks unfinished, but I say, "Well, why cover it up?"
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Andy and Jo are looking for every opportunity to make
0:17:20 > 0:17:22the building more efficient and cheaper.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24- Looks good, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28On the ground floor, they're also starting to incorporate
0:17:28 > 0:17:31some of Piers' design ideas, which haven't cost a thing.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35The first thing we decided was that we can remove the double doors
0:17:35 > 0:17:38from the entrance and open it right up,
0:17:38 > 0:17:42give us so much more space and that continuity of flowing through.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46And Piers' idea of punching a hole into the stairwell has
0:17:46 > 0:17:48transformed the staircase.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51You really don't believe the difference it can make with
0:17:51 > 0:17:55the light shining through. And at sunset time, when the orange and pink
0:17:55 > 0:17:58light throws through, that actually goes straight through that hole,
0:17:58 > 0:18:00straight into the stairwell, which looks fantastic.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02I'm really pleased we've cut that in.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07They simply can't afford to go over budget, so are consumed by not
0:18:07 > 0:18:11spending a single penny unless absolutely necessary.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15We've got a toilet, a sink, a cistern that are all due for a skip,
0:18:15 > 0:18:17so...but now they're going to be ours.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21They're also saving on their rainwater harvesting tank,
0:18:21 > 0:18:25which would've cost two grand to buy, but they got for free from a local factory.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28And there are further savings online.
0:18:28 > 0:18:33Andy came across an ex-display kitchen, and it's a really
0:18:33 > 0:18:35expensive kitchen at a knock-down price,
0:18:35 > 0:18:37so we're really chuffed with that.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41They're making great deals across their build,
0:18:41 > 0:18:46but a general lack of funds risks affecting their judgment.
0:18:46 > 0:18:51We were discussing whether we should pay the extra money for the grey windows
0:18:51 > 0:18:55or whether we should go with the cheaper option and have white,
0:18:55 > 0:18:57because it really doesn't matter. It really doesn't.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59It's all aesthetics and...
0:19:01 > 0:19:03..our house isn't about that.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07But good design is about function AND aesthetics.
0:19:07 > 0:19:13I'm worried Jo and Andy are letting cost impact their design aspiration.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19So, in a bid to raise it, Piers wants to tackle the enormous
0:19:19 > 0:19:22issue of their plan for a very busy exterior,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25with a mix of brick, metal, render and wood.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30Let's talk a little bit about the outside of the building
0:19:30 > 0:19:33and the materials. I mean, there are quite a few, aren't there?
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Yes, there is numerous, isn't there?
0:19:36 > 0:19:40What about this sense that buildings in rural contexts need one
0:19:40 > 0:19:42material to sit in a landscape well?
0:19:42 > 0:19:46You know, these buildings, they don't have endless changes in material.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49- I've considered that, haven't I? - Yeah.- And got a bit shot down.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51Who shot you down?
0:19:56 > 0:20:02Small buildings tend to benefit from being unified by a single material on the exterior.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06By mixing materials, Jo and Andy are in danger of making their home
0:20:06 > 0:20:09appear smaller and a real hotchpotch.
0:20:09 > 0:20:14- So you could turn alternate boards on end...- Yeah.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17..and what that means is that you get, you know, a fantastic
0:20:17 > 0:20:20quality of shadow and light across that.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22It's deep, isn't it? I really like that.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25And as long as it's financially viable, that's my worry.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29- Financially viable and no planning constraints on that.- Yeah, good. Good.- Let's do that.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Covering the building in one, simple, inexpensive material
0:20:36 > 0:20:41which suits the rural setting could improve its looks.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44This change won't alter how the building performs, so although
0:20:44 > 0:20:48they like the idea, it may be a change they aren't willing to make.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53They still have three months before they have to reach a final decision,
0:20:53 > 0:20:57and it looks like Jo might need all that time to work on Andy.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01Yeah, most probably I need a bit more convincing, I think. Erm...
0:21:01 > 0:21:05- Yeah, it's more down to budget for me.- Yeah.- Erm...
0:21:05 > 0:21:09And there's more work involved for us because we'll end up cladding it.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12But I'm happy to do that.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Andy does keep coming back to function, and function, of course,
0:21:17 > 0:21:21is incredibly important in architecture, but so is delight.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24The house could be pretty good, pretty ordinary,
0:21:24 > 0:21:26or it could be really, really amazing.
0:21:26 > 0:21:31And I want to steer it towards the really amazing.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38For four long months, Jo and Andy have been really pushing themselves,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41trying to save money, keeping an eye on quality
0:21:41 > 0:21:43and getting stuck in themselves.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47But the reality of juggling work, and the pressure to
0:21:47 > 0:21:51finish their build on budget, is taking its toll.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55A lot of it's been so hard that you tend not to be able to get
0:21:55 > 0:21:58that excited feeling because it's like...
0:21:58 > 0:22:00SHE SIGHS "Really?"
0:22:02 > 0:22:05They've now been living in a caravan at the end of the garden for almost a year.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09It feels a little bit claustrophobic
0:22:09 > 0:22:12when you feel like you could do with a bit of space.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15The novelty of camping out with two dogs
0:22:15 > 0:22:18and keeping family life on track is wearing thin.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23The chores still have to be done, you know what I mean?
0:22:23 > 0:22:26- They do. No-one does it for you, do they?- You just get on with it.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30Sometimes you get fed up with this, that and the other.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35I love cooking and it's so difficult because I haven't got enough room.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37I will love to have my dishwasher back.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42But there's still a lot of work to do before they can
0:22:42 > 0:22:45leave their mobile home for their permanent one.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Finding enough enthusiasm to keep innovating as they turn
0:22:52 > 0:22:56the basic shell into a home is their biggest challenge now.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59Back from work, straight on site, is that a typical day for you?
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Yeah, it's typical. Come home, get changed and start again.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05It's better doing it that way than spending money on getting labour.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Tell me a bit about budget and how the money's going.
