86 | Technical builds a specialty The upmarket three-level home backs into a hillside in the beach-side village of Kaiteriteri. MK Builders T T Hugh de Lacy BUILDING Taking the leap into setting up his own building company, after years as a sole operator, and then chasing the more challenging type of residential build has proved immensely satisfying to Nelson builder Matt Krammer, owner of MK Builders ltd. Matt came out of his carpentry apprenticeship time a dozen years ago after working for a number of local builders, including Paul Nankivell of Nelson’s Ridgeline Construction, with a marked preference for doing the tricky and challenging jobs that other chippies might shy clear of. That was 12 years ago, and until 2018 he worked as a sole operator before launching MK Builders with a current staff comprising himself, an apprentice and two sub-contractors, with the capacity to whistle in more help as required. It’s a family business, with wife Celina doing the books and the health and safety - and it was its own first client, building the family home in Nelson before going on to deliver a succession of houses for private clients while at the same time building up its staff and reputation. Matt says his greatest personal satisfaction comes from being on the job, wielding the tools, and delivering a faultless product despite any construction issues that might be encountered on the way. “I came out of my time with the skills to undertake the more technical type of residential build, and that’s what I’ve concentrated on ever since,” he says. “The clients also like to see the building company owner actually working on their house – it gives them confidence that the project is being delivered to a high quality standard. “We might grow the company a bit, and while I’d never say ‘never’ if the right opportu- “I came out of my time with the skills to undertake the more technical type of residential build, and that’s what I’ve concentrated on ever since.” nity arose, I don’t think I’d like our work-force to be more than six.” The house that MK Builders is currently building involves just the sort of technical challenges that Matt relishes. It’s an upmarket three-level home backed into a hillside in the beach-side village of Kaiteriteri, north-west of Motueka, with gob-smacking views over Tasman Bay. The house has a footprint of little more than 100m2, but actual living space of more than double that, spread over the three levels and enhanced by extensive covered outdoor decking, making it a complicated build. Matt’s pleased with progress so far, and expects to have it finished by October. He’ll then be straight on to a couple of other home-build projects he has signed up that will take him through the rest of this year and into the next. “I’m pretty fortunate,” Matt says. “The market’s definitely slowed down and there are some builders around struggling to get new business, but I’ve got work on well into the foreseeable future.” Shortages of materials aren’t a problem any more, and Matt says the post-Covid supply difficulties that did arise soon after he started his business simply served to keep him on his toes. “Shortages brought some extra urgency to running the business, and I’ve benefited from that ever since,” he says. Proudly supporting MK Builders 03 528 0053 | 17 King Edward Street, Motueka 7120 0272 304 003 Phone: 03 983 5500 waterfordpress.co.nz Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. DO OUR READERS KNOW YOU EXIST?
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