| 103 Hayden Homes BUILDING New Roofs Re-roofing Repairs Spouting Louvre Roofing Roofing Done Right Trusted local roofing specialists servicing Manawatū, Whanganui, Horowhenua & Kāpiti Free Quotes Available 0800 566 138 admin@wallaceroofing.co.nz T T Sue Russell Uncertainty no barrier to builder’s optimism The company takes on alteration and development work both inside and outside the home, including new or replacement decking, tidying up the landscape and building fences. “Infill housing is something that’s quite common here, given the size of the older, more established sections.” Palmerston North home builder, Hayden Dam has just ticked over 10 years in business, and looking back on the first decade he describes it as a bit of a roller-coaster, with the frantic energy immediately post-Covid, to things becoming quieter. All in all, though, he says, the grounding of the business has gone better than he had expected. “It has been a bit of a feast or a famine, but I’m pleased with where we’re situated these days. I still have the same team, who are now fully qualified, so it’s been great to have that continuity.” A project building homes for the Defence Force has occupied the start of the year, and along with this a small amount of commercial work manages to keep the team fully engaged. “It is the toughest time to be building, but I do think there’s been a more positive feel as we ended 2025 and looked forward to this year,” says Hayden. “We’re doing the odd pole house as well.” He says the district hasn’t seen a huge influx of new people settling in the region, but rather people making alterations to their homes, or building new, as their life circumstances dictate. “Infill housing is something that’s quite common here, given the size of the older, more established sections.” And Hayden’s keeping his options open, depending on how this year pans out, to taking on another builder, but he knows it’s a decision that needs careful consideration. “It’s always a responsibility employing another builder or apprentice. It would be good in terms of us being able to handle more work as demand increases, but I need to know that there’s the work scheduled ahead to justify it.” Tools were put down to give Hayden and the team a good break over Christmas and New Year, something he believes is important to do. While he also believes having a sense of optimism is important, Hayden is aware this year is an election year, when traditionally, the building sector tends to become more hesitant. “People are sitting on their hands more so, given the uncertainty that always surrounds a general election year, and that’s not happening until November, so I think it will impact our market for most of this year.” Hayden is still actively on the tools, and any thought to employ another builder will be tempered with the aim to ultimately find a good balance between working in and on the business. The company takes on alteration and development work both inside and outside the home, including new or replacement decking, tidying up the landscape and building fences. Palmerston North, he says, is a great place to work, and especially to raise a family. “Before establishing this business I was working for another builder, and for me, one of the motivators in making the move, was to have more control over what I did and when. If I needed to shoot away to attend a child’s activity I can.” To really establish a good name in a provincial town, Hayden says it comes down to being upfront, open and honest and communicate really well with clients through every step of a build. “Because they’re dealing with the owner of the business right from the start and throughout a build, any matters that come up can be readily sorted in a really efficient way. I know my clients appreciate this fact.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=