| 105 T T Rosa Watson Uptake in renovations Hawke’s Bay builder Matt Tester says getting involved in a project from the start is the best way to create a functional and efficient home. Elite Build Ltd BUILDING Hawke’s Bay builder Matt Tester likes to get involved early in a project. The owner of Napier-based Elite Build said it was the best way to create a functional and efficient home and prevent delays down the track. “I definitely like working with the designer from the beginning, if possible, which hasn’t always been the case. “Just helping with a bit of expertise from the start.” One important aspect was making sure the house was positioned the correct way on the property to maximise the sun. He also had products he preferred working with, and liked to work with weatherboard. It’s a style that has worked well for him over his 18 years in business. “The project I’m working on now that’s just getting designed in the background ... I’ve been selected as a builder because that’s the style of house we do. “We’ve got a bit of a style with the weatherboard and the box corner. Quite a traditional-style house. It’s the style that we try to keep to.” Matt is a fan of polished concrete floors that draw the heat by day and release it at night. He also widened frames on the exterior walls of spec homes to allow for thicker insulation. Elite Build was started by Matt in 2006 when he decided to go out on his own. “And it just sort of started growing from there. Eighteen years later we’re still building.” He said most of their work came through word of mouth of clients. The company works closely with architects and engineers that also refer work, and vice versa. There are seven on the Elite Build team, including Matt and his wife, Sarah. Sarah spends around 15 to 20 hours on site and the rest in the office. The majority of the company’s work is in Napier, but also covers Hastings and Havelock North. The new build market was quietening down after a hectic time post-Covid, Matt said. “We’ve definitely noticed a slowdown. It’s been interesting couple of years. “We had COVID with the low interest rates which went ballistic, and we are seeing that effects of the (correction) now.” Following COVID, the company built about 25 homes in 12 months, most in the 180 – 100sqm range. “That was where the demand was ... people were buying land and building houses.” He said it was a similar environment to 2008 and 2009 following the global financial crisis. “I can see similar things happening in the market now to what happened back then. I’ve got that experience where I can navigate through it.” That included taking on more renovation jobs to make up the balance. “We’ll step back into the renovations market. We’ve got a few guys with experience with that.” In the last year the team also completed a multi-million dollar, two-storey home with a 360sqm footprint. It was an extremely challenging project, including installing the heaviest piece of glass in a residential property in the Hawke’s Bay, which required cranes to complete. There were also huge challenges in sourcing the materials. “Cedar for instance, normally I’d order it and six weeks later it’s here. That (order) took seven months.” NAPIER PHONE 06 844 6464 8 Gloucester Street, Greenmeadows HASTINGS PHONE 06 878 3976 11 Karamu Road North MICO NAPIER 102-106 TARADALE ROAD ONEKAWA, NAPIER 06 843 6002 www.mico.co.nz CREATE YOUR DREAM BATHROOM AT MICO Proud supporters of Elite Build Ltd • Gerard Roof Tiles • Longrun Roofing • Membrane Roofing Email: mark@rooftechhb.co.nz Unit 2/7 Cadbury Road, Onekawa, Napier PO Box 7515, Taradale Call Mark on 021 491 288 or 06 843 7383
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