The Reluctant Builder Uncut

[@oceanburdett2223]

He seems to be a very very clever man we all learn our trade either joiner plumber etc over many years and he has had to learn everything over a few year

[@MrJethroB]

Hes really smart for sure and has a really methodical approach to problems. But I think anyone can surprise themselves with what you can learn to do, these things aren't magic. Its having the mindset to try and fail, then try again. Any kind of engineering (from making an air craft to a garden pond) is about trying something then honestly assessing the results, then fixing the issues and reassessing. Of course doing honest assessments means knowing when to call the experts, but the vast library of infomation online now really allows a motivated person to learn from an expert in a way that people would have worked for free to learn in the past.

[@Oli_Hudson]

Would be great if you return in a year or two to see the progress and how the issues were resolved!

[@knockoffdusty]

Great to see a man so passionate about his work. Best of luck. Hopefully Skillbuilder will have future videos from your build...

[@craiglowe44]

More videos with Matt Smith I think, he has a fantastic level of detail and a real appreciation for specification!

[@drc6940]

I rarely comment but I enjoy this sort of material where the guest explains their problems and works through their issues.

[@RobertWoolford]

Outstanding! Would love to see more videos of guys like Mat doing their own work. His channel is also excellent.

[@frankmckie2992]

Massive respect to Mat and his other half, it's sad to say we only hear the bad jobs and cowboy builders.... there is lots of good trade's workers out there too. Well done Rodger and the skill builder team for these videos love them.

[@abbersj2935]

Frank, I agree that some are good. The problems as I see it are that the is no good way to differentiate good from bad, the good often charge silly rates, (I've been quoted at £380 to £500 per day) and often they want to sting you on materials at list prices also, when they are typically available at 25% discounts. Proper training as shown here, and some form of regulation is the only way forward as I see it.

[@iantarncarpentry4285]

This would be an amazing project to work on! I love working alongside lads who have this vision and passion for a building! Well done Matt 👊🏻

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Great video SB. Look forward to a re visit in a few months. Well done Mat for taking the bull by the horns, and to your wife for getting involved. 👏🏻👏🏻

[@RagingBlade1]

Matt, I empathise with you totally having gone through a process of extending my property very recently. From the outset I wanted to as little involved as I could however the quality of my builder and lack of staff management forced me to be hands on. I help others where I can with advice but what you are doing is on another level, although you reluctantly had to do it, the feeling of completing an item or a task is awesome. I shared the same lines with my friends and family ‘ I know exactly what wires are going behind that wall’, took photos of everything however I don’t think they get what we mean by it. The hours of thinking, learning watching KZbin videos etc. I’d love to learn a little more around the home automation, at least to a basic level so will be subscribing to your channel. Cheers and GOD BLESS

[@ConorMakes]

I came off the tools about 4 years ago now and changed jobs completely, to many guys these days just don't care sadly. All the best with your endeavors Matt and with luck one or two guys watching this will be of help to you. Take care Conor

[@gdr88]

Issue after issues...the costs...I would've had a mental health breakdown a long time ago...respect to Matt

[@MartynasKveksas]

Fantastic video, what a humble guy. Would love to see an update video in a year or so.

[@Aikay373]

Kudos to this guy, thousands of us in the same position finding it near impossible to find genuinely good contractors. Take no pride in their work at all these days!

[@daniellegge1630]

Should have drawn the winder corner out full size on a sheet of ply, I’ve done this for 20 years with the staircases I make, if it’s marked out right making the treads is a doddle.

[@SkillBuilder]

Good tip, do you want to make a video showing us? We will visit you.

