Christchurch home renovations

Your home was right when you bought it. Now the layout feels dated, the finishes have aged, or the family has simply outgrown it. We renovate Christchurch homes so they work for the way you live now, with a price you can rely on from the start.

We renovate two kinds of Christchurch home. Character villas and bungalows, found right through Merivale, Strowan and Fendalton, have charm worth keeping but were built for a different way of living: small rooms, cold corners and little connection to the garden. We keep the character and bring everything else up to date, with better insulation, stronger bracing and living areas that open to the outdoors. Newer homes, many rebuilt or repaired after the earthquakes, are sound, but the floor plans often don’t suit a growing family. We rework layouts, open up living areas for better indoor-outdoor flow, and add extensions when you need more room. Our Taylors Avenue renovation in Bryndwr took a tired home to a new-home standard, and at Scarborough Lane we rethought how the whole house lived.

What’s behind the walls

Every renovation has a part you can’t see until the linings come off, so we start planning for it before they do.

• We check how plumb the walls are. How straight and true the walls are tells us a lot about the framing underneath, and how much work it’s likely to need.
• We look at when your home was built. The age of a home tells us which building code it was built to, so we know what to expect behind the linings and where it falls short of today’s standards.
• We will improve it, not just put it back. With the walls open, it’s the best chance to maximise bracing and upgrade the thermal envelope (the insulation and the shell that keeps the heat in). The finished home is stronger and warmer, and costs less to heat.

This process doesn’t stop once work starts. When the linings come off, we keep checking and adjusting as we go, and we talk you through anything new we find before any work goes ahead.

Kitchens and bathrooms

The kitchen and bathrooms are usually where a home shows its age first. We manage the whole job, from cabinetry and benchtops to plumbing, electrical, tiling and finishing, using trades we know and trust.

How we give you cost certainty

Cost is the biggest worry with any renovation, so we deal with it up front. We start with a design brief and budget, then give you a detailed quote covering materials, subcontractors and labour hours. Once work starts, you get monthly financial reviews, itemised invoices and a payment tracker showing every dollar spent and what’s left. If unexpected costs come up that you haven’t approved, we cover them, not you.

How your renovation runs

You meet Tim first to talk through what you want. We agree the brief and budget, quote it, then sit down before work starts to confirm dates and the schedule. On site, we hold weekly meetings so you always know what stage we’re at and who’s working on your home. See our full building process.

Renovations across Christchurch

We’ve renovated family homes in Fendalton, Merivale and Strowan, and homes on the sloping sections of Cashmere, Cashmere Estate, Cracroft and Huntsbury. On the coast we work in Redcliffs and Scarborough, where our Scarborough Lane renovation makes the most of the views.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a building consent for a kitchen renovation?
Not always. Replacing cabinetry, benchtops and appliances usually doesn’t need one. Removing or changing a load-bearing wall, or some plumbing and drainage work, can. We’ll tell you what applies and handle the consent with Christchurch City Council if you need one.

How long does a renovation take?
A kitchen renovation usually takes 4 to 6 weeks and a bathroom 3 to 5 weeks. A whole-home renovation takes 6 to 12 months, depending on the size of the job. We confirm your start and finish dates before work begins.

Can we live at home during the renovation?
It depends on the size and scale of the renovation. We’ll talk it through with you at the start so you can plan ahead.

How do you price a renovation?
We price from a clear brief, with every material, subcontractor and labour hour accounted for, so the quote reflects the real scope. You’ll see exactly how the budget is tracking every month.

Do you work with architects and designers?
Yes. If you haven’t chosen one yet, we’ll listen to your vision and introduce you to three or four architects or designers whose work suits it, so you can find the one you gel with. If you already have an architect or designer, we’re happy to work alongside them. Either way, we work together from the brief stage, so the design and the budget line up before final drawings.

What if you find problems once the walls are opened up?
We check the walls and the age of your home before anything comes off, so most surprises are planned for. If we do find something new, we talk you through it before any work goes ahead.