Whether you are building or renovating, at some stage you will need to consider your downpipes and spouting options. We’re lucky in New Zealand that we have many options when it comes to rainwater collection systems. With downpipe and guttering manufacturers all praising their own products, it makes finding a non-biased opinion about choosing the best type and material challenging.
That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide on how to choose the right material and type of spouting and downpipes for your home. (more…)
Posted In: Auckland, Choosing Tradespeople, Christchurch, Hamilton, Plumbers, Rotorua, Tauranga, Waikato
Tags: aluminium, copper, downpipes, guttering, pvc, spouting
Choosing the type of roofing tiles to use on your roof can open a can of worms. You want a roofing tile which looks great, is easy to maintain and is long lasting. With roofing vendors all praising their specific tile type, how do you know which one to pick? Let us help.
Posted In: Uncategorized
Ever noticed that great roofs don’t get the attention they deserve? With a watertight roof being one of a home owner’s major concerns, it’s surprising how little attention roofing material receives. We’ve always known that roofs are important. They’re the crowning glory so to speak of your home. That makes choosing the right materials for your roof of high importance.
Posted In: Bricklayers, Builders
Brick or weatherboard? Choosing the cladding for your new home needs more than deciding what looks best. It’s about the type of home you are building, the cost of the different types of cladding and the location of the house. Let us help you solve the battle of the cladding and choose the right type for you.
Posted In: Bricklayers, Builders, Carpenters, Far North, Fiordland, Franklin, Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton, Hastings, Hauraki Islands, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt Valley, Invercargill, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Manawatu, Manukau, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata-Piako, Napier, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn, South Taranaki, Uncategorized
Tags: brick, brickie, Builder, building new house, cladding, council, council regulations, insulation, location, new build, new home, weatherboard
Written by Ben Rickard from Builtin New Zealand Limited.
There’s a lot to think about when you’re renovating your home. It’s an exciting time, but there are risks to be considered and also insurance essentials to get right. A building project that goes pear-shaped can be one of the most stressful and costly experiences of your life. (more…)
Posted In: Builders, Project Managers, Renovation Specialists
With so many tradespeople belonging to different accreditation organisations, how do you know which one to use? Is an industry based accreditation offer the same as one from the government? We’re here to dive into the mysteries of what the most common accreditations are. Let’s jump on in! (more…)
Posted In: Ashburton, Auckland, Banks Peninsula, Builders, Buller, Carpenters, Carterton, Central Otago, CHB, Choosing Tradespeople, Christchurch, Clutha, Coromandel, Dunedin, Far North, Fiordland, Franklin, Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton, Hammerhand & Labourer, Handymen, Hastings, Hauraki, Hauraki Islands, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt Valley, Inspectors, Invercargill, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Locations, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Manukau, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata-Piako, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, North Shore, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Pacific Islands, Painters & Decorators, Palmerston North, Papakura, Paving Contractors, Piling & Foundations, Plasterboard Fixer, Plasterers, Plumbers, Porirua, Project Managers, Queenstown, Rangitikei, Rental Property, Resource Management, Rodney, Roofers, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Scaffolding, Selwyn, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa, Southland, Stratford, Surveyors, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Timaru, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa, Waitakere City, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wellington, Western BOP, Westland, Whakatane, Whanganui, Whangarei
Flooding is one of the many natural disasters New Zealand is prone to. Cleaning up and repairing your home after a flood is not something any of us enjoy. Quite often the damage is severe and requires professional tradespeople, as well as council permits and inspections. Then of course there is the myriad of insurance assessments to deal with as well. Often with such a big job, it’s hard to know where to start first. That’s where our homeowners guide to flood clean-up is useful.
Posted In: Builders, Cladding Professionals, Fire and Floods, Fire Services Professionals, Foundation Specialists, Inspectors
Aluminium or Wooden Windows – Which is Best for Me?
New Zealanders typically live in a home with either wooden or aluminium windows. These two types of joinery are well respected by both builders and homeowners alike. However, people have their favourites and with good reasons. That’s because there are pros and cons for both aluminium and wooden joinery. Ultimately the decision rests with you in choosing the joinery type best for your home.
Posted In: Carterton, Central Otago, CHB, Dunedin, Hammerhand & Labourer, Handymen, Hastings, Hauraki, Hauraki Islands, Heating Professionals, Insulation Installers, Interior Designers, Invercargill, Kaikoura, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Masterton, Matamata-Piako, New Plymouth, Plumbers, Project Managers, Roofers, Waitakere City, Waterproofing, Wellington, Whanganui
A house fire is devastating, regardless of how much damage occurred. Your first instinct may be to begin the clean-up and repair work, but there are several key things to work through first.
Posted In: Asbestos, Builders, Cleaners (Exterior), Cleaners (Interior), Fire and Floods, Fire Services Professionals
In the days and weeks after an earthquake, priorities turn towards repairing the damage to your home. We’ve put together this handy post to give you some tips on repairing your home after an earthquake. Your first step should be to contact the Earthquake Commission and your insurance company to register a claim. They will advise you on what steps need to happen before the damage can be repaired. You can however, do an immediate clean up and repairs around your home. For more information about this, please read our article What Can I Clean Up After an Earthquake?
Posted In: Earthquake
During a large earthquake, considerable damage can be done to both your home and your belongings. While the first thought is to clean up the mess yourself, should you be calling the professionals to come and do it or your insurance company first?
