Neil & Amanda The House That £100k Built


Neil & Amanda

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Can you build your dream home...

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This is the exciting bit, seeing the first bit of dirt come out.

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..for under £100,000?

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If you think outside the box, you can build something extraordinary.

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Architect Piers Taylor will push what's possible with their homes...

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How about reconsidering the structure?

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No. I like the structure.

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'..while I, Kieran Long,

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'will challenge them with fresh ideas on design.'

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-Focus on how you feel right now.

-Yes.

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'And show them ingenious solutions possible in any home.'

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This is the kind of thing we want to do for our grandchildren.

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'And they needn't be expensive.'

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-What do you reckon?

-I'm really impressed.

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-Great.

-That's two good ideas you've come out with today, Piers.

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'We'll all be pushed....'

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I have to put my cards on the table and say I hate the roof.

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-I just hate it.

-'..as the homes take shape.'

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We are risking all the money.

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And, once it's gone, it's gone.

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But some will turn low-cost self builds

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into extraordinary homes.

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It looks great.

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Wow.

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This time, we help Neil and Amanda...

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This would be my perfect home.

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..attempt an ambitious build...

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Taller, taller, taller!

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..on a tiny budget.

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Ours is like the poor man's version of this.

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But will endless delays...

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So, we've not even started. He's not even dug a hole.

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..and the stress of the build...

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The other day I screamed at Neil and said,

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"I wish we'd never started this."

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..derail their plans?

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I think we've just got to start again.

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I think they can't build this. We can't let them.

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It's a bit harder than I thought.

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Three years ago,

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Neil and Amanda bought this single-storey house in East Anglia.

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It's definitely harder than I thought.

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Now, with lively two-year-old Indy and new baby Tishan...

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Move your head back.

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That's a good girl.

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..they've outgrown their tiny house,

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but simply can't afford a bigger one.

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We moved house when I had six weeks to go with Indy.

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This time, we've taken it a little further.

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We're not moving, we're just knocking the whole thing down

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and starting again.

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We didn't really want to get rid of it. We wanted to build up.

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But the house wasn't stable enough,

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and it was easier and probably quicker to build a brand-new house.

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Graphic designer Neil

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is taking time off to do most of the work himself,

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but has zero experience.

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Six months ago, I was just thinking,

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right, I'll just have to get the builders,

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because I've got no idea how on earth you make a house.

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Whereas, like, now, if I dismantle this,

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I've got ideas of how it actually goes back together.

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But the budget for their new house is incredibly tight.

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They have just £50,000 to build their dream family home.

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Because we're on such a tight budget,

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it's are we going to be able to do it for this budget?

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Because, once we run out of money, it stops.

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I'm going to do as much as I possibly and physically can.

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I'm not skilled at it,

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but I'll have a go at it and hopefully we can do it.

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But their tiny budget and lack of experience is not restricting

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the dreams they have for their new home.

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Look at the detail above the windows up there.

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They've got the little arches.

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The medieval town of Lavenham in Suffolk

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is one of their favourite places to visit.

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This is where we first got our inspiration for our build.

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We want rustic.

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We want the beams showing.

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I want it to look like it's been here 100 years,

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even when it was made yesterday.

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We just love the character of the buildings,

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and this is what we want with our house and our home.

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The family have moved into a tiny caravan, ready to start the build.

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It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, really,

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for the likes of us.

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And this is going to be a forever home.

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But, before they even start, their medieval dream is slipping away.

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Their 50K budget is simply not enough to fund what they want.

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On the budget that we have, because of how the planning works,

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and all these health and safety, and the building regs,

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it kind of stopped us doing what we wanted to do.

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When I look at these plans, I think we could afford to do it like that,

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but it's actually not what we want.

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The house won't end up being as chunky,

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old worldy, as we originally planned it to be.

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With their old house completely demolished,

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they're past the point of no return.

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We need to step in before they blow their budget

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on a house they don't even like.

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I've spent 20 years writing about architecture.

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And I'm fascinated by the history of old buildings.

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As an architect, Piers is renowned for designing

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experimental timber buildings.

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I've come to his studio to see if we can find a way to revive Neil and

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Amanda's original dream on one of the tiniest budgets

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we've ever worked with.

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This is the first time we get to see those plans.

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The current design is for a standard house-builder's softwood stud frame,

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rendered on the outside.

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Inside, insulation will be fitted between the studs,

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and then the walls will be lined with conventional plasterboard,

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meaning no structural timber is on display.

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The ground floor is an open-plan, living kitchen space,

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with a small bathroom entered through a lobby by the front door.

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A switchback staircase leads to the first floor,

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which has three conventional bedrooms.

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The only nod to a medieval look are the timber planks

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added to the exterior.

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This is such an interesting story about taste, really, isn't it?

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Because they want a new house, but they want it to look old.

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I mean, they want this timber-framed,

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medieval atmosphere somehow.

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And this is absolutely not what they're getting.

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I know why they're disappointed with this,

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because this is pretending to be a timber building

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with some timber stuck onto the outside.

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If you took off that timber,

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painted it white internally, put carpets down,

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it would be the same house that could be built

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anywhere by any developer.

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And that's not what Neil and Amanda want.

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This is one of the biggest challenges we've seen on the show.

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And I'm really excited to see

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if there is something we can actually do on such a tiny budget.

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Mostly, we find ways of tweaking a building to make it better.

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But, in this case, I think we've got to start again.

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I think they can't build this.

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We can't let them. We've got to start again here.

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They need to do this properly.

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And that means looking carefully at timber technology.

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What we need to do is manage their expectations,

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because they can't build this quickly.

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I agree with you completely.

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And, clearly, we need to raise their aspirations.

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But my question is

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do you think they can actually have anything for £50,000?

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I'd love to say yes, but, actually, I don't know.

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Recreating historical architecture

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carries the real risk you could end up with a tacky pastiche.

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We need to understand exactly how medieval Neil and Amanda want

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their new build to be.

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-It's beautiful, isn't it?

-It is stunning.

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'I've brought them to Avoncroft Museum in Worcestershire.

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'It's home to a range of historic buildings that have been rescued and

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'painstakingly reconstructed here.'

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So, this is really what I've brought you to see.

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This is a 15th-century house that was transported here

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in the '60s to the museum. But it's a beautiful example

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of a box-frame, medieval house.

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I mean, is this the kind of thing that you are interested in?

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Yeah, this is perfect for me.

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This is exactly...

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I would love this.

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I'd love to just start dismantling it now at this very moment,

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and start putting it on a trailer.

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And then start rebuilding it at home to the size that we require.

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-Flat-pack style.

-Oh, yeah!

-So this is, basically,

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-you take this off the peg.

-Yeah, off the peg.

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What is it specifically that appeals to you

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about this image that we have before us now?

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It's the honesty of it. You see the strength of the building.

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You see how the actual wood holds it up. It just looks interesting.

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'This is a far cry from their current plans.

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'Inside, the whole timber frame is on show.

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'The layout is typical of a medieval townhouse,

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'with a large central hall

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'that would have been used by the entire household.'

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I think this space is quite surprising.

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From the outside, you expect it to be perhaps small, intimate rooms.

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But this lofty, hall-like space is so fantastic, isn't it?

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We would love a space like this.

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But because of what we can afford, it's all a compromise.

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But I think that should be absolutely possible.

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I love the idea that at least one place in your house,

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you get the full height of the building.

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And, in a way, this becomes the kind of heart of the home, doesn't it,

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with the amazing hearth in the corner?

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Oh, this is fantastic. I love it.

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'Next to the hall are smaller, more private rooms,

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'just used by the family.'

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So, there's a real shift in atmosphere, I think,

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when you come into this room.

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-And it's kind of intimate.

-Yeah.

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It's very different to that room, isn't it?

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Yeah, it's lighter as well.

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But I think I prefer that room.

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I like the darkness of it.

