0:00:02 > 0:00:07Finding a property that suits your wallet and your way of life isn't easy.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09Well, I have a solution.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13Stop searching for something to buy and consider somewhere to build.
0:00:15 > 0:00:20'Every year in Britain, 20,000 people build their own home.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24'We'll be following some from foundations to finishing touches.'
0:00:24 > 0:00:26I was gob-smacked.
0:00:26 > 0:00:31I'd never realised that it would be the wow factor that it is.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37'Along the way, our self-builders experience amazing highs...'
0:00:37 > 0:00:41We'd never have been able to afford to buy what we've built.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44'..and some frustrating lows.'
0:00:44 > 0:00:48The council can help me pull it down if I have to pull it down.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52'But if they can overcome these trials and tribulations,
0:00:52 > 0:00:56'they'll end up with the home they've always desired.'
0:00:56 > 0:01:00If you're looking for your perfect pad, the question is simple,
0:01:00 > 0:01:02to build or not to build.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09'Coming up, back to the drawing board.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12'The architect battling to build his own home.'
0:01:12 > 0:01:14I've got no contingency.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17We'll have to beg, steal and borrow that last few thousand.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19But we'll get there.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22'How messing about on the water led one man to create
0:01:22 > 0:01:25'a nautical themed home on the Thames.'
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Only accessible by boat!
0:01:28 > 0:01:30I love it!
0:01:30 > 0:01:32A great source of pride.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34'And I'm raising the roof at building college.'
0:01:34 > 0:01:38- Look at the state of that! - LAUGHS
0:01:41 > 0:01:43Design your own house?
0:01:43 > 0:01:46Nothing to it, really. There you go.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Beautiful.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53If there's one property that should be drawn up absolutely perfectly
0:01:53 > 0:01:55it's that of architect David Cross.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58He is designing a contemporary home in Sheffield.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01How will his best-laid plans turn out?
0:02:05 > 0:02:09'David Cross spends his working life designing houses for other people.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14'Now this young architect has taken on his biggest challenge to date.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20'He's planning an ambitious contemporary home for his family -
0:02:20 > 0:02:24'wife Toni and children Eva and Fred.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28'They're building in the affluent suburb of Ranmoor,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31'three miles outside the city centre.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34'With detached properties costing £600,000,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37'the family's budget couldn't stretch that far.
0:02:37 > 0:02:42'That wasn't going to prevent them living in their ideal location.
0:02:42 > 0:02:47'I'm going to meet David and Toni at their rented flat, to find out about their plans.'
0:02:47 > 0:02:50How did you find the land?
0:02:50 > 0:02:54After Eva was born, I was commuting to work from Barnsley to Sheffield.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56I was pestering, "Let's move to Sheffield."
0:02:56 > 0:03:02You were quite reluctant so we used to drive round and say, "Where would you live?"
0:03:02 > 0:03:08- Toni being Toni, she picked one of the most expensive parts of Sheffield.- It worked out!
0:03:08 > 0:03:12"If I'm moving to Sheffield, I'm living here." I looked on a website.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15It said, "Land, Ranmoor, 175."
0:03:15 > 0:03:19- So we jumped in the car. - Made an offer there and then.
0:03:22 > 0:03:27'The plot hardly looks like the ideal place to locate a des-res.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30'But at £175,000, these two run-down garages
0:03:30 > 0:03:34'were a bargain for building land in this area.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40'David wants to create a house that reflects his passion
0:03:40 > 0:03:43'for the Art Deco style of the 1930s.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46'This includes an eye-catching curved glass corner
0:03:46 > 0:03:49'that will give them views over the city.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53'Other features include a balcony, and a garden on top of the garage.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55'To achieve this ambitious design,
0:03:55 > 0:04:01'David and Toni have a modest 200,000 for the build.
0:04:01 > 0:04:07'At one stage, it looked as if transferring David's dream from the drawing board might never happen.'
0:04:07 > 0:04:12The stress hasn't been anything to do with the build, just finance.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Obviously, the banking crisis.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19Being an architect, the profession that's officially the worst hit -
0:04:19 > 0:04:23architect unemployment's up 2,000% - my income's taken a hit.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26We wanted to do a new-build, high risk.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Everything's conspired against us
0:04:28 > 0:04:33to the point where the bank we got the money from to lend on the land
0:04:33 > 0:04:37said, "Actually, we're not going to give you the money to build."
0:04:37 > 0:04:41'That was a huge blow, but despite being turned down by more banks,
0:04:41 > 0:04:45'David and Toni found one brave enough to back them.
0:04:45 > 0:04:51'Can our architect deliver a stunning home with such a limited budget?'
0:04:51 > 0:04:53We've got 200,000 to build.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57There's only five grand in the budget for a kitchen.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59We'll have to call in favours.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03- We've got something like 2,000 for bathrooms. Again...- Whoa!
