Tag: Opinion
What’s going on with shrinking timber weatherboard?
Building Today columnist and industry stalwart Mike Fox talks candidly about issues concerning the New Zealand construction industry.
With the swing away from monolithic claddings towards...
Building industry needs fresh thinking to reduce costs
The Productivity Commission reported in 2012 that it costs 15% to 25% more to build a house in New Zealand than in Australia.
That finding...
Why is my business the size it is? And how do I grow it...
Have you ever said to yourself:
All of the above are common catchcries from the majority of builders — particularly from Master Builder members who...
Regulatory re-think needed to bring construction costs down
Bringing the cost of construction down will require a regulatory re-think, fewer bespoke homes and a look at product competition.
We often hear the glib...
Best practice guidelines criticism unfounded
By Scaffolding, Access and Rigging New Zealand president Nick Pfahlert
In the June 2014 issue of Building Today, columnist Mike Fox suggested regulations surrounding scaffolding...
When will the Licensed Building Practitioners scheme deliver tangible benefits?
It started with voluntary participation in November 2007 and became compulsory from April 2012.
Of the almost 29,000 licences now issued, 19,000 are for carpentry....
Are you a ‘price provider’ or ‘solution provider’?
Your answer to the above question may determine your success and how long you survive in the industry.
Ever wondered why an increasing number of...
Aussie’s falling from height solution practical and affordable
In my June column, I raised questions about the practicality and affordability of the current approach to falling from heights that is being imposed...
Building booms — a bonanza or potential graveyard for builders?
It is often naively said that builders make a fortune in the boom times.
If that’s the case, why is it that so many builders...
Identifying and addressing the risks or simply risk-averse?
The joint response to the overcladding article by Michael Fox from Philip O’Sullivan and William Hursthouse was a useful contribution to the debate. While...