0:23:08 > 0:23:13Well, we're round about 50,000 that we've spent so far.
0:23:13 > 0:23:18- Out of a total of around...?- 85. That's what we aimed for.- Yeah.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Are you happy with the value you've got so far out of that?
0:23:20 > 0:23:25Oh, definitely, yeah. The quality of the build, you know, it's very
0:23:25 > 0:23:28strong and it's doing what we want it to do.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30A lot of people would say it's pretty unconventional,
0:23:30 > 0:23:33exposed blockwork, and you've obviously embraced a little bit
0:23:33 > 0:23:36- of showing some of the materials that the building's made of.- Yeah.
0:23:36 > 0:23:41The industrial finish is very different, it's a lot harder,
0:23:41 > 0:23:44a lot more practical, and that's how I aim this to be,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47- a bit more practical...- Yeah.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51..rather than all the soft finishes and all the unnecessary finishes.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Will that mean there's any left over for some extras?
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Is there anything else that you're thinking,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58"Oh, now we can maybe afford this or that"?
0:23:58 > 0:24:01There might be the chance that we would think about buying
0:24:01 > 0:24:04something extra, but ultimately, I think we would both decide,
0:24:04 > 0:24:07"Let's not bother, let's just save the money."
0:24:10 > 0:24:14Inside, those raw finishes are the final look.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17- So this is going to...? - Oh, yes, this is how it will look.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19We're definitely going to leave the ceilings exposed.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21That's going to be really nice.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26I'm worried it'll feel like they're living on a building site
0:24:26 > 0:24:28long after the builders have left.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31This is going to be Frank's room.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33- It's quite quirky. - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36What does he think of all the exposed blockwork?
0:24:36 > 0:24:37- Yeah, he loves it.- He's into it?
0:24:40 > 0:24:43A minimal approach to finishes certainly makes things simpler
0:24:43 > 0:24:47and cheaper, but combined with the compact size of these rooms,
0:24:47 > 0:24:48it feels cell-like.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52Then we come through into our bedroom.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54The focus on practicality
0:24:54 > 0:24:58could be driving this build at the expense of all else.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01They risk ending up with a home that doesn't feel homely.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04As a tradesman, do you think Andy thinks in quite a pragmatic way
0:25:04 > 0:25:08about how to get the thing done? Are you the one more with the vision?
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Sometimes I may be a bit braver and I'll think a bit more out of the box
0:25:11 > 0:25:13about the ways to do it,
0:25:13 > 0:25:15but that's probably because I don't know the implications!
0:25:15 > 0:25:19- Yeah, yeah, yeah, sometimes a bit of naivety is good, though. - Yeah, yeah, it is!
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Jo and Andy, I must say, should be complimented on how far they've got.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29But it's important now that they focus their attention
0:25:29 > 0:25:32on the interior - not just practically, but in terms of its design,
0:25:32 > 0:25:34how that place is going to become a home.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38There's a very fine line between an interior of beautifully
0:25:38 > 0:25:40exposed materials that the building is really made of
0:25:40 > 0:25:42and one that simply looks unfinished.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49We need to show them that they can create a beautiful
0:25:49 > 0:25:54and innovative sustainable home that won't break their budget.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57Jo'ann and Andy done a great job getting to this point,
0:25:57 > 0:26:02but I think there's a whole world of amazing detail that they could bring to this building.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07I want to take them to a building that really reinvents,
0:26:07 > 0:26:10from first principles, every single way of making
0:26:10 > 0:26:13a building that purports to be sustainable,
0:26:13 > 0:26:19and hopefully get them inspired by the spirit of invention in this house.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24The Meat Factory is a pioneering eco-house in Nottingham.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28This is the south-facing growing courtyard.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30Built on a former industrial site
0:26:30 > 0:26:33and home to its architect, Julian Marsh,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36it's a brilliant collection of ingenious ideas.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38There's actually another greenhouse on that roof,
0:26:38 > 0:26:40another greenhouse on that roof...
0:26:40 > 0:26:44Makes sense, rather than having it down there taking up ground space.
0:26:44 > 0:26:45- Absolutely.- That's just brilliant.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49Although it cost five times Jo and Andy's budget,
0:26:49 > 0:26:51it's almost three times the size,
0:26:51 > 0:26:55so they need to attempt to match the level of aspiration here.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Piers is hoping to show them how architectural ideas
0:26:58 > 0:27:02can be brought straight into their home.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Inside, the experimental approach is taken to another level.
0:27:05 > 0:27:10Immediately, there's about 30 things that you just want to look at.
0:27:10 > 0:27:11Isn't there?!
0:27:11 > 0:27:15The house is a wild mix of materials,
0:27:15 > 0:27:19but rather than being superficial, each has a specific function.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23Polycarbonate filters light and warmth into unheated spaces,
0:27:23 > 0:27:26while thick clay plaster absorbs heat.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29- There's just so much to look at. - There is, isn't there?- Amazing.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31- Yeah, just kind of soaking it all in.- I know.
0:27:32 > 0:27:38Despite its size, this house costs as little as £500 a year to run.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Solar panels provide power and shade to the building,
0:27:41 > 0:27:44a compost toilet reduces water use,
0:27:44 > 0:27:49and temperature is controlled using some experimental low-cost ideas.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53These are brilliant because they add thermal mass to a space that needs it most.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56And they're full of water,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59which acts to absorb heat and reradiate it at night.
0:27:59 > 0:28:04And this is such a great way of making something that is
0:28:04 > 0:28:08effectively a piece of physics into something's that's architecture.
