it, it was a different matter. “I don't quite know how we did it. We had all the structural drawings, we understood them, and we knew what we had to do but the physical aspect of it was tough.


“I think we counted nine separate layers around the whole of the property that had to be applied within the walls, but the plasterboarding was definitely the most difficult and horrible job,” she says. “Del and I struggled because the ceilings are so high and balancing the boards on your head while trying to screw them in is just exhausting.” The weather didn’t help either as the bulk of the build took place in winter and being off grid, they had to run everything off one very long extension lead.


Then there was the added complication of the B&B, which the couple were still running in tandem with the chalet build. “Time was our biggest enemy. Guests can arrive from 3 pm and at 2.30 pm, looking like a feral, wild thing, I’d try to finish what I was doing on the chalet, get changed, brush my hair and get ready to welcome our guests. Trying to squeeze the build into these few hours was difficult; our guests come for peace and quiet – we couldn’t be hammering and drilling when anyone was staying.”


Eventually, Del and Christa tried to book two weeks off to focus on the chalet, but didn’t feel


20 www.sbhonline.co.uk


When you’ve been dreaming about something for so long, it’s quite nerve wracking when you come to do it, in case it doesn’t live up to expectations


they could cancel a weekend booking in the middle. “We were in the process of digging the drainage for the septic tank, we’d just had a huge gravel delivery, and the site looked like a bomb had gone off. Three builders plus Del and I made a mammoth effort to make it all look pristine for the guests, and at the end of the weekend we pulled it all apart again!”


GETTING THE DETAILS RIGHT


Internally, the couple have worked just as hard to build their alpine dream right down to the


issue 01 2021


HIGH POINT


“The moment our guests walk into Alpnhaus for the first time. Seeing their reaction is always amazing, and we


sometimes have to pinch ourselves that we actually did it.”


CHRISTA’S ADVICE


“Have more money! When you’re doing a build of any kind and your budget is tight, it’s stressful when things don’t go according to plan.”


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