| 93 T T Rosa Watson Good client base keeps business ticking over Ivan Moore Construction BUILDING Ashburton-based Ivan Moore Construction has ridden the waves of change in its two decades in business, and remains a strong player in the Mid Canterbury region. The company has been operating for 20 years in October, with Ivan’s two sons, Stephen and Grant, now involved in the firm. Picking up Dairy Holdings as a client 10 years ago was huge for the company, Ivan said. The largest dairy farmer in the country, Dairy Holdings has 38 farms across Canterbury covering 9526ha, along with 16 grazing blocks covering 4641ha. Ivan Moore Construction has completed numerous new builds and relocated homes for the company, as well as sheds, calf sheds and two-bay lock-up sheds. Although the construction industry had seen a downturn over recent years, the company was able to keep busy. And there were no signs of slowing up. “It’ll still keep going. I can’t see that it won’t.” They were fortunate to have Dairy Holdings as a main base client. “They’ve always got something going on. “You’re good if you’ve got a good client base.” He said the market had swung away from new builds to more alterations and renovations. A recent project was a large-scale alteration on a 360sqm, two-storey 1980s house. “We took a lot of walls out in the ground floor to make it all open living and modern.” Several large steel beams were craned in to support the upstairs, and a new roof constructed and supported with steel posts and beams to provide covered area for outdoor living. However, new builds are picking up and the team are currently building three houses, with two almost completed. The company acquired a section in the township that they will eventually develop with town houses, something Ivan said there were more of popping up in Ashburton. “There’s a fair few of them around now.” The housing market in the district was strong. “I don’t think there will be a problem selling a house in Ashburton.” One challenge he felt was hindering the industry was in the increasing cost of building. For example, the latest new Insulation requirements which increases the price of windows by around a third. Batt requirements have increased to the point that in some cases exterior walls increase from 100 x 50 to 150 x 50 just to accommodate the extra thickness of insulation. “So, this will make exterior walls 50 per cent dearer. “The powers that be have got things wrong. It’s not the new houses that are cold – I’ve never heard of anyone that has built a new house and complained that it’s cold. It’s the older stock of houses that need the upgrades.” He felt it was penalising those building a new home and making it harder and harder to afford. Health a Safety was one of the biggest changes in the industry in the 50 years he had worked in it. “Now we must have scaffolding around new builds and safety net’s etc.” Industry challenges aside, the future remains positive for the firm. It is looking forward to continuing working with Dairy Holdings and building on the 10-year relationship, Ivan said. Stephen and Grant will take more senior roles in the business, while Ivan steps back into more of an admin and advisory role. A recent project was a large-scale alteration on a 360sqm, two-storey 1980s house. “The powers that be have got things wrong. It’s not the new houses that are cold – I’ve never heard of anyone that has built a new house and complained that it’s cold.” Interior and exterior prep & painting • Gib-stopping • Wallpapering • Water-blasting • Liquid lead paint removal • Silicon sealing • Roofs 027 282 8909 | www.ashpainters.org | info@ashpainters.co.nz You name it, we can do it! New Zealand’s leading and largest supplier of building materials and hardware. Proud supplier to Ivan Moore Construction Ltd 03 308 5720 | carpetcourtashburton@gmail.com 130 East Street Ashburton
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=