We can't ignore this any longer | We repair the roof of our abandoned Bulgarian House

Good morning, I'm Chris and I'm Elaine and we've bought this abandoned house in Bulgaria with three kids. We've traveled over 2 000 miles from the UK to Bulgaria. In our house we've had leaks, we've had cracks, we've had infestation of rats. But today we're gonna get the roof sorted. Morning guys, right so we should have these guys coming today to start on the roof. So what they're supposed to be doing is cleaning off the current cement that's on there. It looks obviously, you can see it looks very tatty. And then what they'll be doing is re-plastering it. So we got a specific sort of plaster, it cost around £17.80, £17.80. It apparently will give you like six years guarantee I guess. It's not really a guarantee but it will be okay for the next six years, especially as our roof is an old roof. We don't necessarily have to change the whole thing because it is still okay. But because obviously we're gonna have repairs done on it, it would be better to get the better plaster rather than that, I think it's lime, lime mix I think it was, which does erode quite quickly. So maybe if we did that now with that sort of material, it may be eroded within two years. So we don't really want to do that, we want it to last at least five to six years. So as I said, each sack cost us about £17.80, £17.80. You should look around because obviously it is, it does vary around Bulgaria. I'm sure we probably paid a little bit more, too much as well. So I'm just going to go out here to just show you quickly the roof in its entirety before these guys come. Also I will get the drone up, so when they're here we'll get that drone up. So you can see the roof there all the way, let me just show you. So all of that, all of that, all the ridges, which I think there's about 18, 19 ridges on each, well the longer sections. Then on the smaller section, 3, 6, 9, 12, there's probably about 15 ridges, caps should I say, on each of the smaller, the smaller sections. So just waiting for them to come, they should be here today at around about 9, 10 o'clock, well it's gone past 9 o'clock now, but you know they should be here about 10. We have got some spares, so if they do need spare tiles, we have got some there for them to use. But yeah, that is pretty much it. Today is a dull day, I know, quite dull today, but it's not, that's the main thing, we don't want it to be raining, because obviously if it's raining they may not be able to get what needs to be done on the roof. One other thing that you do need to bear in mind is, they, these guys have given us a time scale, they said 2 to 3 days, 3 days max. So what we don't want this to do is continue to lag on. They're already late, okay, I'm not saying that there isn't a purpose, a reason, sorry, but they are already late, but that's fine, you know it's not 10 o'clock yet, so that's cool, but what I don't want to happen is this to straddle on into next, into the following week, because then you know what can happen, you know things can become an issue, they can then say that this has happened, or I'm not saying that that is the case, but you just have to be really tight on the time scale that these guys have given us. So what we're going to do is portion, proportion the roof. Let me show you, so that section, that section, that and the backside section, so you know they have, right, if they're saying two days, we expect half of the roof, come, there's Chris, there's Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, anyway we expect, if they're saying two days, we expect half of that roof to be done, then we expect the other half, isn't it Chris? Yeah, I was working. That's it, I was just about to say it. I know it's just like this, you come to Bulgaria, I look like I need to take a picture next to my shed. Yeah, so yeah, so I was just saying to these lot that because obviously we, they're giving us a tight, a time scale, we want to maintain the tight, what we need to do then, if they give us three days, we apportion the roof into three, say right that's got to be done today, otherwise you know, you don't get paid until tomorrow, right? Yeah, we've got to do that, you've got to be strict, because if not, then people will just take, that's a typical Bulgarian thing, to be fair, it's like that in most countries, where outside the western way, you see, there's a job they take, they still won't get paid for it, it's got to be done, the weather's closing in, the property's got to be ready, really. Yeah, ready to go. Yeah, so that is really it, was there anything else that you were thinking? Well, that chimney was sticking up on the left, the first one, we've got three chimneys, we've got the first one, the tall one there, we've got the middle one, and we've got one right there, this one, I just don't like it, there's something about it I just don't like, so at some point, I'm going to probably