0:05:03 > 0:05:07An architect knows full well that every single build
0:05:07 > 0:05:12- ever done in the whole world, goes over budget.- Ours can't.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16'This is going to be a challenge, both creatively and financially.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19'It's too late to turn back now.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26'After almost a year of planning,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29'work on site begins on a gloomy winter's morning.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34'The diggers get to work demolishing the old garages
0:05:34 > 0:05:38'and clearing the overgrown site of debris.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41'They're making excellent progress,
0:05:41 > 0:05:44'but David's thinking of potential problems.'
0:05:44 > 0:05:48We're not sure what the ground's like. It's rock in Sheffield.
0:05:48 > 0:05:53The architect I spoke to for that house said that it was mudstone,
0:05:53 > 0:05:55which is quite soft to dig through.
0:05:55 > 0:06:00I'm worried that it's going to be hard rock, sandstone or granite.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Chances are, it'll be OK.
0:06:02 > 0:06:08'As the clearance crew get going, they attract interest from locals.'
0:06:08 > 0:06:12- Are you the person that's moving in? - Yeah, and architect.- And architect!
0:06:12 > 0:06:16- How long do you think it'll take? - Six months. Ten months...
0:06:16 > 0:06:19- I mean to clear the site. - Two, three days.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28'But not everyone is as positive about the new house.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33'Some neighbours are concerned about the modern design,
0:06:33 > 0:06:40'that it might infringe on the views of other homes and reduce the value of properties in the area.'
0:06:40 > 0:06:44We get this on all developments that we work on.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46This is housing land.
0:06:46 > 0:06:51We're within all the guidance, the national planning guidance.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55We've got to be 21 metres, window to window.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59We've got something like 26 metres. They're quite big back gardens.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03You don't have any right in English law to a view.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07You have rights to light and that's all, so that's not a case.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11So we've done everything by the book but you understand.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14He bought this house for a view and the view's gone.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18'Two weeks later, the site had been transformed.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22'The construction team were measuring out, for the foundations.'
0:07:22 > 0:07:27Having drawn it, you know where everything's going to be.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31This is more painful for me than anything else, cos it's so slow.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33In my mind, it's built.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37I can feel the stone and see the views from each window,
0:07:37 > 0:07:39but getting there is a long process.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43'By build month three, things have brightened up.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46'I'm in Sheffield to check out the plot.'
0:07:46 > 0:07:50After all the fun and games you had with the finances for this place,
0:07:50 > 0:07:54did it all go smoothly once you started digging into this plot?
0:07:54 > 0:07:57The only problem we could imagine having
0:07:57 > 0:08:01was hitting rock, so we didn't do any ground investigation,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04- which is a bad idea...- Turn away.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08You're an architect and you didn't do any soil investigation?
0:08:08 > 0:08:12- Well if I found rock it might put me off buying the land.- I see.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15- It's better...- What you don't know doesn't hurt you?- Yeah.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20- You cross that bridge when you come to it.- I can see rock there.
0:08:20 > 0:08:26We started digging and we hit rock reasonably early, but it's mudstone.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28It's soft rock.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32So we dug out and ended up with perfect ground-bearing land.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- So that was pretty jammy. - Yeah. It was.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40'To minimise the home's impact on the neighbouring properties,
0:08:40 > 0:08:44'David's had to design the house to extremely strict guidelines.'
0:08:44 > 0:08:50We had a height restriction imposed by people we bought the land off, cos they've got this lovely view.
0:08:50 > 0:08:56- So we worked quite closely with the height restriction and we're absolutely bang-on.- How closely?
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Millimetres. That's why we have all these lasers.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01It'll be to the millimetre.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05- It's got to be.- It can't go over. - You'll have to take your roof off.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11'Hopefully, David will be able to keep a roof over his head.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16'If this house is going to get finished some time soon,
0:09:16 > 0:09:21'we need to clear off and let the builders pour the foundation slab.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25'David's witnessed this on countless other people's sites.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28'Today, he's putting down foundations for his family's future.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30'It's a huge moment.'
0:09:30 > 0:09:32- There's your house!- I know.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36- Is it exciting? Are you getting excited?- I didn't think I would.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39I'm feeling strangely chuffed.
0:09:39 > 0:09:44You're beaming from ear to ear! They're only pouring concrete.
0:09:46 > 0:09:51But it's going to be my family home for my kids and my wife.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Self-building doesn't float everyone's boat.
0:10:02 > 0:10:07When Jonty Steel had the opportunity to build a home on an island in the Thames,
0:10:07 > 0:10:09he dived in head first.
0:10:13 > 0:10:18'Former rower Jonty likes nothing better than messing about on the river.
0:10:19 > 0:10:24'When a plot on a tiny island on the outskirts of London came up for sale
0:10:24 > 0:10:29'his dream of creating a riverside home was well and truly launched.'
0:10:29 > 0:10:34There it is. I stuck a regatta sign up.
0:10:34 > 0:10:39That's the house. Only accessible by boat. I love it.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41A great source of pride.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46'Jonty's riverside home is one of just 20 on the island.
0:10:46 > 0:10:52'And designing it himself means there's no place for landlubbers.'
