For more information, please call us 0508 2 RENOVATE0508 2 73668

When it comes to renovation project, we believe the most important step is finding a trustworthy renovations contractor. We’ve all heard the horror stories of a nightmare contractors who cause delays and generally complete work of poor quality. However, what you might not consider is the sneaky contractor. ‘Sneaky’ Renovations Contractor When we talk about a ‘sneaky’ contractor what do we mean? Simply put, a sneaky contractor goes out of their way to bring down costs without the full knowledge of the homeowner. Typically, this is done by using cheap alternative building materials. While in theory this isn’t sneaky behaviour. It soon becomes malicious when the contractors’ prices don’t reflect the quality. But what if the prices are reflective of the true material costs? We may still define a contractor as ‘sneaky’. Especially if the homeowner is not made fully aware of the implications of cutting costs. Stuff.co.nz recently published a story of an Auckland home using non-compliant wiring. During a major renovation, the electrician found dodgy wiring inside the walls. The cable used was not rated to New Zealand standards, and had they caused a fire, the homes insurance may not have covered the damages. Luckily, these homeowners had an honest electrician who found the issue and explained the significance of the problem. However, it isn’t uncommon for contractors to slip thing by the owners, either to bring their price down, or to increase their margins. What does an honest renovation contractor look like? Not to paint a grim picture of all contractors, but it is important to stay vigilant when working with home renovators. As tempting as...

Get excited for the new year by exploring some of the new renovation trends for 2022. Whether you are looking to spice up your home or add some value to your property the latest trends may offer you some great ideas. Renovating can be a lot like fashion, so it is worth considering the fad factor of the follow list. Just like fashion some things can quickly become tacky. However, we think we have found 3 renovation trends that are here to stay. Colours are back For the last few decades homes in Auckland have slowly become walls of greys and whites. Although there is nothing wrong with this as it creates a nice clean look it is rather boring. We are beginning to see people following the home renovation trend of paint their home neutral colours. Neutral colours bring a little life into the home without doing anything crazy. The natural colours reflect earthy tones with when paired with an inoffensive shade of green can create a soothing space. The rise of the home office If you thought the rise of the home office was a covid-19 trend, then you are wrong. Thousands of people have gotten a taste of working from home and are not turning back. Simply, working from home is here to stay. With that will come a demand for home office spaces. We expect many Kiwis to follow this renovation trend in 2022. Either by converting an unused room, subdividing existing spaces, or building extensions. Sustainability Unlike some of the more stylised trends on this list this one is here for the long run....

Adding an extension onto your West Auckland home can be a large and expensive undertaking. So, it’s important to consider a few factors to make the most of your money and avoid running over budget. Factors such as planning, size, materials and most importantly who you will work with. Finding a renovation expert might actually be the most important as they can properly inform you on the process. Size of Home Extension Interestingly, smaller builds tend to be more expensive per square metre than larger renovations as the overheads such as council permits stay the same. What this means is that it might be worth saving to go big because a lot of your costs are in simply setting up a renovation. Otherwise you might find the overheads determine the size of your extension for you. In the case of this West Auckland home, the owner only wanted to add a small bathroom, but found going a bit bigger allowed for more options without increasing their budget drastically. Concept Drawings Strong planning is always the backbone of any renovation, and in the case of concept drawings may actually be required depending on the size of your renovation. Not only do concept drawings show what the finished renovation will look like, but it acts as a guide for the budget of the renovation.  For the West Auckland home extension, the owner came to us with concept drawings completed with consent given. This allowed us to stick to the plan set out and quote a build for their tight budget. Materials The last step of a home extension renovation is building...

A bathroom renovation is an investment. An upgrade, big or small, can bring a tremendous amount of benefit. That is because a bathroom renovation is not just about form and aesthetics, it is also about function. Here are other benefits of upgrading a bathroom. Improves comfort A small spaced bathroom can look larger with the right colors and patterns. A simple and boring bathtub can be transformed into a relaxing spa-like tub. An upgraded shower head provides an extra appeal into the overall look of the bathroom. We spend an awful amount of time in the bathroom, it is only right to upgrade its looks and function to make our bathroom experience more comfortable and relaxing. With the right bathroom renovation, you can achieve the highest comfort and relaxation. That is the main benefit of upgrading your bathroom. Improves aesthetic Another benefit of a successful bathroom renovation is that it makes the bathroom look so much better. In turn, it will make your home a lot more appealing. With an appealing bathroom and home, you won’t be embarrassed to show it off to your guests. It also gives you a sense of pride to have a beautiful and well-maintained bathroom. Increase the value One of the reasons why bathroom renovation is a good investment is that it increases the value of your home. When you sell your home, potential buyers often look at the condition of the bathroom. If your bathroom is good, the potential buyers will be easily convinced that the whole house is a good buy. Save money on utilities An old showerhead can be costing you...

Overwhelmed By All The New Bathroom Vanities On The Market? With These Tips Of The Trade, You Get The Best for Less? Stock vanities have come down in price – A lot! On the back of recent manufacturing advancements, we can now mass-produce sturdy, elegant bathroom vanities for cheaper than we ever could in the past without compromising on quality. Not only do these bathroom vanities look great, but they’ve gotten so much easier to install. Anyone with a weekend to spare and some basic tools can piece together a bathroom vanity all by themselves. It’s no secret, the DIY crowd loves a good, cheap bathroom vanity. However, an easier install benefits us all. If you’ve got too much on your plate, or absolutely no desire to attempt installing a bathroom vanity yourself, a simpler, quicker install helps your pocket too. You pay less for labour and have a bathroom that’s ready to use in hours, not days. The availability of affordable modern units means that there has never been a better time to upgrade your bathroom vanity. A bathroom vanity isn’t just about housing a hairdryer and the clean towels. A bathroom vanity can bring life and pride into a bathroom that just isn’t working, improve on your home, and will definitely increase the value of a house. Bathroom Vanity Quality Considerations To Get A Good Product. Quality is about two things – looking good and lasting a long time. For reference, here’s a unit we replaced. This style was all the rage back in the 90s. Now it just looks dated. The brown/cream colour of that overhanging...

Renovating one’s own home gives the feeling of accomplishment and pride once the design is finished. But going through the details can be a bit daunting for most–renovation builders fulfil their tasks in maximizing their strengths and services for clients. The Boom of Home Improvement Home renovation falls under the bigger hat of home improvement. The industry has become the fastest growing retail sector in New Zealand with an increase of 60 percent from 2012–with an estimate of 30 percent of homes being renovated. The Certified Builders Association has seen a trend in expanding existing land and home space as opposed to purchasing new property. The reason being that there is apprehension of being able to move back in a residence. Extensive renovations are often made in bedrooms and bathrooms–sometimes with the addition of a garage. The demand of an upkeep of present houses comes in the midst of an increase in house prices in Auckland and surrounding areas. Renovations or Remodelling? Renovation and remodelling house procedures are both aesthetic changes to a home or structure. The difference between them is the extent to which the transformation takes place. Renovation focuses on the re-creation of a dilapidated space and often times, the pre-existing condition of the establishment is enough to be retained. Remodelling is not simply changing the surroundings or the decor but creating even the foundation of a home if necessary. This would include changing even the basic features of a room to make way for other additional components that would enhance it. Remodelling in a home is better for its functionality; from a designer and decorator’s perspective,...