My Bungalow Bliss

[Deleted User]

Saw this last night, didn't see last weeks.

Cannot believe they spent that amount of money and got what?

Walk straight into your only living area. No utility, no cloakroom, nowhere to put wet buggys and coats. No storage. A shower that everyone in the house watched you in. Jesus it put me right off a doer -upper.

They didn't look too happy at the end either, don't blame them.

Pussyhands

Housing market is completely fcuked! Reinforces my decision not to buy at these crazy prices. They paid 325k for a house that they couldn't live in!

They found 200k down the back of the couch like the crowd last week.

People have completely lost the run of themselves...again!

terminator74

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118293868#Comment_118293868

I actually like Hugh. I feel its about the house and design for him. Unlike Bannon, Hugh lets the house be the star of the show. Bannon and RTI format is so formulaic, always a drama and the show is more about him than the houses/owners.

ChippingSodbury

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118294124#Comment_118294124

There were a few details in the finished house that looked very poorly done. The blue tiles around the bathroom weren't centred properly (check around the window and bath detail: should be an equal gap at both sides). The wooden panelling looked scruffy along the floor junction and the front door. If you're paying big money, details like those mentioned need to be perfect.

I always think it's a poor reflection on the architect if they cannot stick to the design brief: one of the main considerations is budget. If the design doesn't come within 10% or so of the budget, then you're not doing what you were asked to do.

And as a few have mentioned, the frosted glass on the shower "wall" at the end of the corridor: come off it, that's just ridiculous.

gooner99

Info on the retrofitting of last night's house.

G to A2.

https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2021/1208/1265555-one-familys-transformation-from-cold-bungalow-to-cosy-home/

techman1

I wonder what Jack Fitzsimons ,the author of bungalow bliss would make of it , the whole thing is contrary to everything he stood for, building a modest house on a tight budget where the design of the house was based on this philosophy

Here you have expensive architects , designers and builders involved in the refit of a modest bungalow, He would have ran in there thrown over the tables and threw them all out like Jesus did in the temple in Jerusalem

recipio

I thought it was a poor outcome for the money spent. What on earth was that laminated post for ? I think they will regret that frosted glass screen They had loads of attic space which was sacrificed for the double height concept. Really, both the builder and the architect should have alerted them to the problems of no foundations under the walls before they started digging ?

Pussyhands

Architects are notorious for not giving a damn about budget and just focusing on design.

Underfloor heating is just not feasible in refurbs.

That half see through partition was terrible too. Someone having a shower you'll see the outline of their privates.

I wouldn't be putting in any big panes of glass like they put in either. Anyone who is in the self build groups will know windows can spontaneously shatter due to a multitude of reasons. A bird fly into it, a football damage it or even a burglar smashing it will mean you have to spend thousands to replace it all. The architects don't care, they'll have the picture on the wall when the house is done and it'll look great and they get paid.

Sam Russell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118294881#Comment_118294881

If it was me, I would be suing the architects over he foundations. Why was that not checked? It beggars belief this aspect was just brushed into the rubble.

Another point utterly missed was the question of radon. The house is built on granite area which is an Irish radon hotspot. It should be standard practice for all houses in these areas to get a home test kit to check for radon, even if building work is not planned - but if it is, then it should be a requirement. Also, given the huge risk of radon, which causes lung cancer, it should be standard practice to install a radon barrier membrane anyway.

This programme is a very good advert as to why employing an architects will bankrupt you.

recipio

Another quibble which you might have missed. The guy making the doors plunged a door rail straight on to the spindle moulder head - a good way to lose a few fingers. he should use a jig instead.

leath_dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118294369#Comment_118294369

I know well what opaque means. You probably need to look up what "almost" means though !

It was a ridiculous feature. Even the architect, when trying to sell the concept to the owner (using plastic sheeting) sounded embarrassed having to make the suggestion

Effects

If it's opaque, then you can't see anything though it. Simple enough explanation, and no reason to get worried about someone seeing you in the shower.

MisterAnarchy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118293628#Comment_118293628

Insane money for a small bungalow.

They showed a living room/kitchen, a bathroom and one bedroom of the finished house and they loooked very basic.

650k for that, and thats factoring in the couple doing alot of the work themselves, its ludicrous, architect and builders should be sued.

How can a budget of 140k exponentially increase to 312k ?

That poor couple will be paying off debt for the next 20 years.

Hugh has the cheek to sit there then and tell the couple what a great home they have, the emperors new clothes syndrome seems to be back again.

Effects

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118294916#Comment_118294916

I haven't heard of large glass panels shattering myself. I've got a 2.2m x 2m, and a 3m x 2m triple glazed window, and have had multiple bird strikes, and no glass shattering. It would be covered under insurance anyway.

Effects

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118295242#Comment_118295242

I was scrubbing through episode 1, trying to find the opaque bathroom window. 🤣

Didn't realise it was episode two that you were on about. I see what you mean about someone seeing you in the shower now. But that window also isn't actually opaque, despite them calling it opaque.

leath_dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118295403#Comment_118295403

Apologies, I thought you were being tongue in cheek. I didn't realise that you're either an idiot or are being deliberately obtuse. You can't see through a concrete block. The whole point of using opaque glass was to let light into the corridor, so of course you can (partially) see through it.

funkey_monkey

I accept you need a contingency budget but that's just taking the pi$$.

Episode 1:

Hugh: What's your budget?

Bespectacled guy: €205k

Hugh: Have you contingency?

Bespectacled guy: €30k

Hugh: So your budget is €235k.

DeepBlue

I wouldn't worry about the opaque window. That's relatively easily solved with a roller blind or something if it's a concern and I do think it's worth it to have the light in the hallway as those bungalow corridors can be very dark.

It seemed to me that the architect gave them a proposal initially that was over their budget but presented it on the basis that we can do X now and Y down the road when you have more money. The programme didn't really show how they got from there to the couple deciding to go the whole hog on it.

One thing that comes across from these two programmes is how horrendously expensive it is to retrofit old homes and I'd say it's making it totally off-putting for anyone watching who was thinking of going down that route.

This year's season of Cheap Irish Homes had some inserts of homes that had been brought back to life on very reasonable budgets. Most likely they wouldn't have A BER ratings at the end but the owners also wouldn't have a huge financial burden overhanging them either. 🤨

who what when

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118294964#Comment_118294964

Firstly there was a structural Engineer on the job, foundations are their baby.

Secondly where are you getting the notion that a radon barrier wasn't put in? Of course it was. They dug out the existing floor in order to put down a new insulated floor with UFH, costing them 70 grand in the process so off course they put down a radon barrier.

There's so many issues one can have with this show you don't need to go off and make up more for the sake of it!

funkey_monkey

Do you get VAT back on a new build in the south? In NI a new build you can reclaim the VAT, but AFAIK a renovation means you pay VAT.

Effects

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118295609#Comment_118295609

who what when

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118295675#Comment_118295675

No you don't. That would be far too progressive and sensible for this country.

Nigel Fairservice

I wonder how the producers pick people for these shows. These shows always start with a budget that gets blown to pieces fairly quickly. People always seem to be able to come up with the money though. I imagine the producers have an idea of how much money is available to a couple before they commit to filming their build. No point filming people who back out of things after being told how much their works will really cost them.

ednwireland

although I suspect sort damp rewire re plumb, sort out the insulation, new kitch/bathroom for say under 100k isnt what they are looking for.

leath_dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118295885#Comment_118295885

Do RTE and/or the production companies pay the homeowners anything for using their story for entertainment purposes? I'd be surprised in the Architects are providing their services to RTE for free

monseiur

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118291943#Comment_118291943

I stand corrected Trondheim....need to make an appointment with my optician !

But the fact remains that a high budget, futuristic house should have a full bathroom with a jacuzzi / whirlpool / hot tub or similar not juat an apartment type shower.

Pussyhands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118295546#Comment_118295546

Facebook is riddled with people like the above.

Pussyhands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118295641#Comment_118295641

Cheap Irish homes selected people who bought when prices were at least 30% cheaper and they nearly all had the ability to do a lot of the work themselves.

Cost of construction labour and materials has gone through the roof the last 2 years. Construction workers have all the power now and are demanding silly money for work

Trondheim

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118296046#Comment_118296046

I think the jacuzzi's are a bit of a gimick tbh, but I agree that a shower is not sufficient for a family house. You need to have a bath at least, and not having one will impact the resale value.

The show just annoys me. I’ve no interest in seeing people with a few hundred grand to spend getting fleeced by architects playing out their wet dreams.

I want to see a show that gives genuine advice and ideas to the majority of bungalow / cottage owners (myself included) who might have 20-100k to spend, or access to a home improvement loan, and who want to improve their BER, introduce some eco friendly aspects (like solar) or carry out non-structural improvements to kitchens, bathrooms, adding sunroom etc.