0:10:52 > 0:10:57Having a ship's wheel. The bathroom mirror is a porthole.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01The stairs are ship's stairs, or paddle stairs.
0:11:01 > 0:11:06They lead up to the mezzanine floor.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09I put a rowing blade up as a handle.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17'The plot came available after a house on the site burned down.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23'Jonty was rowing past and kept an eye on developments
0:11:23 > 0:11:25'before putting in a successful
0:11:25 > 0:11:27'£163,000 bid for the land.'
0:11:27 > 0:11:30I wanted to design my own house.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34When you buy houses, and I've bought a few,
0:11:34 > 0:11:37you end up picking up other people's places.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40There's something joyous about having your own house.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42'Jonty's son's a builder.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44'They steered their way through
0:11:44 > 0:11:48'the choppy waters of construction on their own.'
0:11:48 > 0:11:52When your son built it and everybody says, "It's lovely!"
0:11:52 > 0:11:55"Yeah. That was my boy! My son Mark did that."
0:11:55 > 0:11:58That's a really lovely feeling.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01'With no bridges to the island,
0:12:01 > 0:12:06'everything for the build had to be shipped over by boat.
0:12:06 > 0:12:12'Jonty opted for a timber-framed kit house to keep journeys across the water to a minimum.'
0:12:12 > 0:12:17The thing when you get a kit house, it comes all in one go.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21It filled a barge, a big barge, and a half.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26I had to borrow the plot behind, which was derelict,
0:12:26 > 0:12:28to store everything.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33Obviously, everything has to go by boat. That's it. Everything.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36'The house took just five months to complete.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40'The challenge was to make the most out of limited space.'
0:12:40 > 0:12:44I wanted a house that seemed bigger than it actually is.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47People referred to it as a TARDIS.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50It looks smaller from the outside than it is inside.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53I wanted to use the maximum amount of space
0:12:53 > 0:12:55available to me on this plot.
0:12:55 > 0:13:00'Finding a solution meant putting nautical experience to good use.'
0:13:00 > 0:13:04It was like building a boat, but I wanted an indoors, outdoors feel
0:13:04 > 0:13:10so that I could use this deck as much as possible in the summer.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17'As well as the £163,000 for the plot,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21'Jonty spent £120,000 on building the house,
0:13:21 > 0:13:26'half of which was on the timber frame which went up in three weeks.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32'With the latest valuation of 450 grand,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35'his finances are well and truly buoyant.'
0:13:35 > 0:13:39I'm really happy with the house, absolutely love it.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44I enjoyed the process and I think I know where the pitfalls are.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48With self-build, there'll always be a pitfall, or something goes wrong.
0:13:48 > 0:13:53It's a question of just being confident,
0:13:53 > 0:13:57and in my case obstinate, to put it right.
0:13:57 > 0:14:02'Seems like self-building has been water off a duck's back to Jonty.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06'The experience has enabled him to navigate his way
0:14:06 > 0:14:09'to something he would never have been able to achieve -
0:14:09 > 0:14:14'an opportunity to combine his love of the water with a desire to create
0:14:14 > 0:14:16'a unique space of his own.'
0:14:17 > 0:14:23'Life on the river, or particularly on the island, is great.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25'It's quite eccentric, though.'
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Come on, Tony! Get a move on!
0:14:27 > 0:14:29LAUGHS
0:14:29 > 0:14:32'We tend not to be in each other's pockets,
0:14:32 > 0:14:36'but when we do get together, there's quite a lot of wine
0:14:36 > 0:14:38'and it's always good fun.'
0:14:38 > 0:14:40It is quite different.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44It's not really like living on the mainland.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56'Back in Sheffield,
0:14:56 > 0:14:59'young architect David Cross
0:14:59 > 0:15:03'is trying to build a stunning family home on a small budget.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06'The site should have been a hive of activity but, sadly,
0:15:06 > 0:15:09'work's ground to a halt.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13'In a city famous for its steel,
0:15:13 > 0:15:18'a design issue with David's steel frame is causing problems.'
0:15:18 > 0:15:22Here we are again. You can see that work's stalled.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26We've had the prices back off the steel fabricators,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29and that's double the original estimate.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31When we tendered the house,
0:15:31 > 0:15:35we assumed the steelwork would be between £9,000 and £10,000.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39The design that came back, came back at £20,000.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43'The plans David had drawn himself included a large steel frame
0:15:43 > 0:15:47'to support the curved glass section at the front of the house.
0:15:47 > 0:15:52'With limited funds, he can't afford to overspend at an early stage.'
0:15:52 > 0:15:56Well, the ten grand is our entire contingency on this project.
0:15:56 > 0:16:01We didn't want to blow the contingency on something which, effectively, you can't see.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05We'd rather spend £10,000 on the gardens, bathrooms or kitchen,
0:16:05 > 0:16:08not on steelwork hidden within the floor zones.
0:16:08 > 0:16:15'To prevent the budget being blown, David's gone back to the drawing board.'
0:16:15 > 0:16:18We've refined the design to get it back on budget.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21We should have designed the steelwork before we tendered.
