Business South October 2020

84 | Supplying quality electrical services to Andy and his team The team at Central Lakes Engineering are proud to support AE GILES BUILDERS - Structural steel fabrication & installation - Stainless & aluminium work - Balustrades & handrails - Full machine shop facility - Architectural metalwork - Farm & earthmoving machinery repairs & maintenance - Stairs & staircases A: 38 Gordon Road, Wanaka, 9305 P: 03 443 6007 M: 021 289 0443 E: info@centrallakesengineering.nz Small, family-owned business delivering high-quality plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying services to Hawea, Wanaka and surrounding areas. BUILDING - CENTRAL OTAGO AE Giles Builders Quality and workmanship stand out T Russell Fredric W anaka company A E Giles Builders’ investment in a high standard of workmanship coupled with a client- focused approach has paid off through various economic cycles. The company is not only agile by name; the flexibility to undertake a wide range of work from new high-end builds to renovations has ensured a steady work flow. After being a director in a group home partnership, owner Andy Giles established the business in 2008. He concedes the timing was not ideal with the global financial crisis looming, but his low risk strategy of building houses with one staff member on his own account to on-sell worked well. “We spent four years travelling to Queens- town, building at Kelvin Heights. We were getting a year’s work for the two of us at that time.” This modest start was enough to insulate the business from the financial crisis along with creating word of mouth referrals. Now with a total of more than 24 years of residential and commercial building expe- rience, Andy has developed an impressive wealth of knowledge and project manage- ment expertise. Combined with his approachable attitude and ability to manage and motivate his team members, this allows them to work quickly and efficiently delivering to a high standard of quality and craftsmanship. As well as attracting word-of-mouth refer- rals from clients, A E Giles Builders has won business from people who have seen the high standard of work being undertaken in jobs in progress, as was the case of a major reno- vation in Wanaka recently completed for an Auckland client. “They had seen us doing another renova- tion nearby,” Andy says. Large windows maximise solar gain for passive heating while allowing for mountain views; the design also allows for indoor-outdoor flow. The client owned rental units which were in desperate need of renovation. Wanaka architect Dixon Design & Draft provided the design to create one unit which would be used as the client’s house while the second unit would become Airbnb accommodation. The client required the project to be priced in stages as a means of keeping a tight rein on the budget. The units, comprising two levels and a steeply pitched roof, were stripped back to the bare skeleton. Most of the original ship-lap weatherboard cladding was replaced, as was the coloured steel tray roofing on the very steeply pitched roof. Large windows maximise solar gain for passive heating while allowing for mountain views; the design also allows for indoor-out- door flow. The lounge area with it’s high cathedral ceiling and full height windows creates abun- dant direct and reflected light along with an immense sense of spaciousness. Both the client and Andy are delighted with the result which showcases what can be achieved in a well designed and well-built renovation, Andy says. “It’s quite impressive, we are rapt with.” Despite the present situation with the Covid-19 pandemic and Andy noticing an ap- parent slowdown in the construction sector, A E Giles Builders workload remains steady. The company’s next project is expected to be a million dollar build in Wanaka for an existing client. “We built the client’s a house before and they subdivided the land and sold the house that we just finished for them and they are going to build in front.”