112 | Small firm keeps busy in Riverton Nigel has secured a new house build on a 2.5ha rural site close to Riverton,. T T Russell Fredric Nigel Carran Builder BUILDING Thirty years after he started his building apprenticeship, Nigel Carran still loves being on the tools and the satisfaction of seeing satisfied clients at the end of a project. “This is about the 23rd year of having my own business,” Nigel says. Based in Riverton, Nigel Carran Builder, with its sole employee, is having a busy year, having secured a project for a local property developer on a two-hectare site in a residential part of Palmerston Street, the town’s main street. Aimed at helping alleviate a chronic shortage of rental accommodation in the popular seaside location, the development comprises four buildings, with each housing two, three-bedroom units of 158sqm, each separated by a firewall. Nigel believes the units will be sought after when completed. Although they are of a modest design, the current building code with insulating and glazing upgraded in 2023 means they will be extremely warm, comfortable and energy efficient for their occupants. “We were asked to put a price in and [the developer] was happy with that and we got the job. There’s four houses to be built, but eight units effectively.” In addition to this, Nigel has secured a new house build, an insurance job for a friend on a 2.5ha rural site close to Riverton, with a great outlook over the estuary and to the mountains in the distance. The client’s previous house, an old cottage, was totally destroyed by fire while the family were fortunately away. While the consents for the two projects were lodged at different times, they were approved close together, making for a solid current and forward workload. Nigel was involved in the early stage of the house design with the client and their architectural designer, who provided valuable input. Clad in textured split Viblock, the house has a 213sqm footprint. “It’s got four bedrooms, one bathroom, one ensuite and a good-size internal access double garage and an attic storage space over the garage,” says Nigel. The home will be heated in the dining, kitchen and living area by a stylish, high-efficiency Nestor Martin S41 diesel burner, supplemented by a heat pump in the hallway to provide heating or cooling in the bedroom and bathroom areas. This build is a great example, both of the radical difference in today’s building materials and methods, and also how a house does not need to be ostentatious or an award winner to be someone’s dream home, Nigel says. As far as the clients are concerned, this will be their dream home. However, the natural ambience, solar gain and overall energy efficiency will be a quantum leap compared to the previous house. “They were living in about a 100-year-old home, which they absolutely loved, so going forward this will be a massive improvement for them. It will be the total opposite from what they lived in. For Nigel, running a small business and personally being on-site and on the tools every day is a positive point of difference. “I love pulling up to an empty section and pulling away, say five or six months later and the look on the clients’ faces as they walk into their new home.” andy@rivertonrural.co.nz LIVESTOCK CARTAGE • BULK FERTILISER CARTAGE STOCK FEED CARTAGE • SOWING • GRAVEL & CONTRACTING T: 03 218 3941 office@refrigeration.co.nz 143 Bill Richardson Drive, Invercargill www.refrigeration.co.nz Phone: 03 983 5500 waterfordpress.co.nz Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. DO OUR READERS KNOW YOU EXIST?
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