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And I think it makes it more cosy and homely.

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I think the interesting thing here

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is that you can have both of these atmospheres in the same house.

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So, you've got that extraordinary, lofty, you know,

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bang your pewter tankard on the table atmosphere out there.

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But here it feels much more domestic.

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Neil, I can see that you're noticing other things that your...

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Oh, yeah. I love the texture of stuff.

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-Yeah.

-I don't want the walls, you know, nice and smooth, clean lines.

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I just like the honesty of this where it meets the wood.

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And it's all that it needs.

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'Unlike modern construction,

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'the only materials used here are locally-felled oak

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'and wattle and daub, painted with limewash.'

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For me, being in this space

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and being surrounded by the structural frame

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and all these kind of nice rough-and-ready materials,

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it's a wonderful atmosphere.

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If we could get the building to look exactly like this,

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this would be perfect,

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with the rough plaster, the wood shining through.

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This would be my perfect home.

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I think with all the regulations that we've got to jump through,

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I think a lot of the wood would be hidden with all the insulation.

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But if we can just get a little bit of it in.

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So, it's finding a way to do that that's authentic

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and honest to the way that you're building your building,

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and what that means in today's construction.

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'I love Neil and Amanda's enthusiasm

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'for this area of architecture,'

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and I totally share it. But my fear for them is how they're going to

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escape the risk that they try to turn their building into a pastiche,

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and their home becomes a kind of theme-park version of a house that

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actually is from half a millennium ago.

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This is a huge challenge for Piers.

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He has to find a way to give them the authentic medieval feel

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they want while still meeting the requirements

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of 21st-century building.

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All on an impossibly tiny budget.

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So, it's really good to see you here in my patch,

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because I really want to talk to you today about timber.

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He's invited them to see a perfect example of a low-cost, timber-framed

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building - his studio.

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Fundamentally, timber buildings are born out of a necessity.

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And this building, which is my studio,

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I made it with the trees that grew on this site and I used people that

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live in this valley, who had never built a building before,

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and the building ended up costing about £15,000.

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That's really good.

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So this is, I have to say,

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the rawest and the cheapest building I've ever done.

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This is a structural timber frame.

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So, there's a post-and-beam frame that runs through.

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I love the tree trunks that come up.

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It's just the rawness of it.

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That's what we said we wanted, isn't it, right from the beginning.

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Then things got squashed.

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What you need to gather is the confidence to do it your way,

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and to know the things that you want to do are valid and achievable in

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-your own house.

-Yeah.

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Piers hopes that this simple,

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exposed structural frame of his studio could

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hold the key to cracking the challenge of their 50k home,

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which will be subject to regular consultation with their structural

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engineer, and building control authority.

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So, looking at your plans, I mean,

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one thing I do have a problem with is these bits of stuck-on timber

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that try and make it into something that it isn't.

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What I think we need to discuss is a better way of using timber.

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Piers wants to show them a way to make the structural frame

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the star attraction in their new home.

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What you could do is design the house around this notion of using

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a post-and-beam frame, not a stick-built frame.

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And I think if you did that,

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you could have exposed posts running through downstairs.

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Your beams would be on top of those with the smaller pieces of structure

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spanning between those frames.

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A big advantage of post-and-beam construction

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is that it IS the structure

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of the building, cutting out the need for internal supporting walls.

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What you could do is just lose that wall,

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because you actually don't need it because the floor above is taken by

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-these beams.

-I mean, I like the idea of having it all open.

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-Sure, yeah.

-They've struggled to find a way to meet required

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insulation standards without covering up the timber inside.

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Piers is suggesting that they put insulation

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on the outside of the frame.

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What that means is that you end up with a timber frame that is exposed.

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You would actually see the beams like this.

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Like you would have done, actually, in medieval times.

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-My mind's just toying with the idea.

-Yeah.

-It could work.

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I love it.

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This fundamentally changes the way this house is built.

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Piers' plan removes the typical softwood stud frame,

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replacing it with a heavyweight post-and-beam frame.

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Wrapping the outside in a blanket of insulation means internally

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the posts and beams can be on show.

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Now, with no load-bearing walls required,

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the interior space is completely flexible.

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Moving the bathroom door from the lobby to the main living space

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allows for a better layout.

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Outside, the house will be finished with simple render.

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Fundamental changes such as these

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will need fresh assessment by building control.

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To show Neil and Amanda just how beautiful their frame could be,

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Piers is taking them to his local framing yard.

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This is an entire wall for a house.

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Here they specialise in high-end oak construction using traditional

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-methods.

-This connection is a very beautiful thing, isn't it?

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I mean, all this would be on show with your frame.

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For centuries, oak has been the first choice for post-and-beam

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construction. But on their £50,000 budget, that's not an option.

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Oak is about the most expensive timber that you can use.

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But I think you guys could use spruce or a very low-grade softwood,

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because you're going to protect it and it will still be beautiful,

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-I'm absolutely sure.

-That's an excellent idea, yeah.

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Then, really, it's a question, I think, of getting started,

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getting the frame under way.

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Having a look at the material today up close gives us a sense of really

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wanting to go back to this framework and putting the house up,

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putting the frame up, and then building everything onto that frame.

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Piers' design has reignited Neil and Amanda's enthusiasm

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for their build.

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I never thought I'd be drawing my own house.

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But it has turned a conventional plan into a specialist job.

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So, it's up to them to find the right person to make their frame

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within their tiny budget.

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Roll top baths and the sinks.

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This is what I want for the kitchen.

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-Yeah.

-After a lot of research,

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they've managed to find a local reclamation yard,

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whose owner, Roy Baker,

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also specialises in post-and-beam construction.

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This is something I've drawn earlier.

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So, that's, like, the plan looking down.

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Looking at it like this to me just looks like a greenhouse.

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But we don't want to hide any of the woodwork on the interior.

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Yeah, I'm sure we can make it rustic.

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And one of our main issues is it's on a tight budget, as well.

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Yeah. The fact we can get all the materials straight from the forest.

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When we do a frame, we're getting the materials cheap

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as we can get them, really.

0:17:180:17:19

The cost is the worry from day one.

0:17:190:17:22

It's the main worry, isn't it, the cost.

0:17:220:17:24

I mean, the time span...

0:17:240:17:28

that's not a major worry.

0:17:280:17:29

We did sort of say, "Oh, it would be nice if we got in for Christmas."

0:17:290:17:33

But, at this stage,

0:17:330:17:35

it would be nice if we've just got started for Christmas!

0:17:350:17:38

Starting to go stir crazy,

0:17:440:17:47

stuck in this little space.

0:17:470:17:49

It's February, and the project has stalled.

0:17:510:17:53

We've not even started.

0:17:540:17:56

No, not even out of the ground.

0:17:560:17:58

Not even dug a hole.

0:17:580:18:01

It's been ten months

0:18:010:18:02

since Neil knocked the house down and they moved into the caravan.

0:18:020:18:06

Everything's on hold while the new plans are carefully

0:18:060:18:09

checked by building control, and approved for fire safety.

0:18:090:18:13

It's not as easy living as it was in the summer.

0:18:130:18:16

In the summer, it was easy living.

0:18:160:18:18

Now it's winter, things get damp

0:18:190:18:22

and you've just got to be on top of it all the time.

0:18:220:18:25

If you see a little patch of black mould,

0:18:250:18:27

you've got to be cleaning it up straightaway.

0:18:270:18:30

So, this is in the awning.

0:18:310:18:33

It's just survived the winter.

0:18:330:18:35

But it is a bit rough, isn't it?

0:18:350:18:38

Neil has stockpiled material

0:18:410:18:43

from the old house to use on the new build.

0:18:430:18:46

He is constantly looking for other ways to stretch their tiny budget.

0:18:460:18:50

Amanda's always wanted a roll top bath.

