| 91 Tasman: Higher Ground Construction Richard Loader A well-honed eye for building detail The full cedar home with pitched rafters and big thermally broken windows. BUILDING Following a decade spent snowboarding and working around the world in the hospitality industry, in 2008 David Everton decided to return to the Top of the South and complete an adult building apprenticeship. During his apprenticeship, David learned all the old school carpentry skills and craftsmanship, while honing his eye for detail, quality and design that would be the foundations for his own future business. After qualifying in 2011, David and wife/ business partner Kate, packed their bags and moved to Christchurch, establishing Higher Ground Construction. Contracting to group housing companies on a labour only basis, David kept his sights on building high quality spec homes for buyers looking for something just a little special. A move back to sunny Motueka in 2018 kick started this dream and after building their own beautiful big home on the water front in Motueka, David and Kate began their journey. “We’re small and we will stay small,” says Dave. “Kate and I both play a day-to-day part in our business, our clients have all come into our home, they know us, our children and the process feels authentic and collaborative. We never want to grow to the size where we can’t be personally involved with the process and ensure our customers are happy with each step of the process.” Using their own home to showcase what can be achieved by building with Higher Ground Construction, David and Kate provide their clients with plenty of design inspiration. “It’s a full cedar house with pitched rafters and big thermally broken windows. It’s very energy efficient. We do a range of spec homes, client builds and design & build homes. The homes that we’re building fit the demographic of our clients. Many clients are empty nesters and downsizing or retiring into the region, and want high quality living in a lovely location.” Higher Ground Construction’s building projects are predominantly centred around the Motueka and Mapua region. With so much to offer in the summer and winter months it’s an area that David, Kate and their children are passionate about. Home design is another area that David and Kate are passionate about, and David says that is part of the creative side of what they do. “Kate works closely with our design team to create something that cleverly optimises the site and creates something special that we feel home buyers will want to call their home. Most of our homes are pretty high-spec and quite eco-friendly. We’re putting solar in most homes, and insulation is very important. We’re not there yet, but we’re aiming to reach green home standard.” Unashamedly old school with the craftmanship of building beautiful homes, David’s apprenticeship training taught him the full suite of skills that enable his team to fix gib, prep and lay concrete or flooring to ensure the best product is being delivered. “The more end-to-end control we have over the whole process the more control we have over the quality of product delivered to our clients. It’s incredibly satisfying handing over a property that has been truly collaborative and I often feel like we’re playing a big part in realising peoples dreams. “It’s pretty humbling to be honest. We have built so many homes and for many of our customers this is their ‘one build’, their dream home to be customised to their unique life circumstances. Being involved from start to finish keep it interesting for us, and that helps our personal mental health as well.” David says partnering with Matt Galvin and Bayleys Motueka has been an essential part of the company’s success. RESIDENTIAL DESIGN Kitchen COMMERCIAL DESIGN Interior Enquiries + Showroom 9 Echodale Place, Stoke, Nelson | 03 547 7144 | msellers@thesellersroom.co.nz www.thesellersroom.co.nz Residential & Commercial Joinery For Award Winning PLASTERING NELSON 027 443 0163 mattmegwealleans@gmail.com • PLASTERBOARD STOPPING • COVE/CORNICE FIXING • PLASTERBOARD SPECIALISTS MATT WEALLEANS • 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE • HIGHEST QUALITY GUARANTEED MOUTEKA & NELSON BAYS Proudly suppporting Higher Ground Construction nelsonbays@flooringxtra.co.nz (03) 544 6000 72 Oxford Street, Richmond, Nelson motueka@flooringxtra.co.nz (03) 528 7530 23 Old Wharf Road, Motueka
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