[@BartoszTabaka]

Bloody love the basement system! Totally overengineered but also 100% something I would do myself :-) Well done

[@messageobliquespe100]

Part two. Basement floor levels / scrabbling concrete to remove:- Well, basement slabs are / can be poured not being level. They can be cast with a fall to them to allow water to drain to a sump pit with underfloor drained cavity system. A floor is then cast /provided above to level. It may be that this is what may have been envisaged in your project - but had gone by the wayside/ lost in translation. You might not know - but I’d be enquiring / thinking about the basement slab now you’ve removed 70mm from it. The thickness of the basement slab & the reinforcement within has to designed for the upward pressure of water - for 3m depth they’d be 30kN/m2. Or 3 tonne / m2. It’s unlikely to “burst” crack too much as it’s rarely under that full head of pressure. So just something for those playing at home to be aware of. When the foul sewer overloads - the sealed manhole cover will be under that pressure. So probably the reason you get weeping under the seals. I’m sure it’s bolted down “well”. If not - think of those manhole covers that you see burst in the streets when the pressure in system is exceeded! I’m here all day

[@brianbutterworth8043]

Epic build for what’s ended up being a DIY job, respect. Great subject Roger. Could you link to the stair builder in Wales you mentioned please?

[@TheDarrenJones]

Keep going, Matt. I've been doing a simple extension and dormer mostly myself, and the only trade I had in (general builder) talked a good job but left me with a bunch of things to sort out. If I'd not watched Roger's excellent tips (and a bunch from Robin Clevett and Steve Roofer), I'd have been in a really bad place. I've learned a lot doing this (I've put in steels, done foundations, concrete slabs and built the dormer and downstairs roof with rooflights myself), but nowhere near as much as you have. You'll get it sorted in the end.

[@SkillBuilder]

Steve Roofer is a great London based guy, he knows his stuff.

[@mrharry8466]

Good lad, well done mate. Great achievement

[@sharonclaridge]

Mat and his wife are doing a cracking job in the face of adversity. It's such a shame when you pay people for a service (building work or otherwise) and they do a half-assed attempt at it then get in a huff if you ask them to do it properly....plus as he said, then the trust is gone anyway. I must say though, all that monitoring and technology to make sure the house doesn't flood would make me nervous - glad I live at the top of hill with no basement! Would love a return to this one to see it again and maybe another when it's finished, brilliant video!

[@allsearpw3829]

Hi, YOUR Tenacity is to be admired , I wish you both well .

[@BillyBoy46]

Fascinating. I wish Mat all the very best., Well done.

[@larion3296]

Very interesting video! Greatly appreciated! Impressive work by the owners.

[@simonRTJ]

I relate to his issues with tradespeople. "we cant find people who we can trust, and who will care enough about the job as mush as I do". Man that sentiment hits hard. I'm renovating an old house and here in NZ most work can only be done by "qualified ""professionals" im not even allowed to lay tiles! i need a waterproofing expert! each time ive had work done ive had to fix their expensive mistakes! for example my new Accoya sash windows 7 of them double glazed have issues that are too numoruse to mention here, one of the main ones is the sashes have a 5 mm square gap on both sides of the meeting rail letting un restricted air flow into the house ! because..."so you can replace the brushes on the parting bead" . the plumber didnt screw on the gas fire properly and it fell off when lit this summer, the underpinning was too high for a few rooms making the house like a fairground fun house, the plumber didint hook up the gas to the boiler, the driveway french drains was filled with pea metal which doesnt lock so drive is spongey. There is so much work for tradies out here that the clients are treated ike a commodity they dont care because theres another job round the corner. ive now been doing most of the work myself. im following the codes and complying, im even going beyond the code and future proofing our house so its warm, dry and healthy for another few hundred years. Well done Mat, your a man after my own hear. keep it up.

[@kevinlawes591]

This man knows his shit fair play more brains than half of the building game! 👍🏻👍🏻🔥🇬🇧

[@sdgelectronics]

Has anyone discussed BS7671 and permitted cable zones with them? Some crazy stuff around that staircase!

[@denty32]

I would have thought he would be a expert at BS7671 listening to him talking. Someone who’s had he’s pants pulled down in the past has now educated himself to a very competent level for which I wholeheartedly approve 👏👏

[@danjackson2014]

What an absolute disaster of a build this is... This house will give him constant stress for the rest of his life.... Too many complicated systems that will disastrously fail. He must of thrown an absolute fortune at it already

[@messageobliquespe100]

I could write my own book on this video. I’d commented on the other one so I’ll keep observations short n sweet/dispel some things. But well done Mat for your perseverance. 1. The sewer network You blamed the Council / Thames Water somewhere. Well, it’s probably an old sewer system - designed adequately back in the day. When properties like yours didn’t have basements - or habitable ones - & had gardens to allow rainwater / surface water to percolate through the ground happily. Now you’ve installed a basement - & removed the rear garden for an extended basement - you’ll now be adding all that water back into the system - for which it was never designed for originally. But you’re not the only one - I wonder how many thousands of basements have been installed in Chiswick & the surrounding areas - all feeding this water into the system. Where it will no doubt have to be pumped & treated - when it would’ve gone happily away into the ground. Unfortunately one reaps what one sows. I’m here all day

[@tedcrilly1]

Over the years I've had to (reluctantly) learn to be a proficient builder, joiner, plasterer, mechanic, plumber, and part electrician. I've dealt with so many terrible trades people over the years. It really does make you sad.

[@deanthornby2026]

I take my hat off to mat ...what a lesson learnt But it could turn out to be a blessing good luck mate

[@HidingZebraTube]

Agree that a follow up would be great in a year or so.

[@kevinobrien5964]

One of the biggest problems when " running" works is finding someone who cares as much as you!

[@Chanesmyname]

Must be proud of this work!

[@PG-ji6vq]

I live on a hill and don’t have a cellar, I feel truly blessed..

[@tonyblunsum2547]

This is amazing !!! Love it

[@pauln7422]

Better than an episode of grand designs!!😀😀

[@grannysbowlz5802]

I am a builder with 12 employees, been doing this for a while now. All I can say is wow, well fcking done mate!

[@davidhill431]

This is a dream build, what a guy. Fantastic effort and I hope his other half is behind him not giving grief moaning about how long it's taking

[@42RHD]

Gosh! Epic stuff! Possibly the Server is overkill? But totally amazing!

[@SkillBuilder]

The server is for his business. I would have mounted it way above ground level but hey.

[@42RHD]

@@SkillBuilder Ah, that makes a lot more sense now - he's a photographer. I somehow got the idea it was part of his flood management system! I'll have to watch it again.

[@SoledadSolary]

I learnt a lot from this person. Definitely picked up some tips. Thanks for sharing and don't mind if I pop some questions or more advice for rebuilding regulations techy stuff. Excellent video and wonderful house.

[@AshevilleAussie]

Damn fine job for a guy who a few years ago couldn’t put up a shelf. Well done 👍

[@chapman9230]

If I were younger, I would start to specialise on the Party Wall Act. Methinks there is going to be a rich seam of work for litigators in London in another ten years as the cracks appear literally.

[@messageobliquespe100]

You’re never too old! If you’ve experience - get to know the right people - have a bit of time on ya hands then away you go! Plenty of Party Wall ambulance chasers out there making money for nothing. & there’s no comeback as PW surveyors are immune! 😂 Good to have a very experienced PW surveyor - but they’re soooo expensive.

[@simonRTJ]

On all my rough openings I made sure my rough cill was tilted out at 7˙, this was if water ingresses into the opening past the winows flashing the water will run out into the cavity over the envelope between my weatherboard and the Tyvek membrane. the rough opening was fully sealed with 3 layers of self sealing (if screw or nail penetrated it) tape too to 50mm over the edge inot the Tyvek wrap envelope.

[@wotnoturbo]

Would highly recommend "Radford joinery" Exeter for your stairs, Shaun is a true craftsman.

[@42RHD]

"Many have died..." 🤣🤣🤣 And I have drawn up a lot of spiral staircases. Never had to build them though!

[@kevinoak7558]

I'm a multi skilled tradesman and never stop learning! And yes there's a lot of loadsamoney types in the trades and others that don't know and don't care. Currently renovating a farmhouse built in 2000 that would be better off being bulldozed the build quality is so bad.

[@davidbrewer7937]

I moved to Canada in 2001 & was shocked to discover the hard way (what the heck is that thing?) that houses here nearly all have a sump with an electric pump. It is done this way because the foundation of the buildings are very deep to avoid the deep frost line & the subterranean area is used as a basement "bonus space". Some places have sump pits which are dry spider pits, some are constantly running, some have a water level but this never gets to float switch point with draining happening naturally as is the case for our current home. However our previous house had a pit which pumper out every half hour in spring, every hour during summer. I that location I added a 2nd pump which runs from municipal water pressure as fail safe backup.

[@peterwalton1502]

Wow. What an interesting video 👏👏👏. He is a very clever fella

[@marchaire9453]

i believe him to be correct in saying "you cant find people to do a job that feel like you do about doing it correct"

[@colinblythe3710]

I feel for you Matt - I have had MAY problems with "tradesmen" over the years - so much so that I now only get a trusted one in to do my Gas work the rest of the trades I learned through nesseccity and going to collage - its hard work doing a revite but at least I know it is done right !!

[@chelps6411]

The roof light looked like it was steel not aluminium,judging by the welds...could an option be to remove all the silicone and put in a super two part silicone and do it really well...also drill some weep holes(although if steel these would rust).

[@maxhatman3218]

Well done! What a complex challenge. I would recommend a rethink about the way the walls are insulated, although it’s possible, I may have misunderstood the way you’re doing it. There should be a vapour barrier on the warm side of the insulation to prevent persistent high humidity on the cold side - if over 75% RH the equilibrium moisture content of the wooden batons will be sufficient for rot or mould to occur. It’s not so good long-term to have wooden batons in an environment with elevated RH because of the lower temperature due to presence of the insulation. If it’s already all installed, you could monitor the RH on the cold side of the insulation in a few places and if well below 75% RH, on average, there should be no problem. an alternative method is to use plasterboard with laminated insulation and an integrated vapour barrier, and metal furrings with no possibility of rotting. Just a thought…

[@captainchillco1025]

Love this video. Unfortunately I cannot help but I'm sure you'll persevere to build the home of your dreams

[@europeancitizen7817]

alot of respect for him, to bad ppl dont care for the job and just do what they want to do and go home.plumber myself and i love doing my job, iff ppl started to love there job alot of mistakes could be solved!

[@Swwils]

Nice to see the comments support this guy rather than the usual "I'd never have him as a client". There is something very wrong with the construction industry in the UK. Why are so many contractors trying to work out how best to screw someone rather than doing a job they can be proud of. Why is it OK to leave people with such a mess to sort.

[@hvacdesignsolutions]

.....because quality often comes in third place, to cost and schedule.

[@richardchalmers7324]

Would make for some interesting @skillbuilder content to remediate some of these issues and bring in the relevant specialists to complete the work.

[@marklinney7997]

Well done Matt it’s hard to find but they are very good general builders about it just finding them in your area - looking in from the outside you have so many jobs going on in your house might be worth sitting down and doing a program of the works and just to the external fabric of the building then start on the inside I know easy to say this but I would do all external areas and remove scaffolding- sometimes this acts as a step change and you feel you have turned a corner on a project

[@Joe90k]

Hope you don't get any leaks in that server room from your cylinder/boiler... At least putting the rack on a plinth/platform would be a good idea if you really want to cover everything. Also maybe a water resistant partition. Impressive work though!

[@annamarie7124]

Thanks for this suggestion. Totally agree; the server rack is raised on wheels and we plan also to make a water resistant partition

[@Ste2023]

What a Trooper

[@leepaulalexander]

I feel for you...we had building work 12 years ago ~£135k and it was an f'ing nightmare. I still look around for the next Easter egg the builder has left me! The gift that keeps on giving....

[@george9710]

Amazing but to prevent damage from sewage there is a much simpler solution. You need a backflow preventer or, as it's ofter referred to, a non-return valve for underground sewage. You will still need to make sure that the sump can temporarily pump the water out of your basement (maybe into a surface drain) but the backflow preventer is an absolute must if you have a basement or a "lower grown" floor. In fact given your past experience with the plumbing in your area and the number of floods that Central London has had over the past couple of years, I'd say it's pbl a must of all houses.

[@lhfloors]

Good video Roger and well done Mat very courageous taking on a project like that I sympathise with anybody that has basement property because the issues are immense and my question is would you be put off by buying a property with a basement I certainly would be apprehensive and probably look elsewhere

[@victorimmature]

That's not a House it's a Space Ship . Amazing .

[@billt1954]

Russell Brand’s handy twin brother.

[@yrification]

That cabling is something else, bit busy

[@billy4072]

Admire his confidence, and talent. As for wasting your life on a building..I ain't so sure.

[@smarty0604]

Wow , you got a link to his utube channel ?

[@therealdojj]

Is this just a note in-depth video of that massive house? Much as I'd love to do the same thing I don't think I could pull it off to that same level of I didn't have 600 years to accomplish the task

[@johnballard399]

I'm thinking a set of weep holes as someone else suggested and maybe some sort of gasket under the frame to seal it, similarly, retrofit a periscope style gasket to doors, not ideal but you have to start from where you are, i'd love a project like this, taught myself the job over last 6 years and always get called into the jobs others mess up or avoid, but only the 2 of us doing our thing :) @JLS Options

[@Steamrollergirl71]

This has scared the life out of me. Am about to renovate and extend a property that hasn't been treated kindly for many years, am a competent DIYer, but need to get the professionals in to do the main building work. Roger, do you have any tips on choosing the right builders? Well done Matt on getting stuck in. Even though you shouldn't of had to!

[@Swwils]

Good luck. I don't think they exist.

[@markgamester]

Water will always get past the gasket, nothing you can do. The tape wont help, if it is getting in the channel as you say then the channel needs drainage holes that lets the water escape to the outside and not overwhelming the channel and coming back on the inside. The patio doors, personally I'd take them out and refit them, your water ingress could be coming in because they haven't sealed the ends of the cill properly, it is essential that is done because the drainage goes through the cill. Water could be tracking from anywhere.

[@messageobliquespe100]

Ok Mark re gasket. I thought about drilling a series of holes on the inside of channel & using expanding foam to fill the channel up 🤔 The outside gaskets to glazing - generally good 🤔 if water still weeps through maybe a further gasket/tape applied to the outside glazing unit to the frame 🤔 thereby totally sealing wind driven rain to the outside. Wonder what ya thoughts are.

[@markgamester]

@@messageobliquespe100 I personally wouldnt use expanding foam, it's messy you'd struggle ever getting the insulated glass unit out when it breaks down, and it's just not necessary. Honestly on any double glazing be it Aluminium or PVC-u water is supposed to get pass the outer gasket (because generally it will shrink/degrade) and drain away freely. You can get little drainage caps that clip into the holes you drill. Make sure you don't clip the glass when you drill, hopefully the glass is sitting on packers, would be handy if you could get a schematic of the profile used. Thing is with using sealants in this situation is you're just hiding what is actually wrong (some things need bedding on sealant at the point of installation), and if they fail you've got to remove all that old sealant. Personally I'd be getting onto the actual system manufacturer of the glass roof (if you can find out), no just the people who installed it. They maybe able to give you installation guidelines, they may even point out there should of been drainage holes etc. Knowledge is power.

[@normanboyes4983]

He is an impressive and capable chap and with his wife they make a formidable team. The hammer incident just about sums the problem. While there are good builders and tradesmen, and we see a few of those on You Tube. however the industry is unfortunately populated with ‘bottom feeders’, poorly educated, poorly trained (if at all) with absolutely no interest in anything other than taking the money and doing what they can get away with and probably incapable of doing a quality job even if they wanted to. I have seen many tradesmen (particularly electricians) who deride ‘DIY Dave’s’ but let’s be clear just like the building trade there are homeowners who cannot put a shelf, but it should be recognised there are plenty of others who already have transferable craft skills who when there is a need have the gumption and capability to research, consult and find out how to tackle a job they doing correctly. The difference is they are motivated and have a stake in the outcome (it’s their home) - they don’t just turn up two weeks late, do an hour and bugger off to breakfast for an hour and a half. Matt is perhaps on the right hand side of the ‘DIY’ spectrum, but is not unusual. Finally, no matter how physically tiring the work for a DIY may be it is actually much less effort and psychological stress than to chase a trade or supplier over underperformance or poor quality work Matt has done a great job and has clearly satisfied his inner geek with his comprehensive surveillance and monitoring system and should be proud of what he has achieved.

[@ArchivonGaming]

Very impressive, is it standard practice to build in pressure treated wood in the UK?

[@SkillBuilder]

yes it is a requirement of the Building Regs in many places. We have long horn beetle in some areas.

[@ArchivonGaming]

@@SkillBuilder I see, interesting. Does the treatment differ a lot from other countries, say scandinavia? Here in Sweden it is adviced against, also thanks for the Reply!

[@pgaybrooks]

I've been in the trade for 20+ years and I would hate to work for this guy. He knows more than I do 😂

[@jons6125]

Servers in the plumbing room? 🤔

[@Skeletoncrew46and2]

Buy stairs online. Cheapest fastest and stairs are as good as independent joiner.

[@robertyork4041]

He/they have taken on a mammoth job - if he ever loses interest in it (and or funding for it) I couldn't see anyone else taking it on to finish it the way he envisaged.

[@jimgeelan5949]

Mr king, i think the channel has found a person to help you further your massive knowledge and think outside the box, let’s boogie

[@fishingsammystyle8682]

Blimey, that guys gone down the rabbit hole! Shame that there's problems finding the trade folk.

[@paulmarjoram2258]

Power to your elbow Matt. It’s a crying shame that nowadays there seems to be more and more uncaring ruthless people in business. There is too much red tape and so called ‘clever’ legal entities for them to hide behind and that prevent proper policing to ensure the customer is properly protected. Seems to me that it’s only the money they care about, not the customers. Policing of businesses is a must. There should be specialist inspectors everywhere randomly checking their work. If found guilty they should be ousted, made to compensate and publicly named.

[@danielhopwood5985]

iive fitted that Q rail type glazing before and its always been gasket, front and back, , , , ,other types are arbo seal, never silicone. . . .i thought i knew a bit about refurbs untill i watched this, youve depressed me roger, im going for breakfast to cheer my incompetant self up 😊

[@Solidsnake0208]

Gives me a headache just watching that video, let alone getting involved with a project like that!

[@mrbluesky9891]

You need deep pockets to renovate a house in London! Matt's got stickability which means a lot. Pumps everywhere, alarms, traffic noise, Thames Water worries....buy a plot of land somewhere nice and build your own or you'll have grey hair and wrinkles before you know it!

[@mikeharper1102]

Clever guy and love his commitment but does he have a life outside the house😏

[@messageobliquespe100]

Part three. Vibrations - Block / Beam flooring The vibration / noise referred to is ground born noise from vehicular traffic nearby. You can isolate this - but you have to employ isolation bearings / Mats / strips to the structure. You could isolate the ground floor from the basement structure if it was known to be of a problem in the beginning/brief. It’s a fairly easy / not so easy process - but careful detailing required to incorporate within the structure. Not too expensive imho. I was involved in the design for isolating an office building over City Thameslink station where the original building was unworkable due to the trains running through the basement structure & the building acting like a tuning fork. Anyway….. Beam & Block flooring - the use of heavy blocks can compound the issue of vibration. Like most things - the span of the floor plays a huge part. Designers / specifiers adopt the most economical (cheap) systems. Your noise was a matter of ground born noise. If the beam & block floor felt “springy” then this could’ve been addressed by using more or deeper beams to support the blocks. There’s a formula of such regarding dynamic loading - which takes the deflection under load of the components used - the more an element deflects the higher the degree of vibration. If you limit the deflection then you reduce the amount of “springiness” Here all day

[@andypsunshineisle5655]

How does he sleep. So many balls in the air at the same time.

[@Meteor-IE]

5 mins in you'd nearly want to steel plate that, imagine someone drilling in there absolute carnage, but you did say forever house so suppose!

[@brapamaldi]

can't wait to see your return visit. im kinda like this bloke, got sick of shoddy work by tradies that we paid good money to so had to learn a few things for myself so I know what is supposed to be happening and can make it hapen if the tradies dont care enough to do their jobs properly

[@Speedscholars]

Surely a building is to live in rather than constantly monitor. Amazing house and chap….but my lord it all seems stressful.

[@devlinthornicroft9975]

In my experience most tradesmen are the same - generally friendly upfront but ultimately are rubbish. Case in point - recently got quotes for some new windows and asked for both double and triple glazed quotes. All (about 10) except 1, tried to offer me 28mm triple glazing. But I knew through research that a 28mm triple glazed window is less thermally efficient than it’s 28mm double glazed counterpart. Muppets. To date I have experienced 1, yes 1, tradesman I have rated highly. Yes, you Charley if you’re reading this.

[@messageobliquespe100]

Part Five. Labelling. Well done Jo the plumber. Labelling up the system. All I’d add is have the plumbing system labelled up on drawing plans that could be referred to / sent to a “plumber” should they need to come in to do some work. Hopefully the plumber can read drawings….I’ll get my coat For the plumbing it’d be important to have references or show where the power is applied to the system / sensors / pumps etc etc - & their locations. Is the system powered from a circuit all of its own or split between an upstairs / downstairs circuit. I think we’ll be amazed at the attention to detail of the electrics / consumer unit assuming you’ve put the same amount of effort in as you’ve done for this build. Having the electric system / wiring identified on the plans advisable too. Basically - you’re providing a building manual for the property which you’re property deserves. I’m here all day

[@davidwhitelaw2354]

Express by folds are the bees knees…I think they got showroom in Leeds..

[@UKVitamins]

Why make life so complicated ? I know its london, but doing such a huge basement conversion just brings problems. Much btter to have sold and bought a less ambitious project or build a new house from scratch. Ok, it was a family house, but even so. The guy has come far and is obviously very talented, but surely you would have achieved more on a different project.

[@MatSmithLondon]

I completely agree. Much of it was unforeseen…

[@StoneUFO]

Bruh the money

[@LupusMechanicus]

why attempt such a silly reverse aquarium in the wettest stickiest, moistest place on earth?

[@MatSmithLondon]

I ask myself the same question. Architect designed it and submitted to planning, our listed building permission was based on this design and we thought we should go with it. Hindsight is a wonderful thing…

[@alanconroy7929]

Great if you can afford it.

[@joechewter1322]

There's one word that sums all of this video up... Expensive

[@terryhill6734]

Clever lad. That house needs clay on the walls to enable it to live and breath. I’ll gladly offer my services 😉

[@hsiehkanusea]

Unreal. Land-borne Titanic. Consider the control systems he's had to design and implement just to deal with sewage alone. The place is beautiful, but keeping it afloat... my prayers go out to the homeowners for sleep and solvency.