0:16:21 > 0:16:27And we didn't. We made an assumption and if you make assumptions, invariably, it can go wrong.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31'David's new design will use half the amount of steel.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33'While he's kept on budget
0:16:33 > 0:16:37'this has added a delay of around six weeks to the schedule.'
0:16:37 > 0:16:42By now, I would hope we'd have been at least on to the ground floor,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45or even up to first floor level.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49Considering the weather, changing our minds and the design,
0:16:49 > 0:16:53we're quite far behind from where I wanted to be, but such is life.
0:16:53 > 0:16:58'There's finally some progress on the Cross family home.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02'The correctly priced steel frame has arrived and is being erected.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08'Much to David's delight.'
0:17:08 > 0:17:11It feels fantastic to finally see it take shape.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14You can really see the form of the house.
0:17:14 > 0:17:20You can see the height, where the curved corners are going to be, the detail of the metal.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22So, yeah, happy days.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25The floors are pre-cast concrete planks.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27They'll be installed very quickly.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31The stairs are pre-cast concrete. The house should go up pretty quick.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Should!
0:17:33 > 0:17:39'This very personal project clearly means the world to David.'
0:17:39 > 0:17:43I've seen lots of buildings being built.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46This is my second self-build project, but this means more.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50This is a family home and the pressures are greater.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52We're in the middle of a recession.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Architects' practices are going bust.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59There's no finance. People are losing their jobs.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02So, yeah, it means a lot this time.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09'I'm back in Sheffield with the Cross family,
0:18:09 > 0:18:13'to see how their new home is coming along.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17'They're behind schedule and there isn't a huge amount to look at.
0:18:17 > 0:18:22'David's putting on a brave face when it comes to lack of progress.'
0:18:22 > 0:18:25If I remember rightly, you said, um...
0:18:25 > 0:18:30you'd be in in...about five months, six months.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32- What did he tell you?- The same.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35He did, didn't he?
0:18:35 > 0:18:37Come on. Explain yourself, young man.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41- We can move in now if you want. - SIMON LAUGHS
0:18:41 > 0:18:43'It might be missing walls, floors and a roof,
0:18:43 > 0:18:48'but you can see the building's distinctive design emerging.'
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Theoretically, we're behind.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54- Yeah.- But when we started, we had a lengthy programme.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57- So we gave Steve nine months.- Yeah.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01- He said he only needed six months. - Right.- He's got five to finish it.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03We're already out the ground.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06We've got retaining walls in, the raft in, the steel frame up,
0:19:06 > 0:19:10the floors are going in the first floor next week.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14- If you look carefully, three walls are built.- Have a look again.- See?
0:19:14 > 0:19:18- Use your imagination.- Exactly.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21He's got a great imagination!
0:19:21 > 0:19:24'This forlorn steel frame should be transformed
0:19:24 > 0:19:27'into this gorgeous family home.
0:19:27 > 0:19:32'Even at this skeletal stage, I'm quite taken with it.'
0:19:32 > 0:19:35- It's got a lovely shape to it. - Thank you.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37- It's promising.- Promising!
0:19:37 > 0:19:40I like that tone. You're so supportive. That's lovely.
0:19:40 > 0:19:45I'm not getting too worried about it. I'll trust the builders.
0:19:45 > 0:19:50If it gets to November and we're still looking like this,
0:19:50 > 0:19:52I'll get worried.
0:19:52 > 0:19:58It's nice to actually see something on site, rather than a big ditch.
0:19:58 > 0:20:03'So, seven months in, the site is still a little more open-plan
0:20:03 > 0:20:06'than I'd imagined it would be.'
0:20:06 > 0:20:10I'm not sure I need this. There's nothing above me. I'm only messing.
0:20:10 > 0:20:15Listen, I can see, seriously, I can see that the bones of it are here.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17Definitely.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20You should get an impression that all of that's glass.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25- There's a big balcony overlooking the views.- That is going to be...
0:20:25 > 0:20:28- Amazing.- Hopefully. That's what all the pain
0:20:28 > 0:20:31this steel frame has caused, is going to make it worthwhile.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35That's why you've designed it in this manner.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40'David had to redesign the frame in order to use 50% less steel
0:20:40 > 0:20:44'and so bring it in on budget - a tortuous process.
0:20:44 > 0:20:50'But he's determined to have his curved corner, even it means the schedule suffers.'
0:20:50 > 0:20:57The programme that we started off with allowed, probably, at least four months of flex in it anyway.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00So, theoretically, we're still on programme.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04- So you keep trying to convince me. - And on budget.- Very important.- Yeah.
0:21:04 > 0:21:09Well, we can't go over budget cos the contingency we had we've spent.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12Ha ha! Right. But that always happens, doesn't it?
0:21:12 > 0:21:16Yeah, but you normally spend it on the build. We've spent it on living.
