Some lesser-known timber suppliers do still have pine decking timber in stock. But due to the demand vs supply issues, the price of pine has spiked. At one of the few suppliers who have 140mm pine decking on their shelves, the price per lineal metre is very close to the price of Kwila decking.

With the current pine shortage in NZ, many people are having to wait to have their new decks built. With this in mind, we thought it would be a good time to share our top 5 decking timbers that are a great alternative to pine.
Pine decking is great for decks when you are on a budget, however, Hardwood decking is much more sustainable and will last a lot longer than pine decking.

1. Bamboo Decking

   Bamboo or Bambusoideae is one of the less common decking timbers to make our list, however, in our opinion it is second to none. Firstly, it comes with a stunning tongue and groove design and is fixed with clips. This means you do not see any screws or screw holes.
   Secondly, its durability is superior to hardwood timbers and thus it is a sustainable and eco-friendly product. That is to say, Bamboo decking timber gets the big green tick from us.

2. Vitex Decking Timber

   Vitex decking timber or Vitex cofassus, is a tropical hardwood sourced mostly from the Soloman Islands. It is a light creamy colour when new, however it will age to a silvery grey colour.
   Vitex is one of the more common hardwood decking products used in New Zealand due to it being low maintenance and being highly durable. It has a class 2 durability rating. This means that it is expected to last 25+ years above ground.

3. Kwila Decking Timber

   Kwila, or Intsia Palembanica is a South East Asian tropical heartwood that is commonly imported from Papua New Guinea.

   It is a popular choice for hard wood decking in New Zealand as it is incredibly durable and relatively affordable compared to other high end decking timbers. Kwila is a rich red-brown colour which gives it a very luxurious look.

   One thing to keep in mind when choosing Kwila decking timber, is that during the first few months after being laid, Kwila is known to bleed tannins. This means that it will stain the likes of concrete.

4. Macrocarpa Decking Timber

   Macrocarpa, or Cupressus macrocarpa is a New Zealand grown softwood timber. Being grown in New Zealand, not only ensures that you are supporting local businesses, it also reduces the carbon footprint, which gives it a green tick.

   Macrocarpa is a light yellow-brown colour which gives it a nice high end look. It is naturally chemical free and relatively low maintenance, making it a popular choice of decking timber in NZ.

5. Wood-Plastic Composite Decking

   Wood-Plastic composite decking timber is an eco friendly alternative to pine or hardwood decking. It is often made with recycled plastics and reused waste timber.

   Composite decking is almost maintenance free. In other words, you wont need to re-stain, re-screw or replace any boards.

So that completes our list of alternates to pine decking. Don’t let the New Zealand pine shortage slow your plans to build a new deck. If you’d like any more information, or a price to build a new deck with any of the above decking timbers in Auckland, give us a call today for a chat.

The post Decking timber NZ – Our top 5 alternatives to Pine appeared first on RHM Construction.

1. The Resplendent Bath

First on our list is the stunning bathroom in Minneapolis. We love the idea of the shower head being located in the recess for the sky light. It gives it a waterfall like effect. There are plenty of things to draw bathroom renovation ideas from here.

2. Hale Ku Mana

Does it still count as a bathroom if it’s technically outside? Either way, this incredible patio/bathroom hybrid in Hawaii had to make our list.

3. Modern Rustic Aspen Mountain Retreat

If you’re looking for ideas for a rustic bathroom renovation, this is one to check out. This huge marble bathroom is located in Denver and has incredible mountain views. Above all, we love the timber feature walls.

4. Gray marble contemporary bathroom renovation ideas

This grey marble bathroom is stunning. The designer has done a great job utilising space with recessed shelves. But, it was the use of different shades and shapes of grey tiles that caught our eye. In short, this one is very innovative and they pulled it off well.

5. Modern bathroom ideas

At first glance, this San Francisco bathroom looks pretty basic. But, there is something about that concrete floor which gives it a really clean and stylish look. Secondly, the teak slat shower floor with floating bench is really unique and looks great.

6. Rustic en-suite

This bathroom in Atlanta is a great one to draw inspiration from if you’re looking for that rustic look. We love the sliding timber door to the bedroom. Likewise, the rustic style wooden floor boards make this bathroom look great.

7. Spa-Inspired Modern Master Bathroom renovation ideas

This modern master bathroom had a big renovation. It needed to take some space from the neighboring bedroom and it got a completely new configuration. The massive shower area looks incredible. Additionally, the teak slat ceiling and the grain in the cabinetry makes this bathroom transformation that much more impressive.

8. Clean and Contemporary Mukilteo Master Bathroom

This impressive contemporary master bathroom has loads of space. We love the minimal but modern look. Additionally the blue tiled wall above the vanity is a really nice touch. Above all, this bathroom boasts incredible sea views.

