Measure twice, cut once

It’s all in the planning

While renovations can be an exciting process for homeowners, before you go all hands-on deck, you need to have a solid plan in place and make sure you’ve covered all your bases.

Money, money, money

Before you get carried away with completely remodeling your home, take into consideration the total value of your property. The last thing you want to be doing is throwing money down the drain. Renovations should add value to your home - if you overspend on your renovations when it comes time to sell, you could end up well out of pocket. If it is your family home you’re investing in and you plan on being there for the next 10 or so years, spending a bit more and renovating to your liking is acceptable, but it still doesn’t pay to go overboard. Sit down and work out a plan and a budget and stick to it.

Trends

A common mistake people make when renovating is completely diverting from the original style and character of their home, and turning the renovation zone into a market-leading trend setter. While your renovated space will keep up with the cool kids, the rest of your home will feel disconnected. It is important to keep in mind the overall feel of your home, by all accounts, renovations should modernise your existing home, but they should also enhance the areas that are being left untouched.

Trends come and go, so choose timeless designs that reflect your personal style. You chose your home for a reason - keep that style in mind.

Demolition

Doing your own demolition work before the professionals come in can save you vital pennies during your renovation, but can cost you dearly if you’re not careful.

Grand designs

Over the past two and half years, the pandemic reality is that we have worked, slept, and even socialized, all within the confines of our own homes. This time has allowed many of us to examine what works within our spaces, and subsequently decide what no longer serves us. Though, while a DIY home remodeling project may appear tempting at first, it’s always good to seek expert advice first, to prevent any such issues down the track.

Touted as one of Dunedin’s leading building practitioners, RenoMasters evolved after director Andrew Elliott identified a gap in the market for specialist home renovators.

An innovator at heart, Andrew has been passionate about investing and adding value to property since he was 18 years old. Speaking from his many years of experience, he shares that one of the most important things to consider when renovating is your ‘why’. “Look at the reason why you are renovating – is it for your longterm family home? Or a quick flip on a house?

“Early engagement with a builder is key to a successful outcome on a renovation. Our builders can create a vision and see the potential for how a property will present, while working with the client to suit their lifestyle and functionality needs,” Andrews says. When remodeling, Andrew also strongly warns individuals against compromising on quality. “Especially when it comes to fixtures and fittings, as it will be more cost effective in the long run. Having a contingency plan for renovations and accounting for this in your budget is the best way to approach it,” he says. A major ongoing challenge facing the building industry at the moment is supply chain shortages. Andrew explains to tackle this issue, RenoMasters are planning ahead and ordering as far in advance as possible to avoid any pesky project delays. “We continue to work closely with our valuable contractors and maintain high levels of communication. Again, early renovation planning is key for clients looking at renovating.” Thinking of remodelling? Contact Andrew and the team at RenoMasters today.

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• Design • New Home Builds • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Extensions • Decks & Fences • Insulation • Wallpapering • Painting

Phone 03 456 3280 | 178 Kaikorai Valley Road, Dunedin 9011 www.renomasters.co.nz

Talk with a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) before undertaking any major renovations and discuss with them what you can and can’t demolish - the last thing you want to be taking out is a main structural wall.

Furthermore - gutting the room entirely may not be necessary - there may be aspects of the room that you can work with. If new carpet is being installed save yourself further dollars by tearing out the existing carper yourself. Simply cut it into strips with a craft knife, rip it out and roll it up.

The unforeseen nightmare

Once that demolition begins to take place, who knows what you will uncover from rotten floor boards, leaky pipes to the dreaded asbestos.

If you haven’t explored all the options during the planning stages, then these little surprises can really throw you off course. The risk of asbestos being present in your home is extremely high if your home was built before the year 2000.

More than one type of paint

Painting your home is a relatively inexpensive and easy way to instantly change the look and feel of your home. A splash of colour is a great way to let your signature style shine through. Doing your own painting can save you thousands, so is definitely worth it if you have the time.

However, be sure to speak to your paint specialists because one type does not fit all. Your skirting boards require different paint to your walls. You can’t use the paint from your walls in the bathroom and your ceilings have their own unique blend as well.

Prep work

Don’t skimp on your prep work. Yes - it’s tiresome and time consuming, but it’s the prep work that determines the final result. If you can’t be bothered, hire a professional. Doing it right, right from the start will save you time, and as a result money, in the long run.

The risk of asbestos being present in your home is extremely high if your home was built before the year 2000. ”

The legalities

During the initial consultations, you will need to determine how major the renovations are. Dealing with the building structure, weatherproofing and/or roofing requires a LBP to carry out the restricted building work. It’s never a bad idea to talk to your council’s planning department to see if you need building consent for the work you want to carry out. From there you can determine whether you need an engineer and draughts person to produce working drawings. Failing to comply with council and building regulations can void any insurance you have on your home and some contents and is punishable under law for fines up to $200,000.

The council has the power to remove any work that has been carried out if it does not have consent. For more information on this, go to: www.building.govt.nz.

In summation

So, before you get too excited, take a logical approach. What areas of your home will benefit you the most, how much money are you willing to spend, have you done your background research? Failing to plan means you’re planning to fail, the one saying that could not be better suited to home renovation.

Controversy is king

Perhaps the most controversial building in the region- Nelson’s Civic House is back in the news and for a very surprising reason, having recently been featured in Nelson Marlborough region’s Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects awards.

The judges said, “Civic House speaks a different language with character, honesty and a unique identity. “The robustness of its late Brutalist forms may not win universal approval, but there is an integrity in its materiality that reveals a higher level of architectural consideration.”

The brutalist concrete building designed by Ministry of Works architect John Rowe, which was completed in 1983, was the winner of the Enduring Architecture section of the awards.

Over its 40-year lifespan, the building became the poster boy for architectural criticisms and has been the butt of countless jokes and insults. The reality being many people find Brutalist buildings, which are characterised by their massive, monolithic and ‘blocky’ appearance, offensive, it sticks out like a sore thumb.

Now retired, Rowe always felt confident with his work on the project despite heavy criticism. Rowe reflects that whilst the building does resonate with the Brutalist style, as a younger architect this wasn’t his direct intention and he was simply fulfilling the specific guidelines and specifications given by the ministry. The judges admired the honesty of this style of structure. “At six stories, the building’s scale and bulk is uncompromising, yet also idealistic, hinting at a future where Nelson grows beyond its provincial roots. “Almost 40 years since it was constructed, Civic House continues to evoke strong emotions and remains as controversial today as when it was first conceived.”

Controversy is ultimately a given in architecture as with art and sculptures. Notable buildings around the globe have been initially meet with contempt from the public. Take for example The Eiffel Tower, which was heavily criticised and even protested- the crowds saying it would ruin Paris. Today, the work is cherished and celebrated conveying societies perception switch over time. Whether this statement is true for Nelson’s Civic House… the jury’s still out on that one.

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