78 | RS Design & Build BUILDING Every renovation different Transforming older homes is the “go to” for RS Design and Build. from page 77 Kelly Deeks HB builder an advocate for cedar construction Tony Lepelaars Builders Ltd With a vast portfolio of cedar construction projects completed around Central Hawke’s Bay, third-generation building company Tony (Bones) Lepelaars Builders continues to advocate for use of this durable and beautiful product, which Bones and his team always enjoy working with. “It’s such a beautiful timber to work with,” he says. “It’s lightweight and straight, looks warm and inviting, and is really high-class. Cedar will look good in another 30 years, and will still even look good in 100 years.” Today Bones is running the building firm that was started by his father Harry in the 1950s, and also employs his son Karl who completed his apprenticeship with his dad before gaining some valuable experience in the UK. Tony Lepelaars Builders has a reputation for a high standard of workmanship but it’s the personal touch and excellent customer service that keeps customers coming back. Bones acts as his own project manager, so all of his clients get to deal with the boss himself. He engages a trusted group of subcontractors and suppliers, mostly from Central Hawke’s Bay but also from Hastings and Napier. We’ve worked with many of these people for more than 20 years,” he says. “Business runs a bit more smoothly when you have good people working with you.” Tony Lepelaars Builders is now completing a new cedar and board and batten home on top of a hill overlooking the Waipawa River. Designed by Dave O’Connor of DOC Design in Napier, who incidentally designed Bones’ and his wife Lynda’s own cedar clad home, this project is a four bedroom home with two “It’s such a beautiful timber to work with, Cedar will look good in another 30 years, and will still even look good in 100 years.” “You build a relationship with the clients you do renovations for because most of the time it’s the family home that they live in. “We’ve done a lot of renovations in Hamilton East where we live, so we know all the people we’ve worked for, and we really enjoy that. They’re most often people who like where they live, they don’t want to move but their space doesn’t meet their needs anymore. They have to make a decision whether to sell and move to what they want, or change what they’ve got to meet their needs,” says Ross, who with a young family himself has faced the same decision and chosen to renovate. Generally the relationship starts with a phone call from someone with an older, weatherboard, single bathroom, two or three bedroom home wanting to transform it into one with two bathrooms and four or five bedrooms. “They’re the classic kiwi house, some approaching 100 years old, that have stood the test of time, and 95% of the time whatever we add on has to match well to the existing to keep that classic look although some prefer to look more modern,” says Ross. From that first phone call RS Design and Build can work with their clients to fine tune what they want, draw it up, get it through council and do the work, although they’ll recommend architectural input if they think it’s needed. The RS Design and Build team of seven, includes more than one now registered carpenter who achieved their apprenticeship while working for them, including Caleb Haika (25) who has become the regional runner-up in the Waikato Apprentice of the Year 2022. “He’s an intelligent person and he’d already done a lot of building before he started working at Placemakers. He was always there helping us when we went in to get materials, and Simon offered him the opportunity to come and work with us and do his apprenticeship, which he accepted,” says Ross. “We knew it was a win all round. He knows all the products you need for any application that you need it for, which is quite handy for renovations because every one’s a different kettle of fish, so that detailed knowledge is really helpful.” With relationships as their foundation, both internally and with their clients, between them all they’ve got the skills and the knowledge to successfully renovate most houses they’re presented with, weatherboard or brick, from the 1920’s or the 1990’s, however big or small. They enjoy working with their clients and using their experience to achieve their vision, with the budget they’ve got, in order to give them the home they want. bathrooms on a sweeping hilltop section, with extensive glazing and a sheltered outdoor living space on the north east side to take in panoramic views of the river and the Ruahine ranges. Inside the home features large open living spaces, a huge fireplace with a slate mantelpiece and heat pump ducting system throughout the home. “There is plenty of heating, but also plenty of natural light and warmth from the sun coming in through beautiful big windows to the north and west.” Bones’ community connections came into play on this hilltop build when the team had an issue moving long sheets of roofing iron up the steep hill with a trailer. “We had to organise a tractor from the local farmer down the road who came and helped to get the iron to us at the top of the hill,” Bones says. “I used to work for this farmer as an apprentice, and I’m still working for him and his family 45 years later.” Wet weather this winter and into the spring was rare and unexpected in the Hawke’s Bay, and resulted in Bones and his team having to work through and around wet building sites and some frustrating delays. “The weather has been a big pain this year,” Bones says. “Hawke’s Bay is normally renowned for its dry weather; it’s going to take a while for the ground to dry out again. We’re definitely looking forward to a long fine summer.” FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS DE BOER SERVICES m020 444 1234 cameron@deboerservices.co.nz e QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN CAMERON DE BOER For all your glass & garage door needs! Proudly supporting Tony Lepelaars Builders 33 Takapau Road, Waipukurau • 06 858 8441 or 0508 09 09 09 chbglass@xtra.co.nz • www.chbglass.co.nz For all your aluminium joinery requirements! • New homes • Alterations • Replacement of old wooden or aluminium joinery for single or double glaze • Made on-site to meet your your specific requirements Call Roscoe for a free quote on all aluminium joinery 16 Peel Street, Waipukurau • 06 858 8578 • nulook@xtra.co.nz
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