0:28:08 > 0:28:14I'm hoping Jo and Andy can see that there is room for creativity and design in their home
0:28:14 > 0:28:18without letting go of their values or budget.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22This is a huge space, and over there, a sneaked view.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25So there are windows in the places that you would least expect them.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28From right the way into that corner,
0:28:28 > 0:28:30- you can see all the way through the building.- Yeah.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34- Are you sneaking a view from your stairs into your living space?- Yes.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38- You are? Great.- Yeah, we will be. - That will be very nice.- Yes.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42More expensive materials used sparingly can create interest
0:28:42 > 0:28:43without breaking the bank.
0:28:43 > 0:28:48These glazed bricks cost £5 each, but just a few has a huge impact.
0:28:48 > 0:28:53This is a beautiful material, but it's only where you touch it
0:28:53 > 0:28:56and then it's back to white plaster.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00I really like that sensibility around knowing that the things that
0:29:00 > 0:29:04you touch, the things that you brush past, are where you invest time.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06Yeah, yeah. It does, it feels lovely.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09It's really tactile and it's smooth.
0:29:11 > 0:29:17Creative use of recycled materials here has kept costs down.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20Structural beams are made using recycled timber.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23Even old pallets have been reused as fencing panels.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28This is toughened glass from, I think, a stadium in London,
0:29:28 > 0:29:33- and he used that to make his walkway.- And designed it round them.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36Jo and Andy need to look for high-quality materials
0:29:36 > 0:29:40that could be used as decoration in their home.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43And again, in here, in the shower, they've used...
0:29:43 > 0:29:46this red meat-packing stuff.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50- That's fantastic.- Isn't that fantastic?- The light from that... - The light is amazing.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52Oh, I like that.
0:29:52 > 0:29:56Light and colour will be key to Jo and Andy really transforming
0:29:56 > 0:29:58their stark home into something stunning.
0:29:58 > 0:30:03This is living space actually about the same size as yours,
0:30:03 > 0:30:05- which is interesting.- It is.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08It's lovely to see all the different forms of materials
0:30:08 > 0:30:11that have been used, to get some inspiration because we've
0:30:11 > 0:30:13got our basis, but it's adding that extra...
0:30:13 > 0:30:16- Just to finish it off. - Varnish the blockwork on the walls.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19I bet that looks lovely. I hadn't thought about that.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21Cos that would reflect light, wouldn't it?
0:30:25 > 0:30:28The beauty of this house is in the way it works.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30There's nothing here that's superficial.
0:30:30 > 0:30:35It's all got a use and everything that you see is creative thinking.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40The slightly wacky experimentation, I think, is something
0:30:40 > 0:30:42that should be positively encouraged.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45And that's the spirit that you need to bring to your house.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52The lessons for anybody in this house are immense,
0:30:52 > 0:30:56the lessons for Jo'ann and Andy, at this stage of their build,
0:30:56 > 0:30:59are immeasurable. What I'm looking for, for them,
0:30:59 > 0:31:03is a perfect marriage of clever thinking, function and beauty.
0:31:03 > 0:31:07I want to see them go a little bit out of their comfort zone.
0:31:07 > 0:31:12What struck me initially about the house is just how brave
0:31:12 > 0:31:14- they've been with the use of materials.- Yeah.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17We can start putting a lot of different materials together.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20- We can have a look, can't we?- We're not architects or artists, though.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23So whether ours look a jumble is another thing.
0:31:23 > 0:31:24- But we'll go for it now.- Yeah.
0:31:26 > 0:31:30This house shouts from the rooftop that it's an eco-home, experimental
0:31:30 > 0:31:35and proud of it - a lesson I hope Jo'ann and Andy will take away.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44It's September, five and a half months into their build,
0:31:44 > 0:31:48and back on site, Jo and Andy are experimenting.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50Yep, another new skill to learn!
0:31:50 > 0:31:54To save money, they're applying the wood cladding themselves.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57It covers a series of layers designed to maximise
0:31:57 > 0:31:58thermal efficiency.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00- Looks like a corner.- Looks like a corner. Woo-hoo.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04The hard work should significantly reduce their energy bills.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06I feel like I've been doing it for weeks and weeks,
0:32:06 > 0:32:09I put paper on, insulation on,
0:32:09 > 0:32:12paper on and baton on and now I'm putting wood on.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14It's crazy!
0:32:15 > 0:32:19Having already committed £900 on cladding and fittings,
0:32:19 > 0:32:21they've decided not to go with Piers' suggestion
0:32:21 > 0:32:24of unifying the outside with one material.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28When completed, the house will be largely a mix of timber
0:32:28 > 0:32:30and render.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34I loved Piers' ideas but there was an expense to that
0:32:34 > 0:32:36that was more than we'd budgeted for.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40No matter how much we wanted that other look,
0:32:40 > 0:32:42it's still only a look.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52We can do this until the sun goes down,
0:32:52 > 0:32:56grab some dinner and then we'll probably pop inside
0:32:56 > 0:32:59and carry on doing a bit more in there.
0:32:59 > 0:33:00Pop here late evening.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13Their house is getting closer to being habitable
0:33:13 > 0:33:15and today the triple glazed windows are going in.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21At £5,300, the windows are 15% more expensive
0:33:21 > 0:33:23than common double glazed ones.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26But the investment should be worth it when combined with
0:33:26 > 0:33:30their log burner - it will all help to reduce their heating bill.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33These back ones are huge, and I wasn't expecting them.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35I know it's silly, cos I know the space.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37But I'm really pleased about that.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40Cos they're looking really good.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43And fired up from their visit to the Meat Factory,
0:33:43 > 0:33:45there's been a dramatic development.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48Jo and Andy have been thinking about some of the details
0:33:48 > 0:33:50of their home, not just from a practical point of view.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53We're having some coloured exterior frames on the front
0:33:53 > 0:33:55to add some colour to the building.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59Which certainly is more appearance than function.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02So, 107.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04Andy is working round the clock.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09He wants to provide Jo and Frank with the family home
0:34:09 > 0:34:11they deserve, after years on the move.
