94 | BUILDING Skyline Whangarei T T Virginia Wright Cost-effective homes now the focus Clad in Colorsteel, with standard timber framing and trussed roof, the rectangular dwellings, (those being the most cost-effective) are built to code and offer plenty of choice to their purchasers. Rick Cullen started working for his father in Skyline Whangarei straight out of school at the age of 15. That was 20 years ago, so he knew exactly what he was about when he bought his father out of the business four years ago. Skyline began in 1956, the brainchild of Lindsay Cook, whose vision was to offer well-built long-lasting garages at a price within everyone’s reach. Today, there are 40 independently owned and operated builders and distributors of Skyline Buildings around the country, and their focus has expanded, especially in the last 20 years. Although always remaining true to their origins with “extra-strong framing, durable steel cladding and gutters built for New Zealand weather”, garaging is no longer dominant. “Now we do quite a bit of basic housing, probably 50-50 housing and garages at the moment. “They’re basic, cost-effective houses, but you can get a one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom, or four-bedroom and you can go up to 200sqm. We’re doing more small and two- to three-bedroom houses today than anything else,” explains Rick. They tend to be between the 60 to 120sqm range, mostly rural, or a minor dwelling for people looking to provide for their parents or generate some income by putting another house on their property. Clad in Colorsteel, with standard timber framing and trussed roof, the rectangular dwellings, (those being the most cost-effective) are built to code and offer plenty of choice to their purchasers within those key parameters. “You can do the whole layout yourself. You can change the window and door sizes or locations, change the interior layout or bring your own design to us and we’ll quote on it, so you’re not just stuck with a certain design,” says Rick. They are built on site, whether it’s a concrete pad or piles with timber floor, and Skyline Whangarei offer their own advantage when it comes to getting the chosen design built, regardless of whether it is completely standard or you need something different to match your existing buildings, explains Rick. “We do everything in-house. We do all the site works and lay all our own concrete. We’ve got all the trucks and machinery to do the whole house, so the clients aren’t dealing with a whole lot of different contractors.” Rick does the site works and floors as he has done for the last five years, and his team of two, one a builder with 20-plus years of experience and his capable fourth-year apprentice take it from there. Historically known for its classic Kiwi garages, which have stood the test of time and can still be seen alongside most of the houses in the older parts of Whangarei, Skyline’s houses now offer what Rick believes are significant cost advantages. “It’s a basic construction model but we can work with you to give you a home anyone would be happy to live in, which is what it’s about at the end of the day,” he says. With the added advantage in Whangarei that they do all the work in-house which, as Rick says, means ‘there’s no-one to pass the buck to’, it has got to be an appealing option for those looking to build in the current difficult economic climate. 10 Hiko Road, Kamo, Whangarei Ph: (09) 435 5044 orders / (09) 435 5043 accounts | Email: info@virginconcrete.co.nz 100% locally owned & operated. Visit virginconcrete.co.nz Virgin Concrete for all your ready mixed concrete needs • Retaining Banks • Silage Pits • Storage Bays • Fertiliser & Feed Bins SMALL BLOCK Length: 600mm Width: 600mm Height: 600mm Weight Approx: 490kg LARGE BLOCK Length: 1500mm Width: 600mm Height: 600mm Weight Approx: 1260kg MEDIUM BLOCK Length: 900mm Width: 600mm Height: 600mm Weight Approx: 750kg SLOPED BLOCK Length: 900/1500mm Width: 600mm Height: 600mm Weight Approx: 1000kg
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