Yeah, the frustration is real. Covid has seriously impacted the construction industry with its timber shortage, in particular, causing delays. Where we can, we continue pushing ahead and are close to completing several major contracts but we have been forced to hit pause on others. While we’re staying calm, behind these reassuring smiles, we’re in scramble mode doing our best to hunt down alternate solutions so we can swing back into action on all our projects as soon as possible.
Here’s where we draw back the curtain and give you a peep backstage …
OK, Let’s get real
Kiwis have always loved home reno, but the enforced time inside our own four walls during lockdown along with our inability to head overseas to spend our savings has given us a greater desire to upgrade our homes. The upsurge in demand caused by the worldwide pandemic is accompanied by a shortage of supplies caused by, you guessed it: the worldwide pandemic. Worst. Irony. Ever. We’re not going to blow smoke and tell you everything is fine. That’s not our style. When your designs are consented by council, you need to expect the work to start around 12 months later (depending on project size). So let’s start this process now with chats about possibilities and home design because ‘the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step’.
Trust us, the wait is totally worth it …
So your renovation, extension or new build design is complete, consented and your building materials have finally arrived; this is when your project manager takes control. From organising the workflow and workers, this is the flurry of activity that we thrive on. Deliveries need to be planned and sub-trades need to be scheduled so they’re getting the work done in the right order.
Quick decisions, troubleshooting, and coming up with a Plan B are what we do every day. Be prepared to be flexible and to trust the alternative solutions we suggest are the best in a competitive market.
We can see into the future…
Our years of experience as east Auckland and central Auckland builders means we really do have the ability to foresee problems and we’re quick to do the legwork behind the scenes. By the time we’re ready to alert the client to an issue, we’ve already come up with a smart solution. The beauty of foresight is that a construction problem that would’ve been picked up at the inspection stage is resolved earlier in the project, saving time and money.
Meanwhile, back at HQ…
Our office team almost literally performs backflips to ensure the paperwork is complete, code of compliance inspections are carried out, and quotes that were given during the pricing stage are honoured.
We have multiple renovation services on the go. It’s OK; we’re great at this. We have procedures that avoid any surprises along the way. At every stage, we’re working in advance to give you a heads up that decisions on specifications are needed and to ease the project through with as few disruptions as possible.
But Covid is still throwing up Auckland renovation speed bumps…
Lockdowns interrupted the domestic manufacture of timber, and building materials made overseas often don’t meet our high New Zealand standards. As we mentioned earlier, coupled with an increase in demand it means sourcing materials is tougher than it used to be. Our job behind the scenes is to find alternatives, quantify those, and present the smartest solution to you.
One major New Zealand trade supplier has tripled its order for building materials but has seen demand rise six-fold. We take the time to find the most cost-effective deals for your project. One example is prefabricated cassette flooring that is environmentally friendly and delivered to the site ready for installation. For engineered timber, there’s a wait time of around three months compared to over a year (or not at all) for treated solid natural timber.
You’re part of the building process
Communication is vital, so we use the software CoConstruct to manage clients and tradespeople, schedule work, track job site progress, and monitor financials. You can access it all online. It’s an easy way for you to keep up to date and send queries or messages about specific points.
Want to learn more about our process? Check out our quick guide that takes you from design to renovation completion here.
We treat every build, reclad, renovation, or extension as if it’s our own home. We take great pride in bringing order to the chaos with honesty, integrity, and transparency.
Ready to kick-start your dream home renovation? Complete an enquiry form here or call to find out more.
Then relax in the knowledge that we’ve got this. Our focus is on keeping the behind-the-scenes stress away from you. KN Construction is a small team of central Auckland builders supported by a network of reliable and experienced subcontractors. Whether it’s a renovation, extension, re-clad or up-spec, with quality workmanship and clear communication, the KN Construction team truly wants the best for its clients.