reduce it a little bit down, because I don't, I don't like the fact that the second half of it has been added, I don't see no real purpose for it, really, in my opinion, so we're going to modify that at some point, not today, obviously, but that's going to be a huge job, because there's less liabilities, things can topple up, I just don't like it, it just looks like it was added on later, so we're going to change that some, reduce that down to the original size, it's got tons of work to do in the yard, we've got all this still growing back. Oh, let me go check these carrots whilst we're here. So guys, we planted some carrots just before we had to nip over to England, some of you were saying we've done the wrong thing, we've planted it wrong, because a trench will make the root rot, so unfortunately, we did do a trench, should we dig it up and see? Yeah, we'll dig it up and see, or maybe not, maybe it's not, more like carrots, these ones, oh yeah, sorry, so yeah, sorry, they are, yeah, you're right, yeah, yeah, yeah, you're right, yeah, they're carrots, I think these are the carrots, they are, yeah, ah, so you may have some baby carrots, so what I'm doing, go through them, pull out the weeds around them, yeah, but that definitely looks like carrots, yeah, it does, you're right, you're right, yeah, you're right, because they're different to all the plants around it, yeah, I think, I think, but then I see some here as well, yeah, I don't know, but then the seeds could have gone somewhere else, you know, because remember that it was quite dark, and we did see them there, we'll dig them up and see, yeah, see, I'm just hoping we don't dig them up, and then they're actually growing, but it might be too early, but I don't know, we'll dig them up, and then, so we've learnt our lesson, we'll chop plant again, like this here, is that what you mean, here, yeah, yeah, that does look a bit carrot-y, we'll dig one up, yeah, and then we'll know then, then we can plant it, if we dig up correctly, we can plant it back in, yeah, if it's not too deep, now I've just realised I've got more wood I forgot about, oh yeah, I've got more wood, I've got big tree chunks there, I've not, or branches I haven't cut up, so that's interesting, I need to get that inside somewhere dry, but I've got a load of wood, I've got some starter wood, you know, I've got three, four piles of starter wood, I've pruned this one back, I'm not sure if I just should do just a complete, cut all the branches, let it grow back naturally again, I don't know what you think, it's, I don't know if this one's actually bearing a lot fruit, I don't know, it was bearing a lot, but like you said, maybe it's better to just prune it, then give it enough energy to focus on, yep, I think our guys are here, so we're gonna go and let them in, but yeah, I'm gonna, like these branches here, that one needs, I think that one, some of them just look dead, see what happens and then, so Chris is going to have a chat with these guys, make it very clear what we expect from them today, if they expect to be paid today, that obviously, you know, half of that roof has got to be done, and then obviously the other half has got to be done tomorrow, if it's going to be over a two day period, which is what they've said, we are getting it done guys, the guy, the guys up on the, they are doing an amazing job, what they're doing, they're going to remove the old cement first, as we said, we've got, what's your name again my friend, Nick, Nick, yes, yeah, so we have Nick, who's mixing, just to make it quicker, and then Asan, his daddy, big Meister, builder, so Meister, Asan, doing a good job, yeah, still, still cementing over the old one, but yeah over the old one, yeah he's supposed to be cleaning the old one off, not cementing on it, old one daddy put down there, what do you mean, from down there, I said to keep it up, yes, oh like a bit, like a strong, to make it stronger, okay, yeah, like a support, like a support, yeah, because some piece, otherwise it will fall, right in, right in, right in, in, in, in, needs to go in with that, please, make sure that Asan, you see that one there, yeah, make sure that he does that properly, just now, fix it after, put like, right over daddy's one, I'm going to get some cement to do the chimney, the chimney, yeah, yeah, literally, I can just, no, but it's because I need to use it today, huh, can we not use the same colour, this one, oh no, just one back for there, no, you can't use this one, it's different, no, no, yeah, yeah, you can see, the guys are up there doing a fantastic job, so what they're doing, is using the current cement, the old one, just to keep as like, like a structure, so it keeps it strong, and then, what daddy's doing, is re-cementing over it, so that it just like, keeps it in place, so yeah, they're just doing a really good job, it's red as well, that cement that we bought is a red one, so it keeps the colour, it looks nice aesthetically as well, it's not, you know, that, that white one, I don't, I don't really like that yeah, so they're getting on with it, we should be done by tomorrow, oh sorry, Nick, what's your dad's name again, Becca, Becca, that's it, so he does do, um, levelling cement inside, isn't it, bathrooms, yes, will you later come in my house, yeah, okay, later come and see my house, nice, palace, yeah, it is such a relief, that the roof is getting done, and it's getting done before winter, I hope that it lasts, these guys have said that that cement should last five, six years, maybe more, but the cement that we bought is a very good kind, just want to show you it, as I said, it's 17 lever, around 17 lever, and this is it, terraced, as I said, it's a little bit more than the normal lime, the sand mix, but, uh, it's quicker, it's, uh, pretty much pre-coloured, and it's just, literally, you mix it with the, a bit of water, and lay it, maybe, this, this side, oh, the towel broke, oh, hey, my friend, my friend, rain, cement, oh, man, it's starting to rain, uh, don't know how well that is going to be, faring with, um, doing a roof, but, them lot are just finishing that off, daddy's working quick, though, Beko, also known as Beko, he's doing a good job, yeah, yeah, I opened it earlier, I opened it earlier, then we're in the car, yeah, I think so, I'll leave the car anywhere, I'll just lock it, and then you, need to get the towel, oh, what the, two, Chris, he needs, uh, two, we'll probably bring three or four, because there's one over the other side, as well, hope I can start, is this any good, you don't know, maybe some, uh, something, yeah, maybe, I don't know, same, that's crazy, yeah, that's why you checked, probably, in, uh, Belgium, four tires problem, uh, coming back to me, drive to me, I'm driving, oh, yeah, Belgium, Germany, yeah, okay, wait, you trailer, you trailer, trailer, yeah, no problem, is he trailer, put it in, then they check the car, yeah, is no trailer, no problem, no problem, where you got trailer, check, check, yeah, I, have you got trailer, night time, we sleep, daytime, night time, um, one, uh, midnight, drive at night, morning, so, until you leave, near border, if you're far border, it's okay, but near city, like, Vienna, big city, Brazil, um, I'm telling no problem, you go in, you just check your passports, you have so many studies, I need to bring here, yeah, Serbia, Sweden, no, here, it's better for me, yeah, but you drive, uh, seven, eight, hour, hour in Romania, yeah, okay, I'll try next time, okay, I go, no problem, I like Romania, oh, now, new motorway, straight, very good, new road, now, new roads, nice, so, you go hungry, oh, I see, I see, I, I thought, but I thought, no, maybe, yeah, okay, maybe, yeah, oh, this, this, that, that, what, yeah right guys so the guys are up there now and pretty much done the first bit off the roof as you can see looking nice there you go I think they're gonna pretty much do it today they're just gonna really go as hard as they can get as much done today as possible Chris has just run down the road to the hardware store to grab another two bags we're gonna re-cement the chimney just to make sure that the bricks don't fall away so just basically repoint it so hopefully today I think we should probably be done really really really happy should be good it's all looking good have a look a little bit yeah do you know what's happened on the top yeah that that yeah do you know what happened um the top level of the floor of the house an electric vent it's blown so we've got no electric at the top it's still mixing and Asan is up there so we had a area here where there was some water coming into the Asan just there now replacing that tile so all the way along here you can see it right along here so yeah they're just replacing that tile because there was a hole there pretty much I think I can hear Chris yep Chris is coming back now Chris has just come back hello Chris so yeah roof is looking good the guys are going to finish off today but we don't know we'll see they're going to go till six o'clock today seven if needs be because tomorrow it might rain Chris is back so he has the curse it uh curse what curse it don't curse anything has to be called curse they're gonna get it done today today yeah all right how much was it 78 something yeah what's the problem now that's a big problem that's not smart as long as it's done properly good problem I decide if it's finished I decide if you're an amigo or not they're gonna go till six if they need to not eat nothing and just get it done because tomorrow's gonna rain yeah so he said rather than messing around and coming back again well it should be done most of it like that but it's only 12 o'clock I just realized they've got no free yeah worst case I can't next day I don't want to get it dark a bit properly that's what I said come back tomorrow and finish off but tomorrow's