Getting a competitive edge with frame and truss

You can build frames and trusses for a typical home in almost half a day nowadays. But you have to get the planning right and follow through on the detail. There are 29 ITM frame and truss facilities throughout New Zealand. Here’s how our local teams are helping you get the job done faster and more cost effectively.

Waikato

Mike van der Hoek, Thomsons ITM:

With our own timber structure detailers on site, it allows us to turn things around quickly and at the same time, use this resource to work with customers and design teams to look at faster build times and cost savings.

We design floor cassettes to decrease build time on site and, along with savings on scaffold hire, there's also less health and safety risk to the builder.

At Thomsons ITM, we pride ourselves on never walking away from a problem, regardless of the cause, and we will also work with the customer to keep the job moving.

Continuous improvement is our focus, along with developing new concepts we can introduce to partner with our customers, delivering a s eamless build.

Tasman

Rodney Woolf, ITM Frame & Truss:

Our in-house detailers spend a lot of time working with specifiers, designers and customers, especially on the large projects. The key thing is to start working together at the earliest stage of design to help them get it over the line, before it even goes out for pricing.

We rely on good relationships with our customers; we’re meeting often weekly. We help them get the job, so we get the job. Coming up with a good solution early is imperative to give both parties a competitive advantage.

As the new tradies come through, we are expected to do more and more. All the fixings are now worked out by us, some are fitted, including damp course fitted to the plates. It’s all added value for the customer and, ultimately, big labour savings on site.

Far North

Danielle Moa, Far North ITM:

Our plant has only been running for two years. We wanted to look after our customers and improve our offering, so we could be a one-stop shop.

We employed two new guys at the start, and they engaged with BCITO. It usually takes up to 2 years to complete the course, but they did it in 12 months. They now have skills and the qualifications to go to the next stage.

Two of the staff want to continue on with the detailing course as the next phase, and opportunities exist within the ITM network to send our staff to work alongside experienced detailers

One of our ideas is to take on apprentices for the BCITO training for Frame and Truss. Once completed and after a year or two, they could move into an apprenticeship as a builder. It's part of growing our own and providing opportunities within our community.

Our philosophy is simple: we do whatever is required to get the job done. We work weekends, whatever it takes. Our builders know that we’re just a phone call away. We can be on site in no time because we’re based right here in the Far North.