0:00:02 > 0:00:05Finding a home that suits your wallet and your way of life
0:00:05 > 0:00:07isn't always easy.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10Well, stop searching for something to buy
0:00:10 > 0:00:12and consider somewhere to build.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16'Every year, 20,000 people make the journey of a lifetime
0:00:16 > 0:00:19'and opt to build their own home.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23'We're following some of them from foundations to finishing touches.'
0:00:23 > 0:00:28I built it in my head a thousand times. It exceeded all expectations.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32'Our brave self-builders will experience amazing highs...'
0:00:32 > 0:00:36Yes! We've done it!
0:00:36 > 0:00:38'..and some frustrating lows.'
0:00:38 > 0:00:43I didn't expect the hatred thrown at us about having a house built.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47'If they can overcome these trials and tribulations,
0:00:47 > 0:00:51'they'll end up with a home they've always desired.'
0:00:51 > 0:00:55If you're looking for your perfect pad, the question is simple.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58To build or not to build?
0:01:04 > 0:01:08'We follow the Continental kit house with some typically British issues.'
0:01:08 > 0:01:11It's always a joke, isn't it?
0:01:11 > 0:01:14The Germans are here on time and the Brits let them down.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18'The young couple who self-built an idyllic cottage in the country.'
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Our fantastic house in a beautiful plot.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25'I go to building college to become a chip off the old block.'
0:01:25 > 0:01:28It's all about common sense - something I've never had.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35When the kids have flown the nest, many people realise
0:01:35 > 0:01:40that the once over-crowded family home is now, well, too big.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42Buying a smaller place is an option,
0:01:42 > 0:01:48but when retired couple Richard and Irene Atkins decided they needed a more suitable house,
0:01:48 > 0:01:51nothing seemed to fit the bill.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Could the solution be to self-build a dream home instead?
0:01:55 > 0:01:58'This is the prosperous suburb of Edwalton
0:01:58 > 0:02:01'on the outskirts of Nottingham.
0:02:01 > 0:02:07'It's an area where palatial properties command a king's ransom when they hit the market.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12'It's a place former engineer Richard and wife Irene can't bear to leave,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16'as they've lived here for more than a quarter of a century.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19'Their current home boasts five beds,
0:02:19 > 0:02:23'an outdoor pool and a garden big enough to graze cattle!
0:02:23 > 0:02:27'Are they mad to want to swap all this to self-build?'
0:02:28 > 0:02:31- Listen here.- Yeah?
0:02:31 > 0:02:37- You have this fabulous, salubrious, affluent house.- Mm-hm.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Why do you want to move out?
0:02:39 > 0:02:44Well, it's a bit big, now there's only two of us rattling around.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48- You're not talking the dreaded downsize word?- I'm afraid so.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51I think "downsize" is actually not quite right.
0:02:51 > 0:02:57I'm not sure that the new house is going to be a great deal smaller than this house.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00But the garden's going to be a lot smaller.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05Oh, yes. Our gardener retired, and he was wonderful. We do miss him.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10We tried replacement gardeners but they weren't up to the same standard.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14This has got to be the first time in my life I've ever heard
0:03:14 > 0:03:20that anyone is going to move out of their home and build a new one because their gardener retired.
0:03:20 > 0:03:26- Well, Simon, you haven't met the Atkins before.- True enough!
0:03:26 > 0:03:30'It's not just Dick and Irene's fear of mowing this massive lawn
0:03:30 > 0:03:33'that led them down the self-build path.'
0:03:33 > 0:03:37We have an apartment in Spain, which we delight in going to.
0:03:37 > 0:03:43When we came back from being in Spain to this house, we found that there was so much to do.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47'So, a home that's low-maintenance and future-proof is the plan.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51'But before Dick and Irene could build,
0:03:51 > 0:03:53'they first needed to find a plot.
0:03:53 > 0:03:58'They bought a small 1970s bungalow in the heart of Edwalton village
0:03:58 > 0:04:02'for a pricey £390,000.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06'It took a whopping three years of battling with the planners
0:04:06 > 0:04:11'before they got permission to bulldoze the bungalow and make way for their dream home.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14'This won't be a traditional brick-built property.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18'Dick and Irene have opted for a contemporary kit house.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20'Pre-manufactured in Germany,
0:04:20 > 0:04:25'it's shipped to site in pieces, then built like a giant jigsaw.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29'This means construction's extremely quick but, at £600,000,
0:04:29 > 0:04:31'it's not cheap.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33'For this significant investment,
0:04:33 > 0:04:38'they'll get an energy efficient three-bed home in under six months.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42'Features include a basement, a lift in case the stairs get too much,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44'and a smaller garden.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47'As soon as work on the foundations began,
0:04:47 > 0:04:49'things started to fall apart.'
0:04:49 > 0:04:53A-ha! So, here we are!
0:04:53 > 0:04:56- You've made a right mess here, haven't you?- Yeah!
0:04:56 > 0:05:01Yes, but it's not us that made the mess!
0:05:01 > 0:05:05- It was the groundworkers when they were here last time.- When was that?
