108 | Rydan Homes Rydan Homes caters to a wide variety of clients, High quality operators T T Bernadette Cooney Renovations this Otago builder’s chief interest T T Hugh de Lacy “I work from home where I’ve got a bit of a lock-up, and lately I’ve found myself doing a succession of jobs in the old mining village of Ophir.” BUILDING Chiefbuild NZ After seven years of overseas experience in London and Melbourne, Sam Williams came home to Cromwell, built himself a house and set up in business as Chiefbuild NZ. A lot of Sam’s time overseas was spent on joinery work, and he was keen to get back into house building, exercising the skills he developed during his apprenticeship with Dunedin firm James Crooks Builders, which he completed in 2006. Along with one full-time staffer, Sam today has a mix of work that ranges from standalone housing to a raft of home refurbishments in Cromwell, Alexandra and Ophir. Chiefbuild NZ has a new-build granny flat underway in Cromwell, and a major refurbishment of one of the old Ministry of Works houses built there in the 1980s for the Clutha Dam project. The company has already done up several of these homes, giving them new life and enhanced value over the somewhat characterless houses the ministry built for its construction staff. Another project with historical overtones that Sam has under way is a 125-year-old gold-miner’s cottage in Alexandra that required substantial rebuilding after the wooden floor rotted out and had to be replaced with concrete. A small building of around 70sqm, it is being given new life as a holiday home. Sam also has a handful of other projects on the go, mainly home renovations and additions, including new bathrooms and kitchens. A Cromwell native, Sam started his carpentry apprenticeship in 2002, and he was hardly out of his time before he set off on his OE, heading for London where, for the next three years, he converted the attics of terrace houses into extra bedrooms. Christchurch construction company, Rydan Homes is a fresh, dynamic and experienced build team, fast gaining a reputation for high-quality townhouse developments, new homes, renovations and retail fit-outs. The company was founded just two years ago by Dan Vanderzee and Ryan Walker. Both licensed and experienced builders whose journey into building began separately, they eventually crossed paths while working for the same local building company. They were signed off through this company, and after gaining valuable development-build experience, the duo established Rydan Homes. The strong working relationship between the two co-owners is a cornerstone of the company’s success. “We do mainly new homes and renovations, but also everything in between,” says Dan. This includes multi-residential townhouses, renovations and extensions, commercial fitouts and decking and fencing. This broad scope allows Rydan Homes to cater to a variety of clients, whether they are developers, private investors, or homeowners looking to improve their property. Their reputation for high-quality work and flexibility has helped them secure a variety of projects throughout Christchurch and North Canterbury. A current development nearing completion comprises four, two-storey townhouses located on Edgeware Road for a private developer. These architecturally designed, modern urban living spaces are indicative of the type of builds they undertake across the city. “We’ve completed several townhouse developments and numerous transformational renovations, including Hawkesbury Ave in Edgeware, where we fully renovated and re-clad an existing two-storey home, remodelling the rooms inside and adding an extra bathroom,” says Dan. Their team of six in-house builders ensures that Rydan Homes can manage multiple large projects at once, and in addition, Rydan Homes can take on smaller, yet equally important projects like deck construction and pergolas, plus sheds and rural buildings. A notable upcoming project is a large deck on a home in the Port Hills, featuring glass balustrades and offering expansive views. Rydan Homes also recently completed a high-end commercial fit-out on Victoria Street for Mikko Shoes. “Plus, we framed out a whole bunch of offices for a government organisation in Riccarton Rd,” says Dan. Rydan Homes are Licensed Building Practitioners and the company is a member of Master Builders Association, ensuring that every project meets industry standards, and the workmanship is guaranteed. “We offer full contract build services across a diverse range of projects and can design and build in collaboration with architects across the board.” He then moved to Melbourne, where he worked for the next three years for the New Zealand retirement home company, Ryman Healthcare, followed by a further year doing contract joinery. While still in Melbourne, Sam bought a section back home in Cromwell, designed a 200sqm house for it, then came home to build it. It was a spare-time job while he worked full-time as a kitchen installer for local firm MasterWoods Joinery, putting in evening and weekend hours on his house and finishing it within a year. His new neighbours, unable to find a builder for a house they were planning, eventually persuaded Sam to take the job on, and that’s when Chiefbuild was formed. Sam boasts an excellent team of local sub-contractors to call on, preferring locals for all his work. He can organise the whole renovation project, from plans through to finishing. He also enjoys an excellent relationship with the Cromwell branch of PlaceMakers, and can get everything needed for every building job through them. “I work from home where I’ve got a bit of a lock-up, and lately I’ve found myself doing a succession of jobs in the old mining village of Ophir,” Sam says. Sam found a gap in the market for renovations, so rebranded as a renovation specialist as he enjoys the process of updating homes. DELIVERINGQUALITYELECTRICAL WORKAT COMPETITIVEPRICES CENTRAL OTAGO PLASTERING SOLUTIONS let’s get plastered! Ph: (03) 445-3793 Email: Proud to support Chief Build NZ Commercial • Domestic • Industrial
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