112 | BUILDING Lee Building Maintenance T T Russell Fredric Safety focus brings repeat business Lee Building Maintenance has a proven approach to effective preventative and corrective maintenance. Lee Building Maintenance’s high level of health and safety accreditation ensures a steady work flow for the Palmerston North-headquartered business, along with being a key asset to its clients. As one of the most trusted companies in the region, Lee Building Maintenance has a proven approach to effective preventative and corrective maintenance, including for several key national and multi-national clients. These include large-scale and sometimes complex projects for dairy processors, government departments, local authorities, schools and universities, retirement villages and commercial clients. Managing director Jared Kenyon says the business employs 75 to 80 trade staff that are supported by 14 office-based staff, and provides a one-call-does-it-all suite of services, which includes plumbing, electrical and decorating in addition to a full-build service and project management. “We have expanded from eight staff to the number we have now since 2011. Building relationships with those clients, becoming that company that they can trust, rely on to turn up and do a good job has been key, but safety has been a massive thing,” Jared says. Lee Building Maintenance has become skilled at dealing with the highest level of safety standards. Two years ago the business expanded into Christchurch. “A lot of the people we work for have not just local but have international health and safety policies. We are committed early on to providing a safe work environment for our staff and training them to the highest level.” This commitment pays dividends, because the health and safety accreditation along with pre-approved police vetting means Lee Building Maintenance is a preferred contractor for many clients and ensures a good flow of repeat business, especially when reinforced by its on-the- job performance and build quality. Although much of the company’s work is commercial, there are often significant residential elements. A perfect example of this commercial/residential mix is Lee Building Maintenance’s current work on the two-storey Metlifecare Kapiti Retirement Village involving the major replacement of the roof, facia, gutter, spouting of the main reception, café, pool and library areas. The building was experiencing roof leaks as a result of the accelerated deterioration of its metal components due to its close proximity to the coast. The project involves tenting the entire roof over these areas, which requires considerable scaffolding on the building’s second level. “It’s probably one of the largest tents we’ve put up over a building and is being done in three stages,” Jared says. “We are having to reframe a lot of it and replace the windows and shorten the facias; it had internal gutters initially. All the soffits had to be reclad underneath – it’s quite a process.” A totally different building completed by Lee Building Maintenance was Palmerston North City Council’s animal shelter which, as a $5.5 million tender, stipulated local contractors as being mandatory. “We were fortunate enough to be local and the best value, and judged best to deliver it.” It features a modern office/ administration block with natural vertical cedar cladding on the exterior contrasted by dark brick on the balance of the block. Its two 12-cubicle and dangerous dog kennel buildings required some very specific design considerations for warmth, water resistance and drainage. Consequently, the wall and roof panels were made from a combination of Kingspan panels and steel mesh. For hygiene, their floors were lined with a resilient coating and fully bunded, and drains were installed. “There was quite a bit of time making sure the levels were right for the building itself, but also the falls for washing it out. That was probably the biggest challenge.” The facility was completed early 2024 and was a landmark building for the council, enabling a wider range of animal services, ensuring the animal welfare standards were met and enabling its animal control officers to be based on site. WE SPECIALIZE IN COMMERCIAL MAINTENANCE Offering the finest quality, durability and affordability Sliding doors | Windows | Security stays | Door and window locks Door closers | Auto doors | Safety stays | Burglary repairs 027 444 2836 www.ali-fix-aluminium.co.nz info@alifix.co.nz 1021 Tremaine Ave, PNth 06 3583232 PROUD TO BUILD WITH Lee Builders THE TILE DEPOT M A N A W A T U LATEST DESIGNS AND STYLES Proudly supporting Lee Building Maintenance palmerston.north.central@laserelectrical.co.nz | www.laserelectrical.co.nz 20 Dahlia Street, Palmerston North | Ph: 06 3552944 House Floors Vehicle Crossings Patios & Paths Driveways Concrete Pumping 027 241 3507 @allconcreteservices
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