0:34:12 > 0:34:18I am using industrial hand railing for the stairs.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22Surprising what you can do with all this sort of stuff, really.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25The materials have only cost 60 quid.
0:34:25 > 0:34:29I suppose it's not quite the pristine finish that people expect
0:34:29 > 0:34:31in a domestic house.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33Yes, it's a look we both like.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37Although it's not as easy as he hoped.
0:34:37 > 0:34:4150 mil out, that is. And that's 50 mil the opposite way.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49Four hours later, Andy's created a bespoke banister.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52That's brilliant!
0:34:52 > 0:34:53It looks level too.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59Keen to make it look interesting too, he's trying to find ways
0:34:59 > 0:35:03to incorporate industrial door curtains to catch the light.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06It'll add that orange glow with the light coming in,
0:35:06 > 0:35:09something like that. But I think it'll look good.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15Jo is also looking for ways to adapt the bare bones of the house
0:35:15 > 0:35:18and is experimenting with different finishes.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21I'm putting varnish on, which will be our kitchen area
0:35:21 > 0:35:25and it saves putting tiles or a splash back of any form
0:35:25 > 0:35:27because this will waterproof it
0:35:27 > 0:35:30and also, it means we get to see blocks too.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32Which is lovely.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36But the move from building to designing hasn't been easy.
0:35:36 > 0:35:40I do find it actually difficult to know what probably works well.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43I probably prefer the more functional side of it,
0:35:43 > 0:35:45cos the structure has specific plans.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47The aesthetics at the end doesn't.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52With the interior starting to come together, I want to push them
0:35:52 > 0:35:53to the next level.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57They are experimenting with materials -
0:35:57 > 0:36:00but they need to think about how they want their limited space
0:36:00 > 0:36:03to feel and how they'll live in it.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05We've got our things out of storage
0:36:05 > 0:36:08and we're slowly putting them into certain places
0:36:08 > 0:36:09and it's starting to give us ideas.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12So your strategy is to arrange your stuff around,
0:36:12 > 0:36:14- that's...- It finds its place, doesn't it?
0:36:14 > 0:36:16We need to think about interior design a bit differently
0:36:16 > 0:36:20to that, so maybe I can show you a place now that I hope can make you
0:36:20 > 0:36:24- think about that interior as a whole. Shall we go take a look? - Yeah, let's.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31I've invited Jo and Andy to see a sleek and modern reworking
0:36:31 > 0:36:34of a Victorian house in North London by Lipton Plant Architects.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40I want them to see a practical space which also has a sense of fun,
0:36:40 > 0:36:43to show them it's OK to have both.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48And this is actually nothing like your space in a way,
0:36:48 > 0:36:52but for me, there are things here that you can really learn from.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54I mean, take this beautiful big bench.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57It's built in, so it's incredibly space saving.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01I've always loved fitted furniture, I love benches particularly.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03What do you think about it, Andy?
0:37:03 > 0:37:06It's a waste of space.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08- Yeah, yeah, this is a big space. - I just don't see the point!
0:37:08 > 0:37:10- You don't see the point?- No.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15'I'm hoping Andy might see the point if it has an additional use -
0:37:15 > 0:37:17'like storage underneath.'
0:37:17 > 0:37:21I love window seats, but I'm just worried that we don't have the space
0:37:21 > 0:37:22to incorporate one in our house.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24But you shouldn't rush to that conclusion.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27It's not about whether you can take this directly into your house,
0:37:27 > 0:37:29it's really about whether you like it or not.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32Cos if you like it, then it's about saying, how can we make a space
0:37:32 > 0:37:35that's as delightful as this is to relax in?
0:37:35 > 0:37:38'A wall of storage makes the room feel uncluttered,
0:37:38 > 0:37:41'and every inch becomes usable.'
0:37:41 > 0:37:44Can you see the potential in something like this?
0:37:44 > 0:37:47Rather than having all of this kind of stuff scattered around?
0:37:47 > 0:37:50I think there are certain things that need putting away.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52Um, but then certain things need leaving out.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55But when put them away, what do you put them in?
0:37:55 > 0:37:58It's about thinking bigger, designing the space
0:37:58 > 0:38:01and not just placing pieces of furniture, really.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05'This has no practical use whatsoever, but I want to
0:38:05 > 0:38:08'persuade them to bring some playfulness into their home.'
0:38:08 > 0:38:10It's really fun to have an element like that.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12I've always loved swings. I did ask for a swing.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15I was told we weren't allowed to attach one to the roof joists.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17- Oh, really?- Yeah.- Why?
0:38:18 > 0:38:20- Andy, you didn't want a swing?- No!
0:38:21 > 0:38:24'It's not just the swing that's failing to create
0:38:24 > 0:38:25'the right impression.'
0:38:25 > 0:38:30It's a bit bland, a bit empty, it lacks a homely feel.
0:38:31 > 0:38:32'But with the flick of a switch...
0:38:36 > 0:38:40'..a stark interior comes alive and is anything but bland.'
0:38:42 > 0:38:45So this is really what I wanted to show you.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47It's completely transformed by colour.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50I guess as an electrician you know the potential of this kind of stuff.
0:38:50 > 0:38:54- Lighting's important, isn't it? - Good fun.- Isn't it?- Definitely.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01What really excites me now is this clinical interior
0:39:01 > 0:39:03that you were referring to before
0:39:03 > 0:39:05is given loads of colour by the light.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08The reflections are good and the glow. It's nice.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11It's really beautiful how this indirect light washes across
0:39:11 > 0:39:14this concrete material. Because you've got a lot of concrete in your interior.
0:39:14 > 0:39:19Yeah, we have. And I love the way it changes the look of that material.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21Much more homely feel now in here.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25It adds, erm, colour and does make it feel warmer,
0:39:25 > 0:39:28it does, we could do something concealed quite easily.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31- Yeah, definitely.- That little bit of glam in the corner.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39The challenge for Jo'ann and Andy is still to keep pushing themselves
0:39:39 > 0:39:41forward in terms of design.
