Discussion
I didn't see how he insulated the property. The outside stonework seemed to be repointed and cleaned up but with the inside left exposed I didn't even see one panel of Kingspan.
I imagine in the winter it would be freezing even with an open fire.
When sold previously at auction in 2012 for £56k (the GD couple paid £100k with no planning) and the catalogue mentioned it had a resident boogieman.
The 250 year old ruin is said to be haunted by the ghost of John Mayne, King Charles I’s executioner in 1649 – who lived nearby.
Read more at: https://www.thametoday.co.uk/news/cheap-for-a-cast...
I imagine in the winter it would be freezing even with an open fire.
When sold previously at auction in 2012 for £56k (the GD couple paid £100k with no planning) and the catalogue mentioned it had a resident boogieman.
The 250 year old ruin is said to be haunted by the ghost of John Mayne, King Charles I’s executioner in 1649 – who lived nearby.
Read more at: https://www.thametoday.co.uk/news/cheap-for-a-cast...
Edited by BlueHave on Friday 21st September 04:21
I don’t know what the regs are with historical buildings and insulation. It would be interesting to hear from someone who could explain what this couple might have done but wasn’t shown.
It is better suited as a holiday home except who wants to holiday next to a busy main road.
A great find above re the haunting. My current main home came with a story of being haunted but was total bulls
t. We identified every mystery going on like a group of pesky kids from an episode of Skooby-Doo.
I can’t disagree with some of the criticisms of this GD but I still liked it and felt that it was worth the effort and cost.
It is better suited as a holiday home except who wants to holiday next to a busy main road.
A great find above re the haunting. My current main home came with a story of being haunted but was total bulls
t. We identified every mystery going on like a group of pesky kids from an episode of Skooby-Doo. I can’t disagree with some of the criticisms of this GD but I still liked it and felt that it was worth the effort and cost.
I think he did a good job to retain the feel of the place internally, but £300k to do the work plus his time/loss of earnings seems high for essentially three rooms.
I do despair at how dumbed down the program is becoming. More and more information on where they live during the build, the stresses and strains, than the build itself.
In addition to the points raised by others, the windows were interesting. Floating mullion, opening inward, But no mention.
I would like it if they did additional extended programs that give more technical detail, surely it would be cheap to do and could go on More 4.
I do despair at how dumbed down the program is becoming. More and more information on where they live during the build, the stresses and strains, than the build itself.
In addition to the points raised by others, the windows were interesting. Floating mullion, opening inward, But no mention.
I would like it if they did additional extended programs that give more technical detail, surely it would be cheap to do and could go on More 4.
.garyhun said:
monthefish said:
May sound obvious, but I think you can only truly empathise and appreciate how stressful a self-build can be unless you've been through it personally.
Agreed. Mrs G and I did a self-build about 5 years ago. It went pretty smoothly but was still a hugely stressful process at times. Spending a day offsite and finding the brickies had laid an internal block work wall about 500mm over where it should be was just one example
[Grouphug]
Not much to add to others' comments, but I will anyway.
Too much money for what it was/is, and tricky with small kids.
I also noticed the internally opening windows, I guess this would be much more normal for him to specify, being a European, rather than the UK default of outwards opening.
I thought she seemed much more on board with the project in the final scenes than I'd have expected from reading earlier comments here, but I also wouldn't be surprised to see this on the market sooner rather than later.
Too much money for what it was/is, and tricky with small kids.
I also noticed the internally opening windows, I guess this would be much more normal for him to specify, being a European, rather than the UK default of outwards opening.
I thought she seemed much more on board with the project in the final scenes than I'd have expected from reading earlier comments here, but I also wouldn't be surprised to see this on the market sooner rather than later.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one, but agree with what other posters are saying, it's a lot of effort for something they'd nearly outgrown by the time they moved in.
Also within minutes of the show starting, I was left thinking how can anybody involved in a self build (let alone an architect) be so woefully naive with regards to time scale and budgets! As soon as he mentioned 6 months I muttered under my breath 'I bet it's more like 16 months!', then they mention he's not working and they have to live, and do the build on the not exactly large budget, yup, classic Grand Designs!
Also within minutes of the show starting, I was left thinking how can anybody involved in a self build (let alone an architect) be so woefully naive with regards to time scale and budgets! As soon as he mentioned 6 months I muttered under my breath 'I bet it's more like 16 months!', then they mention he's not working and they have to live, and do the build on the not exactly large budget, yup, classic Grand Designs!
eccles said:
I thoroughly enjoyed this one, but agree with what other posters are saying, it's a lot of effort for something they'd nearly outgrown by the time they moved in.
Also within minutes of the show starting, I was left thinking how can anybody involved in a self build (let alone an architect) be so woefully naive with regards to time scale and budgets! As soon as he mentioned 6 months I muttered under my breath 'I bet it's more like 16 months!', then they mention he's not working and they have to live, and do the build on the not exactly large budget, yup, classic Grand Designs!
Kevin had one of those exotic spesms, I don't doubt - gold dust.Also within minutes of the show starting, I was left thinking how can anybody involved in a self build (let alone an architect) be so woefully naive with regards to time scale and budgets! As soon as he mentioned 6 months I muttered under my breath 'I bet it's more like 16 months!', then they mention he's not working and they have to live, and do the build on the not exactly large budget, yup, classic Grand Designs!
It did look small, more like a 'National Trust weekend away property of character' than a family home.
Cosy though.
I'm not sure the lack of wall insulation would be too much of a problem with the underfloor heating. We live in a house with solid walls and the only real problem is a bit of mould in corners in winter. I'm sure our fuel bills are higher but living in a crumbling residence of character make it well worth it.
Cosy though.
I'm not sure the lack of wall insulation would be too much of a problem with the underfloor heating. We live in a house with solid walls and the only real problem is a bit of mould in corners in winter. I'm sure our fuel bills are higher but living in a crumbling residence of character make it well worth it.
C Lee Farquar said:
Floating mullion, opening inward
I've not heard the term, floating mullion before. Turns out I've just made and fitted a window with floating mullion which opens inwards so much appreciated. Couldn’t believe a professional had such a ridiculous time scale in their mind. This, with the ever extending finish date caused most of the pressure.
The finished result is nice, but a lot of money for the space available. However, you can’t buy that character in something new. Space vs unique character.
Not sure how it will be as a family home. Already out grown the place for space and not really small child friendly.
Also wished for a bit more detail on the actual build.
It desperately needed a single stored modern glass box type build coming off the side to house kitchen, lounge/diner and house toilet and leave the tower for bedrooms with ensuites.
Seems a shame when there such restrictions. The place was virtually falling down and would just cost money to maintain a ruin. Document what you have and either make it ultra strict on building like for like style as an extension or have the usual contrast of old and new. Document it all for the sake of history and the ruin is preserved/improved. No one wins having a pile of rubble left doing nothing. It’s not like it was even really that historically important, unless I missed it.
Brave project to take on and would be good for couple/no family types.
Family home of architect in Spain also looked impressive.
The finished result is nice, but a lot of money for the space available. However, you can’t buy that character in something new. Space vs unique character.
Not sure how it will be as a family home. Already out grown the place for space and not really small child friendly.
Also wished for a bit more detail on the actual build.
It desperately needed a single stored modern glass box type build coming off the side to house kitchen, lounge/diner and house toilet and leave the tower for bedrooms with ensuites.
Seems a shame when there such restrictions. The place was virtually falling down and would just cost money to maintain a ruin. Document what you have and either make it ultra strict on building like for like style as an extension or have the usual contrast of old and new. Document it all for the sake of history and the ruin is preserved/improved. No one wins having a pile of rubble left doing nothing. It’s not like it was even really that historically important, unless I missed it.
Brave project to take on and would be good for couple/no family types.
Family home of architect in Spain also looked impressive.
Edited by DS240 on Saturday 22 September 13:29
All those houses are infinitely more practical to live in, cheaper to run and far easier to maintain.
I caught up on it last night. Was a nice end product, but so much money for such a compromised living space.
As said previously, that's more of a weekend/holiday home. Far too impractical for young kids as well, bet there's been plenty of tears already!
I caught up on it last night. Was a nice end product, but so much money for such a compromised living space.
As said previously, that's more of a weekend/holiday home. Far too impractical for young kids as well, bet there's been plenty of tears already!
Adam B said:
and most of them are characterless modern homes in estates not surrounded by woodland
this was a labour of love for them (or him) so I guess for them its worth the premium
Which is fair enough if you're very wealthy and can take a loss or not worry about the costs, but they didn't seem to be in that category. I think it said they made £200k from their old house. So they've spent £100k on the plot, £300k doing it up. Say it sells for £500k, they've still lost money.this was a labour of love for them (or him) so I guess for them its worth the premium
It has absolutely zero value to a family, so the market for buyers is very limited. I would be amazed if they continue to live in it with 2 kids. So come sale time, it could be quite disappointing for them.
It seems like the sort of project someone does because they can, not be because they need a family home.
I know architects on the show usually use it to advertise themselves, but he hardly covered himself in glory!
More interesting than a big visitor centre look a like at least. Not sure I'd want to live there though.
Grand designs seems increasingly short on build detail particularly for a project with some interesting tech connected to it. How much does a detailed laser survey like he had cost? I could see that being useful even in a simple conversion project.
Grand designs seems increasingly short on build detail particularly for a project with some interesting tech connected to it. How much does a detailed laser survey like he had cost? I could see that being useful even in a simple conversion project.
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