Top regional new builds and renovations

A new home build in Herne Bay and a renovation in Westmere have been named this year’s top Auckland homes, winning supreme awards in the Auckland Registered Master Builders 2013 House of the Year.

WG de Gruchy Construction scooped five regional awards, including the Registered Master Builders supreme award for the house of the year as well as winning the category and gold award for the Westpac New Homes over $2 million category. The company also received the craftsmanship award and the outdoor living award for the Herne Bay home.

Barton Builders was awarded the Registered Master Builders supreme award for the renovation of the year, as well as winning the gold award and category for the future proof building renovation award over $500,000, for a home in Westmere.

WG de Gruchy Construction’s build impressed judges who said, “Starting out originally as a renovation, before changing paths to become a 100% new build, the degree of difficulty experienced by the builder to create this masterpiece is amazing.”

“The exacting standards and incredible attention to detail displayed in this home is almost beyond belief. The exterior timber cladding, timber windows and extensive use of textured timber wall linings internally were all crafted perfectly.

“This is one of those exceptional homes that you seldom see – this is building excellence and a worthy winner of the supreme award.”

Judges said the Barton Builders’s winning renovation was of an architect’s own home, involving complex detailing, which provided some major challenges for the builder.

“From the installation of structural steel frames supporting the upper floor to large exterior stacking louvre shutters, the execution of this renovation was difficult to fault,” they said.

“An extremely high level of workmanship extends into the interior of the home with the fitting of very large shoji style shutters, extensive American oak timber floor and the fitting of large, sculptured wave-like fins to the skylight over the dining room, all carefully detailed, skilfully interpreted by the builder.

Bay of Plenty Central Plateau
A new home build in Te Puke and a renovation in Tauranga were named top Bay of Plenty Central Plateau homes.

Shaw Builders scooped six regional awards for two separate entries, winning the Registered Master Builders supreme award for the house of the year, the Carters new homes $1-2 million category and gold award, and the craftsmanship award for a home in Te Puke. The company was also awarded the category and gold award for the future-proof building renovation award over $500,000 for a renovation in Tauranga.

Todd Grey Builders won the Registered Master Builders supreme award for the renovation of the year and the ITM renovation award $250,000-$500,000 gold award and category for a home in Tauranga.

Shaw Builders’ new home build impressed judges who said the use of metal cladding, white plaster and cedar boarding on the exterior of the home is both aesthetically pleasing and incredibly well executed.

 “Metal cladding fixings are seamless, which is very difficult to achieve and a real credit to the builder,” they said.

Judges said Todd Grey Builders Ltd’s Supreme Award-winning renovation had been carried out skilfully and is a beautifully crafted response to the needs of the client.

“This home has been brought into the 21st century through clever use of cedar rusticated weatherboard and Alucabond on three dimensional features of the home, giving it a contemporary look and feel,” they said.

“The builder has transformed the upper floor into an open plan space and introduced an impressively large exterior steel portal, which involved a high level of difficulty.”

Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast
A new home build in Kaiteriteri and a renovation in Nelson have been named this year’s top homes in the Nelson / Marlborough / West Coast region.

Inhaus Developments scooped six regional awards, including the Registered Master Builders supreme award for the house of the year and the James Hardie new homes $450,000-$600,000 category for a home in Kaiteriteri. The company also received the craftsmanship award, the Plumbing World bathroom excellence award and the Resene sustainable home award.

Scott Construction was awarded the Registered Master Builders supreme award for the renovation of the year, as well as the ITM renovation award $250,000-$500,000 for a home in Nelson.

Inhaus Developments’ build impressed judges, who said the builder did a fantastic job of meeting his client’s brief of a unique holiday home that complemented its environment.

 “Exhibiting faultless custom detail and impressive unconventional building methods, including natural timber vanity units and incredible exposed screw fixings in the lounge’s ply ceiling, the builder’s execution of detail is spectacular,” they said.

They also said Scott Construction’s renovation was a stunning example of a simple mid-60s home brought forward into the 21st century without losing the home’s original character.

“Inherent difficulties with site access and structurally supporting the existing home were involved in the execution of this two-storied extension and renovation. However, the builder has managed to transform this build into a well-proportioned, eye-catching home.

Taranaki
A new home build in New Plymouth has been named this year’s top Taranaki home.

New Plymouth’s Terry Clegg Builders scooped five regional awards, including the Registered Master Builders supreme award for the house of the year as well as winning the category and gold award in the PlaceMakers new homes $350,000-$450,000 category. The company also secured the Heart of the Home kitchen award and the Plumbing World bathroom excellence award.

The judges said, “This new home has been cleverly integrated with an old workshop through continuing the new cedar boarded frontage across the front of the existing structure as a false façade.”

National category winners, Registered Master Builders supreme awards for the renovation of the year and the house of the year will be announced at a gala dinner in Auckland in November.