My family went to DIY SOS, which was a horror show… Five years later, we’re still picking up pieces

A family going to DIY SOS said five years later, they are still leaving the repair costs left for the “horror show” makeover.

Peter Chapman hopes Nick Knowles’ team makes his freestanding home and garden easier for his wife Sarah to suffer from myopathic dystrophy.

But the TV construction team did so badly on his property that he had spent £40,000 fighting over the last five years to correct their mean craftsmanship.

The BBC aired the program in 2020, initially offering him £15,000 in compensation, but when Chapmans refused, they never heard from the company again despite 50 emails and many calls.

Chapman, 66, a full-time caregiver for his 61-year-old wife, said: “I thought we were taking part in a home refurbished reality show, but it turned out to be a horror movie.

Nick Knowles absolutely ruined our beautiful home, neither he nor the BBC apologize to contact me, let alone the wise offer of the harm they have caused.

“I’ve fixed the chaos they had with my home for five years, but the work hasn’t been done yet.”

Full-time caregiver on DIY SOS with family in 2020

Host Nick Knowles

Mr Chapman also cared about his 41-year-old daughter Suzie, who said he has now given up listening from Knowles or the BBC.

“They did absolutely cowboy job in this house. I was afraid to think they destroyed many other homes. Neither should allow them to be allowed anywhere near the tool kit, let alone someone’s home.

The retired electric motor mechanic himself has done most of the repairs, but has replaced the professional company required by Knowles and its team at a cost of £3,750.

He also had to call a roofing company to address the damage caused by incorrect laying under wooden batons and ceramic tiles. The mistake caused the family home to flood, which cost £2,200.

A series of errors also included the installation of a simulated wood floor that was so slippery that Sarah often fell off as her dining chair slipped under her.

Mr Chapman said: “The crew was told that we needed carpet floors due to Sarah’s condition, but for some reason they put this horrible fake wood floor.

“I spent £3,000 to buy a new carpet, which I laid myself.”

“I thought we were going to be a home renovation reality show, but it turned out to be a horror show,” Mr Chapman said.

A series of errors also include installing a simulated wood floor that is slippery and Sarah often falls off as her dining chair slides down from under her

Cheltenham’s DIY SOS team and the Chapman family were filmed during this episode

BBC

The DIY SOS team also placed “ugly fake wood floors” in the home kitchen area

At the back of the house, Chapmans wanted a light slope to allow Sarah to be taken into their beautiful garden by her husband.

But the ramp was so steep that Mr. Chapman would not be able to bring her back to the house. As a result, Mrs. Chapman never entered the garden.

He said: “It’s heartbreaking to see our lovely garden but not being able to go out and enjoy it.

“I could take her there, but I could never push her wheelchair to it because the angle was so steep.

The crew also installed composite decks on the outdoor patio behind the house, but they made some very basic mistakes, so the deck splits and makes it unsafe, so I’m pulling it all up and replacing it now.

“One of the main problems is that it’s hard to unravel the shoddy work they’ve done until it’s too late and you have to start over, which is expensive. ”

(From left to right) Mr. Chapman’s wife Sarah, Mr. Chapman, his brother Steve and daughter Susanna

Mr Chapman said: “The crew was told that due to Sarah’s condition we needed carpet floors, but for some reason they put this horrible fake wood floor.

“They did absolutely cowboy work on this house. I’m afraid to think how many other houses they’ve ruined. They shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near the tool kit, let alone someone’s home,” Mr Chapman said.

Chapmans wanted a light slope to allow Sarah to be taken into their beautiful garden by her husband, but the ramp was so steep that Mr Chapman could not push her back to the house

He also had to call a roofing company to address the damage caused by incorrect laying under wooden batons and ceramic tiles. Mistakes flooded the family home and spent £2,200 to repair

The retired auto mechanic himself did most of the repairs, but replaced the driveway required by Knowles and his team, requiring a professional company that costs £3,750 (pictured: driveways made by the DIY SOS team)

Mr Chapman said: “One of the main problems is that it’s hard to unravel the shoddy work they’re doing until it’s too late and you have to start over, it’s expensive’

Mr Chapman marked the X on the damaged composite deck board, which he said was caused by a crew member who “made some very basic mistakes” which made it unsafe

Says the family has no right to hire lawyers to litigate compensation

“All of this work took up my incredible time. I’m a full-time care worker with Sarah, so I’m busy during the day and at night. I have to cramp on repairs as much as possible, but I think I’m going to do it for at least an hour or two a day and have been like this for the past five years.

He said the family could not hire a lawyer to sue the BBC for compensation.

“Honestly, I’m giving up on the stage now on the money to repair the house, which cost me.

“I never spent a penny, it was difficult because the bills kept increasing. Just last week I spent £2,000 on cement, sand, clogging and drainage materials.

“We spend more and more every month, but I believe we will get there one day and we will live in a beautiful, functional house – no thanks to the BBC or Nick Knowles.”

A BBC spokesman said: “DIY SOS is a heart-warming program that brings the community together and helps improve the lives of those in need, thanks to hundreds of volunteers giving up time to attend.

“As with all our previous projects, King Charlton’s construction was planned and completed in accordance with the necessary regulatory approvals and signed on site through building control.”