0:21:16 > 0:21:21'David and Toni are stretching every penny to build this house.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24'As well as the horrendous delays on site,
0:21:24 > 0:21:28'David's business is suffering due to the recession.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31'With cash extremely tight,
0:21:31 > 0:21:35'they've been forced to use their contingency pot to keep afloat.'
0:21:35 > 0:21:40Do you feel extra pressure? You've stuck your neck above the parapet.
0:21:40 > 0:21:46The hardest thing is when you're a dad and this does mean something.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51I probably couldn't have picked a worse time to build a house.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54I've just got to...hang in there.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58You are hanging in there. It'll be all right, you know.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00- Thanks.- It will!
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Still be finished by Christmas.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06- It will. - You can come for Christmas dinner.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15'As last, there's positive news.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17'Things are finally moving up,
0:22:17 > 0:22:21'with the pre-cast concrete floors and stairs going in.
0:22:21 > 0:22:26'David is cleverly maximising his outdoor space as much as possible.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30'Uniquely, David had designed his garden
0:22:30 > 0:22:32'to go on top of his garage.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35'Yes! On top of his garage!'
0:22:35 > 0:22:38This is the end of the garden,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41which didn't look very big, but now seems a bit bigger.
0:22:41 > 0:22:46The garden spreads out and goes over the top to where Steve's stood.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49So by designing the house a little bit underground,
0:22:49 > 0:22:54we've created more garden, and something which is worth having.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58'They've been imaginative with building materials, too,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01'using giant concrete planks for the floor.'
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Steve's got a solid platform to build from.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08We'll be stood on the next floor in about three weeks.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11'To get another floor up, they need more stairs,
0:23:11 > 0:23:13'and something doesn't add up.'
0:23:13 > 0:23:19Basically, the stairs are 40 mil out so they have to make them again.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23'The concrete company have misread the plans
0:23:23 > 0:23:27'and have to start from scratch and re-cast the entire staircase.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29'It won't cost David any cash,
0:23:29 > 0:23:34'but it's another frustrating hold-up on a project
0:23:34 > 0:23:38'that's already months behind schedule.'
0:23:42 > 0:23:45'If you're building your own home, there's a chance
0:23:45 > 0:23:49'you might have to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51'When it comes to DIY, I reckon I'm quite handy.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54'To ensure my skills are up to scratch,
0:23:54 > 0:23:58'I'm taking a crash course at building college.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08'I'm having another lesson with the man who puts a roof over your head.'
0:24:16 > 0:24:20Terry, I was so pleased with me work last time,
0:24:20 > 0:24:24I had a night on the tiles. I'm sorry. What am I doing today?
0:24:24 > 0:24:27You're going to finish it off and do the cappings,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30bedding and pointing the ridge tiles.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34So if I go up, I'll put the first one on.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Then you can take it from there.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38All right. Show us how it's done, then.
0:24:38 > 0:24:43'Ridge tiles are often secured in position using a mechanical system
0:24:43 > 0:24:46'of fixing nails, ridge boards and plastic seals.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50'We're doing things traditionally, using good old mortar.'
0:24:50 > 0:24:54What you don't want is mortar staining all down the roof tiles.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Yeah. This is like the crowning glory, isn't it?
0:24:58 > 0:25:01That's what everybody sees as they look up.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03Sit the ridge tile on top of that.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07Then push with the edge of the tile.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09You've got your broken bit in there.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12'This broken tile gives the mortar added strength,
0:25:12 > 0:25:17'and will also prevent the ridge tile from cracking.'
0:25:17 > 0:25:21- How often do you lose your bucket of mix?- Depends how windy it is.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24'As well as having a close eye on your bucket,
0:25:24 > 0:25:27'it's important to keep checking the ridge is level.'
0:25:27 > 0:25:32If only that was all I had to do, look after the spirit level.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37'No chance of that, though. Time for me to hit the roof.'
0:25:38 > 0:25:42- OK, Simon. I put the first two on. You can put the last four on.- OK.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47- I found your level, so I'll give you 15 minutes to do that.- 15 minutes?
0:25:49 > 0:25:52- Are we off?- We're off.
0:25:52 > 0:25:57'In my book, rooftops are for birds, Spider-Man and Father Christmas.'
0:25:59 > 0:26:02It just kills your legs!
0:26:02 > 0:26:04There's no comfy place on a roof!
0:26:04 > 0:26:08'Not that I'm likely to get any sympathy from Terry.'
0:26:08 > 0:26:12I deduct points for dropping it all over the roof.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15I've been trying to be too clever.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19I've not put enough on, which, I guess, makes the job harder.
0:26:19 > 0:26:25- You just put your weight on it and knocked it all down.- I knew that(!)
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Ah! He'll never see that!
0:26:31 > 0:26:35You've been five minutes already and you haven't got first one on yet.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37I'm getting up to speed!
0:26:38 > 0:26:43- You've a big hole there. - I think that's on yours, meself.- No.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48'I really can't be doing with back-seat tilers.'
0:26:48 > 0:26:51I was hoping you weren't coming round this side.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55He can spend all tomorrow cleaning roof.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58It's going to rain in a minute.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02- It's high at that end.- Eh?