0:05:05 > 0:05:10- Eight weeks ago.- If that was eight weeks ago, why has nothing happened?
0:05:10 > 0:05:16When the groundworkers arrived on the site on Monday morning, 7.30,
0:05:16 > 0:05:19I came down and found them already busy at work.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23They were digging away, marking out the site for the house,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26and I thought, "Great! It's happening!"
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Later that morning, the foreman of the basement company
0:05:30 > 0:05:34came round with a crane man, to look at what the crane would be doing.
0:05:34 > 0:05:39I said to them, "You have got the road closures sorted out?"
0:05:39 > 0:05:43They said, "Oh, yeah. Don't worry. It's all dealt with."
0:05:43 > 0:05:48'But an administrative error beyond the contractor's control
0:05:48 > 0:05:52'meant the paperwork hadn't been submitted to the council.
0:05:52 > 0:05:57'The result, a three-month postponement to process the application.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02'This left Dick and Irene with a long delay and a deserted site.'
0:06:05 > 0:06:10So, you have a date for the road closure. How far away is that?
0:06:10 > 0:06:15Three weeks on Monday. Yes. And that's the first road closure.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17That's when the basement gets put in.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20How quickly will this place go up?
0:06:20 > 0:06:23The basement will be put in within a three-day period.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Then, about three weeks later on from that,
0:06:26 > 0:06:31the house people deliver the house and erect it within three days.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34- That's amazing, isn't it?- Yes.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38The irony is, you've got a house which, all said and done,
0:06:38 > 0:06:43could be erected, start to finish in a week and...
0:06:43 > 0:06:46we're waiting because of one piece of paper.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48You can see how relaxed I am about it(!)
0:06:48 > 0:06:52I think you're lucky you've got that place in Spain!
0:06:52 > 0:06:54'It's build month three.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58'The site's finally woken from its enforced siesta
0:06:58 > 0:07:01'and there's a lot going on.
0:07:01 > 0:07:06'The groundworks team preparing the foundation for the basement are back
0:07:06 > 0:07:10'and they've not wasted any time getting stuck in.'
0:07:10 > 0:07:14From it being the same as it was for the last 12 weeks,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17all of a sudden, we've got a fairly good hole!
0:07:17 > 0:07:20And it's getting bigger all the time.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22It's really quite exciting.
0:07:22 > 0:07:27'With 100 square foot of basement, the size of many people's homes,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30'the digger's going to be non-stop for a couple of weeks
0:07:30 > 0:07:33'to remove more than 16,000 cubic feet of earth.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36'Already, Dick's imagination's running wild.'
0:07:36 > 0:07:38In a few weeks,
0:07:38 > 0:07:43this is going to be transformed, with the basement down there.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47And then, just in six weeks time, we're going to have a house
0:07:47 > 0:07:52going up and up and up just here.
0:07:52 > 0:07:57It's just incredible to think, after all of this time,
0:07:57 > 0:08:01that it's almost within touching distance.
0:08:01 > 0:08:06'And as the days fly by, the hole keeps on growing.
0:08:06 > 0:08:11'It's soon ready for the concrete that will form the basement floor.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15'Things are running like clockwork and the concrete's set in good time
0:08:15 > 0:08:19'for the arrival of the flat-pack basement.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25'It's build month four,
0:08:25 > 0:08:30'after the three-month delay, the road closure's in place and construction can start.
0:08:30 > 0:08:36'Determined not to miss any of the action, Dick's on site bright and early, ready for work to begin.'
0:08:36 > 0:08:41I think, walking round in the basement, it brought it home to me
0:08:41 > 0:08:44that it was actually really happening.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47We're going to have a house,
0:08:47 > 0:08:51and you can start to see the scale of the house as well.
0:08:51 > 0:08:56You can start getting a feel of where the house is going to be.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59'While Dick and the German crew examine the plans...'
0:08:59 > 0:09:02The stairs also today?
0:09:02 > 0:09:05- They're coming next lorry. - Next lorry. OK.
0:09:05 > 0:09:10'..sadly, it seems even the best laid plans can go awry.'
0:09:10 > 0:09:14The crane was due at 7.30 this morning.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Then the lorry, the one here,
0:09:17 > 0:09:20the first of three, was due at 8 o'clock.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24The lorry is here at 7.30, but the crane isn't.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28You couldn't write the script if you wanted to. It's always a joke.
0:09:28 > 0:09:35The Germans are here on time and the Brits let them down because the crane doesn't arrive on time.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39'All everyone can do is wait.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43'And watch the clock.'
0:09:45 > 0:09:50Half past nine, so we're expecting the crane just about any time.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53We hope.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57'After three and a half hours of hanging around,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00'Dick spots something on the horizon.'
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Is this a crane?
0:10:03 > 0:10:05It looks as though it could be.
0:10:05 > 0:10:10Well! At last we might have a crane.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12And it's only ten to 11!
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Ten to 11 instead of half past seven.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19'A flat tyre had been responsible for the crane's late appearance.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23'For Dick and Irene, three is the tragic number.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26'Today's three-hour setback was a mere hiccough
0:10:26 > 0:10:31'after three years of planning and a three-month wait for a road closure.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33'But things are looking up.'
