Topland Construction

We can help with the entire process // 

Home renovation is something Kiwis have been doing forever. If you are looking to undertake house renovations and alterations that will create something special, add to the functionality of your home, increase your property value, and just make your property better, we are here to help every step of the way. Topland Construction are Wellington's premier renovation builders. We use fixed-price contracts and you’ll always know when you’re moving in with our guaranteed completion date.

Whether you want to add on a new room, remodel an existing room or build a new extension to your Hutt Valley home, we can do it. The result is a brand new space for you to enjoy.

Coming up with wonderful home ideas is one thing. Turning those ideas into an actual living, breathing house is quite another. At Topland Construction we are experts at taking our clients design inspirations and transforming them into a home they love.

We reach this point by offering a full contract service that includes start-to-finish project management and design, and comprehensive building services (all sub-trades).

We’ll communicate with you through our 24/7 online portal that keeps you up to date with every step of the process. After completion, we stay in touch to make sure you’re completely satisfied with the work

Step One // Discovery

The first step is to meet with you and discuss the goals for your renovation.

Focusing on the desired result alone does not necessarily deliver you the most appropriate and cost-effective solution. We meet with you face to face to discover the background that has brought you to this point of considering a renovation. Getting to know you and the reasons behind your decision to renovate are key to meeting your needs, within your budget.

Step Two // Scoping

One of the biggest fears people have is the unknown. And simply put, “we don’t know what we don’t know” but we can work towards understanding the true potential cost of your project.

By understanding the true scope of what you’re about to undertake and identifying potential hurdles along the way we can mitigate, as best as possible, any costly variations that may stall your project. At this stage we enter into a preliminary agreement with you. Now you can ‘dive into the detail’ and get specific on your selections and finishes. This step authorises us to execute on any pre-build scheduling requirements. We engage our designers to further analyse the feasibility of your vision by drafting up concept drawings based off our discovery meetings. Your concept drawings help you to visualise what you imagine; this is the time to make changes.

From here we can estimate the project cost. This assists you to make decisions on what and where to spend your money. For most of us, unless you are ‘cashed up’, borrowing against the current value of your home is a practical way of financing your project. To do this you’ll need a valuation before you speak to your bank or other mortgage lender. This requires detailed drawings of your proposal for a valuer to produce an accurate valuation of the finished product. Creating a detailed budget with achievable milestones not only assists with financing your project but gives our partnership a way to monitor progress and stay on track.

Step Three // Planning

Most people think that going to council is costly and time consuming. And, let’s be honest, it can be, but it really isn’t that daunting a process.

By doing our homework properly we make sure it is not more expensive and time consuming than it needs to. This phase will further validate your design and build; this confirms the required design and structural specifications that need to be met in order to gain compliance once you have completed your renovation.

This is where we produce working drawings and make council submissions. The better the due diligence the quicker and more affordable the process of presenting to your local council becomes…now the consent process begins.

Step Four // The Dotted Line...

Don’t be left in the dark! Shine a light on the agreed scope of work and let’s keep each other honest.

The proposal is a comprehensive document detailing all your chosen specifications and selections incorporated into it. Inclusions and exclusions are clear to see and written in plain English. This is your chance to make sure everything you require has been included and you are satisfied with the estimate before pushing the go button on your building contract.

The building contract is now drafted for your consideration. This document is another comprehensive document however, it has all the legal jargon necessary to satisfy our obligations to you. We recommend our clients get the appropriate independent advice they require and understand these documents before signing.

Step Five // Build Time!

Co-ordinating trades and building suppliers can be a real headache if you’re not “in the know”. Not a problem for your experienced Topland Project Manager.

This is where your assigned Project Manager comes into play, overseeing all trades and suppliers, so you don’t have to. We ensure your project runs to schedule and we’ll keep you informed on any upcoming decisions or changes that need to be made throughout the build. All areas of the build, especially supervising a wide variety of trades, are monitored closely to ensure there are no significant interruptions that could result in costly mistakes or variations that may otherwise be avoided.

Step Six // Home Sweet Home

Time to wrap things up and enjoy your newly renovated home.

We’re so close to completion and we know you’ll be ecstatic to move back in and enjoy the fruits of your labour. We just need to complete all the Council documents and furnish you with the Code of Compliance documentation, warranties and maintenance schedule.
Your house is now complete! It’s now time for you to move in relax and enjoy your “Future Proofed Home” we will keep in regular contact to make sure you are satisfied with your newly renovated home and that you are 100% satisfied with the results. Congratulations!

Renovations //

Our goal is to have happy clients who adore their homes. We're talking about comfort, modern sustainable design, and a place they never want to leave! Because we genuinely care, we have a greater commitment to a successful outcome, rather than just going through the motions.

Remodelling //

Our clients often comment that we’re just nice guys to deal with, and we're clear, open and honest communicators. Because our clients enjoy dealing with us, they also open up, which means everyone is aware of what's happening, when and why.

Extensions //

Our background is in ‘fixed contract’ work, which means we’re used to building with speed and efficiency. That doesn’t mean cutting corners either, it means putting 100% effort into everything we do and making sure that even the smallest details are taken care of.

Room Additions //

If your builder isn’t listening to you, don’t expect the right outcome! At Topland Construction in Lower Hutt, we get a thorough understanding of a client's needs, hopes and expectations. And from there, we build a solution that combines creative flair with day-to-day living.

Interior Alterations //

We have specialised software that allows our clients to keep up to date with their projects on a 24 hour 7 days a week basis. There's no need to run on-site at the end of a busy working day, trying to find someone to talk to about how your project is going. It is there at your fingertips online, your own private portal to your own project.

From the very start, we listen to you and what you’re trying to achieve. We’ll discuss your ideas and expectations of what you’re envisioning. Next, we turn those into plans that detail practical, attractive ways to enhance your living space and add complete functionality. We take time to talk to you about your needs and goals. We present concept designs and budget estimates to help you decide what’s feasible, from there we work through our proven processes to reach that goal.

Needless to say, every detail will be checked, and no corners will be cut. It’s imperative that you choose a builder who doesn’t load up on too many jobs. You need a builder that can dedicate themselves to your renovation project. Home renovations can be a nightmare if a builder takes on too many projects which can compromise delivery dates, budget and communication.

In a renovation or alteration, you are working with an existing building. You should factor in that you might:

• not have the original plans
• not have plans that reflect what was actually built or any other renovations
• not be able to understand parts of the existing structure until your build starts (for example, inside walls)
• want or need to keep existing features
• need to retrofit items (for example, insulation or windows)
• need to meet additional requirements for the whole building, even if you are only altering part of a building (for example, smoke alarms)

Unlike a new build, when you renovate or extend a building you may have to compromise your design to work around what already exists.

You may also have to undo parts of the building before construction can begin, to learn more about the building or as part of the renovation. This can reveal the need for different requirements, and potentially the need to amend your building consent (this must be granted before you start any work and amended with thecouncil if anything changes).

We can work with you to help you realise what is possible, and provide a complete design and build service for your home renovation. As you finalise your ideas, we prepare a detailed budget with milestones so that you know how the work will progress. Our building experience helps us create plans that meet the requirements of the local council. Once approved, we draw up a contract that spells it all out.