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Tap it down on your left-hand side.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14I wouldn't fancy this...in January,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17with the wind blowing in.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21This is a hard game, roofing.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25Come on, Simon. You've only a minute.
0:27:27 > 0:27:32- Oh, look at the state of that! - LAUGHS
0:27:32 > 0:27:38'This isn't going well and I wish I hadn't made the weather forecast.'
0:27:38 > 0:27:40Hurry up. It's going to start raining.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42LAUGHS
0:27:44 > 0:27:48Yeah, yeah. I'll come down now, boss. Definitely starting...
0:27:48 > 0:27:52Get your ridge covered up before you come down.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55It's going to run down that roof, look.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59Very funny(!)
0:27:59 > 0:28:02YOU said it were going to rain.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07I've seen worse...
0:28:07 > 0:28:10but I just can't remember when.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13- Come on, then. Out of ten.- Oh!
0:28:13 > 0:28:17I used to like Brookside. I'll give you four.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19Four?
0:28:23 > 0:28:29Anyway, mate. I think that rain set in. Nothing more we can do today.
0:28:34 > 0:28:39'Back in Ranmoor in Sheffield, David and Toni cross were hoping
0:28:39 > 0:28:42'their family home would be completed by now.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45'Delays mean it's a long way from being ready,
0:28:45 > 0:28:49'but at least things are progressing.'
0:28:49 > 0:28:52We're at full height now.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56There's just the coping stones to go on top of this, another 100 mil.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00The roof's going on today, the plywood decking.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03Then there's the insulation and the waterproof membrane
0:29:03 > 0:29:05but, effectively, we've got a house.
0:29:05 > 0:29:10'It's taken a long time to get here and, despite the bad luck,
0:29:10 > 0:29:12'David's refusing to be downbeat.'
0:29:12 > 0:29:16We wanted to be in for Christmas which, for obvious reasons,
0:29:16 > 0:29:20would have been wonderful, but it doesn't really disappoint me.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23We've got plenty of Christmases to come.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27The main thing is seeing it take shape, seeing the form of it.
0:29:27 > 0:29:32It's better than expected so how can you be disappointed with this?
0:29:32 > 0:29:35'Two of David's most important clients -
0:29:35 > 0:29:39'wife Toni and daughter Eva - seem happy with the new house.'
0:29:39 > 0:29:42I can't tell you how much I love it. I'm so excited.
0:29:42 > 0:29:46It just gets better week by week, doesn't it, Eva?
0:29:46 > 0:29:51Yeah? Is it exciting now we can see the rooms and walk inside?
0:29:51 > 0:29:55See where the kitchen is and the living room?
0:29:55 > 0:29:57Yeah?
0:30:03 > 0:30:07'But two weeks later, in the freezing cold,
0:30:07 > 0:30:09'David has hit another snag.'
0:30:09 > 0:30:11As you can see,
0:30:11 > 0:30:14the windows are all boarded up.
0:30:14 > 0:30:20That's because the aluminium window system that we've chosen,
0:30:20 > 0:30:24we had a bit of a, um...negotiation period with the window company,
0:30:24 > 0:30:26so we were behind when we ordered them.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30The main problem we've got is the weather's so cold
0:30:30 > 0:30:32we can't lay the coping stones.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36So on the flat roof, we've got the smooth coping stones.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40They've all been made, ready to be delivered, installed,
0:30:40 > 0:30:45but because the weather's too cold, we can't lay any cement.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47'You can't predict the weather.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50'It is having a serious impact on David's schedule.'
0:30:50 > 0:30:52We started in the snow.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55A delay on the steelwork caused us two months of delays.
0:30:55 > 0:31:00Now we've had the weather again and it's another two weeks behind.
0:31:00 > 0:31:04So we've extended the contract period to February 16th.
0:31:04 > 0:31:08Steve's pretty confident that we'll get in for that date.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10Let's see.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15'They are four months behind.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19'For David, keeping costs down is as important as keeping to schedule.'
0:31:19 > 0:31:22We're calling in as many favours as we can.
0:31:22 > 0:31:26The flooring, my father-in-law, who's got a carpet business,
0:31:26 > 0:31:29he's going to do it for free. I'll pay him back at some point,
0:31:29 > 0:31:33but that's a few thousand pound saved on flooring.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35The tile company, they're doing my tiles at cost
0:31:35 > 0:31:38because we specify them on lots of projects.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41It's calling in favours where we can.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43'They're now £4,000 over budget.
0:31:43 > 0:31:48'With his architect's practice being hit hard by the property downturn,
0:31:48 > 0:31:51'their funds have run out.'
0:31:51 > 0:31:55We haven't been paid for months, from the practice.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59And we've lived off every last resource we've got.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02We'll have to beg, steal and borrow that last few thousand.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04But we'll get there.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11'While it's been a stressful process,
0:32:11 > 0:32:16'back at their rented flat, Toni knows the tough times on the build
0:32:16 > 0:32:20'are almost over and that all the hard work will be worth it.'