0:10:33 > 0:10:35It's unbelievable.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39We've waited so long for this, we can't believe it's happening.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Here we go.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45'This is the moment they've waited for.
0:10:45 > 0:10:50'Piece number one is on its way and Dick and Irene's home has lift-off.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53'But there's one final obstacle to overcome.'
0:10:53 > 0:10:56I'm still quite concerned about that telephone cable.
0:10:56 > 0:11:01'Don't panic, Dick! A puncture might have affected his punctuality,
0:11:01 > 0:11:06'but the crane driver's in complete control, avoiding the hazard.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08'With true German efficiency,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11'the first piece slots into place perfectly.'
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Look at that!
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- A wall and a window, I do believe! - A wall and a window!
0:11:17 > 0:11:21That's the first bit of the house, isn't it?
0:11:21 > 0:11:26'It will take another week and a half to complete the basement,
0:11:26 > 0:11:29'and a further seven days to finish the groundworks.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32'For Irene, this day hasn't come soon enough.'
0:11:35 > 0:11:40It's just so good to think that, finally, it's happening.
0:11:40 > 0:11:46If it hadn't happened soon I was going to get bored of the project and give up!
0:11:46 > 0:11:48Absolutely.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Irene might want to head for the hills,
0:11:54 > 0:11:59but she'll have to hold her nerve to survive this self-build journey.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03Patience and perseverance were the key for Matt and Zoe Jackson,
0:12:03 > 0:12:09whose desire to escape to the country led them to build a gorgeous cottage in rural Herefordshire.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16'In the quaint village of Stoke Prior near Leominster,
0:12:16 > 0:12:20'the average house price is over £400,000.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23'After several years of city living, Matt and Zoe
0:12:23 > 0:12:26'fancied returning home to the countryside
0:12:26 > 0:12:29'to be closer to family.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31'But they didn't fancy those prices.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34'The alternative? Build their own.'
0:12:34 > 0:12:36There we have it.
0:12:36 > 0:12:41This is our fantastic house in a beautiful plot.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46Which is a huge plot, really. More than enough garden for me.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49'The couple's dream became a reality
0:12:49 > 0:12:54'when they inherited a plot of land from Matt's grandmother.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57'It took five years of planning and saving
0:12:57 > 0:13:02'before work could finally begin on their timber framed cottage.'
0:13:02 > 0:13:07The reason we went for this style of property is it's in keeping
0:13:07 > 0:13:11with the traditional build in a Herefordshire village.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15We've both been brought up in older style properties.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19It's a fantastic opportunity to have the character of an old property
0:13:19 > 0:13:22blended with all the modern sort of...
0:13:22 > 0:13:26- Under-floor heating.- ..aspects of a new build.- Big shower!
0:13:29 > 0:13:32'Estate agent Matt designed the house himself.
0:13:36 > 0:13:42'But getting this DIY des-res off the ground wasn't straightforward.'
0:13:42 > 0:13:50Two things you hear about self-builds is you always go over time and over budget.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53We were digging the groundworks for the foundations
0:13:53 > 0:13:55and they found that the ground was too soft.
0:13:55 > 0:14:00They had to put in extra things, so within a couple of weeks of starting
0:14:00 > 0:14:01we were over our budget.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10'To recoup this unexpected overrun, they called in a few favours.
0:14:10 > 0:14:16'A friend landscaped their driveway for half the original quote.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20'It took just seven months to build this traditional style cottage
0:14:20 > 0:14:24'that incorporates ideas of modern living.'
0:14:24 > 0:14:29We're in the kitchen, which is my favourite part of the house.
0:14:29 > 0:14:35I really, really wanted this to be a space where we spent time, really.
0:14:35 > 0:14:40When we get in at night and we're pottering around cooking,
0:14:40 > 0:14:44we wanted to be together, not me next door and him in here.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Right, so this is the entrance hall and lounge.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54Being an estate agent, I'd already seen a number of properties
0:14:54 > 0:14:58that you walked in and it was a nice open space.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02It was something I was keen to do right from the start.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06If you're having friends around, you can use this space as well.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16So this is the master bedroom.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19We could have had four bedrooms in this size of property,
0:15:19 > 0:15:23but we decided to go for three larger rooms
0:15:23 > 0:15:28and have a really nice master bedroom with en suite.
0:15:28 > 0:15:34'In the end, Matt and Zoe went £45,000 over their 200-grand budget.
0:15:34 > 0:15:40'But thanks to Grandma's generous gift of the plot,
0:15:40 > 0:15:46'they saved a massive 50% compared to buying a similar sized property.'
0:15:46 > 0:15:51- From the point of view of building the house, financially... - It's worked very well.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54'As Matt knows only too well,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57'property prices have been down in recent times.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02'Not that this estate agent plans to sell any time soon.'
0:16:02 > 0:16:08- I think we've chosen well, in regards to a property that will... - Be desirable.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10And hold its value, yeah.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13- But we've done it to live in. - It doesn't matter.