9. Stein Eriksen Residences

This contemporary bathroom in Salt Lake City is sure to give you some bathroom renovation ideas. We love the free standing bath and beautiful brown tiles. Also, it has an incredible view from the bath tub.

10. Modern bathroom renovation ideas

Last, but not least, is this remarkable modern bathroom in Santa Fe. It gets plenty of natural light through the floor to ceiling windows and sliding doors. We love the huge bathtub and, the floating shelf above it is a touch of class.

The post Bathroom renovation ideas – 10 beautiful bathrooms on Houzz appeared first on RHM Construction.

Why become a builder?

There are many positive reasons to become a builder. Firstly, you will not rack up huge debts. The apprenticeship scheme to become a builder is mostly a ‘learn while you earn’ situation. The fees are minimal if you were to compare them to those of a university degree.

Secondly, being a builder is a job that you can do anywhere in the world. It’s not just New Zealand who has a booming construction industry. If you can build a house in New Zealand, you can build a house in England or America. As a qualified builder you can make great money just about anywhere.

Finally, in our opinion, the potential money you can earn as a builder is greater than most other trades. This is because builders are the most likely trade to land a full-scale job. In short, you will hire the plumbers, the painters, the electricians etc. and make a margin off each of them. It’s a great way to transition yourself into a project management role.

Government funded organisations to help you become a builder

If you have been made redundant because of Covid-19, the chances are, you will have signed up with Work and Income for the benefit. If you haven’t yet, then you should. Work and Income can help to finance your transition to work. For example, they provide funding for things like tools or re-locating if you find a job in another region. Furthermore, if you have a Work and Income client number, you are eligible to join a fantastic and free training programme called Kiwi Can Do.

Kiwi Can Do is a provider to the Ministry of Social Development. They help transition job seekers to work in the construction industry. They have courses to help you become a builder, scaffolder, painter or to get your truck licence. Their courses typically span over three weeks and are available throughout the North Island. Throughout this time you will be given necessary PPE gear, issued a site safe passport and they will even help you to upgrade your drivers licence. Additionally, they will give you three weeks’ worth of training in your chosen trade. After you have completed the course, Kiwi Can Do will help you to find a job.

Apprenticeship Schemes

Signing up with a training organisation such as ITAB or BCITO is the first step to becoming a qualified builder. You can order your books and materials, or even start some of the theory work by signing up to a pre-trade course at your local Polytech. However, to officially start your apprenticeship, you will have to have found yourself a job first. But now is the best time to do it. The government is offering wage subsidies to employers that take on a new apprentice. In short, employers will be more willing than ever to take on and to train building apprentices.

Let people know that you want to become a builder

If you don’t manage to find a job straight away, don’t give up. In our experience, tradies appreciate people that put themselves out there. For example, if you walk by a construction site, why not walk in and pass your CV on? The worst that can happen is they don’t call you. Secondly, if the construction company were to say they are not hiring right now, ask if they would let you do a week of work experience for free. The chances are, they will not say no to some free labour. This gets your foot in the door. Then, it is up to you to show them how hard you can work. Maybe they will change their mind. However, if they don’t decide to offer you more work, they will most likely write you a glowing reference for your CV.

To conclude

In summary, we advise anyone wanting to pursue a career in the construction industry to follow these tips and become a builder. It’s no secret that times are tough at the moment, but that could be the perfect excuse to start a new path towards a new career. By following these tips, there’s no guarantee that you will find a job straight away. However, you will now have some work experience, some new basic tools, a brand new professional looking CV with industry related references and an upgraded drivers licence. In short, you can become a whole lot more desirable to potential employers within a matter of weeks.

The post Become a builder appeared first on RHM Construction.

If you are thinking about renovating your home, one of the first questions you are probably going to ask is “how much does a renovation cost in Auckland?” Unfortunately, no matter how hard you search google, you won’t find the real answer. There are hundreds of sites that have tried to answer this question. However, no two renovations are the same. In this post we won’t tell you how much renovations cost in Auckland. What we can provide you however, is a little more clarity on where costs lie, some tips to increase the re-sale value of your home, identify areas where you can save some money and what some more appropriate questions are that you should be asking instead.

Why should I renovate?

There are many reasons why someone may renovate, but the most common reason is to increase the re-sale value of your home.

If you are wanting to increase the re-sale value of your home, you don’t necessarily need to renovate your entire house. For example, a kitchen and bathroom renovation, if done right, can increase your property value more than say a bedroom renovation. It’s also a great way to get potential buyers through the door in the first place and it’s a great selling point. However, you need to keep in mind that kitchens and bathrooms are generally more expensive to renovate than other rooms. Our advice would be to keep it simple and cost effective. In other words, don’t go buying marble bench-tops and expensive cabinetry if you are wanting to see a return on your investment.

