Room to Improve (v2)

technocrat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118743302#Comment_118743302

Yea strange episode.

Looks like Dermot taking a step back.

the_pen_turner

a month before finish and they putting down insulation and presumably underfloor heating and liquid screed .

sudenly then its finished

Atlantic Dawn

Request at the end for new clients with no planning permission required is rather odd, really limits what Dermot can do with a place which is what I thought the idea of the show, pretty much same footprint and a rear extension it is.

JoeA3

Budget is tight… but they go with Rationel aluclad windows - which (I know from experience) are a great product but 30%+ more expensive than uPVC… I do wonder what the discounts offered are like when the suppliers name is plastered all over the TV.

CH3OH

I'm surprised they didn't cover the roof in solar panels.

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118743328#Comment_118743328

Maybe they are trying to go back to the original format of just "doing a room" and not a rebuild.

They were waiting 8months on the pp for parents house to go through so I presume they just want "flip" projects that are relatively straight forward.

freshpopcorn

I think we're going to see an emphasis on people making there houses more energy efficient!

the_pen_turner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118743484#Comment_118743484

hopefully they start actually showing that side then

Princess Calla

So much filler in that episode. Once again I'd like to see more of the finished build.

House itself was gorgeous. Those views you'd never tire of.

As mentioned didn't like the children's rooms being so far away from the parents especially when they are so young.

The roof looked like a shed but I wouldn't worry too much about that.

I got the impression that his parents might be invited for extended stays now they have a spare room.

Personally I wouldn't like to live that close to parents/in laws. I would find it very claustrophobic.

I always wonder long-term when one child takes over and renovates the family home especially in this case where parents are building on the land. Nothing like a will to cause a split between siblings. You would want everything very watertight from a legal point of view.

freshpopcorn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118743496#Comment_118743496

They won't really. This is more of a Reality TV show and the the format seems to be doing well for them.

Deeec

Tonight's finished house looked awful from the outside. The inside though was finished really well - the living areas were roomy, comfortable and functional. The views were fab.

I agree with what others have said about where the kids bedrooms were positioned - this doesn't work when kids are small for the parents bedroom to be not close by.

Overall though they got a great house for the spend. Much better than last week's finished house which seemed tiny in comparison.

the_pen_turner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118743550#Comment_118743550

sadly they have gone down the soap opera route rather than going towards an home improvement show

freshpopcorn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118743621#Comment_118743621

I think they need to find the right mix to honest.

I remember a few seasons ago thy had clients who were a tad tough going to make the show and they got a lot of abuse online.

Addle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118743635#Comment_118743635

Is it the covid effect? Camera crews probably couldn’t be following people around like they used.

Beautiful house, but boring episode.

siblers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118743212#Comment_118743212

They probably hammed it up to make the building process seem more dramatic than what actually it was. Doubt there was ever any issues with the grant

KevRossi

Not too keen on that. A lot of elements were right, but they were right from the first build 40 years ago. They just needed TLC.

I liked the big windows and the overall interior layout. I get the thing with the young kids being a bit away, but in a few years you'll be glad of the space away from them.

I thought the white inside painted ceiling was desperate. On a sunny day you'll need sunglasses in there. Outside of house looked like a shed as someone already mentioned. Painting brickwork takes away from the original. The black decking on the balcony will reflect heat on a sunny day and make it impossible to walk on in bare feet or thin socks. Bad decision. They'll learn yet. But the half of it blocked off with glass is a nice idea.

Also didn't like the way they said the parents house had to be reduced in size again to accomodate the build. Didn't show it at all which makes me a wee bit suspicious, maybe it's not finished.

He said it's a 38 minute commute to Ranelagh Well it is at midnight, it's more like 60-90 mins in the morning, and a good 45-75 in the afternoon. Best of luck with that. I suppose he can go for a transfer.

Two other things; there was a wooden fence to the left of the garden, it partially blocked the view, a bit odd, so I wonder what the story was there.

Also I would have tried to open it out a bit more to the left side of the sitting room to get better views of Mullaghcleevaun.

House is here, best part of a million if the parents had sold it as it was: https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.1506355,-6.4992559,3a,75y,206.72h,71.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s39g7w_yAkBBVGwQaZ-NVJw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

appledrop

I really liked the finished house, it made the best of views which were stunning and space they already had, although I would agree entrance looked odd like portacabain.

The couple were lovely, very down to earth and well able to stick to their budget and ignore Dermots expensive ideas.

The show is getting a but if joke in sense that each week we are seeing less + less of actual build of house materials etc.

The bedroom extensions downstairs had already been built recently, so that's why Im presuming they kept them even if location not ideal for the kids, your not going to redo recent extension especially on their tight budget.

Sunny Dayz

I agree that a lot of the episode was just filler, his job as a teacher was in no way relevant to the build. The house they visited in Donegal was fab, but they spent too long showing it. A lot of focus on their families and history. They stated that a good lot of their budget went on heating, insultation etc upgrades - but I couldn't tell you what measures they put in place for this - was there special insulation in the walls, roof, certain windows selected for energy efficiency, flooring - I've no idea.

What I did like was the house itself, they did a great job on it. The QS seems to be doing well on the show and it was great to see a build coming in just under budget. I quite liked the couple, they came across really well, and I liked at the end how thankful, grateful and complimentary they were to everyone involved in the house.

JoeA3

The "coming in under budget" is totally misleading imo. There is no chance that they're paying what you or I would pay Rationel for the aluclad windows and doors. Thats just one example. I would guesstimate that the windows and doors for that spec of house would come to ballpark €50-60k (before the Bannon / TV advertising discount was applied). There is no way they'd have fitted them into their actual budget.

This TV show is entertainment and soap opera first, facts/realism a distant second. Which is probably the desired aim.

I'm getting really tired of the fluff of this show. I don't want to go to the G Hotel and see someone dressed up in a shiny dress eating afternoon tea. I don't want to go to school and do "show and tell". I don't want long back stories..... I just want to see the house and how it's actually renovated. I'm also very interested in the actual spend, the amount of grant money and whether it was difficult or straightforward to get those grants. Also I thought to get full SEAI grant funding of €25K you needed solar panels, didn't see any??

I used to love Room to Improve. I don't any longer.

JoeA3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118746291#Comment_118746291

The formula is the very same as a lot of other reality TV shows. You're going to get as much constructive real world advice on the practicalities of building a house on this show as you'll get on weight loss/fitness from Operation Transformation your singing career from X-Factor or motoring advice from Top Gear.

Having gone through a self build recently myself, I don't find any of the interactions with the QS realistic in any way. So the budget figures bandied about through the episode by the narrator are mostly totally meaningless. Every episode wraps up the same way regardless. No matter what the budget, the build always seems to go from a fella kango-ing a wall to Dermot sipping champagne in the flash new kitchen (that couldn't possibly have fitted into the mythical budget) within 5 minutes. Last night we were supposed to believe that they were clinging onto the hope that they might get the 20k insulation grant. This isn't realistic.

They've probably dumbed it down even more this season but I don't recall it ever being anything other than entertainment first, aimed at Joe Public who just wants a bit of soapy drama, a peek into how the other half lives. Its aired on a Sunday night on RTE1 after all.

but it wasn't always about "how the other half lives". It was normal houses with normal rooms getting a renovation or makeover. In fact there were a few houses here in Drogheda that featured on it and they were very ordinary by today's standards.

Why do production companies assume that we all want reality TV shows? Is there a survey done? Do they not take into account feedback from many people who say they don't like the fluff?? Or is it just a " tried and tested" formula that always worked previously and they are too lazy to give us something different?? The X Factor has been shelved for this very reason!! The formula is tired and done to death ! Considering the boredom of 2 years of Covid and now the threat of WW3, could production companies not shake things up a bit and move the the evolution of the world . The Celtic Tiger Days of afternoon tea in a horrible shiny dress in the G Hotel are long gone. Reality is what matters now. Most people cannot even afford an ordinary 3 bedroom semi in the sprawling suburbs of Dublin!

KevRossi

They need a boots on the ground programme about retro fitting houses. Do an 12 part series with two examples each of the main types of houses in Ireland; bungalows, semi-D's, bedsit houses, apartments etc.

Show us typical issues and how they can be solved on a budget, but properly done. Show advantages/disadvantages of triple v. double glazing and where the former is useful. Show the advantage, but costs and mess involved in removing a chimney. Air source heat pumps, solar heating, solar lighting etc. etc. etc.

Show the process around applying for grants and how that works, or getting credit etc.

Also of use to small shops and commercial premises such as your typical office in small town rural Ireland. And community energy schemes.

They touch on this occasionally with Eco Eye, but at this stage they badly need a programme dedicated to this. It's becoming more relevant every day.

I just find I’m fast forwarding to the last ten minutes in the last two shows…and I used to love this show

FAILSAFE 00

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118743273#Comment_118743273

You just know the parents are getting shafted. Probably a Portacabin or a converted shipping container.

I'll never forget the Room to improve episode where the couple were going to live with the mother and it was her house that was being renovated.

The only thing the aul dear asked for was a window of her room to look out over the church next door.

Boom, the mother didn't get her one and only request. The couple got everything they asked for but not the poor soul giving them the house.

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118749079#Comment_118749079

I remember that episode. From the very beginning that lady was being pushed aside.

I don't think that was happening here. It took 8 months to get planning permission. I know there was abit of a budget rejig in favour of the main house but that's not to say the money won't be "found" now they are not paying rent etc.

I honestly got the impression that this couple were very decent and appreciative of what they were getting. I don't think they'll treat the parents poorly.

Room to improve needs to keep up with it's schedule too ,which is why I presume they are looking for projects that don't need planning permission.

It would be nice if they did a "revisited" episode to show the new build though.

Lisha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118749079#Comment_118749079

I don’t think the parents were as badly shafted as that (I hope) . I’m hoping that it wasn’t shown as they wanted privacy or that it wasn’t fully finished. They seemed like a v close and happy family.

I agree with everyone who says it’s gone too soapy and I’d love to see proper details on energy efficiency and how to properly retrofit etc.

Pussyhands

I see that Channel 5 licenced RTI last year. It'll only get worse so because they'll see no point going into the intricacies of grants if it's being made with an audience of another country in mind.

chalkitdown1

That was a bizarre episode. I wonder was the planning permission delayed more than they had anticipated on the parent's house so they had to fill the episode with stuff not related to the build? I think that episode might have set a record for time spent with the wife's family, the husband's family, the show-house up the country, even the husband's day job got a good 5 minute segment. I was half expecting them to show the wife's job as well.

Does it bother anyone else that these house renovation shows like this and Grand Designs, for example, always have couples who are struggling for money and on a really tight budget, but then think it's a great time to have another child? Like, could you not wait a year or two until the house is built and you're out of a financial hole? Always seems a strange desicion to me.

Addle

I imagine that’s an age consideration rather than a financial one.

Dermot was on today fm this morning and said parents are getting their own show.