0:39:41 > 0:39:45I think what they need to aspire to is some of the poetry of home.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48I think if they took away one thing, it's really about
0:39:48 > 0:39:51unifying their thinking, not just placing objects
0:39:51 > 0:39:54in a space but actually thinking about designing that whole interior
0:39:54 > 0:39:56for how they want to use it.
0:40:04 > 0:40:09Back on site, Jo and Andy have now spent all of their 85k budget
0:40:09 > 0:40:12and are starting to dip into their 15k contingency.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15All the way along the line we've stuck to our budget
0:40:15 > 0:40:19and if something costs too much but we want it, we either find
0:40:19 > 0:40:22another way to get it that is within our budget or we don't have it.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24It's as simple as that.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27They still have a way to go, so it's more crucial than ever
0:40:27 > 0:40:30we deliver low cost ideas to get this house finished.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35Piers is on his way back to Lincolnshire, to find out
0:40:35 > 0:40:37how the build is progressing.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42Even as an experienced architect, he's surprised at quite how far
0:40:42 > 0:40:45Jo and Andy have gone with their pared back interior.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49I think this finish is amazing, everything is exposed,
0:40:49 > 0:40:54it is as raw as you can get and I really like that rawness.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58But I wonder for some people whether it is too much and I suspect
0:40:58 > 0:41:01it could be really harsh and cold if you're not careful.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04I think there are one or two things they could do to this building
0:41:04 > 0:41:06that will really lift it
0:41:06 > 0:41:10and go that extra mile in making it truly exceptional.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12- It's a cool colour, isn't it? - It's exciting.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14If you just want to grab that side.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19Piers has come with an idea to inject some much needed warmth
0:41:19 > 0:41:22and fun into that stark interior.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25Colour is an amazing thing but actually colour with light is incredible.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28- Look at the floor as well. - Around the edge.
0:41:28 > 0:41:29- Great, isn't it?- It's amazing.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32And the colour with the concrete is so fantastic.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36It would be great to do is something like this just with ordinary lights
0:41:36 > 0:41:39which will give you something that is kind of
0:41:39 > 0:41:42decorative in the best sense, but also is a beautiful light.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45Piers has sourced some acrylic, which can be picked up for
0:41:45 > 0:41:48as little as £50 for a large sheet
0:41:48 > 0:41:52but with a bit of ingenuity will bathe their cold concrete finish
0:41:52 > 0:41:54in a warm glow.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58Add a five quid fluorescent tube for a unique lighting feature.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01Yes, if they were placed under the ends...
0:42:01 > 0:42:04For me, that is nicer than most likes you get in a shop.
0:42:04 > 0:42:05No, it's fab, it's lovely.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10This house isn't an ordinary house and Jo'ann and Andy
0:42:10 > 0:42:13aren't ordinary people, and the light and the colour
0:42:13 > 0:42:15we've been looking at today is truly extraordinary
0:42:15 > 0:42:19and I think it's really important that they do find something
0:42:19 > 0:42:23that really lifts the house and gives it the final push that it needs.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27Although Piers' previous suggestion for the exterior was rejected
0:42:27 > 0:42:31due to cost, he's still desperate to find a way to reflect
0:42:31 > 0:42:34Jo and Andy's values in the exterior look of their home.
0:42:35 > 0:42:40A pallet recycling centre might not be everyone's idea of a fun day out,
0:42:40 > 0:42:43but Piers wants to capitalise on Jo and Andy's passion
0:42:43 > 0:42:47for the environment to help them make their outside space sing.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50I'm a little bit anxious today because this could all go wrong.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53I haven't really ever built anything out of pallets before.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57But I think the challenge today is making them into something
0:42:57 > 0:43:00that really transforms their original use
0:43:00 > 0:43:03as a pallet into something far better
0:43:03 > 0:43:04and far more architectural.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07But will Jo and Andy be more accepting this time
0:43:07 > 0:43:11of his ideas to improve the outside appearance of their home?
0:43:11 > 0:43:15I love these, with the colour. Brightness in there. It just looks fantastic.
0:43:15 > 0:43:17It is quite nice seeing the writing.
0:43:17 > 0:43:19You don't want to disguise the wood, you want to be able to see
0:43:19 > 0:43:21the grains and stuff still.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26- Big, thick boards on them, haven't they?- Yeah.
0:43:26 > 0:43:29Clearly palates aren't the most beautiful thing
0:43:29 > 0:43:32but in a way they do, for me, start to become interesting
0:43:32 > 0:43:36when you stack them up and use them to define spaces.
0:43:38 > 0:43:42As a simple bench, with herbs and stuff growing out of the holes,
0:43:42 > 0:43:49maybe a taller bit and then even perhaps using this as a back,
0:43:49 > 0:43:53- you know, to it. - That looks lovely, it does.
0:43:53 > 0:43:56I think they look great. I am actually genuinely surprised.
0:43:56 > 0:43:59- It does look good. It's so instant, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:43:59 > 0:44:03At only three quid a pallet, it's a very cost-effective way
0:44:03 > 0:44:05to make a big impact.
0:44:05 > 0:44:07I wanted pallets for a long time actually.
0:44:07 > 0:44:10So when we were brought here I was quite excited
0:44:10 > 0:44:13because I actually really like to recycle and re-use things.
0:44:13 > 0:44:17Back on site, the pallets go together extremely quickly.
0:44:17 > 0:44:19Maybe we go...three...
0:44:19 > 0:44:20- Three along?- Yeah, I think so.
0:44:23 > 0:44:26And Jo is getting creative with the leftovers.
0:44:26 > 0:44:28You could do one here like a gate.
0:44:32 > 0:44:35What I'm excited about is actually getting to the stage we are now
0:44:35 > 0:44:40where we can use colour on these to start to really transform them.
0:44:40 > 0:44:42So, this one is...