How much will renovating my home increase my re-sale value?

This question is along the same lines as “how much do renovations cost?”. There are many factors which could affect this such as the property market at the time you want to sell, how many potential buyers you get through the door and how much your renovations appeal to the potential buyers.

However, there is a ballpark figure you can aim for. Experts commonly agree that a good return on your investment, is double the amount of the renovation cost. But remember, keep it simple. Do lots of research and look for good deals on things like bench-tops, kitchen cabinetry and bathroom fittings

How much should I spend on a bathroom or kitchen renovation?

Before asking this question, first you need to work out exactly what you want to change in your bathroom or kitchen. For example, a basic re-line with new like-for-like fittings is going to be a lot cheaper than an extension and a new configuration. Take in to account the cost of plumbing. If you need to move any pipes you could very quickly find yourself spending more than you planned, which in turn means that you may not see such a good return on your investment.

How much does a bedroom renovation cost?

A bedroom renovation is a little easier to estimate a price for. Unless you are wanting something like a walk-in wardrobe, the process has a lot less ifs and buts than say, a kitchen. Normally a basic bedroom renovation will consist of removing the old linings, installing insulation (if it’s not already insulated), new power points and/or lights, new linings, then plaster and paint.

Other ways to increase the re-sale value of your home

Having a deck, porch or patio built can be an in-expensive way to add indoor outdoor flow to your home. Furthermore, it is a great way to attract potential buyers because they will be able to imagine themselves using the outdoor area.

We recommend, when planning your renovation, to factor in building a deck whenever possible because the potential massively outweighs the risk. According to Westpac, building a deck can add up to 30% value to your home, but this obviously depends on the size of your deck and the materials you use.

In addition, the NZ government has relaxed its rules on council consents for ground floor awnings, porches and patios. Now you can build up to 30 square metres without needing a council consent. However, the building work does need to be carried out or overseen by a licensed building practitioner.

How can I save money on a renovation?

Although we strongly believe that in the building industry, you get what you pay for, there are some ways you can save yourself some money on your renovation.

Most established builders will have access to exclusive discounts on things like fittings. For example, at RHM Construction, we can offer our clients a 10% discount on bathroom fittings from Franklins.

With things like kitchen cabinetry and benchtops, have a clear conversation with your builder about what you want and how much you want to spend. They will normally include their price in their quote. In addition to this, do your own shopping around and see if you can source any better deals.

What other costs do I need to consider when renovating my house?

When planning your renovation, have discussions with your builder about anything that may need council consent. Together, try to find ways around this while still acting in accordance with the law and building code. The government has recently tossed out the need for building consents in certain situations, which could in turn save you time and money.

Make sure your builder tells you about your worst-case scenario and offers you an estimate for any extra work that may be needed. Un-foreseen issues such as warped or crooked studs and framing can usually only be discovered after the building work has commenced. It is important to address this, especially in rooms like kitchens and bathroom, because all your fixtures and cabinetry are made to line up square and straight. At RHM Construction, we always make sure our clients are fully aware of any potential extra costs before we start the job.

To conclude

To sum up, before you ask how much a renovation will cost, do some more planning. Firstly, work out exactly what you want and weigh up whether it will truly increase the market value of your home or not. Only once you have done this, are you ready to ask how much your renovation is going to cost. Finally, get in touch with your local builder. It’s best to get a few different quotes, but don’t automatically jump at the cheapest one. Remember, you get what you pay for. Choose a builder who is thorough and clear with their pricing and most of all choose someone you can trust.

[hr]
RHM Construction can provide all your renovation needs. If you would like to book a no obligations consultation, get in touch with us today. You can call Rob on 0275190342 or fill out the contact form below and we will be in touch.

The post Increase the re-sale value of your home in Auckland appeared first on RHM Construction.

You’ve all probably heard the saying “reduce, re-use, recycle” when people talk about creating a sustainable future for our planet. At RHM Construction, we are proud to do our bit for the environment. So, we thought we would share some easy, eco-friendly, ways to reduce your building waste on site. We use these techniques and think that you should too.

Reduce

#1. Reduce what goes to the land fill

Reducing the amount of building material you put in the land fill not only helps the environment, it also saves you money.

An effective and eco-friendly way to decrease recyclable items that end up in the ground is to designate an area for normal recyclable items (your plastic packaging, your drink cans or bottles from smoko etc.). Put up a temporary fence around this area and have it cleared and taken to your local recycling plant once a week. This is a perfect Friday afternoon job for the apprentice.

Re-use

#2. Re-use old building material

One of the biggest skip fillers during a renovation is the old building materials that need to be ripped out. There are some easy ways to minimize the amount of waste that actually ends up in the skip.

