Build Your Own Home
Build Your Own Home follows the trials and tribulations of homeowners from across Ireland, as they take on the mammoth challenge of building their own home – under the watchful eye of master builder and building teacher, Harrison Gardner.
From a brand new build in West Cork, a Midlands cottage doer-upper, a Limerick farmhouse renovation to a Dublin extension each episode has one thing in common – no building experience and very tight budgets. As the initial excitement of a new project invariably dies down these brave self builders still need to work, pay rent, mind kids and... build a house. No-one said it was going to be easy – as Harrison told them from the start.
Across days, weeks and months of hard labour the homeowners are taught and mentored by Harrison, who believes that anyone can learn how to build.
Episodes4
Grace & Robbie
In this first episode, young Dublin couple Grace, Robbie and their young family go against all the odds as they attempt to renovate and extend their Dublin 2 bedroomed house in Dublin city centre – with their own hands! We follow them over 18 months as they attempt to renovate and build their dream home. Under Harrison's tutelage and encouragement we follow their adventure and the ups and downs that comes with building your own house. With paying rent, juggling full time jobs, small children and managing a dwindling budget it was never going to be easy.
Esther
Part- time teacher and mum of 3 teenagers, Esther Foreman has €230k to build the house of her dreams. However that's not going to get her forever home – so she decides the only way to do this is to build it herself. With no building experience at all Harrison starts to teach Esther basic skills – and she takes to it like a duck to water! With her partner Damien also helping out the project starts to move along well but as the seasons change it’s becomes clear this is no ordinary build. The sheer scale would be enough to scare off most people. We follow Harrison, Esther and her nearest and dearest as they battle the harsh climate, a dwindling pot of money and a lot of labour to get this house on the hill built.
Aoife & Tony
In episode 3 of this series we meet young couple Aoife and Tony who are self employed circus performers. Like a lot of self-employed workers they were unable to secure a mortgage. After some years of scrimping and saving they finally bought a 'doer upper' in rural Co. Westmeath. However it’s in no shape to live in requiring a total upgrade inside and out. However with only €50k to spend to upgrade and extend their new home they have no choice but to take on the project themselves – with Harrison by their side every step of the way. We follow them over 18 months as they learn the skills to make this cottage the house of their dreams.
Padraig and Laura
In the final episode of this series couple Architect Padraig & his wife Laura are renovating and extending an old country house in Padraig's home village of Kilcornan Limerick. With businesses, young kids and a building site to manage things are far from easy. We follow them and Harrison every step of the way as they spend a tough year learning new skills and building their new home – and with Padraig’s architectural experience and high standards this may just be the most ambitious build yet.