0:16:13 > 0:16:20I can't imagine... I don't think you'll allow me to sell, especially having chosen everything.
0:16:20 > 0:16:25I think we'll be here for a number of years to come.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29'Although the interior needs a bit of work already.'
0:16:29 > 0:16:32One of the rooms is going to have a new resident.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35A little baby in May,
0:16:35 > 0:16:40so we'll start to get one of the bedrooms worked out as a nursery.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43- Yeah.- Very exciting. - More interior designing.
0:16:43 > 0:16:49'Self-building was the only way Matt and Zoe could afford to live
0:16:49 > 0:16:51'in this gorgeous rural setting.
0:16:51 > 0:16:57'With a baby on the way, they'd best enjoy the peace and quiet while they can.'
0:17:01 > 0:17:07'In Edwalton, it's a beautiful day for Dick and Irene's house build.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13'For once, everything's on time,
0:17:13 > 0:17:19'including the trucks that have brought the house from the German factory.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25'While it was a lengthy process to get to this stage,
0:17:25 > 0:17:27'this build is really going to fly.'
0:17:27 > 0:17:29The house is here!
0:17:29 > 0:17:33But can you imagine a house...here?
0:17:33 > 0:17:35The answer is, no you can't yet.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38But in maybe half an hour or so,
0:17:38 > 0:17:42we'll be able to see the first part of the house go on to the slab.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46All of a sudden, there'll become a reality into it,
0:17:46 > 0:17:48rather than an anticipation.
0:17:50 > 0:17:56'It seems Irene's still coming to terms with her new home arriving on the back of a lorry.'
0:17:56 > 0:17:59We've been to other sites
0:17:59 > 0:18:01and looked at their houses.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05We know what happens, but we can't believe this is ours.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08It's all these lorries with stuff on and a crane.
0:18:08 > 0:18:13And, my goodness! What are these idiots doing? Gosh. It's us.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17'Fortunately, supervising engineer Ralph and his crew
0:18:17 > 0:18:19'have had quite a bit of practice,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22'and their schedule is certainly speedy.'
0:18:22 > 0:18:26The plan is, for today, to build the external walls, the internal walls,
0:18:26 > 0:18:31and also, by the late afternoon, to get the roof and ceiling panels on.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35That's our target for the first day.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37By Thursday afternoon,
0:18:37 > 0:18:39the crane should leave the site.
0:18:39 > 0:18:44The superstructure, everything should be finished by Thursday.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46'How many days, Ralph?'
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Three days in total.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53'Let's hope three is the magic number!
0:18:53 > 0:18:57'Choosing a kit house means your house is built uber quickly,
0:18:57 > 0:19:01'thanks in part to components like windows already in place.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06'But it can cost up to a third more, compared to conventional methods.
0:19:06 > 0:19:12'Fortunately, the excitement is keeping Dick's mind off the £600,000 bill!'
0:19:12 > 0:19:16Irene, this is where you're going to sit and look out into your garden.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19'Irene doesn't seem that convinced.'
0:19:19 > 0:19:24I can just see two chairs and a coffee table there, can't you?
0:19:24 > 0:19:27Friends sitting there, having coffee with me.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31Not really. I'm sure it'll all be all right when it's done.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35'As the construction team make their final preparations,
0:19:35 > 0:19:39'The first piece of the house is ready for take-off.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43'This is the most crucial part of the build.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46'Any miscalculations will have knock-on effects
0:19:46 > 0:19:49'for the rest of the construction.'
0:19:50 > 0:19:52That very first piece,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55that's the key to the whole puzzle, really.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59If that isn't vertical, in exactly the right place,
0:19:59 > 0:20:04none of the other bits and pieces can actually work away from it.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07Get that one right, all the others can flow from it.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10'This is one section Ralph's not rushing.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16'There's absolutely no margin for error.'
0:20:18 > 0:20:24It's important to have the first thing done properly. Then it goes step by step quite easily.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29'As you might expect, it all fits perfectly.'
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Good!
0:20:33 > 0:20:36We're professionals. We know what we're doing.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38It's never going to be the same again.
0:20:38 > 0:20:43This nice flat open site is going to have a house on it soon.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48'Satisfied with the initial section, the builders get cracking
0:20:48 > 0:20:51'with the rest of the house.'
0:20:53 > 0:20:56- They make it look so easy. - I know. Yes!
0:21:00 > 0:21:05'Within minutes, Dick and Irene's first room's in position.'
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Here we are, in the lounge. Isn't this great?
0:21:10 > 0:21:15'Earlier, Irene struggled to visualise what the house would be like.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18'Now, she's thinking well ahead.'
0:21:18 > 0:21:22We could go out this afternoon and buy a fireplace!
0:21:22 > 0:21:24I don't need a fireplace today.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27It can wait till tomorrow, or maybe the next day.
0:21:29 > 0:21:35'The speed these chaps are going, you might need one by the end of the week.
0:21:35 > 0:21:40'Over a couple of hours, the ground floor of the house takes shape.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45'And with every passing second, the structure is evolving.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48'Blink and you might miss something.'
0:21:48 > 0:21:50I've been away for how long?
0:21:50 > 0:21:54Maybe three-quarters of an hour, maximum.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57All the inside walls are there, apart from this one.
0:22:02 > 0:22:07'By tea-time, the boys from Bavaria move upstairs.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13'The flooring sections are slotted into place.
0:22:13 > 0:22:19'By the end of the day, the lower half of the house will be enclosed.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21'That's going some!'
0:22:22 > 0:22:27I'm just blown away by the whole thing! It's amazing!
0:22:40 > 0:22:43'Day two of the kit construction,
0:22:43 > 0:22:47'and the gang get into the groove, building the upstairs of the house.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51'By the end of the day,
0:22:51 > 0:22:55'they expect to have all the exterior and interior walls
0:22:55 > 0:22:57'fixed into position.'
0:22:57 > 0:23:01Here we are, day two, six o'clock in the evening.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04And I'm upstairs in one of our bedrooms!
0:23:04 > 0:23:07I can't believe it still, that so much has happened
0:23:07 > 0:23:09in such a short time.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15'By day three, the well-oiled building machine
0:23:15 > 0:23:17'is going through a slower patch.'
0:23:19 > 0:23:21Things seem to be a bit slow.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25I thought we'd see the main beam of the house on.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29Then I anticipated that we'd see panels of roofing going on as well.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32'The roof would normally come in large kit sections,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35'like the rest of the house, but due to planning regulations,
0:23:35 > 0:23:39'Dick's build will use a more conventional system.'
0:23:39 > 0:23:43We're having rafters and purlins, a more traditional style
0:23:43 > 0:23:45of construction of roof.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47That's because of the type of tiles
0:23:47 > 0:23:50that we've been asked by our planners to use.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54'These tiles are in keeping with properties in the conservation area.
0:23:54 > 0:23:59'They're heavier than the tiles the company usually use.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02'A sturdier roof structure is required.
0:24:02 > 0:24:07'Organising the extra components means the schedule's slipped.'
0:24:07 > 0:24:11We expected to be watertight by lunch time today.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14I'd be surprised if we were watertight by lunch time tomorrow.
0:24:14 > 0:24:21'Because they're running behind, the crew needs to extend the crane hire to complete the job.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25'At around £500 a day, this isn't cheap.
0:24:25 > 0:24:30'Because Dick agreed a fixed price, it won't be him picking up the tab.
0:24:30 > 0:24:35'Despite the slight delay, Irene's still in an upbeat mood.'
0:24:35 > 0:24:38Can you believe that in three days this has happened?
0:24:38 > 0:24:41I'm looking forward to seeing the roof on.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45I think it's going to look quite pretty, with the terracotta tiles
0:24:45 > 0:24:48and the copper downpipes.
0:24:48 > 0:24:53'Even when the rain starts to fall, Irene's spirit's not dampened.
0:24:53 > 0:24:59'But her bedrooms might be, if the team don't work fast to fit the remaining floor sections.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03'Within an hour, the final panels are fitted.
0:25:03 > 0:25:08'The house is watertight and the sun is shining again on the build.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10'The next piece of this giant puzzle
0:25:10 > 0:25:14'to be slotted into place is the attic stairs.'
0:25:14 > 0:25:19New steps into the upper area, the roof area.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Here we go. Yes! It's just the right thing!
0:25:22 > 0:25:26Absolutely smashing! How good is that?
0:25:26 > 0:25:28'It's thumbs-up all round.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33'The remaining gable ends are secured into position,
0:25:33 > 0:25:37'ready for the main roof beams to be lifted in tomorrow.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42'Day four, these giants that will support the roof
0:25:42 > 0:25:45'are craned into place.
0:25:45 > 0:25:50'And the guys make rapid progress fitting the rafters.'
0:25:50 > 0:25:52It's just terrific.
0:25:52 > 0:25:57It's magic. If you're not careful, I'll throw my hat into the air.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01'It's definitely hats off to the German builders.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07'In just six days, the team have done all this.
0:26:07 > 0:26:14'I'm back on site and, I have to confess, I'm totally blown away.'
0:26:15 > 0:26:18- I bet you can't believe your eyes! - No.- No.- No.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23- No, no and double no! - Every time you turn, "Oh! My word!"
0:26:23 > 0:26:26You know it's going to happen cos they've told you.
0:26:26 > 0:26:31- But that's not the same as it actually happening to you.- Exactly.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36It was just as though we laid the plans on the concrete slab
0:26:36 > 0:26:41and then just watered them and saw it go up and up.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Like watering it and it blossoms, and here we are.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46It's incredible how far we've got.
0:26:49 > 0:26:55'These guys work so fast, it's hard to comprehend what's been achieved in such a short space of time.'
0:26:55 > 0:27:00So, look at this. Let's explain, get this fixed in our heads.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04This wasn't a room. This was nothing less than a week ago.
0:27:04 > 0:27:09That's right. Five days ago, they put that wall we are looking at...
0:27:09 > 0:27:13- That went in at ten o'clock in the morning.- The first wall.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16- Good proportions in here. - Yeah. It's a nice room.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20I'm quite gratified that the house has worked out
0:27:20 > 0:27:22just as I'd anticipated.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26'In a conventional build, it would have taken four months
0:27:26 > 0:27:29'to get from solid foundations to this stage.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32'We're already able to stroll up the staircase
0:27:32 > 0:27:35'to check out the first floor.'
0:27:35 > 0:27:37Master bedroom.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41We've also got our dressing room and a good-sized shower room.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44What do you mean a good sized shower room?
0:27:44 > 0:27:47That's bigger than my bedroom!
0:27:47 > 0:27:49And a really nice outlook.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53It's amazing! You've got windows! What have been the problems?
0:27:53 > 0:27:58Where is the stress? It sounds like, when you get the kit guys in from Germany,
0:27:58 > 0:28:01the stress almost disappears.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04The stress - if you do stress -
0:28:04 > 0:28:09but the stress was really in the preparation, in the organising.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11This is relatively straightforward for us.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15'While they've held a tight rein over their new build,
0:28:15 > 0:28:19'the property market means Dick and Irene have much less control
0:28:19 > 0:28:22'when it comes to the sale of their old house.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27'They need a good price to pay for the extras in their new place,
0:28:27 > 0:28:31'like the lift and a double garage, otherwise they'll have to wait.'
0:28:31 > 0:28:36We put the existing house on the market, what, ten days ago.
0:28:36 > 0:28:42Had an offer within three days, so we think we've got the asking price.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46And that is such a relief. It's wonderful.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49We can really do what we want to do.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51So everything really is...
0:28:51 > 0:28:54- Touch wood. - There's lots of it about.
0:28:54 > 0:28:58Touch wood, everything is falling into place for you.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00It seems to be at the moment, yes.
0:29:00 > 0:29:05- That's right.- "At the moment"? You'll be finished in three days!
0:29:11 > 0:29:15'From building a wall through to tiling and papering it,
0:29:15 > 0:29:19'if you're building your own home, it's useful to know some basics.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23'I'm at building college, to learn some of the skills
0:29:23 > 0:29:25'that are needed to build a house.
0:29:28 > 0:29:32'I'm ready to get stuck in but before I can start bricking it,
0:29:32 > 0:29:38'I begin with blocks, one of the most common materials used in house construction.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43'My tutor for today...'
0:29:52 > 0:29:55Blockwork today. I'm with Malcolm.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58There's no blocks around. Why are we stood here?
0:29:58 > 0:30:01We need to mix something to stick the blocks together with.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04Right, I'm ready. Here's me spade.
0:30:04 > 0:30:08Best thing might be to actually start the mixer first.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10Always helps if it's turning.
0:30:10 > 0:30:14I knew that! If you could turn it on please, mate? Yeah.
0:30:17 > 0:30:21'I've got enough to think about - turns out that mortar-mix maths
0:30:21 > 0:30:24'is much more important than I'd ever realised.'
0:30:24 > 0:30:29You may have seen brickwork where the joints are a different colour.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33- Yeah.- They've either got too much cement in or not enough.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37Today, we're actually going to gauge the sand and the cement.
0:30:37 > 0:30:42'We are mixing four perfectly measured bucketfuls of sand
0:30:42 > 0:30:44'to one bucket of cement.'
0:30:45 > 0:30:51- It would help if you got the sand in the bucket.- Most of it's going in!
0:30:51 > 0:30:54'With the right amount of water, the mortar is good to go.'
0:30:54 > 0:30:59- It's all about common sense.- Yes. - Something I've never had.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03'Time to get out the blocks.'
0:31:05 > 0:31:09First, we need to make sure the mortar is at the right height.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14The top of the block flush with the line, and a nice clean face.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17You make it all sound so simple, Malcolm.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20Place it tight against the profile.
0:31:20 > 0:31:25The top corner of the block is level with the line.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28There's just a very slight gap between.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31Get that in position.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35Clean off the excess.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Front and also the back as well.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42Behave yourself! You're just being a perfectionist.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45These days, your inspector, that's his job,
0:31:45 > 0:31:49to peer down the cavities and if there's mortar down there...
0:31:49 > 0:31:54I get the point. Just keep 'em clean, all right. Thanks.
0:31:54 > 0:31:59I think you're ready to have a go yourself now. Feel confident?
0:31:59 > 0:32:01No, but I'll have a go.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04I know the first thing you do is this.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07I don't know why, but they all do it.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09It makes you look dead good on site.
0:32:14 > 0:32:18Your mortar would be laughing now cos you're tickling it.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20LAUGHS
0:32:20 > 0:32:25'Tickling it? Time to show Malcolm a bit of my brute strength.'
0:32:26 > 0:32:30He did it one-handed. I'm doing it one-handed.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32No, I'm not!
0:32:32 > 0:32:37'I'm no weightlifter, but I'm soon getting the hang of blockwork.'
0:32:40 > 0:32:43I think you're about ready now.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47You do these two courses. I'll go have a cup of tea.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50- I'll be back in five minutes. - Two courses?
0:32:50 > 0:32:53'I might have said I was getting the hang of it...'
0:32:53 > 0:32:56I can't believe he left me!
0:32:56 > 0:33:00'..but I'm not sure I'm ready for a solo time trial.'
0:33:04 > 0:33:06I've done two blocks.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10Three and a half minutes gone. Not a chance!
0:33:12 > 0:33:14'There's a crowd gathering.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17'Hoping to learn a thing or two!
0:33:17 > 0:33:21'As I've always said, when the chips are down, cheat.'
0:33:21 > 0:33:26I'm never going to do this. Boys, are you any good at this?
0:33:26 > 0:33:30Fancy helping me finish it? I've got two minutes for the next course.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32Come 'ead. Come on!
0:33:32 > 0:33:36'So much for us brickies sticking together.'
0:33:37 > 0:33:40He's coming back. I've had it.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44'Looks like my head's on the block.'
0:33:44 > 0:33:48- How are we getting on? - All right, boss. Yeah...
0:33:48 > 0:33:50- You've taken a course off? - No I haven't!
0:33:50 > 0:33:52That's me best effort.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56- Five minutes!- We said five. It must be six or seven now.
0:33:56 > 0:34:00I even tried to recruit help. They all just watched and laughed.
0:34:02 > 0:34:07'Will Malcolm find my efforts as funny? Marks out of ten, please.'
0:34:07 > 0:34:10- That's a good seven out of ten. - Seven?
0:34:10 > 0:34:16'I might not be a total blockhead after all. I breezed through that!'
0:34:19 > 0:34:26'In Nottingham, the builders are fitting some luxurious extras.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28'Copper guttering and downpipes
0:34:28 > 0:34:32'need to be in place, in preparation for the roof tiles.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35'Now they're racing against the clock.
0:34:35 > 0:34:40'In just over two months, the Atkins must leave their old house.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42'The heat's on the building team,
0:34:42 > 0:34:46'and will soon be on Dick and Irene, too.'
0:34:46 > 0:34:48We're off to Spain tomorrow.
0:34:48 > 0:34:54We'll be away from the house build for not quite two weeks.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58I'm sure it'll be very different by the time we come back.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03'Sure enough, after a relaxing break on the Costa Blanca,
0:35:03 > 0:35:08'Dick and Irene's white house in Edwalton is looking stunning.'
0:35:08 > 0:35:13We were very surprised and delighted to see how much work had been done.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16Not only was the roof virtually complete -
0:35:16 > 0:35:21there's just a few tiles missing because there weren't quite enough -
0:35:21 > 0:35:25but also, all of the plaster boarding inside has been done.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27That was absolutely great.
0:35:27 > 0:35:31They got on very much more quickly than we'd anticipated.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33'The render adds a Spanish feel.
0:35:33 > 0:35:38'Underfloor heating means it'll be as toasty as Torremolinos in August.
0:35:41 > 0:35:47'The scaffolding's come down to reveal the whole gleaming exterior.
0:35:48 > 0:35:53'Inside, the electricians are well on the way with their second fix,
0:35:53 > 0:35:57'which includes the centrepiece of the entrance hallway.'
0:35:57 > 0:36:01We'd been searching for a light for a long time.
0:36:01 > 0:36:05We needed something really long to go down through this void
0:36:05 > 0:36:08from this high ceiling,
0:36:08 > 0:36:11down to the ground floor as well.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13It is Murano glass.
0:36:13 > 0:36:17That's a bit special.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21'Imported from Italy at an incredible cost of £5,000,
0:36:21 > 0:36:24'this is one luxury item that bust the budget.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27'While the electrics are almost ready,
0:36:27 > 0:36:31'sparks have flown over getting the water connected.'
0:36:31 > 0:36:34Here's the water pipe. We can see it here.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36There it is.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40It needs to be connected to the actual...
0:36:40 > 0:36:45- Just down here is the...- Mains. - Yeah. The water mains.
0:36:45 > 0:36:50'It's a matter of inches between their pipe and the mains.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54'After two months of negotiating, it's no nearer being connected.
0:36:54 > 0:36:59'It won't delay the build, but it's a headache they could do without.'
0:36:59 > 0:37:01You actually just can't believe
0:37:01 > 0:37:06that it can take two months. No, more than two months.
0:37:06 > 0:37:12The thick end of three months from application to get a water connection.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16'It took several weeks and numerous phone calls to their water supplier
0:37:16 > 0:37:20'before they were eventually connected.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24'You need to be persistent when dealing with utility providers.
0:37:24 > 0:37:28'At least everything else was on target for their moving in deadline.
0:37:28 > 0:37:33'Two months on, having given them time to settle in,
0:37:33 > 0:37:38'I'm back in Edwalton to cast my eye over Dick and Irene's kit house.'
0:37:38 > 0:37:42They wanted a low-maintenance place they wouldn't have to worry about
0:37:42 > 0:37:45when they jetted off to their beloved holiday retreat in Spain.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49I've brought them a little reminder of Espana.
