Welch Builders & Construction Ltd received its first national award at the 2010 National Gala Dinner — the PlaceMakers Bathroom Excellence Award for a quality bathroom within a striking home set on the slopes of Hawkes Bay’s Te Mata Peak.
While the Bathroom Award recognises the home’s bathrooms, it also provides an opportunity to display the entire home.
“Winning an award like this is a great way of showing people that we can build high end, top quality houses,” Mr Welch says.
“Clients want quality building, and they’re always quite pleased to hear that we can achieve that. The awards make clients a little more comfortable in the tendering process,” he says.
Mr Welch has been a Registered Master Builder (RMB) for 18 years, joining because he wanted to be recognised as a quality builder.
“I knew that Registered Master Builders had that perception,” he says.
Being a member of the RMBF has its perks, including the opportunity to enter the House of the Year and Commercial Projects competition. Mr Welch says the kudos from entering the competition is worth the effort.
“If you’re happy with a home and confident with the quality of the house, definitely enter it,” he says.
“The years that we haven’t entered, we seem to have a drop off in work. So if you’ve got the opportunity to enter, go for it. We’re right behind the Awards — they’re great for our advertising.”
Judges said Mr Welch’s award-winning bathrooms deliver quality design and fittings, together with special use of natural light through skylights, which are also present throughout the home.
“Including a his-and-her ensuite, one bathroom includes a rounded radius shower — beautifully tiled, demonstrating superb workmanship. The quality of the fittings — the way the bathrooms work for the family that live in the home, and clever combinations of complex materials — make this home the deserving winner of this award,” they said.
Mr Welch praises the architects at Stevens Lawson for their attention to detail throughout the home.
“Everything in the house has a purpose — it is very impressive, I was blown away. The bathrooms really met the needs of the client,” Mr Welch says.
While Welch Builders & Construction didn’t have a house to enter in the competition this year, it has two properties lined up for 2012.
“We’ve just finished one decent sized house in Havelock North, with timber windows and weatherboard which has turned out great, and we’re keen to look at entering that in the competition next year,” Mr Welch says.
The Awards are made possible through the support of principal sponsor PlaceMakers, and supporting sponsors James Hardie, Gib Living®, Pink® Batts® Ultra® (Tasman Insulation), Nulook and the Department of Building and Housing.
For more information about the competition, go to www.masterbuilder.org.nz.
