SLC Builders - Petone

I grew up in Stokes Valley, a suburb in the Hutt Valley north of Wellington.

I started playing lawn bowls when I was 16 years old.  The game has been in my family for generations and I got hooked on the competitiveness and comradery.  In 1994, I won a national title with the Junior Wellington Rep team and progressed through the ranks into my twenties.  I admit, being a young man playing lawn bowls was quite an unusual scenario but it was during these influential years that I learnt respect and the power of persistence to develop a skill-set over time.

After leaving school and going to work for my Dad, I discovered that like him I also had a passion for building.  Transforming ideas on paper to a tangible reality was something I found so satisfying.  This led to me working as a labourer for a few years on a variety of residential and commercial sites where I was dealing with all facets of building. During this time, I developed invaluable skills and an appreciation of craftsmanship.  My passion for building grew and I knew it was what I was meant to do, so in 2002 I signed-up for my building apprenticeship. 

While I was working as an apprentice builder I met Nicky.  I met her through a mate I grew up with who was dating her sister.  A few years down the track he’s still my mate and now, also my brother-in-law.  Nicky and I love traveling the Pacific Islands and appreciating what we’ve got in our own backyard here in NZ.  Highlights have been caving at Waitomo, taking a chopper to the Marlbourgh Sounds (where I proposed) and snorkelling amongst the tropical fish at Aitutaki in Rarotonga.  Travel continues to be a passion of mine and Nicky’s and we try to get away somewhere new and exciting each year.
In 2007, we brought our first home in Wellington.  With one child and a pet dog we were already well on our way into the next chapter of our lives.  The renovations started almost immediately.

Not long after completing my apprenticeship, I started a building company with my Dad.  All our work was from word of mouth.  We built new residential homes, renovations, additions and did landscaping and light commercial work.  I learnt a lot from this varied experience in the trade.  It taught me skills which have been extremely useful, like how to work to a tight budget and timeframe and to think creatively to maximise the potential in a client’s home.  These skills came naturally to me.  I look back on this time with fond memories as it truly opened my eyes to the world of owning your own business and I knew it was how I wanted to work.

One of our stand out jobs was a loft conversion of an early 1900s-character villa in Kelburn.  We took the unused roof space and transformed it into a luxury master bedroom, en-suite and walk in wardrobe, seamlessly connecting it to the existing house as if it had always been that way.       
2016 was the year that Nicky and I established SLC Builders.  I was able to combine my experience of owning a business and being hands-on in the trade to provide specialised renovation and addition building services to Wellington. 

Not only has SLC grown, but so has my family.  I now have 3 children Owen (17), Molly (8) and Lennox (4).  Having a child in the workforce, primary school and kindy certainly keeps things interesting!  In summer, we head over to the Wairarapa with our extended family.  Most of the time spent at the beach, diving and preparing food.  The kids love staying up late playing spotlight and sleeping like sardines with their cousins in the bach.

My strong work ethic fuels my purpose to always provide value with an exceptional product and service.  Over the years we have developed a talented group of tradesmen and created a positive team-culture where everybody thrives.  This standard we proudly uphold, is evident in our work and strengthens our relationships with tradies, professionals and clients.  Communication has been the key to our successful team and efficient building process to improve homes that we are all proud to be part of.