0:44:42 > 0:44:44- Look at that.- It's a kind of orange.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47- It is a kind of orange.- And a yellow.
0:44:47 > 0:44:50- There is blue. Amazing colour.- Yeah.
0:44:52 > 0:44:54I think it's nice seeing the wood, isn't it?
0:44:54 > 0:44:57Paint them like that, we don't go down the cracks.
0:44:57 > 0:45:01- It's probably a lot easier, isn't it? It's quite nice.- Yeah.
0:45:01 > 0:45:02I think so.
0:45:02 > 0:45:05- It's great seeing that colour, isn't it?- Yes, it's good.
0:45:08 > 0:45:10So, of course, there's lots of options.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13- I think I'm up for the blue. - Blue this side.- I think so.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21It's very farmgate-y looking as well, isn't it?
0:45:21 > 0:45:24- It's agricultural and kind of urban.- Yes.
0:45:24 > 0:45:28- Do you like it, Andy?- Yeah, it looks lovely. It's so vivid, isn't it?
0:45:31 > 0:45:33I think the lesson here is,
0:45:33 > 0:45:35it's fine to go into something not quite knowing
0:45:35 > 0:45:38what you're going to do, and just have fun, see what comes out of it
0:45:38 > 0:45:40and it is something that is so modest
0:45:40 > 0:45:44and so cheap, yet actually it's really transformative in how
0:45:44 > 0:45:47it works in this context for this building.
0:45:47 > 0:45:50Yes, really happy about some of the different things that have evolved.
0:45:50 > 0:45:51The colours are fantastic.
0:45:51 > 0:45:55Yes, it has helped us maybe pull this area together a bit.
0:45:55 > 0:45:56Yeah, in a really quick way,
0:45:56 > 0:45:59quicker than what we thought we were going to do.
0:46:05 > 0:46:09Jo and Andy are battling to get their interior finished
0:46:09 > 0:46:11with as little expense as possible.
0:46:11 > 0:46:15These casters were £10.
0:46:15 > 0:46:19We are going to fix these to what will be a bench.
0:46:20 > 0:46:23They are searching for any way they can to make fixtures
0:46:23 > 0:46:26and fittings out of whatever they have lying around.
0:46:26 > 0:46:29It's quite encouraging to be able to use another piece
0:46:29 > 0:46:32of furniture that we have used and used and used,
0:46:32 > 0:46:35with it being a display unit or a bookcase or a shoe unit,
0:46:35 > 0:46:37rather than just throwing them on landfill.
0:46:37 > 0:46:38Oh, we could have races!
0:46:39 > 0:46:41It's swishy, isn't it?
0:46:41 > 0:46:43Take this over there.
0:46:43 > 0:46:46Outside, they've managed to scavenge more materials.
0:46:46 > 0:46:49It needs to come over that way a bit.
0:46:49 > 0:46:53We are just fitting in these railings which are recycled
0:46:53 > 0:46:57from the school that I work in, which I'm really pleased about.
0:46:57 > 0:46:59And really liking the striking blue.
0:46:59 > 0:47:03As we complete each individual job, it is just such a sense
0:47:03 > 0:47:05of achievement and an experience
0:47:05 > 0:47:08and we are doing things we've never done before.
0:47:08 > 0:47:11It's a good feeling to be getting to the end,
0:47:11 > 0:47:13though I do actually enjoy doing the jobs.
0:47:13 > 0:47:15Yes, we do make a good team.
0:47:15 > 0:47:18- Don't we, Jo'ann? - Yes, we do, Andrew.
0:47:18 > 0:47:19THEY LAUGH
0:47:19 > 0:47:23But what will all their ideas look like when they are done?
0:47:23 > 0:47:26Will they have managed to transform their previously stark
0:47:26 > 0:47:30interior into a much-needed and inviting family home?
0:47:40 > 0:47:44After a lifetime on the move, Jo'ann and Andy took a huge risk
0:47:44 > 0:47:49to try to put down some roots. With a tiny budget of just £85,000
0:47:49 > 0:47:52they attempted to create a house that wasn't just sustainable
0:47:52 > 0:47:54but also costs absolutely nothing to run.
0:47:54 > 0:47:58The question is, could this eco build with no frills
0:47:58 > 0:47:59really ever feel like a home?
0:48:01 > 0:48:0313 months after work began,
0:48:03 > 0:48:07Piers and I are back to find out what they've managed to build.
0:48:21 > 0:48:24- Hi.- Hi, guys. How are you doing? - Lovely to see you.- Great to see you.
0:48:26 > 0:48:29Well, congratulations, guys, it is so fantastic to see it built.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32And it's sort of right of place now on the street
0:48:32 > 0:48:34but how do you feel it is fitting into its surroundings?
0:48:34 > 0:48:37Oh, it's just lovely, it cheers it up no end.
0:48:37 > 0:48:42It's an interest to people, passers by. Makes them smile.
0:48:42 > 0:48:45I love that you can tell this is not an ordinary house,
0:48:45 > 0:48:48you can tell it's got some aspirations to sustainability.
0:48:48 > 0:48:49The clue is in the little window here,
0:48:49 > 0:48:53this big, deep wall you've made, that's keeping it nice and warm.
0:48:53 > 0:48:54It is.
0:48:54 > 0:48:57I remember way back trying to convince you to clad
0:48:57 > 0:49:00the entire building in timber but coming here now, I quite like
0:49:00 > 0:49:04the quirkiness, I quite like the fact that you have stuck to your guns.
0:49:04 > 0:49:06I agree with you, these different materials all do work together
0:49:06 > 0:49:10but I still don't think you would have chosen orange for your house.
0:49:10 > 0:49:11Maybe not.
0:49:13 > 0:49:18What you've done is weave in your personality into this building.
0:49:18 > 0:49:20I did like the full clad idea,
0:49:20 > 0:49:22I loved it, but it was just over our budget.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25- Even if only 100 quid, that's probably 100 quid too much.- Yes.
