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Fulfill the gentleman who has helped double the benefit of his residence in just 4 years – soon after seeing YouTube Do-it-yourself video clips.
NHS worker Alex Dodman, 36, has built himself a desire residence that consists of a health and fitness center in the back backyard, a family-sized cinema space, and a trendy fold-down bed for his home business office.
And he’s done it all by studying on the go, observing YouTube videos and looking through creating boards.
Alex acquired the Saffron Walden dwelling he shares with his lover and two youthful young children in 2018 for £250,000 but has because been explained to his enhancements have aided it soar in value to £525,000.
He 1st bought into Do it yourself when he purchased his initially home in 2014, fitting a kitchen area and laying a patio.
But right after purchasing his latest household, his Do-it-yourself instincts went into overdrive just after viewing a tradesman set up a stud wall – and he realised he could be performing it himself.
He reported: “We had the household valued in 2020 and have been explained to it was now well worth £525,000, which I set down to the perform I have finished.
“It went from a operate-down two-bed to a four-bedroom property with a nice big yard.
“I estimate I have saved about £75,000 in the past handful of a long time merely by not calling in tradesmen and trying things myself.”
Rolling up your sleeves
His most new task was turning a minor-utilized spare bed room into a sleek and fashionable workplace – that could continue to be known as into bed room company if essential.
Right after getting a brainwave to install a space-preserving folding down mattress, Alex was dismayed to uncover a specialist carpenter would demand thousands – and would imply a considerable wait around.
So, he rolled up his sleeves and got to do the job himself. He stated: “Since I have been operating from household I’ve desired a dwelling office environment, and I was pondering about doing it for ages right before I uncovered out how considerably it would cost to have a person in.
“In the conclusion, just working with pine boards from B&Q, the mattress by itself cost me about £250 – and then a different £160 on the mattress.
But his favourite build is what he phone calls the ‘Superbed’ – two king-sized beds linked in the learn bed room, with a enormous projector screen on the wall.
Alex reckons this is perfect for spouse and children movie nights, and also when his little ones – aged 5 and two – fall off to rest with mum and dad, they really don’t spend all evening kicking every single other less than the sheets.
His exploits have even attained him a subsequent on Instagram – where 122,000 individuals and counting can examine out his household-builds in detail.
In the backyard, Alex’s dwelling fitness center stands at 6m by 6m, contains more than enough gear for a total work out and, at just one position, even had its personal sauna.
He stated: “I’ve received rid of the sauna now and strategy on constructing an outside one particular future to the swimming pool – which is my recent project.
“I watched a YouTube video clip of a female in Holland who constructed her possess pool in her garden, and as quickly as I’d viewed that I rang up and employed a digger.
“I’d never ever pushed a digger prior to, so I’d dug this significant gap and then there was no likely back.
“In general, the hardest thing to master from a Do-it-yourself point of view was plumbing – which is quite frustrating. If you do it incorrect, you get drips and stuff.
“But it is not as tricky as I imagined it was likely to be – it genuinely is type of like drinking water LEGO.
“I wasn’t self-confident in Do it yourself, but the ideal way to master is just by providing it a go. I’ve manufactured blunders and stuff doesn’t usually change out how you think but offering it a go is the very best way.
“I figured out almost all the things from YouTube, and there are a good deal of builders’ community forums on the internet where you can obtain aid on masses of projects – any challenge you come across, it’s likely an individual else has in the past and has penned about it on-line.”
Susie Spence, Interiors Director at B&Q claimed soon after looking at Alex’s home transformations: “We enjoy observing the effects of buyers home advancement jobs very little or major and Alex’s is these kinds of a special transformation, which is why we achieved out to work with him on our Changemaker marketing campaign.
“Making minimal changes to improve your dwelling area can make a big difference and we inspire every person to get caught into their residences and see what they can do to make their residences and everyday living far better.”
Alex Dodman’s 5 best recommendations for Diy novices
1 – Never be fearful
The 1st stage is normally the hardest, just have a go at anything which may perhaps feel intimidating – it’s just about generally simpler than you consider.
2 – Get experts in which essential
When it will come to points like electrics or plumbing, that need to have signing off and certificating, you should really constantly go away it to authorities.
3 – Measure twice, cut at the time
I have discovered this lesson myself a handful of times! The more time invested making guaranteed everything is calculated just right will save you a ton of stress – even though I don’t normally dwell by this myself even now.
4 – Get the appropriate tools
A mitre saw, a respectable power drill with very good drill bits, and a box of different sized screws and rawlplugs will get you by way of most of your newbie Do it yourself jobs. I got my mitre saw from B&Q for about £60 and I use it almost each day.
5 – Really don’t choose on far too much at as soon as
It is uncomplicated to get bored of a job and begin one thing new – my guidance is to get one factor at a time, and do it thoroughly. It is something I do not normally live by possibly – my swimming pool is a fantastic case in point!