Frequently Asked Questions

Champion Builders offers renovations, alterations, extensions, bathrooms, new kitchens, re-clads and decks. While we have specialised in the intricacies of period homes, we work with homes of all shapes and sizes.

This depends on the scope of your project. Adding a wet area (like a bathroom) or extending your home’s perimeter will require building consent. However, simple changes, like adding a partial wall, may not require consent.

Once we know the scope of your home extension or renovation, we will advise whether any consents are needed.

What will need consent?

• Deck height above 1.5 m.

• A tiled shower will need consent if you want to change from acrylic shower to a tiled shower.

• Retaining walls above 1.5 m.

We start off with a site visit where we will talk with you to get an idea of what you want and add any suggestions or points of consideration. This will usually include a discussion about the build methodology. We will then investigate whether you will need consent for your project.

If you are not sure what you want or how you want the finished product to look, we will connect you with one of our trusted designers/architects/draftsmen to help with ideas, plans, and consent.

Then, usually your architect or draughtsman will arrange consent. Once this is issued, we will get you a proposal on the scope of work. We will go over with you to discuss any questions you may have. Once accepted, we will decide together on a start date.

This all depends on the size and complexity of the project. Usually we can give you an indication of this after an initial site visit.

We start off with a site visit where we will talk with you to get an idea of what you want, and add any suggestions or points of consideration. This will usually include a discussion about the build methodology, and an understanding of your budget so I can outline your possibilities. We will then investigate whether you will need consent for your project.

If you need help with the bathroom design and aesthetic, we will put you in touch with one of our trusted bathroom designers to support.

We will then get you a proposal on the scope of work and go over this with you to discuss any questions you may have. Once accepted, we will decide together on a start date. From there, we start the bathroom renovation. This will usually involve: demolition, framing, plumbing and electrical, insulation and gib installation, flooring, tiling, and waterproofing, fixtures and finishes, and clean-up. Champion Builders arranges and project manages all the tradies.

• How much does a bathroom renovation cost?

• The average cost to renovate a bathroom in Auckland is between $21,500 - $28,500 for standard full renovation that doesn’t require consent.

• How long does a bathroom renovation take?

  Generally, a bathroom renovation will take between 3-4 week from date of demolition. However, if consent is required this timeframe can be longer.

We start off with a site visit where we will talk with you to get an idea of what you want and add any suggestions or points of consideration. This will usually include a discussion about the build methodology, and an understanding of your budget so I can outline your possibilities. We will then investigate whether you will need consent for your project.

If you need help with the kitchen design and aesthetic, we will put you in touch with one of our trusted kitchen designers to support.

Once we know what you are after for your new kitchen, we will then get you a proposal on the scope of work and go over this with you to discuss any questions you may have. Once accepted, we will decide together on a start date. Then we start the kitchen renovation. This includes: demolition, framing, plumbing and electrical, insulation and gib installation, the installation of the new kitchen, flooring, tiling, splashbacks, fixtures and finishes, and clean-up. Champion Builders arranges and project manages all the tradies.

• How long does a kitchen renovation take?

  Generally, a kitchen renovation will be between 5-6 weeks from date of demolition, and this assumes the design is finalised and parts have been manufactured.

• How much does a kitchen renovation cost?

  The average cost of a kitchen renovation in Auckland is between $18,000 - $26,000; this is dependent on the type of materials you choose, the design/layout, and if consent is required.

We start off with a site visit where we will talk with you to get an idea of what you want, and discuss options for cladding, joinery, scaffolding, all-weather building wrap, and other particulars. Then, if you don’t already have an architect, I will connect you with one of our trusted architect partners to arrange to have plans drawn up for consent.

Once consent/plans are issued, we will then get you a proposal on the scope of work and go over this with you to discuss any questions you may have. Once accepted, we will decide together on a start date.

How long will the reclad take? This all depends on the size of the job and what other issues we might find, e.g. rot. Single story on average takes about 6-7 weeks but this is dependent on the particulars of your home, including size, type of cladding. Some styles and sizes can take longer to reclad.

There are a couple of options for new decking timber and for screwing the decking down.

Wood options include hard wood or soft wood. Hard woods are denser than pine, more resistant to mould and rot, less susceptible to cupping and splitting, and come in 90 mm or 140 mm wide. Vitex and Kwila are the most common hard woods for decking timbers. Decks using hard woods cost around $580-$690 per square metre.

Soft wood like pine is the cheaper option. This wood can be stained or left in its natural colour. Pine comes in 90 mm or 140 mm wide. Pine decks cost around $430-$500 per square metre.

Any new deck (or old deck that is torn down) over 1.5m in height will need council building consent.

This will depend on health and safety requirements, and the size of your home. However, if it is possible for you to remain in your home, we can accommodate for this.

Choosing the finishing touches can be a very enjoyable part of the process for you and yes, we can help. We connect you to our trusted interior designers who can bring all your choices and decisions together to elevate your own taste and style.

At the beginning of every project, we provide an estimated timeline, including any significant milestones (e.g. move out, move back in dates).

We continue to review these dates as the project progresses, to allow for external factors. For example, if delays to consent mean your home will now be painted and plastered in winter, we will allow additional drying time due to the wetter weather. However, any changes will be consistently communicated to you throughout the project.

Yes, this can be done but it will require council consent. This is because it involves critical building work that is not sanitary plumbing, such as carpentry and installing waterproof membranes.

No, we have all trades covered and make all the arrangements and project management for you. Champion Builders has a network of trusted, vetted, and well-respected tradies that we have worked closely with for many years.

There are two main types of building contracts.

• Full contract (or fixed price contract): with this type of contract, you are given a detailed fixed price that includes everything from project management to building inspections. If changes to the scope of work happen after the contract has been signed (for instance, on building items that can’t be seen before the work begins, such as rot), these additional charges are billed to you as a variation.

  These types of contracts give more certainty and are generally preferred if you are on a specific budget, need to take a detailed quote to the bank for approval, or already know exactly what you want from the project.

• Cost plus margin (or charge-up): this type of contract is similar to a pay-as-you-go type of contract and you are provided upfront with an estimate of the work based on previous knowledge and square metre rates. This means that you only pay for the labour and materials as you go and can avoid some of the higher prices in fixed contracts that must be included to cover unknowns and contingencies.

  With these contracts, you are still able to benefit from the builder’s trade discounts and have the builder manage the project, but there is more flexibility to change the project as it progresses. However, it can be more difficult to know the final price as the project as the initial figure is an estimate.

Ultimately, there are pros and cons to both types of contracts but with either, Champion Builders ensure you receive the best possible price and trade discounts, we project manage the work to ensure a streamlined process, and we provide consistent communication around your project and its progress.

While many building companies will only get involved when there are building plans drawn up or consent given, Champion Builders suggests contacting us earlier in the process. This way, we can give tailored advice about your project and the particulars of the space that may make your project run cheaper, faster, and end with a result that is more considered. If needed, we can also connect you with our network of vetted and trusted designers and architects to bring your vision to life. Involving us early also helps us prepare in advance and book you into our schedule of work.