When you need to pull up old floorboards or decking, take the little bit of extra time to keep everything in good nick. 99% of the time, you will be able to find a use for it during your next few jobs. This can be a good incentive for potential clients to save a little money on materials when you are quoting a job. Keep it neatly stacked and easily accessible at your yard or storage facility. Again, this is a good one for the apprentice.

#3. Old framing is great for firewood

If you remove any old un-treated hardwood framing, this makes perfect firewood. By spending an hour or so on the drop saw, you can have it all cut into small and manageable pieces. Subsequently, you’ll be sorted for winter. If you don’t have a wood burner or fire place, most people will be more than happy to come and collect it from site and even pay for it.

#4. Eco-friendly way to re-use plasterboard

According to ITM’s building guide to minimise construction waste, plasterboard amounts to 32% of construction waste when looking at total weight. But did you know there are a couple of really handy and eco-friendly ways to re-use it? Plasterboard is made of Gypsum. Gypsum is Calcium Sulphate which is great for breaking down compact soils especially clay. It also helps to reduce the sodium in the soil and increases the calcium. In short, it can be great in the garden. If the project you are working on involves any landscaping, this is an ideal way to re-use your crushed-up plasterboard. You can always keep a few bags for your vegetable garden that you have been meaning to make for the last two years.

Recycle

#5. Scrap metal

For metals, keep these aside in an area out of the way and take them to the scrap yard at the end of each job. You may think that if its not a valuable metal, then it is not worth it. However, you need to keep in mind the space you will be saving in your skip. This in turn saves you money in itself. That being said, if you’d rather not recycle it yourself, leave it somewhere where your plumber can find it. In our experience, it often ends up in the back of their vans anyway!

#6. Doing underfloor insulation?

EXPOL off-cuts really build up and can take up a lot of space in your skip. The good news is though, that polystyrene is 100% recyclable. Furthermore, EXPOL are doing an incredible job with their eco-friendly Full Circle Recycling Scheme. Additionally, they will even come and pick up your clean EXPOL offcuts from your building site. More information on EXPOL’s recycling scheme is available on their website.

#7. Public dumping is not eco-friendly

Our last tip is a common scenario that you have all probably seen before. You get to work in the morning and notice that your skip is 3x more full than it was when you left the previous day. Upon closer inspection, you realise that some cheeky member of the public has dumped their household rubbish in there.

There are a couple of ways to minimize the chance of this. When possible temporarily fence off the area around the skip overnight. This limits access to the public and will make anyone think twice about dumping rubbish. Secondly, you can clearly display signs such as ‘No Un-authorised Dumping’. Likewise, this will help to make someone think twice before dumping rubbish there.

Hopefully this can be useful for anyone in our industry looking to work in a more environmentally friendly way. Just keep in mind, all designated areas should be fenced off and out of the way. As a result you will be eliminating hazards and minimizing liability.

The post Seven eco-friendly ways to reduce your building waste (and save some money doing it) appeared first on RHM Construction.

Which building consents are exempt?

Sleepouts, sheds and green houses
Single-storey detached buildings have seen an increase from 10 square metres to 30 square metres in this exemption.

Ground mounted solar array panels
This exemption covers both rural and urban areas. In urban areas, panels can now be built up to 20 square metres without the help of a professional. In rural areas there is now no limit in size.

Carports
Carports can now be built to 40 square metres without a council building consent. However, they do need to be designed by a Chartered Professional Engineer and a Licensed Building Practitioner must have carried out or supervised the design and construction.

Ground floor awnings, porches and verandas
Awnings, porches and verandas on the ground floor have been included in this exemption. We see an increase of size from 20 square metres to 30 square metres now being exempt from building consents. In similar fashion to carports, they must be designed by a Chartered Professional Engineer and all work and design is to be supervised or carried out by an LBP.

The full summary of new exemptions is available on the Building Performance website.

What does this mean for the construction industry?

We all know how long it can take to get council in for a building consent. However, builders will now have to spend less time waiting to have their work checked off by council. Because of this, builders will have more time and less delays for small jobs meaning far more productivity.

What does this mean for homeowners?

Government expects to see savings up to $18m annually for home owners.

If you take a look at the prices of a building consent on the Auckland City Council website, it is easy to see how the cost of building consents can stack up for homeowners. However, these new exemptions should help to put a significant dent in that.

Not sure if your project is exempt from building consents?

It is the homeowner’s responsibility to know whether or not their project needs a building consent or not. Keeping this in mind, if you’re unsure, ask. If an LBP is completing the work they will have a good idea of what works does and doesn’t need building consents. However, if there is any doubt, check out the Building Performance site for more information.

The post Building Consents Tossed Out By Government appeared first on RHM Construction.