Much time invested in Builder’s Own Home winner

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Building his dream home resulted in a national category win for Jeff Root of Casa Construction for his first-ever entry in the Registered Master Builders House of the Year awards.

His Christchurch home was awarded the Builder’s Own Home national category award at the 2016 House of the Year competition.

Mr Root says winning the award was unexpected and a great recognition of the hard work involved in the project.

“We were really excited. It was our first entry into the competition, so to come away with a national win was great. It was very well received,” he says.

He invested significant time in planning the build to ensure the end result was the highest possible standard, and explains that earthquake strengthening was a priority.

“We were building our dream home so we designed the house specifically to what we wanted, and weren’t trying to please anyone else,” he says.

“We were building at a time when everyone was moving out of the Christchurch CBD to the suburbs, but we did the opposite. In the event of any earthquakes down the track we wanted to make sure the house was as light as possible and to secure the foundations.

“We put a gravel raft on site by digging out the whole site, filling it with gravel and reinforcing it. We also put in a re-levelable foundation along with other bracing and lightweight structural reinforcements.

“It was a very tight site to work with, but because we planned it so meticulously there were no surprises, and everything went to plan.”

Judges were impressed with the quality and style of the home, and praised the professionalism of the design and construction.

“The house impresses as you step through a progression of open-plan spaces full of light and modern design. A palette of easily maintained surfaces and materials for energy efficiency is combined with technology for current and future solar and heat pump innovations,” they said.

“The interior and exterior spaces are skilfully linked and crafted for privacy and entertainment.”

Mr Root, who has been a Registered Master Builder for eight years, says winning the award raises the profile of the company and builds valuable recognition of the brand.

Casa Construction has entered three homes in the Registered Master Builders 2017 House of the Year competition — in the GIB Show Home category, the PlaceMakers New Home $450,000 to $550,000 category and the Multi Unit category.

“It really shows the quality we provide through a variety of different builds,” he says.

Mr Root values and respects the Registered Master Builders Association for their recognition of quality among members, and how they are committed to sharing knowledge with all builders in the industry.

The Awards are made possible through the support of PlaceMakers, Master Build Services, GIB, Nulook, CARTERS, Plumbing World, Resene and Bunnings Trade.

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