0:49:25 > 0:49:29If everything is £100, you go into thousands and it just rolls on.
0:49:33 > 0:49:37'This house risked being more about efficiency than design.
0:49:37 > 0:49:39'So how does it look now they've moved in?'
0:49:40 > 0:49:42Well, this is really fantastic.
0:49:56 > 0:49:57Look at this place!
0:49:57 > 0:50:00With these lovely colour accents and all of your furniture
0:50:00 > 0:50:02and stuff and it feels like a real home. You must be thrilled.
0:50:02 > 0:50:04Oh, definitely. Yes.
0:50:04 > 0:50:07Really proud of it actually, and the way it does show itself off,
0:50:07 > 0:50:10with the balance between the colours of the furniture
0:50:10 > 0:50:13and the raw materials, all put together.
0:50:13 > 0:50:15Really pleased with the outcome.
0:50:17 > 0:50:20The thing that most architects would get obsessive about here is
0:50:20 > 0:50:23the honesty and the truth to construction.
0:50:23 > 0:50:26This is a building that has made a virtue out of how it is constructed.
0:50:28 > 0:50:31Piers' idea to remove the double doors has opened up the space
0:50:31 > 0:50:34dramatically and let the light flow through.
0:50:38 > 0:50:42'The average spend on a kitchen in the UK is £6,000.
0:50:42 > 0:50:46'By picking one up ex-display, they've only spent a third of that.
0:50:46 > 0:50:49'They've been creative with their cash,
0:50:49 > 0:50:52'but also inspired to be resourceful throughout their home.'
0:50:52 > 0:50:55Things like these shelves, which I love actually,
0:50:55 > 0:50:58it seems to fit really well with the blockwork walls.
0:50:58 > 0:51:00That's a cable tray,
0:51:00 > 0:51:02electricians use it all the time in industrial locations.
0:51:02 > 0:51:05That's so brilliant, you're becoming a designer!
0:51:05 > 0:51:09You've taken a material that you recognised and reused it.
0:51:09 > 0:51:13You know, I really like the way you've positioned your sink at
0:51:13 > 0:51:16the end of this run of units, you've made another little area here.
0:51:16 > 0:51:19- It's a hospital hand basin.- Yeah.
0:51:19 > 0:51:20And it was the perfect size.
0:51:20 > 0:51:23I think what's great about the sink is taking something that
0:51:23 > 0:51:26would typically exist in a nondomestic environment
0:51:26 > 0:51:29like a hospital, which means it is really good quality,
0:51:29 > 0:51:30and then using it here.
0:51:31 > 0:51:33'It's a small space
0:51:33 > 0:51:36'but they've found inventive ways to make the most of it
0:51:36 > 0:51:38'by upcycling old bedroom furniture.'
0:51:38 > 0:51:39It's a transforming thing.
0:51:39 > 0:51:42It's a desk, yes, and you just sit down and you're off.
0:51:42 > 0:51:45I also can see you've gone to town a bit on the colours!
0:51:45 > 0:51:47- Which I love, why not?- I love it.
0:51:47 > 0:51:50What's curious about the colour is that these things serve
0:51:50 > 0:51:53as kind of abstract sculptural objects sitting in a corner,
0:51:53 > 0:51:56- even when they are not being used. - Yes, that's what it was all about.
0:51:56 > 0:52:00It's enjoying them, enjoying them, not just because it is a desk
0:52:00 > 0:52:02and it bringing life to the coroner.
0:52:02 > 0:52:04It's about putting our own take on it with paint,
0:52:04 > 0:52:07making it into something different and a bit of DIY and saving money.
0:52:09 > 0:52:14By doing all the electrical work himself, Andy has saved £5,000,
0:52:14 > 0:52:17but it's the way he has channelled his practical know-how
0:52:17 > 0:52:21into bespoke design features that has really paid off.
0:52:22 > 0:52:26I really like how the stairwell is part of this space. Downstairs.
0:52:26 > 0:52:28It's good. The concrete just flows, doesn't it?
0:52:28 > 0:52:31- And it's such a great space, isn't it?- It's brilliant.
0:52:31 > 0:52:34It's huge, and it's just not what you expect in a house of this size.
0:52:34 > 0:52:35Yeah.
0:52:36 > 0:52:39The stairwell risked being dark and cramped.
0:52:39 > 0:52:43Punching a hole in the wall hasn't cost a thing but has
0:52:43 > 0:52:47increased the sense of space and lets light through.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50When I first met you, you were worried about doing something
0:52:50 > 0:52:52that wasn't strictly functional.
0:52:52 > 0:52:55And this is playful as well as functional, isn't it?
0:52:55 > 0:52:58I like this, it's one of my favourite features.
0:52:58 > 0:53:01Depending on where the sunshine is and where the light is,
0:53:01 > 0:53:04it reflects on the walls or the floor, it's always different
0:53:04 > 0:53:09but this just adds that pleasure of walking through, it's got colour.
0:53:09 > 0:53:12I wouldn't have expected you to say things like that a year ago.
0:53:12 > 0:53:16- No, probably not.- It's quite a design journey you have come on.
0:53:16 > 0:53:17At the beginning,
0:53:17 > 0:53:22I would have tended to go towards a conventional style of interior.
0:53:22 > 0:53:25To break away from that, for me to see it in a different way,
0:53:25 > 0:53:26was a journey.
0:53:26 > 0:53:31Being adventurous and allowing the house to be different.
0:53:34 > 0:53:39'Upstairs, quirky touches and a mix of materials add a sense of fun
0:53:39 > 0:53:41'and personality to their concrete canvas.'
0:53:42 > 0:53:45So, this is a beautiful place to wake up. What a view,
0:53:45 > 0:53:48- it's fantastic.- You can just see for miles, it's lovely.