raining yeah so it'll be Saturday if anything yeah but at least we'll do the majority of that side of the house is the worst side this piece of tin here should that even yeah exactly my friend my friend it's supposed to have that piece it's supposed to be it's supposed to be a three-way yeah yeah they got put back on though yeah maybe it's supposed to but I don't know if you're buying them or something oh I don't know it's a three-way I think it's a three-way piece that goes on the ridge yeah three of them put together that's um they've just stuck it on top in the center yeah see that's where if we had one in strips if I went in strips we could have done then if we bought one strips we could have done that bit yeah no yeah that's what we should have done I know yeah on the top there there was a bit sitting on the top but on the top there there should be maybe a three-way tile no on the corner yeah yeah it's not normally normally free no like across my friend I wish I bought some strip now no daddy say I fix it yeah but he's gonna clean off the old one he's gonna he's gonna clean up the old one is it is it clean up the old cement and do it properly yeah because that's important on the top of the top bit yeah definitely not going over that oh yeah today's best day yeah I tried today maybe 5.30 6 o'clock dark no problem no try to finish them tomorrow big problem yeah just that side was a bit you can't put nothing there no but it's only solid okay no it's an old building the new ones do yeah but it's crap the new ones are crap yeah it's only better but they're crap look at the quite the new stuff it's just scrappling yeah even better oh I prefer old stuff I've realized that all this new stuff like you I want to fix this look this look nice I don't use it use it problem yeah no just a history um it's good for concrete alcohol alcohol in england it looks nice my friend said okay clean we've got rubbish in the room I want to see a picture of him oh good yeah later this um oven and maybe um yeah the concrete material show us how to do it open that's why do not touch when dry when dry after finish its no good oh no no no that's not right it's water brush yes Yeah. OK? Tripnic. Roger first. Up, up, up, up, up, up, up. No, no, no, no. No, this. No, no, no, no. It's right here. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's more. Right guys the work is all done we're literally just gonna go down to get some food to put into our new fridge but yeah so the works all done you can see now there isn't really any much grey up there is there? No. It's all looking nice and new. It's actually fantastic. Almost looks new. It's the best it's looked since we've had the property. Right okay so come with us and we're gonna go shopping. Oh wow. That's what I was just about to lock. I'd be locked inside. I know that's what I thought. Is the door locked? Yeah. Oh a scatty came out. What scatty? The dog. Right so that is all done guys. Yep they've been here, they've done the roof, they've cemented and yeah just sealed all the gaps, replaced some tiles. They literally turn up at I think it's about 10 o'clock and they finished at about was it about four o'clock? About four o'clock yeah. And we were so impressed with them what they've done. It did start to rain. Yeah it did straight out literally straight afterwards. So we were a little bit worried whether you know the putty would actually take. During and after. Yeah. Not heavily though but afterwards was very heavy. Yeah but the next day it poured it down the whole day. It literally did. So we got the right thing and obviously we had a leak coming in right over my tool station and which is going to be something else very shortly. Yeah. But yeah so I'm a bit worried about that and yeah so it looks done, it looks lovely, it looks new again. Yeah. And I can't see any problems at the moment. No. Thank you all so much for joining us on this episode. The next job will be we will start to level out the kitchen but I think first we're going to go up in the attic because that's a space we've not been in yet. Yeah not in fact we want to go and see what the roof looks like inside because we've not been there. Yeah so it'll be a first for us, it'll be a first for you guys. We've not been up there but I've had a peek, I've got to be honest, I've had a peek up there and it looks like there's a lot of stuff up there. There's all kind of stuff. I don't know, I can just see for now. I'm not going to say what it is. I'm not even sure 100% what's up there but we're going to go up there properly and actually walk around in the attic, the loft and see what's in boxes and stuff up there. Yeah and there's a chest out there. Oh there's a big chest up there, a massive chest and it's closed so that's very like exciting and worrying. Could it be something we don't want to find or could it be treasure or it could be trash. Right so guys thank you so much and we'll see you next week.