0:18:500:18:53

So I was idly looking on the internet and locally one came up.

0:18:530:18:57

We got it for a miraculous price of £50.

0:18:570:18:59

-Good morning.

-How are you doing, you all right?

-Yeah, not too bad.

0:19:060:19:09

They've finally been given the go-ahead

0:19:090:19:11

from the structural engineer

0:19:110:19:13

so they can start to build their new home.

0:19:130:19:15

Putting the insulation on the outside of the frame means they can

0:19:210:19:25

use much cheaper materials for its construction.

0:19:250:19:27

Next one.

0:19:310:19:32

They've opted for Douglas fir,

0:19:320:19:34

a readily available and sustainable softwood.

0:19:340:19:37

These are a couple of the Douglas firs we felled the other day.

0:19:390:19:42

-Yeah.

-Basically, nice, big trunks, nice and straight.

0:19:420:19:45

They look really chunky, don't they?

0:19:450:19:47

-Yeah, yeah.

-These huge logs will become the bones of their home.

0:19:470:19:50

The timber frame is costing 12,500, which is a lot of money to us,

0:19:510:19:57

but, apparently, it's a good price.

0:19:570:19:58

Right, all right. We'll get it square.

0:20:000:20:02

It's amazing, within about 20 minutes

0:20:020:20:05

they can turn a log into a usable piece.

0:20:050:20:07

Once the posts are cut out, every joint will be hand measured and cut.

0:20:150:20:19

These days, it's possible to buy steel plate connectors

0:20:230:20:26

to fix the beams to the posts.

0:20:260:20:27

But Roy has opted for traditional pegged mortise-and-tenon joints,

0:20:270:20:32

like they would have done 500 years ago.

0:20:320:20:34

We chamfer the end of each joint by hand.

0:20:340:20:38

We'll be doing, basically, there's about 100 joints on this job.

0:20:380:20:41

Yeah.

0:20:410:20:43

But that's just the sort of nice, traditional way we do it.

0:20:430:20:46

We'll get all the joints done, get it ready for assembly on site.

0:20:460:20:49

Can't wait.

0:20:490:20:51

We're going to jack it up a little bit.

0:20:540:20:57

A full 12 months after Neil demolished their old house,

0:20:580:21:01

the timber frame for their new home is finally going up.

0:21:010:21:04

It's been a long time coming.

0:21:150:21:16

But now it's here, it's so exciting.

0:21:160:21:19

This is, like, the most important part.

0:21:190:21:21

They've gone from a faux frame to the real thing.

0:21:230:21:26

The frame is supported by a sole plate bolted into the foundations.

0:21:290:21:33

For added strength, all the joints are pegged with oak dowels

0:21:350:21:38

that Roy's team are hand-making on site.

0:21:380:21:41

These look great. On the plans,

0:21:450:21:47

they look like they're much smaller than this.

0:21:470:21:49

We've upgraded them

0:21:490:21:51

to something that looks in keeping with the frame.

0:21:510:21:55

And, obviously, we've put a bit of a curve on them as well.

0:21:550:21:57

That's the detail that makes the build.

0:21:570:21:59

The frame will take just a few days to go up.

0:22:020:22:05

How high is that?

0:22:050:22:06

Taller, taller, taller!

0:22:080:22:10

It's a specialist job, but Neil is helping where he can.

0:22:100:22:14

When we originally spoke to Piers,

0:22:180:22:20

the best thing he did was literally put his hand down and said,

0:22:200:22:22

"Look, the house that you've got designed is nothing like

0:22:220:22:25

"what you actually wanted." And that's what we needed,

0:22:250:22:28

we needed that chair kicking from underneath us

0:22:280:22:30

to find out what we could actually have done.

0:22:300:22:32

It's spectacular,

0:22:320:22:34

it's, like, ten times more than we dreamt of what it would look like.

0:22:340:22:37

It is basically becoming our dream house.

0:22:370:22:40

-Yes!

-Hooray.

0:22:430:22:45

Now the frame is up,

0:22:520:22:53

Piers is keen to find out how they plan to tackle the next stage of

0:22:530:22:57

-the build.

-Hi, Neil.

0:22:570:22:59

-Morning. Are you OK?

-Look at this!

0:22:590:23:00

Modern man. Here you are, childcare, building, everything.

0:23:000:23:04

-Multitasking.

-Yeah.

-Hello. And look at that!

0:23:040:23:07

Yeah, spectacular, isn't it?

0:23:070:23:08

-It's brilliant.

-Yeah.

-I'm so pleased you've done it.

0:23:080:23:11

So are we.

0:23:110:23:13

The guy that's put it up as well, he's proud of it as well.

0:23:130:23:15

Is he? Oh, good.

0:23:150:23:17

The frame is beautiful.

0:23:170:23:19

But they're a long way from a finished house.

0:23:190:23:21

They've already spent around £25,000 on the ground works and frame.

0:23:220:23:27

That's half their budget.

0:23:270:23:28

25 grand.

0:23:300:23:31

-Yeah.

-Each of those bricks represents £1,000.

0:23:310:23:35

So, the critical thing is keeping the rain out.

0:23:350:23:38

-Yeah.

-How much is your roof?

0:23:380:23:40

-About five grand.

-Five grand for the roof.

0:23:400:23:43

Just for the roof. And the skylights.

0:23:430:23:46

And the skylights. OK.

0:23:460:23:47

What about the external walls?

0:23:470:23:49

Don't even know how much that's going to cost.

0:23:490:23:51

It's going to be at least the same again?

0:23:510:23:53

-Right.

-I mean, there's more surface area than the roof.

0:23:530:23:56

So probably that.

0:23:560:23:57

The windows is another five.

0:23:570:23:59

-Another five?

-Yeah.

-There.

0:23:590:24:01

The wiring is probably three grand.

0:24:010:24:05

-Plumbing.

-You know, that's another...

0:24:050:24:08

three grand. By the time you've done half the studwork upstairs,

0:24:080:24:12

you've got no light fittings, no finishes, no kitchen.

0:24:120:24:15

So, clearly, you're going to have to be resourceful.

0:24:150:24:18

Oh, yeah. As frugal as we can be.

0:24:180:24:20

As frugal as you can possibly be everywhere.

0:24:200:24:22

And it seems like you're going to

0:24:220:24:25

have to do things, like finishes, for next to nothing.

0:24:250:24:28

I think you could do a huge amount with what you've already got.

0:24:330:24:37

Yeah. But already,

0:24:370:24:39

last November, I found a cheap bath on the internet and bought it.

0:24:390:24:42

It's sat in the middle of the awning all winter.

0:24:420:24:44

Really, I think the baths are one thing.

0:24:440:24:47

But getting a roof over your head,

0:24:470:24:48

getting in the warm and dry, has to be the critical thing.

0:24:480:24:51

And then finishing it to the point that you could live in it.

0:24:510:24:54

Yeah.

0:24:540:24:56

What Neil is trying to do here is almost impossible.

0:24:560:24:59

Now the frame is up, finishing the building is entirely down to him.

0:24:590:25:03

And he's just a novice builder with almost no money.

0:25:030:25:06

Piers needs to find some practical ideas

0:25:060:25:08

that can help Neil finish this build for next to nothing.

0:25:080:25:11

Successful self builds for under 50 grand are hard to find,

0:25:130:25:18

especially something as unconventional as theirs.

0:25:180:25:20

So, Piers is taking Neil further afield to Normandy,

0:25:210:25:24

to see a house where experience and a tiny budget

0:25:240:25:28

hasn't compromised ambition.

0:25:280:25:29

Wow, it's huge!

0:25:350:25:38

This house, which is a lot bigger than your house in terms of its

0:25:380:25:42

footprint, cost £50,000.

0:25:420:25:44

Wow.

0:25:440:25:46

The house was built by architect Jean-Baptiste Barache

0:25:460:25:49

and his brother in 2005 as a holiday home for his family.

