| 111 Ross Leadley Building BUILDING PROUDLY SUPPORTING ROSS LEADLEY BUILDING Mark Scammell Phone 021 440 364 www.elitescaffolding.net.nz 163 Hollands Road, Ashburton admin@elitescaffolding.net.nz T T Kelly Deeks Keeping up with region’s growth Current projects include two high-end homes incorporating passive design principles. Ashburton’s steady growth is keeping local builders busy, with long established construction companies playing a key role in delivering everything from high-end architectural homes to farm infrastructure across Mid Canterbury. For Ross Leadley, that growth has been built on local knowledge and long-term relationships. Born and raised in Ashburton, Ross established Ross Leadley Building in 2012 after spending years working in the region. Today he leads a team of six carpenters, supported by regular subcontractors, delivering residential homes, farm buildings and light commercial projects throughout Mid Canterbury. “We’re busy across both the residential and rural sectors,” Ross said. “That’s one of the strengths of Ashburton. We’ve got a diverse rural economy, so we don’t seem to experience the same downturns that other places do.” Current projects include two high-end homes incorporating passive design principles, alongside a new dairy shed. One of the homes is the company’s first structural insulated panel, or SIPs, build. While the project has presented a learning curve, Ross believes the experience will benefit future clients. “There were definitely things we didn’t know at the start, and it took longer than expected. But now we’ve got that experience behind us, we’ll be much better prepared next time.” The clients chose the system to achieve a healthier, more energy efficient home without pursuing full passive house certification, a trend Ross said was becoming increasingly common. “We’re seeing more people wanting homes with better performance. It hasn’t exploded, but there’s definitely more interest than there was a few years ago.” Another standout project features a striking custom designed window that extends from the wall onto the roofline, creating a light filled library space beneath a dramatic 40-degree roof pitch. The complex glazing was manufactured by Methven based supplier Shearmac Aluminium, with the project requiring close collaboration between the builder, architect, and window fabricator to satisfy updated H1 energy efficiency regulations. While architectural homes continue to showcase new building techniques, Ross said the company’s reputation had largely been built through repeat business and referrals. “We’ve built multiple homes for some farming families. “One recent client came to us after walking through a house we’d just completed and asked us to build theirs as well.” That reputation is especially important in a community the size of Ashburton. “It’s a small town. People know where to find me, and that’s exactly how it should be. We want people to have a really positive building experience because for many families they’ll only build once.”
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