0:32:20 > 0:32:25Things have been hard with the business, we've not had as much cash as we'd liked.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29In the grand scheme of things, it's a two-year process.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33What's a few weeks here and there? It's not the end of the world.
0:32:33 > 0:32:39We're going to be in this house a long time, so I seriously can't wait to be in.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46'It's now month 13 on a build that was scheduled
0:32:46 > 0:32:49'to take between six and seven months, and there's more bad news.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52'Awful weather is hampering work on site.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55'Coupled with the delays with their steel frame,
0:32:55 > 0:32:58'the Cross family are nowhere near moving in.'
0:32:58 > 0:33:02As you can see, the curved windows, they're not in yet,
0:33:02 > 0:33:05and unlikely to be in till 14th February.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07As a minimum.
0:33:07 > 0:33:12The problem we've had is the snow's delayed the bending plant.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15Once they're bent, they go off to be painted,
0:33:15 > 0:33:19get sent back to the window company and then fitted.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22So we're thinking about 14th February.
0:33:22 > 0:33:28'The windows are holding up the plastering and having a knock-on effect on the schedule.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30'Does David have any idea
0:33:30 > 0:33:35'when they might eventually have a house they can live in?'
0:33:35 > 0:33:39We're hoping 1st March. We can't delay it much further.
0:33:39 > 0:33:44The rent costs we're paying are now killing us, basically.
0:33:44 > 0:33:50'David has always stood by his design and even though he could have made life simpler,
0:33:50 > 0:33:55'he's sticking to his guns when it comes to the feature window.'
0:33:55 > 0:33:58No way I would have changed the curved glass.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02The whole design of this house hinges on this curved corner
0:34:02 > 0:34:06and the opposing curve on the back.
0:34:06 > 0:34:10Wouldn't change it even if it was another three months, four months.
0:34:10 > 0:34:16This is going to be a fantastic house, so what's another couple of months?
0:34:19 > 0:34:25'Three weeks later, the large curved pieces have finally arrived on site.
0:34:25 > 0:34:29'With more than £8,000 of fragile glass to be unloaded
0:34:29 > 0:34:33'then lifted into position, David's more than a little nervous.'
0:34:33 > 0:34:38There's no word to describe how I'm feeling. Tense is nowhere near.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42'One false move here and the glass, along with David's hopes
0:34:42 > 0:34:46'of moving in some time soon, will be shattered.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51'So far, so good.'
0:34:53 > 0:34:55That was quite nerve-racking.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58We've only got to lift it up now.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01It's a fairly impressive piece of glass!
0:35:01 > 0:35:03'If that was scary,
0:35:03 > 0:35:07'David can hardly bear to watch the quarter-tonne piece of glass
0:35:07 > 0:35:11'being precariously lifted into place.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17'The first piece is safely fixed into position.'
0:35:17 > 0:35:20I'm glad that's in. Safe and secure now.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23So nothing can go wrong.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25He says!
0:35:25 > 0:35:28'Fingers crossed, Mr Cross.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32'But if David liked the look from the exterior,
0:35:32 > 0:35:36'he's even more impressed with the view from his living room window.'
0:35:36 > 0:35:39Wow!
0:35:39 > 0:35:43It's totally different from inside, isn't it?
0:35:43 > 0:35:47From outside, you can't see in, but you can see out. Fantastic.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50Everyone looks really thin. It's like Blackpool.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54'This build's certainly been a roller coaster ride for the family.
0:35:54 > 0:36:00'In the end, the final interior finish added a whole three months.
0:36:00 > 0:36:06'16 months after their self-build journey began, I'm in Sheffield to see the finished home.'
0:36:06 > 0:36:09I cannot believe that, last time I stood here, all there was
0:36:09 > 0:36:13was a piece of steel standing up in the air. Look at it now!
0:36:21 > 0:36:23'David has really made his mark,
0:36:23 > 0:36:25'and the exterior,
0:36:25 > 0:36:29'especially the curved glass, is totally stunning.'
0:36:29 > 0:36:32- Hello, hello, hello.- Hello. - How are you?
0:36:32 > 0:36:35- Can I come in?- Come in.- I'm excited.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44'Inside, the decision to situate the main family living area
0:36:44 > 0:36:50'on the first floor, means the open-plan lounge, dining room and kitchen
0:36:50 > 0:36:53'are bathed in light flooding in through that curved window.'
0:36:56 > 0:36:58Oh! Hello!
0:36:58 > 0:37:01This is fantastic!
0:37:01 > 0:37:04I love the curved corner from outside.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07It works just as well in here.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11- You've got three distinct areas. Kitchen looks great.- Yeah.
0:37:11 > 0:37:13Happy with everything.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16That terrace is going to be gorgeous in the summer.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Kids can play. I can be pottering in the kitchen.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22- Shall I show you?- Yeah. Come on. - Let's go.
0:37:24 > 0:37:29'To maximise space, David designed the patio on top of the garage.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32'The garden's bigger than they expected.'