0:25:490:25:53

He wanted to show that housing can be sustainable,

0:25:530:25:56

affordable and beautiful.

0:25:560:25:58

This guy did use somebody to put up the frame.

0:26:000:26:04

The equivalent of Roy.

0:26:040:26:05

-Yeah.

-But then they did most of the other stuff themselves.

0:26:050:26:08

And they had no experience of building before.

0:26:080:26:11

More than anything,

0:26:110:26:12

it shows how budget is a complete driver for design.

0:26:120:26:17

It's almost the perfect low-budget house.

0:26:170:26:20

I think it looks spectacular. It's great, isn't it, from this angle?

0:26:200:26:23

Just like Neil's house, the timber frame IS the architecture.

0:26:230:26:27

-Tell me what you think, Neil.

-I think it's spectacular.

0:26:290:26:31

And it's just not what you expect.

0:26:310:26:34

The architect has done away with conventional doors,

0:26:340:26:38

ceilings and walls, allowing the structure of the building

0:26:380:26:41

to mark out the living spaces,

0:26:410:26:42

while also saving on materials.

0:26:420:26:44

Everyone needs a swing in their living room, don't they?

0:26:460:26:50

I think that, you know, I couldn't get enough of this.

0:26:500:26:53

But the rest of the space, this is a low-budget, tiny budget house.

0:26:530:26:57

-50 grand.

-Yeah.

0:26:570:26:59

Unbelievable.

0:26:590:27:01

-Yeah. It's unbelievable. Really, it's unbelievable.

-Yeah.

0:27:010:27:04

You've got to have a go!

0:27:040:27:05

The house is great fun,

0:27:070:27:08

but it's the clever use of low-cost materials that set it apart.

0:27:080:27:12

All of this interior is made out of one material,

0:27:140:27:17

which is the cheapest form of plywood.

0:27:170:27:20

This is about 13 quid a sheet.

0:27:200:27:22

-Yeah.

-It doesn't need decorating.

0:27:220:27:25

It's incredibly durable.

0:27:250:27:26

-Yeah.

-And here, I love the way they've just screwed it on the wall.

0:27:260:27:30

And the great thing about plywood is that it's one trade

0:27:300:27:34

that you can do yourself.

0:27:340:27:35

You can do this cheaper than you can plaster and paint a building.

0:27:350:27:41

And I like that it's not just plain wood.

0:27:410:27:44

It actually has its own patterns on it and each piece is different.

0:27:440:27:48

By sticking to the same material and bulk buying, you can make savings.

0:27:480:27:53

If you go for ply,

0:27:530:27:55

plan your layout carefully to use as many whole sheets as possible

0:27:550:27:58

to minimise cutting.

0:27:580:28:00

Any offcuts can be used for shelving, doors and even handles.

0:28:010:28:04

When using exposed timber linings as a finish,

0:28:060:28:08

you must consult with building control.

0:28:080:28:11

In most cases, painting a specialist fire retardant treatment is needed,

0:28:110:28:15

and should be factored into the overall cost.

0:28:150:28:18

The kitchen, of course, not an elaborate 30-grand kitchen.

0:28:190:28:24

This is probably, you know, 500 quid's worth of kitchen.

0:28:240:28:29

Could you do something this simple?

0:28:290:28:32

I could. Yeah, I could have a go at this.

0:28:320:28:34

I've got enough wood from recycling from the old house.

0:28:340:28:37

-Because they reclaimed a lot of wood for this house.

-Right, yeah.

0:28:370:28:41

The central space is dominated by an unconventional ply and polycarbonate

0:28:450:28:50

box, which houses the bedrooms.

0:28:500:28:53

-Isn't it fantastic?

-Wow,

0:28:530:28:54

it feels bigger inside than it looks from the outside.

0:28:540:28:57

Bedrooms are just curtained-off pods.

0:28:570:29:00

Look at how light comes in here.

0:29:000:29:02

This is borrowed light from the main space.

0:29:020:29:04

-Yeah.

-And this is...

0:29:040:29:05

..polycarbonate. A really cost-effective way of doing it.

0:29:060:29:10

Here we are, bedrooms.

0:29:100:29:11

Ta-da! Yeah.

0:29:110:29:13

One of the architect's inspiration for this house was the barns he used

0:29:130:29:17

to play in as a kid where they made little nooks and dens,

0:29:170:29:20

and then had lots of space to run around in.

0:29:200:29:23

And you can really see that here, can't you?

0:29:230:29:25

You don't need walls to make rooms.

0:29:260:29:29

Curtains and simple screening can help you squeeze more out of spaces.

0:29:290:29:33

While built-in storage around and above beds

0:29:350:29:38

frees you from wardrobes and drawers.

0:29:380:29:41

The mind just boggles at our obsession

0:29:430:29:46

with studwork, and plasterboard, and door linings,

0:29:460:29:49

doors, skirtings, architraves.

0:29:490:29:51

Light fittings. All of that stuff.

0:29:510:29:53

And this just proves you don't need any of that.

0:29:530:29:56

In a sense, you're kind of just stripping all that money away

0:29:560:29:59

-from the build.

-Completely, yeah.

0:29:590:30:01

Completely.

0:30:010:30:03

These are things that I've never seen before now,

0:30:030:30:05

which is great seeing it in the flesh.

0:30:050:30:07

If you think, right, that stuff that if you do this,

0:30:070:30:10

it would work in our house.

0:30:100:30:11

What I've tried to do today

0:30:130:30:15

is to give Neil a mechanism of finishing his house himself.

0:30:150:30:18

And he can't default to conventional ways of doing things.

0:30:180:30:22

He's got to find beautiful ways that he can do things himself.

0:30:220:30:27

We need to measure the bath and sort of see where the bath comes to.

0:30:320:30:37

I'll just go and measure the bath.

0:30:370:30:38

Inspired by his trip to Normandy,

0:30:400:30:43

Neil is trying to push the build forward.

0:30:430:30:46

66 inches in the old measurements.

0:30:460:30:48

But how wide is the bath?

0:30:480:30:50

I'll just go and measure the bath width.

0:30:510:30:53

He employed builders to do the roof rafters, but now he's on his own.

0:30:540:30:59

So there's enough there on that one for that one.

0:30:590:31:02

He's on site seven days a week,

0:31:020:31:04

while Amanda is working long shifts

0:31:040:31:07

at a supermarket to keep money coming in.

0:31:070:31:09

Neil gets stressed over the build.

0:31:090:31:12

A lot of it is the time span, I think.

0:31:120:31:15

It's not going as quick as he'd sort of hoped it would go.

0:31:160:31:21

Right, let me see where me pencil's gone.

0:31:210:31:22

Things disappear.

0:31:240:31:25

Their budget is so tight, Neil's using as much of the material

0:31:270:31:31

he salvaged from the old house as possible.

0:31:310:31:34

But there's one valuable resource that is full of character

0:31:340:31:39

he's not exploiting. Reclaimed bricks.

0:31:390:31:42

He couldn't afford to buy them, or the atmosphere they could give.

0:31:420:31:45

Piers has a plan that could save money and help create the magical,

0:31:460:31:50

rustic interior that they want.

0:31:500:31:52

This is Robinson College, Cambridge.

0:31:520:31:55

Designed by Gillespie, Kidd and Coia.

0:31:550:31:57

So I think you can probably guess that I've brought you here to talk

0:31:580:32:00

about brick. And I think that you could do a lot more with your brick.

0:32:000:32:04

I think you need to use it in the fabric of the building.

0:32:040:32:07

Here, the architecture of the buildings

0:32:080:32:10

is defined by the use of the brick.

0:32:100:32:12

It's pretty extraordinary coming inside, isn't it?

0:32:120:32:15

It is. These windows are huge.

0:32:150:32:17

This was designed by an artist called John Piper,

0:32:170:32:21

and made for this chapel.