Posted In: Bricklayers, Choosing Tradespeople, EQC Help, Fire and Floods, Inspectors
Earthquakes are unpredictable and the best form of defence is to be prepared. Keeping a well-stocked survival kit with food, water and other essential supplies is one way we can care for our family after a shake. We can also prepare our homes too, with the aim to avoid as much damage as we can to both the building and our family members. Read on to learn more about earthquake preparedness for your home and family.
Posted In: Architects, Builders, EQC Help
Tags: earthquake
At some point in your life, your home may become too small for your family. Undertaking a major renovation such as adding a house extension will give you extra space. But are you better off building a second floor instead? Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages between adding a storey verses building a new addition.
A need for extra space in your home is why most renovations are undertaken. Depending on the size of your backyard, you can choose to build up or build out. (more…)
Posted In: Bricklayers, Builders, Carpenters, Carpetlayers, Painters & Decorators, Piling & Foundations, Plasterboard Fixer, Plasterers, Plumbers, Roofers, Scaffolding, Staircase Specialists, Surveyors
Smart homes are the way of the future and 2017 will see more use of these automated features within our homes. Created to make life simpler for homeowners, intelligent homes are still seen as a luxury rather than a necessity by many. However, we’re 100% certain in that you’ll want these must see smart home features as much as we do!
Posted In: Uncategorized
Summer is here and our skin is not the only thing we need to protect from the harsh NZ sun. Our decking areas also need protecting. Not only are our decks areas to relax or dine upon. They are also an entranceway into our homes, making it important they are kept in top condition. To keep your deck looking great year after year, we’ve put together this handy guide about the steps you need to take to summer proof your deck.
Posted In: Builders, Carpenters, Choosing Tradespeople, Landscapers, Painters & Decorators, Rental Property
Believe it or not, but 2017 is the Year of the Kitchen. Okay, well maybe we’ve exaggerated that a bit, though many homeowners will consider kitchen design trends before renovating their kitchen at some point through the year. However, 2017 does see the start of many new exciting kitchen trends, as well as the continuation of a few favourites. Whether you are installing a complete new kitchen or partially renovating an existing one, we’ve got you covered with these new kitchen design trends.
Posted In: Auckland, Builders, Christchurch, Fiordland, Franklin, Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton, Hastings, Hutt Valley, Interior Designers, Invercargill, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Kitchen Designer, lighting, Mackenzie, North Shore, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Pacific Islands, Palmerston North, Queenstown, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn, South Taranaki, South Waikato, Tauranga
Swimming during summer is a favourite pastime of New Zealanders, big and small. Keeping safe around the pool is therefore a top priority. Not only is drowning the most serious hazard around swimming pools, but it is also one of the most preventable ones too. Other hazards include drains, uneven surfaces, ladders, pool equipment, hand rails and fences. To help keep you and your family safe and having fun in the water this summer, we’ve got five top pool safety tips for you.
Posted In: Swimming Pools
Isn’t it always a case of the grass is greener on the other side of the fence? Townies are showing increasing interest in selling up and moving to a lifestyle block. Country living offers benefits including fresh air, more space and quiet living. What could be better? Yet what we don’t consider is the unwanted smells and noises rural locations welcome newcomers with.
Buses, sirens, car alarms and loud music. The solution to avoiding these noises has led many homeowners looking to purchase a lifestyle block in the country. Green grass, fewer neighbours, farm animals to look at – what could be better?
Farm animals make noises whenever it suits them. While this can be disturbing for newcomers, with time they often begin to blend into the background unnoticed. Farm machinery can go at all hours of the day and night too. Farmers are often in the fields when the weather is great or if they must get a job done immediately. Weekends are not normally days of rest. Milking sheds operate early in the morning, with their tanks often having noisy generators running. Heavy machinery is operated regularly and all manner of large vehicles visit farms regularly.
Many new lifestyle block owners are discovering that the everyday noises and smells from their rural neighbours are more offensive than those in the city. Called reverse sensitivity, this has led to many complaints being made to local Councils, as well as harsh words between neighbours. Thankfully it is possible to have your patch of land smell and noise free with careful planning and implementation:
Our team of experienced tradespeople are used to solving all manners of problems for their clients. To give you a head start with yours, we’ve created a job cost estimation calculator. Use it to find out what jobs you can afford to have done. From there you’ll know the type of tradie you’ll need to hire to help you out.
Posted In: Auckland, Builders, Christchurch, Cladding Professionals, Curtains & Blinds, Door Professionals, Foundation Specialists, Hamilton
Are you considering renovating your bathroom? Do you want to re-tile the floor or replace your bathtub? 2017 will see many new trends in bathroom design, with many others remaining in style. 2017 bathrooms will need to be functional, modern and stylish to be future proof. To avoid making costly mistakes when renovating your bathroom, you need to keep up to date. Here are some trends we will see during 2017 and beyond…
Posted In: Auckland, Builders, Carpenters, Christchurch, Hamilton, Hammerhand & Labourer, Hastings, Interior Designers
Summer weather just makes us want to head outdoors. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done for many homeowners with older homes.
Older properties were built in a time when indoor outdoor flow was not considered and the two areas were not supposed to mix. This causes plenty of problems today when:
However, there are some easy ways in which owners of older houses can improve their indoor-outdoor flow.
Posted In: Auckland, Builders, Christchurch
