0:00:00 > 0:00:02We all dream of owning the perfect home.
0:00:02 > 0:00:06But finding a place that suits both your wallet and your way of life isn't easy.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08Well, I have a solution.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12Stop searching for something to buy and consider somewhere to build.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16Every year in Britain, 20,000 people build their own home.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23We'll be following some of them as they go from foundations to finishing touches.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27I've built it in my head a thousand times. It's exceeded all expectations.
0:00:27 > 0:00:32Along the way, our brave self-builders will experience amazing highs...
0:00:32 > 0:00:35It was like, "Yes! We've done it!"
0:00:36 > 0:00:38..and some frustrating lows.
0:00:38 > 0:00:43I didn't expect the level of hatred that's been thrown at us by having a house built!
0:00:43 > 0:00:46But if they overcome these trials and tribulations,
0:00:46 > 0:00:50they'll end up with the home they've always desired.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54So if you're looking for your perfect pad, the question is simple.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58To build or not to build?
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Coming up today:
0:01:04 > 0:01:10digging in, the landscape gardener single-handedly building a new home in Northamptonshire.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15I think a builder, a brickie, perhaps they do 5,000 bricks a day.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17I get 50 blocks done a day!
0:01:18 > 0:01:23From salvage to self-build. The couple whose bargain hunting left them flushed with success!
0:01:23 > 0:01:26The thunder box was about £80.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30But inside is a toilet which I got out of a skip!
0:01:30 > 0:01:35And my teacher gives me the brush-off when it comes to painting at building college.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38- You need to pull your finger out, sunshine!- I'm going!
0:01:41 > 0:01:45When it comes to our homes, we Brits can certainly be competitive.
0:01:45 > 0:01:51When landscape gardener John Barraclough found a fabulous plot in Rushden, Northamptonshire,
0:01:51 > 0:01:53he realised he'd have his work cut out.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57Not keeping up with the Joneses, more like keeping up mit der Schmitz.
0:01:57 > 0:02:02Because right alongside John's site is an uber-contemporary German kit house.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Undaunted, John is determined to build something just as stylish
0:02:06 > 0:02:09with his own hands at a fraction of the cost.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12And the garden will be wunderbar, too!
0:02:15 > 0:02:22As boss of his own landscaping company, John's been digging into the Rushden soil for seven years.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26But he's putting the gardening business to bed for a year.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29For his latest project he'll definitely require more than a trowel!
0:02:30 > 0:02:36Ah, that's more like it! It's John's aim to transform this muddy patch of land
0:02:36 > 0:02:39into a house as stunning as the one next door.
0:02:40 > 0:02:45After a month's hard work, the plot's been cleared and foundations laid.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47He's now ready to start building.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51It's time for me to meet the man with a very ambitious plan.
0:02:53 > 0:02:58What is it about you, what is it about your personality that makes you want to do all this yourself?
0:02:58 > 0:03:03I've always done gardening. Because the gardening projects have got bigger and bigger,
0:03:03 > 0:03:10and we've done up houses in the past, I've got enough confidence to think, "Yeah, I can do that."
0:03:10 > 0:03:13And I think you've got to think like that.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16If you worry too much about it, you wouldn't start.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21Now, gardening is one thing. But building a whole house from scratch
0:03:21 > 0:03:23is an entirely different ball game.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27The very fact he's intending to do the bulk of the work himself
0:03:27 > 0:03:30will surely be giving John the odd sleepless night.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33What's eating you up? What's the worry?
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Um...
0:03:36 > 0:03:40Sometimes getting things in the right order.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44There's an awful lot to remember rather than just being a plumber or brickie.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47I have to keep everything churning around.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52The thing I'm more worried about is when I find something and can't judge if it's important.
0:03:52 > 0:03:58So you have to go and ask somebody. Sometimes they'll say, "No, that's fine. Don't worry about it."
0:03:58 > 0:04:03- You've been thinking... - I say, "This bit, I'm going to do later." "No! You have to do it now!"
0:04:03 > 0:04:06So that's the sort of thing I worry about.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10- That I don't know what I'm doing! - That's the learning curve you've taken on.- Yeah!
0:04:11 > 0:04:14But if John can pull it off, this DIY option
0:04:14 > 0:04:18could save him as much as £80,000 when it comes to labour costs.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21With John's two children having flown the nest,
0:04:21 > 0:04:24he's decided now is the ideal time to build.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30With the help of an architect, John's come up with a four-bed house
0:04:30 > 0:04:34that he hopes will complement the modern German architecture next door.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38He's using a traditional build method of breeze blocks and a steel frame
0:04:38 > 0:04:41which will be rendered to give a clean, simple look.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00That's roughly the same price as similar-sized detached homes in the area.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04But few will be as contemporary and bespoke as John's house.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07However, building it is going to take some serious hard work.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15With a bit of assistance from his friend Alex,
0:05:15 > 0:05:18the cement foundations of the house are set firm.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21That's OK. It's a bit low over there.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23It's only a few millimetres.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Allowing the dynamic duo to get busy with some breeze blocks.
0:05:35 > 0:05:40It takes eight specialist builders four days to erect a kit house like the one next to John's plot.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43John and Alex aren't quite as quick.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46They're only just getting around to laying the ground floor.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55It's build month three and time I chivvied them on a little.
0:05:56 > 0:06:01- Hello, hello! Hi, John. How are you? - Hi, Simon.- Getting stuck in?
0:06:01 > 0:06:06- We're getting there.- The floors are just starting to go in? The ground floor.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10Yes. This arrived yesterday. We've got thousands of them, which is off-putting!
0:06:10 > 0:06:12But exciting!
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Sometimes we get up in the morning and think, "My God! What am I doing?"
0:06:16 > 0:06:19The next minute, you think, "It's one step at a time."
0:06:19 > 0:06:23Doing this today, that the next day and then you're there.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25We've done an awful lot of work just to get to this.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27And yet it looks like nothing.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30But if John ever finds himself lacking motivation,
0:06:30 > 0:06:35he only needs to glace at the impressive house 25 feet from his garden fence.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Do you feel pressure to emulate that?
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Er, it's pretty imposing.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45But we've designed the house to take advantage of some of the nice bits.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50The nice overhanging roofs, it comes away from the balcony.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55I've got a balcony at the back and we're reflecting that roof shape in mine.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Where are you living whilst this is going on?
0:06:57 > 0:07:02This bungalow had two plots. Tony, who's an ex-architect,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05has bought that one and he was renting that.
0:07:05 > 0:07:10So as he moved out, I moved in. It was quite amazing timing.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13So I've got a hole in the fence and I walk through there
0:07:13 > 0:07:15and I can make a cup of tea.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19We forget stuff, so go in and get a screwdriver and we're sorted.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22With that bungalow being so conveniently placed,
0:07:22 > 0:07:25- any chance of a cup of tea? - Yeah, we can do that.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36Considering this is John's first foray into the world of self-build,
0:07:36 > 0:07:41you can't fail to be impressed by the way he's turning his hand to pretty much any job on site.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48And today is a significant day in the life of this build.
0:07:48 > 0:07:53In just a few hours' time, John hopes to have the ground floor base completed.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57To create a solid bedrock on which to build,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00John's opted for the tried and trusted block and beam method.
0:08:03 > 0:08:04It's a relatively simple system
0:08:04 > 0:08:08where long concrete beams are laid parallel to each other
0:08:08 > 0:08:11before small concrete blocks are slotted into them.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17You don't need specialist skills to fit it, so it's a popular choice for self-builders.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22You send the design of the house off to a block and beam company
0:08:22 > 0:08:24and they do a design for you.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Then you basically follow the design.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31So the beams sit on where you're going to have a wall.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35So if your walls are in the right place, they sit in the right place.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Hopefully! And they have all sat in the right place.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41So we're OK so far. Not too worried.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46It's early days for John, but so far everything appears to be going according to plan.
0:08:46 > 0:08:52He's certainly made the switch from a green-fingered gardener to a savvy navvy with relative ease.
0:08:52 > 0:08:58In fact, to listen to him talk, you'd think he'd been doing this his whole life!
0:08:58 > 0:09:02Our water pipes are in. All our drainage is done.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05The cabling for the water-harvesting tank is down there.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08And we have to put a cable in for our sewage pump.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11We've got plenty to do!
0:09:15 > 0:09:20Five months in and John's house is beginning to emerge from his solid foundations.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25Alex has gone back to his day job working as a gardener
0:09:25 > 0:09:28so John really is left to build his home alone.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33And he's making what can only be described as steady progress.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37It's quite hard when you're doing it yourself.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40But it seems to be working.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45John's meticulous in his methods.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49He's keen to make sure that every block is in exactly the right position.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53And I do mean exactly!
0:09:53 > 0:09:56But, being a self-confessed perfectionist,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59he's still not 100% happy.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02I certainly worry about levels and verticals.
0:10:02 > 0:10:03Probably a bit too much.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06You can't fault his attention to detail,
0:10:06 > 0:10:09but he's almost halfway through his 12-month build schedule
0:10:09 > 0:10:13and John still hasn't completed a ground-floor wall yet.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15I have to do this all again when I go upstairs!
0:10:15 > 0:10:20Doing everything himself is saving John tens of thousands of pounds.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24But if he'd got the professionals in, this build might be finished!
0:10:24 > 0:10:29I think a builder or brickie, perhaps they do 5,000 bricks a day.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32I get 50 blocks done a day!
0:10:32 > 0:10:35One thing he has found time to do, though,
0:10:35 > 0:10:36is plant a vegetable patch.
0:10:37 > 0:10:42This won't be the fastest build in the world, but John's learning as he goes along.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45And, as usual, he's taking everything in his stride.
0:10:47 > 0:10:52I don't want to think too far ahead, because if you worried about it, you'd panic.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56I get up some mornings and I think, "Shute, I must be mad."
0:10:56 > 0:11:01Then I look at the drawings of the house again and think, "That'll look nice"
0:11:01 > 0:11:04and, you know, I check out the garden and stuff.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Then the panic drifts away.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Building at this pace isn't for everyone.
0:11:11 > 0:11:12But John seems happy enough.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15One thing's for sure, though,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18he'll need to get his roof on before the winter weather arrives.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29Self-building allows people to create something which suits their own taste and style.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34So when our next couple decided to mix the opulent grandeur of a Venetian palace
0:11:34 > 0:11:35with the American deep south,
0:11:35 > 0:11:39they certainly let their imaginations run wild!
0:11:43 > 0:11:47With sumptuous silk walls and glittering glass chandeliers,
0:11:47 > 0:11:51Italian palaces became the byword for a European style
0:11:51 > 0:11:54that would dominate interior design for centuries.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Maxim Peccaro and Keith Hughes
0:12:01 > 0:12:06wanted their dream home near Stevenage to replicate the classical Italian look.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10But with an exterior straight from Gone With The Wind.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14We had several styles of home that we wanted to build.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18Keith's was more of a mock Georgian house, really.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20He wanted something traditional.
0:12:20 > 0:12:25I wanted something modern originally, but we decided on something to suit the area
0:12:25 > 0:12:27but that also looked pretty.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32Keith did have the final say when it came to naming their new home.
0:12:32 > 0:12:38My grandparents used to host Christmas for us, a big family Christmas and everybody would come.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42When they died, I decided I would like to host Christmas for all of my family
0:12:42 > 0:12:44because I have a large family.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46That's why we built the house.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52Keith and Max found a plot with a bungalow on it for £190,000.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01They chose a timber-framed kit build and decided to do much of the work themselves
0:13:01 > 0:13:04in order to keep the costs under control.
0:13:04 > 0:13:09The main reason we did this is cos we couldn't afford to buy the house we wanted.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13We could never afford to buy a house like this in a million years, straight off.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16The way to do it was to build it, using our skills,
0:13:16 > 0:13:20so it ended up costing us cheaper to build the house of our dreams.
0:13:23 > 0:13:29They really threw themselves into this project by getting hands-on with all aspects of the interior.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Keith took care of the woodwork and soft furnishing
0:13:35 > 0:13:38and Max specialised in electrics and plumbing.
0:13:38 > 0:13:43We would look at something and say, "If it costs that much, how much would it be if we did it ourselves?"
0:13:43 > 0:13:46We always tried the do-it-ourselves option.
0:13:46 > 0:13:51You always say I've got champagne toes. But we've always had a beer-bottle pocket!
0:13:51 > 0:13:55I love nice things. Everybody likes nice things at some point in their lives.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59- We tend to go OTT!- I think you do,
0:13:59 > 0:14:04- then you realise if it costs a lot, you can make it for less money. - Absolutely.
0:14:04 > 0:14:09One major saving came in the kitchen, which they built for just £1,600
0:14:09 > 0:14:12after recycling units from the Victoria and Albert museum
0:14:12 > 0:14:15which they found in a reclamation yard.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21This has to be one of my most favourite spaces in the whole house.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24That's our sitting area. We love it because it's huge
0:14:24 > 0:14:27and where we used to live I had no space whatsoever.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31But here we can't complain because there's lots of space.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37This is my favourite room because of the vaulted ceiling
0:14:37 > 0:14:40and the Venetian fabric on the walls.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43Because Keith and I love Venice, and we go quite a lot,
0:14:43 > 0:14:48we wanted a piece of Venice. Centuries ago, they used to line their walls with fabric or silk.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53So we managed to get hold of some fabric from Venice and this is the result.
0:14:53 > 0:15:00It's slightly padded, it keeps the room soundproof and keeps it warmer.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03The bathroom is another place where an eye for a bargain
0:15:03 > 0:15:06has enabled them to mix retro and modern.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11The washstand was about £25 from the reclamation yard.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14And the thunder box was about £80.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17But inside is a toilet
0:15:17 > 0:15:21which I got out of a skip outside a London hotel.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27Taking time to source bargains wherever they could,
0:15:27 > 0:15:31coupled with their DIY approach paid off massively for Max and Keith.
0:15:31 > 0:15:37They actually came in £50,000 under their original £200,000 budget.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41That's a substantial saving that few self-builders can boast about.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44It's sublime that we've done it under budget.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47The feeling is like no other, it really is.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55With the house now valued at a staggering £1 million,
0:15:55 > 0:16:00they saved more than 650 grand compared with buying an equivalent home.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02And they enjoyed the experience so much,
0:16:02 > 0:16:06this might not be the end of their self-build ambitions.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10When you first build your house and move in, you think that's it.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13But you get the bug again because it's exciting.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17It's thrilling and gives you a sense of well-being.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20- It's all of those things.- Yeah. - But it's very hard work.
0:16:20 > 0:16:21- It is.- Very hard work.
0:16:34 > 0:16:41In Rushden in Northamptonshire, John Barraclough has put his gardening business on hold
0:16:41 > 0:16:44and spent five months building the home of his dreams.
0:16:44 > 0:16:45I need a block.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49Incredibly, he's doing almost all the work himself.
0:16:50 > 0:16:56John's already laid a back-breaking 1,000 breeze blocks and he's still on the ground floor.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Today, though, is going to be a big day for John.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03The build is about to take a giant leap forward
0:17:03 > 0:17:07and for once he'll need a little help on site to make things happen.
0:17:07 > 0:17:13Bit of a funny day today. We're having the first lot of steel.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17Which is good. We've got about ten bits
0:17:17 > 0:17:20and they are all going
0:17:20 > 0:17:26on the first floor stuff.
0:17:26 > 0:17:31Not had the best night's sleep, thinking about doing all this today.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36If the thought of it is enough to make you lose sleep, John,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39best not look now because a lorry laden with steel girders
0:17:39 > 0:17:41has just arrived.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Very interesting.
0:17:45 > 0:17:50And as the metal bars are lifted into place, the project takes on a whole new look.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56It's a nervous time for John. The girders have been precision manufactured
0:17:56 > 0:18:01so if he's made even the slightest mistake with his walls, the metal bars simply won't fit.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08As the girders glide into place, John's perfectionism and precision
0:18:08 > 0:18:10seem to be paying off.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12It's a real triumph!
0:18:16 > 0:18:19But as the final few girders are lifted off the lorry,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22there's a problem. The work grinds to an almighty halt.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Got all the bits up. It fitted nicely.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Until virtually the last piece...
0:18:30 > 0:18:34..was six inches too long.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37So it's gone back in the van.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40It's gone to get cut. And it'll come back.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44By the time we've had our cup of tea.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46Useful for using a local company.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50It's not long before the re-cut beam is back on site.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53It's down with the tea and back out with the tools.
0:18:56 > 0:19:01It's taken lots of hard work to get to the stage where the steelwork can be fitted.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09And when this huge A-shaped steel structure is lifted into place,
0:19:09 > 0:19:13you finally get a real feel for the size and shape of John's house.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18But having all these mammoth metal bars in place
0:19:18 > 0:19:21has led to a startling realisation.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24The nightmare thing I've just realised
0:19:24 > 0:19:27is that it shows how high I've got to build the walls!
0:19:27 > 0:19:31So this wall here will also have to be that high in blockwork.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34And then one in the middle.
0:19:34 > 0:19:39So I've got one, two, three walls in blocks that have to go that high!
0:19:40 > 0:19:42That'll keep us out of trouble for a month or two!
0:19:45 > 0:19:50The following day, John's moved on from the number of blocks he still has to lay.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Right now he has bigger concerns.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55Much bigger concerns.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58In fact, 30-foot high concerns!
0:19:58 > 0:20:02It's a bit worrying today cos it's moving in the wind, if you look up.
0:20:02 > 0:20:07The towering A-frame weighs almost half a tonne.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11If it were to come down, it could do some serious damage to John's walls.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Or even worse to John himself.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17John needs expert advice, so he gets on the phone.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20It's pretty windy here at the moment.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22OK, no, that's fine.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25If I put a bracing strap onto the steel at the bottom,
0:20:25 > 0:20:29then I'm up to the apex of the sitting room bit of the roof.
0:20:29 > 0:20:34One phone call later and John's gone back to his blocks.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39I've been assured by the engineers that it's not a problem
0:20:39 > 0:20:41so I'll relax about it.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48I've never seen anyone as unfazed as John before in my life!
0:20:48 > 0:20:50He's so laid back about this build,
0:20:50 > 0:20:53he's practically horizontal!
0:20:53 > 0:20:55But he's never lost sight of his dream,
0:20:55 > 0:21:00to build a house that will complement the distinctive dwelling next door.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05And he's keen to keep up with his soon-to-be next-door neighbours.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09The idea it's the same height as the Huf house.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12And the pitch of the roof is the same.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16So his roof is 60 degrees. Mine will be 60 degrees.
0:21:16 > 0:21:22So the design and overhang of the roofs was thought about.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26We thought it would look better to sort of complement.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29It'll be very satisfying when it's finished.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35Building a house pretty much single-handedly is an astonishing achievement.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38You really have to take your hat off to John.
0:21:38 > 0:21:44He's learning new skills every day. He's come up with some inventive labour-saving methods.
0:21:46 > 0:21:52But even John can get lonely, so he's managed to rope his kids, Jack and Zoe, into helping out.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57You see, this is what Zoe does.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Another Zoe block face. And this is a Jack block!
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Let's see. It's a Jack block!
0:22:03 > 0:22:09They've all come and given me a hand, both my kids.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12They'll do it for a bit, but soon want to go off and do something else.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16Even threatening to pay them doesn't seem to work.
0:22:16 > 0:22:21But with their help, John has finally reached the upper level of his house.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24So it won't be long before he can raise the roof!
0:22:26 > 0:22:31It's six months since I visited John at his contemporary self-build in Northamptonshire.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35This truly is a self-build in every sense of the word
0:22:35 > 0:22:38because John is doing most of the work himself.
0:22:38 > 0:22:39This is a labour of love.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43But I wonder, if after laying thousands of breeze blocks,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46whether he's still loving the labour!
0:22:49 > 0:22:51I'm about to find out.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54But I'm not the only one dropping in on John today.
0:22:55 > 0:23:00As I arrive, he's taking delivery of another lorry-load of metal.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05Tonnes of steel girders he's hoping to have in place by the end of the day.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Looks like I picked the perfect day to pay him a visit!
0:23:09 > 0:23:11- It's close, isn't it?- It is close!
0:23:12 > 0:23:19- I can feel the excitement today. A bit of tension and excitement. - Certainly tension!
0:23:19 > 0:23:23The plan is for these huge metal bars to be hoisted into the air
0:23:23 > 0:23:26and set down onto these narrow breeze blocks.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30For the first time since I've met him, John looks genuinely apprehensive.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33Has Mr Unflappable finally met his match?
0:23:33 > 0:23:38We've thought about what might go wrong. We've just got to stop it happening!
0:23:38 > 0:23:40What might go wrong?
0:23:40 > 0:23:45Well, the gables are fairly fresh.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49- How fresh?- Recent.- How recent? - Not that long!
0:23:49 > 0:23:52- How long?- We've been doing them in the last few days.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56Ideally, it would be nice if they were rock hard.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59This is critical.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02The cement is so fresh, it may not have had enough time to harden.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06The gable ends may not be able to support the huge weight of the girders.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09And that's not the only issue.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15Some of them are only a four-inch wall. So it doesn't matter how hard it is.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19- Yeah.- You've got six, eight feet of brick wall, 24 inches wide,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22and the steel bangs down on it, it can move anyway.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26It's another tough test for John's workmanship.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30If his self-taught block-laying skills let him down this time,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33it's more than his pride that'll be taking a tumble!
0:24:36 > 0:24:39It does seem very thin to rest a huge steel on top of.
0:24:39 > 0:24:46You can actually see the mortar is darker than that below it. It was a cold night last night,
0:24:46 > 0:24:48and it could be like sugar!
0:24:48 > 0:24:51We'll find out whether it's set or not, won't we?
0:24:51 > 0:24:55It's not just the strength of the mortar John has to worry about.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Like the last time he had steel work installed,
0:24:58 > 0:25:02if the measurements are slightly out or his walls are uneven,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05there'll be some serious head-scratching going on here!
0:25:05 > 0:25:08Here we go, then, fella. Does it fit?
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Yeah, it'll fit.
0:25:15 > 0:25:20Amazing. The steel engineers have measured it. John measured it. I daren't look!
0:25:20 > 0:25:24After all the planning, measuring over and over again,
0:25:24 > 0:25:28you don't know whether it fits until it actually sits in - or not!
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Looking good, John!
0:25:32 > 0:25:35Yes, all right so far!
0:25:41 > 0:25:45It's a fraction out, but it should still do the job just fine.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48It's 20mm.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52So it's now down to perfectionist John to decide whether to crack on
0:25:52 > 0:25:55or risk damaging the blockwork by having another bash.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00Let's leave it there. It's got what it needs. It's on the pad.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05John decides to let that go. So they're 3mm out
0:26:05 > 0:26:10before they put the big piece on and hopefully that won't cause trouble down the far end.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15One down, two to go.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18As the next girder is prepared,
0:26:18 > 0:26:22there's enough time to quiz John about the life of a lonesome builder.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27Let's talk about self-build. Some people's idea is to draw a picture,
0:26:27 > 0:26:31- give it to an architect, come back. - No, I wasn't going to do that.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33Self-build to me means a self-build.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Must be nice just to speak to someone.
0:26:36 > 0:26:42- The days you've been here on your own.- There have been days where you're thinking...
0:26:44 > 0:26:47How many more thousands? How many more? How many thousand blocks?
0:26:49 > 0:26:53- Not quite 8,000 yet. - But 8,000 has got to be...
0:26:53 > 0:26:57My elbow. Talk about tennis elbow!
0:26:57 > 0:27:02Thankfully for John, today's heavy lifting is someone else's responsibility.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06But, as always, he's 100% hands on when it comes to the crunch.
0:27:08 > 0:27:13It's pretty much where it needs to be now. Watch that end pad.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Can't be far off?
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Touchdown!
0:27:24 > 0:27:27That's spot-on, that is.
0:27:27 > 0:27:32This time, it's absolutely millimetre perfect. Result!
0:27:32 > 0:27:35He's a modest man, John, but if you think about it,
0:27:35 > 0:27:39he built these walls, he did all the height, all the levels,
0:27:39 > 0:27:41all these measurements.
0:27:41 > 0:27:46And it is absolutely perfect!
0:27:46 > 0:27:50- You must be happy, mate.- Yes, it's satisfying. It's all right.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54It's not all right, it's bang on!
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Right. One to go.
0:27:56 > 0:28:02Last one. If this goes on, John has a building!
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Just filling in the gaps!
0:28:04 > 0:28:06Fingers crossed.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12The third and final bar is the biggest and the heaviest of them all.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17It needs to go to your right. Three millimetres.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20It's got to go 5mm left.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26OK. We're OK here.
0:28:27 > 0:28:31It's a perfect fit. And the mortar is holding up nicely, too.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34It's absolutely bang on.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36This fella knows what he's doing.
0:28:36 > 0:28:37No question.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40It's the end of another successful day for John.
0:28:40 > 0:28:44But still time for a bit of banter with his new next-door neighbour.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46It's out!
0:28:46 > 0:28:481mm out, down there.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51That's German engineering. This is English engineering!
0:28:51 > 0:28:56- It looks in the right place to me! - It's at the top of the house, yes!
0:28:56 > 0:28:59No, but whether it's swinging left or right.
0:28:59 > 0:29:04No, that wouldn't matter so much. But is it the perfect height where it needs to be.
0:29:04 > 0:29:09From what I've seen today, your measurements are bob on!
0:29:09 > 0:29:13- They're not bad.- Not bad?! What did you have to change?
0:29:13 > 0:29:15- Nothing.- Nothing.
0:29:15 > 0:29:20Who needs Germans, eh? Nothing wrong with British engineering.
0:29:32 > 0:29:37I've never built my own house, but I've renovated a few derelict properties in my time
0:29:37 > 0:29:42and while I consider myself quite handy, it's worth learning a few new skills.
0:29:43 > 0:29:49When it comes to basic DIY, decorating is the one most people are prepared to dabble at.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55Today I'm at building college to have a brush with the painting professor.
0:30:00 > 0:30:02Right, Shaun, what are we up to today?
0:30:02 > 0:30:08The challenge today is to paint a flush-panel door with gloss over base gloss finish.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12- Sounds easy enough.- Lots of people think it's quite easy,
0:30:12 > 0:30:15but it's one of the most difficult challenges a decorator undertakes.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19So my hopes of a nice easy day are out the door!
0:30:19 > 0:30:24Shaun, I'm no painter and decorator, but first obvious question.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26I'm painting blue over yellow.
0:30:26 > 0:30:31For the purpose of the challenge, it's over a contrasting colour,
0:30:31 > 0:30:34to highlight any mistakes you may make once you're painting.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37- It'll show up better. - Or you may make!- Yeah!
0:30:37 > 0:30:40Possibly! Hopefully not!
0:30:43 > 0:30:48Shaun's given me ten minutes to paint the door. To pile on the pressure, it's a race!
0:30:48 > 0:30:52- You can buy all sorts of different quality brushes.- Yeah.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55Is it worth forking out for the more expensive ones?
0:30:55 > 0:30:57Most definitely.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59You see them in the baskets by the checkout.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02Buy eight brushes for three quid.
0:31:02 > 0:31:07They're awful. The bristles will fall out and they'll fall to pieces in minutes.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11You don't get the quality of paint, either.
0:31:11 > 0:31:16Even if I was using all eight of those brushes, Shaun would still be quicker than me.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21A big part of glossing, especially a flush panel door like this,
0:31:21 > 0:31:24is to make sure you get consistency of your paint line.
0:31:24 > 0:31:29What do you mean? How? It just comes out the can, doesn't it?
0:31:29 > 0:31:33As it comes out of the tin, depending on conditions if it's cold or freezing,
0:31:33 > 0:31:36the paint tends to thicken up.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40The best thing is to submerge your paint can in a bucket of warm water.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42The warm water thins the paint naturally.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46'So I've worked out my first excuse!'
0:31:46 > 0:31:49- This isn't the right temperature! - Yours is the same as mine!
0:31:49 > 0:31:54Though I could have doctored it cos you weren't there when I poured it!
0:31:56 > 0:31:59I reckon we've painted for about three or four minutes.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03- Have we?- You need to pull your finger out, sunshine!
0:32:03 > 0:32:05I'm going, I'm going!
0:32:06 > 0:32:08I think the race is already lost.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12Aye, aye, wait for me!
0:32:12 > 0:32:15'But I can keep finding those excuses!'
0:32:15 > 0:32:18This dodgy brush you gave me. The hairs are coming off!
0:32:18 > 0:32:21'Five minutes gone, Shaun's done.'
0:32:21 > 0:32:24Well, mine's bang on.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26I'll be the judge of that!
0:32:26 > 0:32:28Beautiful!
0:32:31 > 0:32:33It's not looking too bad!
0:32:33 > 0:32:37Never mind that. I hate it when people look over my shoulder!
0:32:37 > 0:32:40Say you were going to decorate a standard bedroom.
0:32:40 > 0:32:45- How long should that take a professional decorator? - Maybe a week and a half.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49- OK. That would get you a real good quality finish.- Yeah, I'd say so.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52Well, unless you were doing it!
0:32:54 > 0:32:57- Am I there?- About ten seconds.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02We're not bothered about the customer's laminate floor.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04- We'd put some sheeting down. - Never mind that.
0:33:04 > 0:33:09- I sheeted it. - Let's have an inspection.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12What do you think? Would you be happy paying somebody for that?
0:33:12 > 0:33:18- If you got a decorator in? - Don't ask me!
0:33:18 > 0:33:23I can still see brush strokes. A few misses. It's not on evenly there.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25The top half of your door isn't too bad.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28Did you get fed up as you got lower down?
0:33:28 > 0:33:31- I ran out of time! - You were talking too much.
0:33:31 > 0:33:32No, it's pretty good.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39- Having said that, you can see the difference.- No runs, no misses.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41I think it's the lighting!
0:33:41 > 0:33:44A big problem students tend to get, DIY people,
0:33:44 > 0:33:47is getting the paint on quite thickly.
0:33:47 > 0:33:51They worry if you put it on thick, it'll run, but if you get it on thick and even, it holds up.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54I put it on thickly, and that's why it's held up.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57- That's why it looks a lot... - Glossier.- Yes.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02- How many out of ten?- Out of ten?
0:34:02 > 0:34:04Probably 6.5 or 7.0, maybe?
0:34:04 > 0:34:06Seven? I'll take the seven.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09Cheers, mate. Thanks very much.
0:34:18 > 0:34:23Back in Rushden, the diamond-hard, self-fuelled machine that is John Barraclough
0:34:23 > 0:34:26is slowly chipping away at his dream.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29In the friendly competition between John and his neighbour
0:34:29 > 0:34:34over who can build the most stylish new house, John is now a definite contender.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39The roof is up, and suddenly the race looks a bit more even.
0:34:42 > 0:34:43But it's a marathon, not a sprint,
0:34:43 > 0:34:49and after his Herculean efforts putting everything in place block by block, screw by screw
0:34:49 > 0:34:53to get this far, making the roof watertight is another massive task.
0:34:55 > 0:34:57There are a lot of battens up here!
0:34:57 > 0:35:00It was about 4,000 metres of batons.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03It was kind of repetitive and easy,
0:35:03 > 0:35:08so once you've done one batten, you know how to do the other 50,000!
0:35:08 > 0:35:10Oh, and then there's the tiles.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15Shingles. Shingles for the roof of the garage.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18There's 56 bundles here. Couple of metres per bundle.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21So there's about 100 square metres I've got to put up.
0:35:21 > 0:35:26With every single one of them, there's a couple of pins.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29A lot of work there. I'm not thinking about that!
0:35:31 > 0:35:34But there's one harsh truth John has to face up to.
0:35:34 > 0:35:38The bungalow next door, where I've been staying,
0:35:38 > 0:35:39that rental has come to an end.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41It's a pain, because I'm not finished.
0:35:41 > 0:35:48But I do have a couple of months' notice. I've got eight weeks.
0:35:48 > 0:35:49But it does put pressure on.
0:35:50 > 0:35:55It's a major blow. Living on site has meant John could come and go
0:35:55 > 0:36:00and he was able to act as night watchman to keep the whole area secure.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03I'll have to be organised for the first time!
0:36:03 > 0:36:07If I'm somewhere else, I have to turn up with what I want on the day
0:36:07 > 0:36:09so that'll be a bit tricky.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13John's build is already running three months behind schedule.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16The extra time he'll now need to get to and from site
0:36:16 > 0:36:18is bound to have a knock-on effect.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21There's still plenty of major work on the inside to do.
0:36:22 > 0:36:26The kitchens, bathrooms, underfloor heating, plumbing and electrics to do.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32But it'll be fine. I'm happy so far!
0:36:33 > 0:36:38And for this rooftop philosopher, now's not the time for any regrets.
0:36:38 > 0:36:43You learn a lot. You're making something and leaving something behind.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46That's a nice thing. This is going to be here for a while.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48I've had a couple of houses, both old houses,
0:36:48 > 0:36:50and they've been up for 100 years.
0:36:50 > 0:36:55Hopefully, this will be as good. So, yeah.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58Nice feeling.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04Over the next couple of months, the windows are installed
0:37:04 > 0:37:05and the roof shingles fitted.
0:37:05 > 0:37:10But doing all this work single-handed means the build isn't progressing quickly.
0:37:15 > 0:37:20It's now build month 18 and John's busy running the mile or so of electric cable
0:37:20 > 0:37:22through the house.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29And I'm back in Rushden to find out first hand how he's doing.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33It's...ten months
0:37:33 > 0:37:35since I was here at John's place.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40Well, it's not quite a house,
0:37:40 > 0:37:42but it's coming on!
0:37:42 > 0:37:45The roof looks fantastic! Bear in mind
0:37:45 > 0:37:47he's done it all himself!
0:38:01 > 0:38:04- It's amazing! It's a big space. - Yes, it's nice.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07Starting to look like a house now! Not finished, though!
0:38:07 > 0:38:10Is it not?! My expert eye tells me that.
0:38:16 > 0:38:21Even though it's not finished, it's possible to see how this will shape up into a fabulous home,
0:38:21 > 0:38:26from the downstairs snug to the bedrooms to the main open-plan living area.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31- Talk me through this space.- This is the open-plan sitting room.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35The idea was that you got a nice open fire, log fire,
0:38:35 > 0:38:38sitting room, bean bags, maybe a TV.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40This is massive.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44It's a dining room, too, so...
0:38:44 > 0:38:46- It's a big kitchen/diner.- It's nice.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49Also because of the living room.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53Yes. I want to cook here and look at the fireplace.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56- Great for a party, hopefully. - Absolutely.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00- Eventually there'll be a house-warming party! - Give me the invite!
0:39:00 > 0:39:02If I'm not too old, I'll come!
0:39:04 > 0:39:10'It's on the mezzanine level you can really appreciate what John's achieved.'
0:39:11 > 0:39:14This is a really great space.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18From here, you get to celebrate all the architectural features.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22- They're working, I think. - Really working.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26This is nice. When the sun does come through here,
0:39:26 > 0:39:30all this space gets lit up and there's a master bedroom behind that.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32So those doors can be opened.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34That light goes straight in there.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44What amazes me most is the scale of the project that John's taken on.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48This four-bed house is massive,
0:39:48 > 0:39:52yet he's been prepared to tackle almost every aspect of the build himself.
0:39:52 > 0:39:53Talk about determination!
0:39:53 > 0:39:58Was there ever a point when you thought, "I don't want to do this any more."
0:39:58 > 0:40:00Quite a few times!
0:40:00 > 0:40:05But if you're going to do a self-build, you can't say to somebody, "Come and do it for me."
0:40:05 > 0:40:09- So you just keep going.- So it's a certain mind-set that you need?
0:40:09 > 0:40:15- You're working in...- I couldn't be an electrician constantly or a block-builder constantly.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19You've got to mix it about.
0:40:19 > 0:40:23That's the luxury of doing a self-build that you do a bit of everything.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27- That keeps you going.- I know you didn't have a definitive schedule,
0:40:27 > 0:40:30but time has slipped a bit. What do you put that down to?
0:40:30 > 0:40:33As you do the build, you realise it takes longer.
0:40:33 > 0:40:39You can't sit down at the beginning and do a project spreadsheet as to what you're doing this week.
0:40:39 > 0:40:43Unless it's a rabbit hutch. I don't think you can do it that way for this.
0:40:43 > 0:40:48It evolved as well, in terms of how we've done it. How we've learned how to do things.
0:40:50 > 0:40:56Sticking to the original £250,000 build budget has had a knock-on effect with regards to time.
0:40:58 > 0:41:04I've done more of my day job at the same time than I planned to do.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06That's partly out of necessity
0:41:06 > 0:41:10because of costs.
0:41:10 > 0:41:15Not because they've necessarily overrun. We're still pretty much on budget.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17- In that sense.- OK.
0:41:19 > 0:41:24On target to meet the overall £400,000 budget,
0:41:24 > 0:41:27a recent valuation has justified all John's hard work.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31A while ago somebody came and it was about half a million,
0:41:31 > 0:41:35something like that, depending on how fast you want to sell it,
0:41:35 > 0:41:38and present climate. But somewhere round there.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40I think you're being modest about all this.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43This is an incredible achievement.
0:41:43 > 0:41:49- To have done 90-odd per cent of this on your own, is amazing!- It will be.
0:41:49 > 0:41:54You only do a few things, probably in your lifetime, that are significant
0:41:54 > 0:41:56and leave something behind.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59But this will be a quite nice lump!
0:41:59 > 0:42:03With all those breeze blocks, it's more than a lump!
0:42:04 > 0:42:07To mark this gardener's transformation into self builder
0:42:07 > 0:42:09I've got him a suitable gift.
0:42:09 > 0:42:14- I just thought that... - For goodness' sake!
0:42:17 > 0:42:19Oh, that's great. Thank you very much!
0:42:19 > 0:42:22- It's certainly a memento. - A building gnome.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24It's one of the heaviest ones!
0:42:24 > 0:42:25You're a block expert now!
0:42:25 > 0:42:29I thought you meant the gnome, but you mean the density of the block!
0:42:29 > 0:42:32That's good! I like that.
0:42:32 > 0:42:33Thank you very much.
0:42:33 > 0:42:39I can't tell you how impressed I am that you've got on with this place.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41It's looking magnificent.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44- I'd like to see it when it's all plastered.- Definitely.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46- That party.- You're very welcome to.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49No, it won't be that long.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52Yeah, Christmas time, a good party.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55You didn't say which Christmas!
0:42:55 > 0:42:57- No!- Very wise!
0:43:19 > 0:43:22Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd