Community DIY gets salon fit for business after £5,000 botch job
A self-employed beautician, who had her dream log cabin botched by a rogue trader, has had the help of the local community to transform her salon.
When Jade Clayton commissioned a lone builder to put together a beauty cabin in her garden on Meriden Road in Oxley, Wolverhampton, she didn't envisage the damage it would do to her business.
The 33-year-old has run Jade's Beauty for the last 10 years, operating from a rented room.
WATCH: Beautician Jade describes rogue trader drama
In February this year, a builder 'finished' a three-month project to build her own salon in her garden, to let Jade work from home.
She forked out around £5,000 on the project overall - only for gaps in the walls to appear, and rain water to start flooding in.
"There were parts that weren't complete, it didn't look finished," she said.
"It was always leaking water and I was embarrassed to bring people in.
"There were holes and gaps in the wood, it was terrible.
"It was horrible and so frustrating, I lost all my faith in humanity thinking why someone would do this - how could he leave me in this mess?
"He blocked me on social media and wouldn't return my calls and messages."
Jade has had to temporarily close her business because of the shoddy work, meaning she had to register as unemployed at the job centre.
But, at the end of June, after around four months of not running the business, Jade posted on Facebook to let people know what had happened, and this is where the local community got involved.
A number of people reached out to offer help at putting the work right, including Leo Deegan and Robert Heath from HD Construction Ltd, who finished the work for free.
Jade added: "I've had so much positivity from people on the post who wanted to help me.
"I've been offered money, and help with fixing the problems.
"A friend of mine who is an artist also offered to do some artwork for me, and a retired electrician has helped to take a look at the electrics for me.
"I went to school with Leo when we were 16 so we're friends on Facebook, and he offered to come down and finish the work - they did everything, including materials, for free.
"After everything that's happened, it's been overwhelming to see the help and support I've had - it seems surreal.
"It still needs some work, with more painting and small adjustments, but I'm aiming to open by the end of August or beginning of September."
