"We built our home 25yrs ago and planted a garden out on the Canterbury Plains.  3 kids, grandchildren, and an earthquake, all helped us decide it was time to make some major changes.  We didn’t want to leave, but we’d built when we were younger, and our tastes, along with design and materials had changed a lot.  So we decided to pretty much gut the house and at the same time make a range of functional and structural changes that would allow not only better living, but also make the structure more earthquake resilient. 

Renovating and extending a home in a sheltered and established setting where protection form the Nor’Wester is everything wasn’t going to be easy.  Everywhere you looked there was something in the way.  We needed a building team that would respect the site, and particularly the garden.  We chose H&R Garlick Builders Ltd to do the job.  They came recommended and had a long list of high quality, even prize winning homes.  Just a few months before all the consents were finalised, sadly, H&R Garlick went into liquidation, probably a result of complications resulting from growth post the Canterbury Earthquakes.  So…after 3yrs of planning and consents coming through, what to do? 

We were fortunate.  Sometime earlier we had been introduced to the builder at H&R Garlick who would run our job and be the site manager, Nathaniel Purdie.  Nathaniel advised he was going to establish his own construction firm and asked if we would trust him with our job?  One of the best decisions we’ve made was to say YES.   

A renovation/extension like we did complicates life a lot.  Further, we decided to try and live on site during the build (with the help of a caravan).  So we not only had a large project going on for many months, but we had Nathaniel and his team brushing shoulders with us at close quarters on a daily basis.  When you watch the entire structural support system of your existing two storey home being removed and supported while new steel works are installed, it was a good feeling to know that Nathaniel had completed lots of work of this complexity, and more so, before.  And that was one of the good things about Purdie Construction.  Every build, from large to small, has problems.  The best builders are good problem solvers, coming up with solutions based on both experience, a willingness to listen to their customer, and an internal sense of what quality means.  And Purdie Construction gave us that kind of quality experience.  And the little things all added up as well.  Calls were returned in a timely manner.  Billing and open discussion around changes was straightforward.  Boots were removed before venturing into areas that were either completed or had some finished surface exposed. 

We finished the job feeling positive and grateful that the stresses and strains of a big job were minimised by a professional builder with old time integrity.  I’d have him back, but I figure what they build for us just might see us out!  We can highly recommend Purdie Construction for you job. "

Doug H.

Darfield, Canterbury

"I needed someone to take charge with my complete bathroom renovation at my rental property. Nathaniel did exactly this. He was quick to supply a quote, communicated well with myself and my tenant. He had great ideas and problem solving skills, he really took charge and I felt confident in skills. He was able to see the job through from start to finish – demolition, gibbing, plumbing, shower installation, electrical, tiling, plastering & painting. He got the job done!"

Bree,

Bishopdale