0:53:48 > 0:53:53'After 30 house moves, Jo can finally settle into her family home.'
0:53:53 > 0:53:57Jo'ann, tell me how it feels to have finished this project.
0:53:57 > 0:54:00You know, you've put an awful lot into this process, haven't you?
0:54:00 > 0:54:03Our all, really, everything I've got
0:54:03 > 0:54:05- and probably a little bit more some days.- Really?
0:54:05 > 0:54:10Yeah, yeah, but in one respect it's quite sad that it's finished.
0:54:10 > 0:54:16But obviously the main aspect is just proud, happy, excited.
0:54:16 > 0:54:19And we often, me and Andy, do pinch ourselves and go,
0:54:19 > 0:54:22"Did we do this?" You know, we just did it as a team.
0:54:22 > 0:54:25It was a learning process for both of us.
0:54:25 > 0:54:28I'm just so happy for you, but especially to make a building
0:54:28 > 0:54:31that has got so much of you and Andy in it.
0:54:31 > 0:54:34It's so clearly about how you want to live with your family.
0:54:34 > 0:54:38- I'm just super proud of you. I think it's a fantastic result.- Thank you.
0:54:45 > 0:54:49'Sustainability and cost were the driving forces on this build,
0:54:49 > 0:54:52'so how did they get on with the budget?'
0:54:52 > 0:54:57We planned to spend 85 when we first sat down, that was the aim.
0:54:57 > 0:55:01- With a contingency. - And in the end?- We spent 100,000.
0:55:01 > 0:55:03I think it's an amazing result,
0:55:03 > 0:55:05£100,000 for a building this efficient,
0:55:05 > 0:55:08and this generous inside, is just absolutely brilliant.
0:55:08 > 0:55:12But there must be other payoffs here too. The low-energy quality
0:55:12 > 0:55:15of the building also means it must be incredibly cheap to run.
0:55:15 > 0:55:18Right now we're spending minus £1.50 per month.
0:55:18 > 0:55:20- Minus £1.50?- Yeah!
0:55:20 > 0:55:23- So the grid pays you for this building to exist?- Yeah. - That's amazing.
0:55:23 > 0:55:26How much are you saving per year then on what you would pay
0:55:26 > 0:55:29- against a normal house?- I'd estimate that would be about £1,500 per year.
0:55:29 > 0:55:33- Wow.- There's a nice bit of income to have as well as being
0:55:33 > 0:55:36- comfortable, warm and no outgoings. - Absolutely. Brilliant.
0:55:36 > 0:55:38It makes it all worthwhile.
0:55:41 > 0:55:44Jo'ann and Andy have done something really important here.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47I think this is really big. I think they are real trailblazers.
0:55:47 > 0:55:52Jo'ann and Andy have taken a very, very modest amount of space
0:55:52 > 0:55:55and turned it into something that feels much bigger than it actually
0:55:55 > 0:55:59is, costs far less than most houses and is beautiful and sustainable.
0:55:59 > 0:56:02And this house will look good in five years' time,
0:56:02 > 0:56:04ten years' time and 50 years' time.
0:56:04 > 0:56:08It's an incredibly durable building that will need very little upkeep.
0:56:08 > 0:56:10And that is sustainable.
0:56:15 > 0:56:17The house is compact and basic,
0:56:17 > 0:56:22but a nil-build home for £100,000 is an extraordinary achievement.
0:56:22 > 0:56:24And calls for celebration.
0:56:25 > 0:56:27But how does such a unique
0:56:27 > 0:56:30and unconventional home go down in an ordinary street?
0:56:30 > 0:56:33Would you live in a concrete house having seen this?
0:56:33 > 0:56:39- Yes, I think I would. - It's warm, homely, welcoming.
0:56:39 > 0:56:42Tell me what you think of your daughter's interior.
0:56:42 > 0:56:45Is this your taste? Blockwork walls and concrete floors?
0:56:45 > 0:56:48- The only thing I would change is the ceiling.- Really?
0:56:48 > 0:56:50Because I find it quite oppressive.
0:56:50 > 0:56:54- Full of colour, isn't it lovely? - I love the floor and I love the feel.
0:56:54 > 0:56:56You feel as if you're sliding on it!
0:56:58 > 0:57:01- But they have no bills now. - They can always have mine!
0:57:03 > 0:57:06It's an amazing feeling and it is our house, we built it.
0:57:06 > 0:57:09- We don't intend on going anywhere, do we?- We don't.
0:57:09 > 0:57:10We are going to live in it and enjoy it
0:57:10 > 0:57:13and that was part of today, sharing it with some friends and family
0:57:13 > 0:57:18and share that enjoyment and be proud of our accomplishments, really.
0:57:18 > 0:57:19Yeah.
0:57:30 > 0:57:34Jo'ann and Andy have built an astonishingly good value house here.
0:57:34 > 0:57:38£100,000 for this building with all its generosity of space
0:57:38 > 0:57:41and incredible thermal efficiency is a real achievement.
0:57:41 > 0:57:44And in a way, it is the gift that keeps on giving
0:57:44 > 0:57:47because it is saving them money every single month.
0:57:47 > 0:57:50This building in the end is about so much more.
0:57:50 > 0:57:53This is a building that Jo'ann and Andy have made together and
0:57:53 > 0:57:57it's a real home, almost a perfect representation of who they are.
0:58:04 > 0:58:08Next time, Heidi and Stephen attempt to build a house for just £70,000.
0:58:10 > 0:58:14- What we've got is what we've got. - But will juggling family life...
0:58:14 > 0:58:16CHILD SCREAMS
0:58:16 > 0:58:18..and problems with the build...
0:58:18 > 0:58:21It wasn't that people had given us the wrong information,
0:58:21 > 0:58:24it was because we didn't ask the right questions.
0:58:24 > 0:58:27..leave their home unfinished and their dream in tatters?
0:58:27 > 0:58:30Basically we've got about ten grand left.