0:37:32 > 0:37:34- It's worked quite well.- Yeah.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38When we first bought the land, remember how small it felt?
0:37:38 > 0:37:43Then they dug it out, it didn't look like any garden at all.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45We've got quite a nice garden.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48'The space feels quite private.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51'Which brings me to another issue they had to deal with.'
0:37:51 > 0:37:55- They're happy now they've seen it. - We've had a bottle of champagne.
0:37:55 > 0:37:59- I think we're...- In the good books. - We've been invited to a party!
0:37:59 > 0:38:01That's a turnaround!
0:38:01 > 0:38:06That's amazing! "Hello, everyone. Lovely house!" That's fantastic.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08I haven't seen the rest of it.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13'The guest bedroom, complete with large en suite,
0:38:13 > 0:38:17'as well as David's office, are all located on the ground floor.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19'But I want to go higher.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22'The second floor houses the family bedrooms.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26'It's clear that Eva and Fred approve of Daddy's drawing skills.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29'Strangely, though,
0:38:29 > 0:38:33'David's favourite feature isn't the curved glass or unusual design.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35'It's the landing.'
0:38:35 > 0:38:39All the stairwells and landings feel like they work really well.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42Well, this is my favourite space.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44You've got this brand new house.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48You've got your lovely living area, a nice bedroom en suite,
0:38:48 > 0:38:51and your favourite space is your landing?
0:38:51 > 0:38:56This is what I class as the architect's space. It's minimal.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59It's got the curve, the curve,
0:38:59 > 0:39:01this lovely piece of glass.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04The light comes down and it lights up the hallway.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08It just makes the whole house feel so bright.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11This doesn't look like much, but it's dragging light down
0:39:11 > 0:39:14two floors to that dark hallway.
0:39:14 > 0:39:15That's clever.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17That's why you're an architect.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21- I love this light. - A friend of ours made this.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25We wanted it to feel industrial, for Sheffield's metal.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27Hence, it's not a glass chandelier.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31It's not anything fancy. It's quite industrial.
0:39:37 > 0:39:42'The master bedroom with en suite needs a few finishing touches,
0:39:42 > 0:39:47'but it's hard to beat the panoramic view over the city.'
0:39:48 > 0:39:54Another thing I like about this landing - lovely original artwork.
0:39:54 > 0:39:58'How did architect David enjoy building this family home?'
0:39:58 > 0:40:00What's the best bit about this?
0:40:00 > 0:40:04- Standing here now!- That we're in! That we've survived!
0:40:04 > 0:40:08- Is that how it feels, Toni, like you had to survive this process?- Yeah.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12This last push has been very stressful.
0:40:12 > 0:40:16- I'm just so glad we're in. - For me, it's slightly different.
0:40:16 > 0:40:21The biggest stress is understanding it's for the kids, for me wife.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25The pressure is I want to create a beautiful family home.
0:40:25 > 0:40:30To be honest, it's everything and more that I could have hoped for.
0:40:30 > 0:40:34'David and Toni budgeted £200,000 to build the house,
0:40:34 > 0:40:38'on top of the £175,000 to buy the plot.
0:40:38 > 0:40:43'Remarkably, despite all the delays, they only went £5,000 over budget.'
0:40:43 > 0:40:47What's helped me is, because we've had a strict budget,
0:40:47 > 0:40:51there's not been 50,000 things I can choose from.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54I've had a smaller choice, so it has been easier.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58- Kitchen wise... - That can help, can't it?- Yeah.
0:40:58 > 0:41:02- You two can project manage my next job.- It costs. We're expensive.
0:41:02 > 0:41:07- I see. You're not going to do it for this price again?- No.- No.
0:41:07 > 0:41:12'So that's an overall spend of £380,000.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16'When it comes to putting a market price on David's design,
0:41:16 > 0:41:19'what would an estate agent think?'
0:41:19 > 0:41:22You're looking at a value of £575,000 upwards.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27- Where we expected. - But we're not selling!
0:41:27 > 0:41:31It's irrelevant. It's nice to know that there's money in it.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34But this was never about the money.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36It was about the location.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41'That's an impressive saving of £195,000
0:41:41 > 0:41:45'compared to buying a similar property in the area.'
0:41:45 > 0:41:49You've built something modern that fits in with the traditional houses.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51Everybody seems to like it.
0:41:51 > 0:41:56Neighbours have said that everybody in the area loves the house.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00- For a modern house, it's quite an achievement.- It is.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02People don't like change.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05The main issue you've had with this build has been time.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08In the end, you got around to it.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12With that in mind, and the fact that we're in Sheffield,
0:42:12 > 0:42:14I've got a little gift.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17- There you go.- You open it.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20THEY LAUGH
0:42:20 > 0:42:23- "A round tuit". - Well, it is the home of steel.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27You now have your own official "round tuit".
0:42:27 > 0:42:30Cos you did, in the end...
0:42:30 > 0:42:32- Get around to it!- Congratulations!
0:42:32 > 0:42:35- Thank you. - I think this house is a triumph.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:42:53 > 0:42:56E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk