The lounge area was a real mess, brick work walls where the plaster had been removed and not replaced, half of the flooring covering had been removed and building materials stacked up in corners. 

The existing downstairs walk in shower design left by the builders did not work.  A new design was planned by Julia to create a 900 x 750 shower tray.  This meant building a stud wall below the bulk head of the staircase.  This would then also provide some much needed storage space below the rack of the stair case.  A new door opening was planned to be cut through roughly were the vertical plywood is shown left.

When preparing walls within a shower area the walls should be lined with a water proof panelling system.  I use a product called DUKKA board this is one a few different products on the market.  Dukka board is a very light weight product which can be either glued or fastened by using special washers, as seen left.  When I contacted my local tile shop, Paul at Versatile Chessington, a family run business, and explained about the project, Paul said, "Versatile would be very happy to donate the Dukka board, washer and tile adhesive to allow the shower room to be completed". 

I have known Paul, and used Versatile for many years, and have always found the service to be first class, and as they are a family business, they offer that extra bit of a special service.

The Dukka board was applied to the existing walls as the walls were 25mm too wide for the shower tray.

The existing waste pipes were removed and a new ones installed

Another job well done, Andy gives the thumbs up, that the shower room is complete.

The towel rail within the down stairs shower room

Julia (Designer) inspects Andy's handy work.  Julia was very pleased with the effect of the shower room.  For a tight space it works well. 

Note the colour of Julia's co-ordinated safety shoes and tool belt.  Julia also has a matching pink tool box complete with pink tools.  Way to go Julia.

Hanna & Christine two of the ladies behind the camera.  Two hard working people that keep the trades people productive.  Nothing was too much trouble, driving the van, loading and unloading, making tea & coffee, driving off to obtain more building supplies and dressing the rooms on the last day.  Thank you Ladies.

Not the use of plaster board packing under the wall hung WC to prevent it from moving

The brackets only required to be tightened

Upstairs bathroom that had been left unfinished

Upstairs bathroom complete.  Access to the plumbing under the bath is from a storage cupboard which run the length of the bath.

The existing drainage had a few problems.  The photo above shows how it had been left.  The hole was dug out further to check the existing drainage connection. The soil stack was amended.  A 100mm rodding eye was installed on both the main soil pipe and the connection to the toilet.  The WC connection had to be altered as it was not high enough.  The shower waste was also renewed and the basin waste regarded.  The materials OSMA plastic soil pipe were kindly donated by Wavin UK

Julian checks over the making good around the amended drainage

Billy with Andy from Hybird Construction a local building contractor enjoying the moments before the final reveal.  Hybird Construction provided and installed the ceiling coving around the through lounge at lighting speed and also provided a team of plasters.

After the new flooring had been installed it was cleaned and protected to allow other trades to start decorating.

Julia with Nick on camera. 

Dan on camera catching the action in the kitchen.  Julian busy sanding the ceiling wearing a full face mask due to the dust.

Danny, Billy and Christine chatting with Julia

All hands to the pump to clean the new floor before covering it with protection.

Danny ,centre, fixing some ceiling lights

Decorators Debi and Tina from ladies-up-ladders put the finishing touches to the lounge.

Danny from BTD Building Contractors making some final adjustments within the kitchen.  Although not a local Company BTD have been involved with other similar projects.

Even though the front drive way was not going to have a make-over when local lad Gerald of G.A Landscapes  saw what was happening to the rest of the house he felt he just had to help.  Gerald contacted Chris Vernon the Branch Manager at Deben Buildbase - Chessington (Tel 020 8974 1065. KT9 1SG) and explained the situation.  Chris gifted the stones and Gerald did the rest.  Gerald quickly obtained a mini digger, removed all of the soft earth, installed some hardcore, and covered it with the stones.

The kitchen getting it's make over by Debi and Tina.

With the pressure now off, and the hand over going well I get a chance to chat with Nick Knowles.  Nick ripped his shirt to dress a Buda in the colours of the DIY SOS Team, you had to be there, it was fun

Andy will Billy the "Sparks".  A big thank you to the Compressed Air Centre a company which are adjacent to the project.  They kindly let the BBC's catering wagon set up and park within their compound. Which meant one of their staff, Rob had to come back late at night to lock the main gates.  They also remained open late on the reveal evening so all of the trades people that had worked on the project could assemble without being seen.

I really enjoyed working with the DIY SOS Team.  Here we see half of them, smile lads

Matt (Back Left) Julian (back middle) Me, Andy (back right)  Billy (front left)  Mark (front middle) Chris (front right)

Its all smiles now that the project is complete.  Left to right Julian, Matt, Julia, Andy (Me), Chris and Mark.

I hope that you managed to watch the programme and enjoyed it as much as I did taking part in it.

Andy Shrimpton - Owner Of Perfect Heating And Plumbing

Post comments after the showing of the programme.  Since being filmed in February  I have watched quite a few other DIY SOS type programme across the other channels.  All of the presentation teams are clearly helped by outside trades and without their help and skill would be unable to complete the tasks within the time period.  Even on the commercial channels these other trades do not get much "on air time", which is a shame, especially as most if not all of them donate their time free of charge, the carrot being, appearing on the TV.

Having been filmed every day during this project, installing many different products its was a shame so much was cut out.  A lot of what I had to say was very educational about the products being used within the shower room (Dukka board) and the best position of radiators within a rooms, the use of thermostatic radiator valves and the correct location the main room thermostat (the room thermostat was move out of the main living area and positioned correctly within the hall way, again this was filmed), and why black sludge was seen being poured out of a radiator that had just been removed (though if you blinked you would have missed it).  I am sure that viewers would have found this not only interesting but would have made them think about their own installations and how they could be made more efficient.

If more mention could have been made about how the services (plumbing, heating, electrics etc) were repaired, and how to repair for example, bare brick work with plaster board, what to watch out for when plastering and painting, the show would have been very educational (more like you would expect from the BBC) and the licence fee payers would have got better valve for money.