0:37:49 > 0:37:53SPEAKS IN SPANISH
0:37:54 > 0:37:56'In six months,
0:37:56 > 0:38:00'this site has gone from hole in the ground to stunning detached home.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04'Despite delays with planning and road closures,
0:38:04 > 0:38:09'the Atkins have the house they've been waiting patiently for.'
0:38:09 > 0:38:14- Hello, hello, hello.- Hello. - Look at you in your gorgeous home.
0:38:14 > 0:38:18- I bring a present. - Well, how absolutely lovely.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21It's to remind you of Spain when you're not there,
0:38:21 > 0:38:25when you're back here in your lovely new house, which I am dying to see.
0:38:25 > 0:38:30- May I?- You're more than welcome. Come in.- Absolutely.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34'The hallway alone with its seven-metre high ceiling
0:38:34 > 0:38:36'and rather extravagant light
0:38:36 > 0:38:38'provides a fabulous welcome.'
0:38:38 > 0:38:43You're just immediately drawn in and upwards.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47- That is a fantastic space. - It's absolutely great.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49It sort of carries you upstairs.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55'The lounge was once rather more open-plan.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59'Complete with that fireplace Irene was keen to order, it's more cosy.'
0:38:59 > 0:39:05Do you know what? It's got a really peaceful atmosphere in here.
0:39:05 > 0:39:10It really has been delightfully quiet and peaceful.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13You feel very comfortable in here.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20'Like the living room, the dining room is very traditional.
0:39:20 > 0:39:25'When it comes to the kitchen, there's been a shift in style.'
0:39:25 > 0:39:28In this room, with all your furniture,
0:39:28 > 0:39:32you really seem to embrace the very modern kit house.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36Yeah. We'd had 20 years of a wooden painted kitchen.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38We thought this has got to be different.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41'The kitchen cost £40,000.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44'The high-gloss feel came courtesy
0:39:44 > 0:39:48'of these glitzy imported Spanish tiles.'
0:39:48 > 0:39:53It all started from the floor tiles and we worked up and outwards.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57'Speaking of outwards, downsizing from a massive garden
0:39:57 > 0:40:01'to something more manageable, even if it's not yet totally landscaped,
0:40:01 > 0:40:05'was important to Dick and Irene when planning their house.'
0:40:05 > 0:40:08A key feature of wanting to move
0:40:08 > 0:40:11was to have a much smaller, simpler garden.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15My ambition is to be able to garden with a vacuum cleaner!
0:40:15 > 0:40:21'Upstairs, there are three bedrooms, all with en suite bathrooms.'
0:40:22 > 0:40:26'The real hub of the home is the huge open-plan landing.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29'Part study, part TV lounge, this area replicates
0:40:29 > 0:40:33'a room they both loved in their old property.'
0:40:36 > 0:40:40This is the point, isn't it, of building your own place.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44You can use all your experience of what worked in your old house
0:40:44 > 0:40:49and bring it here, put a modern twist on it and come up with this.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Some people would say, "You've built it for yourselves.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56"If you wanted to sell it, it wouldn't be somebody else's dream."
0:40:56 > 0:40:58But I'm not moving again, Simon.
0:40:58 > 0:41:02They're going to carry me out of here. Please note.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04I am not moving again!
0:41:04 > 0:41:06Well, perhaps...
0:41:06 > 0:41:10- THEY LAUGH - Oh, Dick! Don't you start!
0:41:10 > 0:41:13Well, we've learnt how to do it now, haven't we?
0:41:13 > 0:41:18- No, no, no.- Well, we have. - We have learnt how to do it.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21'With more than a little help from the wunderbar German build team,
0:41:21 > 0:41:24'Dick and Irene have created a home
0:41:24 > 0:41:28'that is tailor-made to fit their lifestyle.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30'However, the build price,
0:41:30 > 0:41:35'including the lift and double garage they're still to install,
0:41:35 > 0:41:38'slipped over their £600,000 budget by 60 grand.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42'Including the plot, the cost of building their home
0:41:42 > 0:41:45'comes in at around...
0:41:45 > 0:41:52'Even with a 10% overspend, has building their own house given the Atkins value for money?'
0:41:52 > 0:41:55We've had this place valued.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59- Really?- Yes.- Ah.
0:41:59 > 0:42:03And for a very unique house in a very good area,
0:42:03 > 0:42:07this place has been valued at...
0:42:11 > 0:42:13- Really?- Ah! We've spent the money!
0:42:15 > 0:42:19'Ultimately, Dick and Irene have broken even, compared to buying.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23'But this build was never about the price.'
0:42:23 > 0:42:26We weren't building for the value to be matched.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29- You weren't doing this to make a killing.- No.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33- You were doing this to create... - A home for us.- Yes.
0:42:33 > 0:42:38So, the question is, to build or not to build?
0:42:38 > 0:42:40And the answer is...
0:42:40 > 0:42:43- Oh, yes.- I would say so.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46You get what you really want.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:06 > 0:43:09E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk