Episode 2: Exeter

Half Built House

Series 1 - Episode 2: Exeter

To view this page ensure that Adobe Flash Player version 10.1.0 or greater is installed.

Sian and her team go on manoeuvres in Exeter to help a Marine whose house looks like a bomb has hit it!

The renovation plans Royal Marine Chris and his primary school teacher girlfriend Amy had for their home have gone awry. After buying the house in 2011, a week later Chris was deployed overseas. When he returned 7 months later the mammoth DIY challenge began. His original plan to change the cupboard doors in the kitchen resulted in stripping everything back to the bare walls and ripping out the electrics. This pattern was then repeated in the living room, then spread to the whole house.

On first inspection Sian sums up their home as not a DIY disaster, but a building site: with ceiling
and floor beams exposed, cable everywhere and rubble where the carpet should be.

Chris and Amy pack their bags and hand over the keys of the house to Sian but before work begins, Sian brings in a valuer to estimate what the property is worth. Chris bought the property in 2011 for £175,000, but following his attempts at DIY the valuer believes it would make £110,000.

Sian's plan is to convert one of the property's four bedrooms into a beautiful family-sized bathroom and convert the current water closet in to an en-suite shower room. Downstairs Sian intends to rebuild some of the walls that Chris has knocked down, making a u-shaped kitchen with breakfast bar. Creating two new bathrooms and a kitchen is not an inexpensive operation. However, Sian is the master of negotiation...

But after nearly a week of work, disaster strikes with a supporting wall and foundations. Will the work pass the inspection? Will Sian and the team come in on time and on budget? And will Chris and Amy recoup the value of their home?

Full Episode
- 20:00 24 Jul 2012
- Channel 5
Series 1 - Episode 3: Eastbourne

Sian and her team are in Eastbourne.

Available until 20:00 24 Jul 2013

Full Episode
- 20:00 10 Jul 2012
- Channel 5
Series 1 - Episode 1: Perthshire

Sian and the team visit Perthshire, Scotland where Judi and her partner Colin live in a 3-bed period cottage which they bought 11 years ago.

Available until 21:00 10 Jul 2013

All episodes

Comments (16)

This comment was removed by a moderator
This comment was removed by a moderator
This comment was removed by a moderator
4 months ago

KristoKaare

Why cant i see your videos in Estonia?
- Report abuse
7 months ago

Annie

Hi, really enjoyed watching the Exeter transformation. Can you tell me if the wooden fronted kitchen drawer unit is also from Ikea? I live 50 miles from my nearest ikea so would be grateful for the answer, might save time and petrol. Off to watch more episodes, Many thanks Annie
- Report abuse
10 months ago

Watched in horror

I was glad to hear that the aim is to make the place "livable" again rather than do a decent quality job on the place. This show and others like it also go some way to make a mockery of the finger-in-the-air value of property. How many true professions do you know that would throw a strop in front of their subordinates?
- Report abuse
10 months ago

Dee (London)

Hi Sian Great programme & very inspiring! Which courses would you recommend for an aspiring Property Developer/Builder? Thanks
- Report abuse
10 months ago

Russell Jordan

I've been living in an half built house for years, including no kitchen or plumbed bathroom, leaking flat roof and flashing to main roof. The gardens front and back are dangerous! I just never seem to be able to get enough money to start the work. Can't afford my gas an water bills due to cuts in overtime and call out work. My son is desperate to move in with me but can't due to all over due work. Help! Please!
- Report abuse
10 months ago

andy hayes

i see u this weeks show they used the word tape guess they did taped the joints this time !lol but i dont think its good to tell your forman off in front of other workers thats not good pratice!and budget of £15000 dont u have a buffer for the unsean !
- Report abuse
10 months ago

andy hayes

as a pro builder and plasterer have u ever taped the plaster board joints before u plaster?as last week u did not!
- Report abuse
10 months ago

Rose Rivendale

Sian could you pls finish putting my house back together again. Pls google my story 'Rose Rivendale sleeping in a bus shelter Glasgow'
- Report abuse
This comment was removed by a moderator
This comment was removed by a moderator
This comment was removed by a moderator
This comment was removed by a moderator
This comment was removed by a moderator