In 2016, shopfitter Chris dragged wife Angela along to a unique auction for a derelict water tower with a bargain price guide of £4000 ($8200).
Neither of them expected they would walk away from it the new owners of that tower, having spent a whopping $228,000.
So much for a bargain, huh?
Stream episodes of Derelict Rescue for free on 9Now.
In an episode of Derelict Rescue – which you can stream for free on 9Now – Chris and Angela spend six years turning the unused tower into a luxurious, gravity-defying home, pushing through an almost comical list of setbacks.
Scroll through to see the impressive final results of the transformation.
“I could’ve killed him at the time,” Angela recalled of the auction.
“All the time I was saying ‘stop, what are you doing? That’s enough now.’ But he wasn’t going to let somebody else have it.”
Chris’ reasoning for buying the tower was that it was “different, challenging, keeps you alive” – and that turned into a huge understatement.
READ MORE: Couple transform abandoned 1860s chapel into a luxury family home on Derelict Rescue
The couple hoped to turn the late-60s tower, originally built to supply water to a prison, into a high-end holiday spot and spent a lengthy four years waiting, planning and getting the necessary permissions.
They planned to completely transform the inside and outside of the tower, with an added floor featuring 360 degree glass for views across Yorkshire, a brand new spiral staircase up the entire shaft, open plan living area and four bedrooms and ensuites.
It was no easy feat. Weather and equipment issues played their part, as did access problems and measurements unique to the unusual circular tower structure.
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At the beginning of the build, Chris had estimated it would cost slightly over $500,000 – but just five months in, they had spent more than half of that already.
Finally, six years after the hammer went down at auction and more than two years since the build began, Chris and Angela’s transformation of the derelict water tower was complete.
“It was a water tower, just a lump of concrete. It was designed to hold water so to transform it into a house, I think we’ve come up with a different building that works,” Chris said.
Behind the front door and up all 60 stairs of a bespoke spiral staircase, the tower’s interior has been turned into a livable space boasting 360 degree views, luxurious design features and plenty of nods to the buildings quirky origins.
You can see the mind-blowing final results for yourself right here:
From battling arctic weather to supplier issues to an unexpected hip replacement for Chris, it was an uphill battle right from the get-go.
And of course, that all came at an eye-watering cost.
“It’s cost us somewhere between £350,000-400,000 ($719,000-822,000), which to me is too much but Chris thinks is OK,” Angela reflected with a laugh.
With the newly-renovation state-of-the-art tower now valued at more than $2,000,000, Chris’ happiness certainly seemed warranted.
“At the end of the day, I think it’s money well spent. You’re only here for a short time, so do something you enjoy,” he said.
You can see the full results of the renovation and learn the one remaining question hanging over the tower in Season 1, Episode 9 ‘Luxury Water Tower’ of Derelict Rescue on 9Now.
Stream episodes of Derelict Rescue for free on 9Now.
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