0:32:210:32:23

And it's curious how this has the quality of an ancient building.

0:32:230:32:28

I mean, this is a building that's 30 years old, or so.

0:32:280:32:31

And yet it feels like we're in a building

0:32:310:32:33

that's been here for hundreds of years.

0:32:330:32:36

And I think that's what brick and controlled light gives you.

0:32:360:32:41

These blue ones are very nice with the red, aren't they?

0:32:410:32:44

-Yeah.

-These are typically fired at a higher temperature,

0:32:440:32:47

so they're slightly burned.

0:32:470:32:48

Bricks are available in a huge range of colours.

0:32:510:32:54

But you also have the option of stained and tinted bricks.

0:32:540:32:57

Different sizes, shapes and colours mean you could lay out a floor

0:32:570:33:01

in a variety of patterns.

0:33:010:33:02

And I think it's also really nice the way these bricks are divided up

0:33:040:33:08

into squares. And, here, they're framed by brick,

0:33:080:33:12

but, as you get up towards the altar,

0:33:120:33:14

they're framed by this other material, which is stone.

0:33:140:33:17

I mean, that's something you can imagine being timber, really?

0:33:170:33:20

Yeah, I can see that easy.

0:33:200:33:22

It certainly gives me ideas to do some of the flooring downstairs.

0:33:220:33:25

Not do the full flooring, but in, like, little pockets.

0:33:250:33:30

But Piers wants to persuade Neil to do the entire floor.

0:33:300:33:33

Why wouldn't you do lines of brick, lines of timber, lines of brick,

0:33:330:33:39

-lines of timber...

-Yeah.

-..all the way across the whole house?

0:33:390:33:43

So, you know, that would bind the whole house together.

0:33:430:33:47

-Yeah.

-You could play with the width of the timber strips,

0:33:470:33:51

or play with the width of brick strips.

0:33:510:33:53

But, actually, you're not doing a bit here and a bit there.

0:33:530:33:56

You're doing something everywhere.

0:33:560:33:58

I think it's not a big house,

0:33:580:33:59

and it will make it smaller if you start to do bits of this.

0:33:590:34:03

-Oh, yeah, itty-bitty.

-It'll be a bit itty-bitty, yeah.

0:34:030:34:06

I think, until we'd come here,

0:34:080:34:10

Neil hadn't thought about using brick on such a big scale.

0:34:100:34:13

I think he'd thought about the odd planter or using it in a fairly random way.

0:34:130:34:18

But, actually, he needs to REALLY think about how he uses the material.

0:34:180:34:23

Because it's that that'll make the difference to this house.

0:34:230:34:26

It's three months since the frame went up.

0:34:280:34:31

And most of the studwork is done.

0:34:310:34:33

The price of screws and things, they're absolutely extortionate.

0:34:330:34:37

So how much do you think at the moment?

0:34:370:34:39

35 we've got through.

0:34:390:34:41

I think we've spent about 30,000.

0:34:410:34:44

That leaves them with only £20,000.

0:34:460:34:49

Most of that is already allocated to big ticket items, such as windows,

0:34:490:34:53

plumbing and electrics.

0:34:530:34:55

So they need to watch every penny.

0:34:550:34:57

We've managed to save about £1,000 on the insulation

0:34:570:35:00

by buying it in bulk.

0:35:000:35:01

But, luckily, there was enough room inside the house to just stockpile

0:35:010:35:06

them inside.

0:35:060:35:07

One big project they still have to tackle is the floor.

0:35:080:35:12

To do each brick, it's probably about...

0:35:120:35:15

Let's call it five minutes.

0:35:150:35:17

After Neil's initial enthusiasm for Piers' brick and timber plan,

0:35:170:35:21

the reality of the work involved in cleaning them is putting him off.

0:35:210:35:25

Round the corner there, I've got a whole heap of bricks to sit and chisel-clean.

0:35:260:35:30

So, it's all about making life easier for me.

0:35:300:35:33

I know.

0:35:330:35:35

But, really, I have warmed to the brick look.

0:35:350:35:38

-Yeah.

-And I can picture me and Indy sat there putting the bricks in.

0:35:380:35:42

-And that's our contribution. You know, Indy's getting stuck in.

-Yeah, but I can picture me,

0:35:420:35:46

days and days sat there with no fingernails left,

0:35:460:35:49

because I've just rubbed my hands raw from chiselling and chipping away.

0:35:490:35:53

I can have a go at it.

0:35:530:35:54

We're starting to row now because he thinks I'm not into the house as much as he is,

0:35:540:35:58

but I think he's obsessed with the house and he has to put more

0:35:580:36:02

into the family life, the family side of it.

0:36:020:36:05

The other day, I screamed at Neil said, "I wish we'd never started this!"

0:36:080:36:11

But it's only because we was rowing.

0:36:110:36:13

And, um...

0:36:130:36:15

But the house is going to be brilliant at the end of it,

0:36:150:36:17

and it's going to be worth the sacrifices.

0:36:170:36:20

The stress is getting to both of them.

0:36:220:36:24

To have any chance of finishing their build,

0:36:240:36:27

they must scrimp and scavenge wherever they can.

0:36:270:36:30

This is the kitchen sink.

0:36:310:36:33

That was a tenner. This'll all go into the design of the kitchen.

0:36:340:36:38

All these little bits. This could be a little runner where a drawer slides along.

0:36:380:36:42

With the furniture from their old house and all the bits that they've found

0:36:420:36:46

at car boots and on the internet, they now have three sheds full of stuff.

0:36:460:36:51

These are the sort of things that you can clean up and hang in the kitchen on hooks and that.

0:36:510:36:55

With their tiny budget, they've got no choice but to be resourceful.

0:36:550:36:59

But there's a danger they'll end up with a mishmash of stuff that will

0:37:000:37:03

detract from the medieval feel they want.

0:37:030:37:05

So, I've brought them to a house that's been designed around

0:37:090:37:12

the owner's passion for salvaging and recycling.

0:37:120:37:14

So, as timber frame connoisseurs, what do you think of this place?

0:37:200:37:23

-Love it.

-Amazing.

0:37:230:37:24

-Spectacular.

-It's beautiful, isn't it?

0:37:240:37:26

-It is stunning.

-Ours is like the poor man's version of this!

0:37:260:37:30

This is the Ancient Party Barn, near Folkestone in Kent.

0:37:320:37:35

Once a collection of derelict farm buildings,

0:37:370:37:39

architects Liddicoat and Goldhill worked closely with their clients to

0:37:390:37:44

create a home that retained the atmosphere of the old buildings

0:37:440:37:47

while incorporating their unique collection.

0:37:470:37:49

'There are tricks on show here that Neil and Amanda could use in

0:37:510:37:54

'their home on a much smaller scale.'

0:37:540:37:57

I think it really works well here.

0:37:570:37:58

You've got a mixture of new timbers, of engineered timbers like plywood.

0:37:580:38:02

Then you've got the old timbers of the original barn.

0:38:020:38:04

But also we've got steel here, just like red painted steel,

0:38:040:38:08

looks quite industrial. I think they've made some choices here about

0:38:080:38:12

keeping everything with that industrial loft kind of atmosphere.

0:38:120:38:16

-Yes.

-Maybe that's a bit of a lesson for you guys as you're bringing all of the various things

0:38:160:38:20

you've brought together. What is the overall atmosphere you're looking for?

0:38:200:38:24

It's such a big space, but it's still cosy.

0:38:240:38:27

And it's homely.

0:38:270:38:29

It's still rustic-looking.

0:38:290:38:31

Which is the feel we want for our house.

0:38:310:38:33

This is exactly what we want.

0:38:330:38:35

To make sense of such a large space,

0:38:390:38:41

different types of flooring have been used to create zones.

0:38:410:38:45

It's a clever trick that can be interpreted for any open-plan space.

0:38:470:38:51

You can use timber like this, but rugs, carpet,

0:38:510:38:53

or even laminate would achieve the same contrasting effect.

0:38:530:38:56

This actually has had more people walking over it than you might think,

0:38:580:39:01

-because this is timber from an old bridge.

-Right.

-Wow!

0:39:010:39:03

So this is timber that's been reconditioned, but still has all that character, weathering in it.

0:39:030:39:07

Even these dark patches I think are really beautiful.

0:39:070:39:10

The kitchen is a great mix of old and new materials.

0:39:120:39:16

Reclaimed wood sits alongside new stainless steel.

0:39:160:39:19

The cupboard doors are white ply treated with linseed oil.

0:39:200:39:24

By just adding brass handles,

0:39:240:39:26

you can give new materials like these a sense of history.

0:39:260:39:29

I think this is great. Because we're using plywood for different things,

0:39:310:39:34

and it just looks so good.

0:39:340:39:35

And it doesn't look out of place with the old wood.

0:39:350:39:38

This does prove, doesn't it,

0:39:380:39:39

that you can bring together quite disparate elements and make them part of

0:39:390:39:43

a coherent whole. But I would say they've chosen those elements very

0:39:430:39:46

carefully. Because there is a danger with having a taste for nice

0:39:460:39:51

knick-knacks and things that you find bit by bit that it suddenly becomes

0:39:510:39:54

like a theme pub, and you've got to stop before you get to that stage.

0:39:540:39:57

-Yeah.

-It's just a case of playing with things,

0:39:570:40:00

seeing what fits and what doesn't fit.

0:40:000:40:02

-Absolutely.

-And then knowing when to get rid of them.

0:40:020:40:04

'To complement their salvaged materials,

0:40:090:40:11

'the owners of the barn also commissioned bespoke pieces.'

0:40:110:40:15

This is great. Who on earth would have thought of this idea?

0:40:150:40:19

The centre of the barn is dominated by a huge brick chimney surrounded

0:40:210:40:25

by a spiral steel staircase, which follows the line of the radiating trusses.

0:40:250:40:30

Repeated patterns and shapes is a clever way to pull a design together.

0:40:310:40:35

'The stairs lead to a rather unusual mezzanine.'

0:40:360:40:40

Oh, this isn't what I expected.

0:40:400:40:42

It's not? What did you expect?

0:40:420:40:43

Just like a little seating area.

0:40:430:40:45

No, it's nice, this bedroom.

0:40:450:40:46

Not an en-suite bedroom.

0:40:460:40:48

It feels like it's a bit more playful up here, design wise.

0:40:480:40:50

You've got this kind of amazing pattern of the floor, following the

0:40:500:40:55

trusses we saw downstairs.

0:40:550:40:56

And then this industrial material.

0:40:560:40:59

And there's a toilet behind here, which is not what you would normally expect.

0:40:590:41:02

When you walk through our main door, you're going to get the kitchen,

0:41:020:41:07

and it's going to be like a U-shaped kitchen.

0:41:070:41:09

So instead of seeing the backs of the cupboards or the backs of the fridge,

0:41:090:41:12

it would look quite nice with something like that.

0:41:120:41:14

Yeah, you can imagine this in any thin, dark material.

0:41:140:41:18

'In keeping with the industrial loft style,

0:41:180:41:21

'the owners have also used exposed copper pipes.'

0:41:210:41:23

Neil would love the tap design.

0:41:250:41:28

Which I assume you wouldn't love.

0:41:280:41:29

No, I prefer the posher, nicer, more girlie, I suppose,

0:41:290:41:35

taps with a little shower head.

0:41:350:41:37

-No, but it's a choice, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Something that they're trying

0:41:370:41:39

to keep, I think, in general in this house, is natural materials.

0:41:390:41:42

So seeing copper is a nice thing.

0:41:420:41:44

In this house, every piece of furniture, whether reclaimed or bespoke,

0:41:470:41:51

complements the original beams.

0:41:510:41:53

-This is a fantastic find. This is the kind of thing you could find.

-I know.

0:41:550:41:58

-This looks like it's out of a Victorian firemen's...

-Yeah.

-I don't know what it's from.

0:41:580:42:01

That's kind of what it's about, isn't it? I mean, carefully chosen,

0:42:010:42:04

these things can just add tremendous character.

0:42:040:42:06

I mean, this is quite eclectic.

0:42:060:42:07

There are things old and new.

0:42:070:42:09

It works really, really well.

0:42:090:42:11

Neil and Amanda are at a really crucial stage of their process.

0:42:120:42:15

And it's been great today to bring them to a place where they can look

0:42:150:42:18

at the details about how they can realise the final stages of their build.

0:42:180:42:23

They've got a kind of mania for collecting and assembling,

0:42:230:42:26

and gathering together odd, strange bits of furniture.

0:42:260:42:30

Now I think it's time for Amanda to put the brakes on a little bit and

0:42:300:42:33

start to take Neil's nervous energy and translate into something that

0:42:330:42:37

can create a calm, beautiful background to their family life.

0:42:370:42:41

Because that's, in the end, what their interior needs to be.

0:42:410:42:46

It's five months since the timber frame went up,

0:42:460:42:51

and, in spite of their tiny budget, they've made great progress...

0:42:510:42:55

Hi, Neil. Hi, Amanda.

0:42:550:42:56

How are you doing? This is fantastic!

0:42:560:42:58

..and are well on the way to a watertight shell.

0:42:580:43:01

Look at all this exposed studwork.

0:43:040:43:05

Are you actually going to see that?

0:43:050:43:07

-Yes.

-This is your old studwork that you've reclaimed.

0:43:070:43:09

And because your insulation sits outside this, you can expose all of this.

0:43:090:43:15

And, to see this, I think that's incredible.

0:43:150:43:18

When we came to your studio,

0:43:180:43:19

you was using like these little alcoves as little shelves and things.

0:43:190:43:23

And I just love that idea.

0:43:230:43:24

And upstairs, again,

0:43:240:43:26

it looks like you're going to see that fantastic ceiling.

0:43:260:43:30

This is how they would have done it in medieval times -

0:43:300:43:33

just use what they had and see the lot,

0:43:330:43:35

and not get too precious and self-conscious around the concept of finishes.

0:43:350:43:40

The interior layout is starting to come together.

0:43:400:43:43

But this is a tiny house,

0:43:430:43:45

and Piers is worried that they're about to make a massive mistake

0:43:450:43:48

with the position of the stairs.

0:43:480:43:51

Where the ladders are, we kind of come up here.

0:43:510:43:53

Because there's quite a lot of space that you are potentially losing,

0:43:530:43:57

-aren't you?

-Yeah.

-You could do the stairs in a single run.

0:43:570:43:59

-Yeah.

-You actually only need to lose that much space, if you want.

0:43:590:44:04

Downstairs, we're thinking about making the bathroom in that kind of position.

0:44:040:44:09

And what that means is that you could potentially bring your

0:44:090:44:13

stairs up, you know, like that here.

0:44:130:44:17

But what this gives you is space for a room either side, rather than

0:44:170:44:21

just lots of open space for a staircase.

0:44:210:44:25

This would be another significant change.

0:44:260:44:29

On their current plan,

0:44:290:44:31

the bespoke switchback staircase compromises the living area,

0:44:310:44:35

creating an L-shaped layout.

0:44:350:44:37

Replacing this with a standard single run staircase opens up

0:44:370:44:41

the living space and effectively takes up no room as furniture can be positioned

0:44:410:44:46

beneath the stairs.

0:44:460:44:47

Upstairs, the floor space is significantly increased,

0:44:490:44:52

allowing them plenty of scope to play with the layout.

0:44:520:44:55

Liking the idea of having a straight staircase because it cuts a lot of

0:44:570:45:01

money out. Because I've seen that you can just go and buy them off the

0:45:010:45:04

shelf at that size.

0:45:040:45:06

One job they still haven't made a start on is the floor.

0:45:060:45:09

Piers is keen to see if Neil has taken his advice about using his

0:45:090:45:14

reclaimed bricks.

0:45:140:45:15

The last time I was here, we talked in length about the floor,

0:45:150:45:17

didn't we? What are you planning to do now?

0:45:170:45:20

Because I'm lazy, the easiest way for me is to put a floating floor on.

0:45:200:45:24

As long as it's tongue and groove.

0:45:240:45:26

Have you got the tongue and groove boards here as part of your scavenged kit?

0:45:260:45:30

No, we've had to go and find a guy - locally up in Whittlesey there's a guy that does them.

0:45:300:45:34

He's going to cut them and trim them to size. It's a bit much. It's going to cost nearly three grand.

0:45:340:45:38

I think the thing that worries me most is three grand on the floor

0:45:380:45:42

when actually you're saying it's just because you're lazy and actually you've

0:45:420:45:46

got beautiful materials here.

0:45:460:45:48

But I still feel that the whole brick thing is a missed opportunity.

0:45:480:45:53

It's something you've got, it's something you could use.

0:45:530:45:56

Why wouldn't you?

0:45:560:45:58

But I've only worked with bricks for about four days now.

0:45:580:46:01

You hadn't worked with any timber and you've done all this.

0:46:010:46:04

So you're going to be a master bricklayer by the time you've done all this.

0:46:040:46:07

Isn't that what this house is about, though?

0:46:070:46:09

Working out what materials you've got and scavenged and working out how to use them effectively?

0:46:090:46:13

That's about as good as it gets, I think.

0:46:130:46:15

The thing about Neil is he's got everything around him and he's building

0:46:170:46:21

a great house, but he gets so easily distracted and this whole brick thing,

0:46:210:46:25

it's come full circle now.

0:46:250:46:27

What's he doing? Making noise?

0:46:340:46:36

Daddy's always making noise, isn't he?

0:46:360:46:39

It's October. With the windows now in, the house is watertight.

0:46:400:46:45

Winter's coming so I think we are all wanting to be in there now opposed to the caravan.

0:46:460:46:51

I think we're just ready to start living in it now.

0:46:520:46:56

But there's still a long way to go.

0:46:560:46:57

In my mind, it just feels like there's another year to do and now it's just

0:46:590:47:03

a matter of scrimping and scraping and then doing the last parts.

0:47:030:47:07

To finish the inside will push Neil's resourcefulness to the limit.

0:47:070:47:11

This will be like your worktop kitchen, your working area.

0:47:110:47:14

Neil and Amanda have taken on board a complete redesign of their house.

0:47:150:47:20

53...

0:47:210:47:22

But will all Neil's projects come together

0:47:220:47:26

and help them achieve their medieval dream home?

0:47:260:47:29

Neil and Amanda wanted to build a medieval-style timber-frame house

0:47:380:47:43

not just for £100,000 but for just £50,000, an almost impossible task.

0:47:430:47:49

The original plans they had weren't giving them what they wanted so we

0:47:490:47:52

had to rip it up and start again and the big danger was that the result

0:47:520:47:56

would be a kind of theme pub of a house,

0:47:560:47:58

just a pastiche of what they really loved.

0:47:580:48:01

It's over 18 months since Neil demolished their old house.

0:48:010:48:05

'Piers and I can't wait to see what they've achieved.'

0:48:050:48:08

Hi, guys.

0:48:080:48:09

-Hi.

-Good to see you.

0:48:090:48:10

-Hi.

-And it's great to see you with a house.

0:48:100:48:12

-Nearly finished. Not quite finished, though.

-Not quite.

0:48:120:48:15

The original tiny bungalow has been replaced with a three-bedroom home

0:48:200:48:25

that will accommodate their growing family for years to come.

0:48:250:48:28

The exterior isn't quite finished.

0:48:290:48:31

They'll have to wait for the weather to improve before they can render

0:48:310:48:35

over the grey cement boards, which they plan to do in a white finish.

0:48:350:48:39

Actually, I love the colour of this and I suspect many architects would

0:48:390:48:43

really get off on this honesty to construction

0:48:430:48:45

and suggest you left this.

0:48:450:48:47

When I put it up, I just felt it looked like a prison.

0:48:470:48:50

We quite like it but I can understand why you want to finish your house.

0:48:500:48:53

I must say, it sits really nicely on the street and I love the modesty of

0:48:530:48:57

-the exterior.

-In a way,

0:48:570:48:58

you chose your battles because you wanted this beautiful,

0:48:580:49:01

crafted timber house but, on the outside, you focused on doing a very simple

0:49:010:49:06

building that just connected with the street and then focused on the

0:49:060:49:09

-inside.

-I can't wait to see...

0:49:090:49:11

-Likewise.

-..what's inside.

0:49:110:49:12

Can't wait.

0:49:120:49:13

Wow! This really is like that feast of timber.

0:49:160:49:20

You've absolutely nailed it, I've got to say.

0:49:200:49:23

'The main attraction is the fabulous timber frame.

0:49:280:49:31

'The chunky posts are complemented by the recycled studwork.

0:49:330:49:37

'The ceilings still need insulating and finishing but, elsewhere, they've

0:49:370:49:41

'already captured some of that ancient character.'

0:49:410:49:45

For me, I think the striking thing is that it doesn't feel like a medieval pastiche.

0:49:450:49:49

It's not a chocolate box interior and I think that's a real

0:49:490:49:52

-compliment to you.

-The medieval feel,

0:49:520:49:54

that's just where we started and then it evolved.

0:49:540:49:58

It's a beautiful thing because you can see exactly how it's made and by

0:49:580:50:02

pushing the installation outside, nothing is covered up.

0:50:020:50:05

It's a much better way of building, actually,

0:50:050:50:07

because you have continuous insulation everywhere.

0:50:070:50:09

If we were to bury the timber under boards,

0:50:090:50:11

it would not have the same character.

0:50:110:50:13

It would just feel completely different.

0:50:130:50:15

All of this studwork looks as if it's been reclaimed and salvaged.

0:50:150:50:18

About 80% of it has been.

0:50:180:50:21

You've just built it with materials to hand and those materials now really sing.

0:50:210:50:25

Neil has taken recycling to the extreme

0:50:290:50:32

and made kitchen units out of old planks and a £20 sink.

0:50:320:50:36

We spend half of our time on these projects saying don't spend £5,000

0:50:390:50:43

on your kitchen. We clearly didn't need to do that with you.

0:50:430:50:46

No.

0:50:460:50:47

'Neil may have stuck to his guns and laid a tongue and groove floor...

0:50:470:50:51

'..but he did find another way to use Piers' idea for incorporating brick and timber.'

0:50:530:50:59

I mean, it's brilliant. I mean, this is a real case study on how to use

0:50:590:51:03

brick effectively.

0:51:030:51:04

Defines a room and absorbs all this lovely sunlight and will re-radiate

0:51:040:51:09

it at night. You've cleaned each one of those, haven't you?

0:51:090:51:12

Sat in the garden chipping away.

0:51:120:51:14

-You love it, really.

-When you think about...

0:51:140:51:17

What's took me for the different parts of the building.

0:51:170:51:19

I've done them in hours and a few days, whereas this is a colossal time period in

0:51:190:51:23

the way that I worked.

0:51:230:51:25

In the main living area, the timber frame shines through.

0:51:280:51:31

This is a really great space.

0:51:340:51:35

Look at this. It's a generous seating area.

0:51:350:51:38

I love how it's a bit tucked under the stairs.

0:51:380:51:40

I just think it's a really successful living area.

0:51:400:51:43

'Piers' last-minute suggestion to move the staircase has worked.

0:51:430:51:47

'It's yet to be completed but the improvements on the space around it are clear to see.'

0:51:470:51:53

It's just one big flexible space that you can use as you see fit.

0:51:530:51:56

And you can move it around if you have a party or your needs change or whatever. It's great.

0:51:560:52:00

In the bathroom, Neil's scavenging skills are clear to see.

0:52:040:52:08

The bargain basement roll top bath that spent so long in the awning

0:52:080:52:13

now has pride of place.

0:52:130:52:15

The splashback is off-cuts of timber and the loo was free from a friend.

0:52:150:52:19

There's another great example here, Neil,

0:52:210:52:23

of your resourcefulness in the reusing of bits of your old house because

0:52:230:52:27

this is the old external wall of your house.

0:52:270:52:29

Oh, yes, yes. Amanda's not quite ready for this green.

0:52:290:52:33

I am. I'm ready.

0:52:330:52:35

That's beautiful, that green.

0:52:350:52:36

I love this sense of seeing the old house.

0:52:360:52:39

It tells a story of how the house was built, as well.

0:52:390:52:42

All of these materials have cost you nothing.

0:52:420:52:44

What has the staircase cost you so far?

0:52:440:52:46

The staircase was quite a bargain.

0:52:460:52:47

I think it was about £100 off the shelf.

0:52:470:52:50

We really need to get this worked on so we can get into the house quicker

0:52:500:52:53

and make it safe for the children, as well.

0:52:530:52:55

Neil has a lot of work still to do in treating all the exposed timber

0:52:570:53:01

to meet fire regulations but Amanda is already making careful choices on

0:53:010:53:06

what items make it into her home and what doesn't.

0:53:060:53:09

Neil was bringing in bits and then it was like, stop, stop!

0:53:090:53:13

There is a moment when you know you've gone too far.

0:53:130:53:15

Just stop, that's enough.

0:53:150:53:16

It must be a nice way of you starting to own the building in a way

0:53:160:53:20

-and starting to feel like it's yours.

-Yes, make it ours,

0:53:200:53:22

putting our personal objects in it.

0:53:220:53:24

It's the transformation from a

0:53:240:53:26

house to a home, I think.

0:53:260:53:29

I can only imagine how hard it must have been building this house while

0:53:320:53:36

living in their tiny caravan.

0:53:360:53:38

Well, my first time in the place you lived in for how long?

0:53:410:53:46

About 18 months.

0:53:460:53:47

Tell me about the way you guys have worked as a team on this build.

0:53:480:53:51

It's not always been easy, but...

0:53:510:53:53

And we've had our moments when we've had rows and the tension has got high

0:53:550:53:59

but we've sort of pulled it back and discussed it and sort of gone,

0:53:590:54:03

"Right, we need to move forwards.

0:54:030:54:05

"This is how we're going to do it."

0:54:050:54:06

I know it's been really tough at times for your relationship,

0:54:060:54:11

it's just a lot of strain, but there must be positives out of that, too.

0:54:110:54:14

You get to where you think, "Oh, my gosh,

0:54:140:54:17

"I thought we was a stronger couple

0:54:170:54:18

"and I thought we could have coped with this better,"

0:54:180:54:21

but then, once you've got past that,

0:54:210:54:23

you realise you are that stronger couple because you've worked through it

0:54:230:54:26

and, you know, you've got past that goal and you're ready to sort of hit

0:54:260:54:31

the next one.

0:54:310:54:33

And each one becomes easier and less fraught, you know?

0:54:330:54:37

Because you know that you can work through it.

0:54:370:54:40

Neil and Amanda faced so many obstacles and are now very close to finally

0:54:420:54:47

moving into their home.

0:54:470:54:48

So, how far has their 50K budget got them?

0:54:490:54:52

I must say that I think you two are two of the most resourceful builders

0:54:540:54:57

we've ever followed and the result is amazing, so impressed with it.

0:54:570:55:02

But I really want to know how much it'll cost.

0:55:020:55:05

We had 50 grand.

0:55:050:55:06

That was our budget and what you see today has cost 50,000.

0:55:060:55:10

I mean, that's so astonishing.

0:55:100:55:13

We have lots of projects that aim for the 100 and end up going over,

0:55:130:55:17

but £50,000 is a microscopic budget.

0:55:170:55:19

I mean, tell me how you've done it.

0:55:190:55:22

What do you think the key is, Neil?

0:55:220:55:24

I think the secret is being resourceful.

0:55:240:55:26

Because I was so lucky that I demolished the old house which gave me

0:55:260:55:29

the opportunity to store the wood, de-nail it.

0:55:290:55:32

That's not cost me anything except my time and my effort.

0:55:320:55:35

But it's not quite finished, is it? What is there left to do?

0:55:350:55:37

The upstairs is still to be finished,

0:55:370:55:39

we've got the staircase to finish off.

0:55:390:55:41

We've still got maybe six months or so of work to do.

0:55:410:55:43

We could quickly go and get some builders to do it and finish it off

0:55:430:55:46

for us but that would break the bank.

0:55:460:55:48

How much more do you need to spend to get this to the level you want it?

0:55:480:55:52

We reckoned another six grand in all.

0:55:520:55:57

So the final budget for a completely finished house, fitted out, £56,000.

0:55:570:56:03

I just think that's astonishing.

0:56:030:56:05

For Neil in particular,

0:56:090:56:10

this is a remarkable achievement because he's built a house and built

0:56:100:56:14

it beautifully and every bit of this house has been thought through.

0:56:140:56:18

It may not be everyone's taste but it's an incredibly complete bit of

0:56:180:56:22

design that uses materials resourcefully

0:56:220:56:25

and it's a real lesson for many of us.

0:56:250:56:29

This house really moves me.

0:56:290:56:31

It moves me in terms of the quality of space,

0:56:310:56:32

in terms of how clever the whole package is,

0:56:320:56:35

how clever it's been pieced together by Neil and Amanda and I'm really amazed

0:56:350:56:39

by how lovely this house is.

0:56:390:56:41

Are you going to miss this process, because this has been your life?

0:56:440:56:48

It would be so nice to just get up in the morning,

0:56:480:56:51

be able to use the bathroom, just to live normally,

0:56:510:56:54

just to relax and not have to think, "Right, breakfast is over,

0:56:540:56:58

"we've got a wall to build."

0:56:580:57:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

0:57:000:57:01

Now it's finished, what are you going to do with your time?

0:57:010:57:04

Back to work.

0:57:060:57:07

Yeah.

0:57:080:57:09

Piers and I felt quite a big responsibility on this project.

0:57:130:57:17

We encouraged Neil and Amanda to rip up their plans and start again

0:57:170:57:20

from first principles and they did that,

0:57:200:57:23

but I think it's their resourcefulness that, in the end, has delivered

0:57:230:57:26

a building of extraordinary qualities.

0:57:260:57:28

It's homely, beautiful,

0:57:280:57:30

structurally ambitious and all of those things just shouldn't be possible

0:57:300:57:34

on this budget. When I walked through this door today,

0:57:340:57:36

I couldn't really believe my eyes.

0:57:360:57:38

It's been an extraordinary journey of discovery for me to find out that

0:57:380:57:42

you can build a house for this little money that ends up being a place of

0:57:420:57:46

real character and beauty.

0:57:460:57:47

Next time, Kevin and Lesley are planning a seaside home packed with design features.

0:57:540:57:59

It's like popcorn in my head.

0:57:590:58:02

Ideas are bouncing around.

0:58:020:58:04

'But have they got carried away?'

0:58:040:58:06

Not sure where we want the kitchen.

0:58:060:58:07

How about reconsidering the structure?

0:58:070:58:10

'And we meet two old friends...'

0:58:100:58:12

Welcome back. '..to help them complete an extraordinary home nine years in the making.'

0:58:120:58:17

Have you done this before, Piers?

0:58:170:58:19

I've never done this before, ever.

0:58:190:58:22

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