Dominic Chinea, the engineering specialist from BBC's The Repair Shop, has revealed the ongoing challenges of working in his new workshop in Cornwall, where severe weather has caused repeated damage. Since relocating from Kent last year with his wife Maria and dog Wendy, Chinea has faced storms that have battered the workshop roof, leading to leaks and structural issues.
In a recent video update, Chinea described the conditions as 'brutal', with sideways rain and strong winds causing the roller shutter to rattle loudly. He admitted that a period of sunny weather had lulled him into a false sense of security, but the reality is that his gutters are still leaking and the roof has developed cracks and holes that let in water.
Chinea has been forced to carry out emergency repairs while juggling renovations on his farmhouse kitchen. Earlier this year, a storm caused part of the roof to cave in, damaging a nearly irreplaceable vehicle he was restoring. He now faces similar issues, with water creeping in under the roller shutter and newly planted trees struggling to survive in the wind.
Despite the difficulties, Chinea remains grateful for the move, calling it 'life-changing' and a dream come true to have his workshop at home. However, he acknowledged the stress involved, noting that the workshop is still 'very much derelict' and that he is still shovelling cow manure from where his tools are stored.
The Repair Shop continues to air on BBC1 at 8pm, with Chinea featuring in the latest episode.
