| 93 T T Hugh de Lacy Demand for balustrades, fencing systems booming Along with compliant fully-engineered aluminium balustrades, the company offers a comprehensive range of glass balustrade systems. MANUFACTURING Canterbury Balustrade The past year has been one of the best since the Christchurch earthquakes for locally-owned and operated Canterbury Balustrade, with demand for its big range of balustrading and fencing systems lately bolstered by retirement home projects in particular. Not that the huge demand that followed the 2010-2011 earthquakes has entirely run down more than a decade later: the company’s still doing quake-related work. There was the temporary slump in demand caused by the Covid pandemic in 2019 but since then a resurgent building industry has had Canterbury Balustrade on its toes keeping up. “We do a mix of commercial and residential work and, along with rest homes, we’ve also been busy doing a lot of pool fencing lately,” company director Hamish Gillespie says. Based in Sydenham, Christchurch, where it has a factory and show-room, Canterbury Balustrade has been servicing the local construction industry’s need for custom-made balustrading for more than 25 years, bolstered by continuing demand from as far north as Nelson and Blenheim, and as far south as Queenstown and Wanaka. The company completed the installation of balustrading for one rest-home in Blenheim in November, and had another lined up in Queenstown for the New Year. It offers a wide range of balustrade designs displayed on its website, and produces them in the Christchurch factory from aluminium components supplied by the Hamilton-based company Unex. Along with compliant fully-engineered aluminium balustrades, the company offers a comprehensive range of glass balustrade systems installed by its on-site teams trained in the specifics of balustrades, hand-rails and pool fences. The family business was founded by Hamish’s co-director Mike Sarjeant, who has a background in business ownership going back 30 years. “We do a mix of commercial and residential work and, along with rest homes, we’ve also been busy doing a lot of pool fencing lately.” Hamish joined the company 15 years ago, bringing general construction, engineering and project management skills with him. Canterbury Balustrade is able to offer balustrading solutions for projects of virtually any scale, from multi-unit commercial developments to first-home residential builds. The balustrades are multi-purpose, being suitable for everything from windbreaks and pool fences to boundary fences and privacy screens. “We’re able to supply design-and-build services from conception through to the finished reality, and we’ve got a myriad of successfully completed projects behind us from multi-residential to commercial office spaces and buildings,” Hamish says. “Our niche in the market is that we can offer balustrades from the bottom end of the building market, with basic aluminium products, to the top, with combinations of aluminium and glass.” Sustainability is a by-word for Canterbury Balustrade in this era of global warming. “Pretty much all the materials we use are infinitely recyclable, and that goes for our packaging too.” The Sydenham show-room and factory at 185a Wordsworth Street has a staff of 12, comprising manufacturers, support staff and on-site installers. “We get most of our work either through the tendering process or from inquiries generated by our website, and we make a point of developing close and ongoing relations with our clients so as to make engaging our services an enjoyable experience,” Hamish says. Our Guarantee Handrail Fittings Ltd guarantee the best Trade Prices, the best quality and the best service in New Zealand. All fittings are manufactured to the highest quality specifications and comply with all relevant NZ Building Codes. • Handrail Brackets • End Caps • Bends 0800 426 372 | www.handrailfittings.co.nz Designing & manufacturing quality fittings since 1989 • Base posts & Cover Plates • Tactile Buttons • Glazing Fittings
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