For Clara and her family, the Takapuna site wasn’t just a section — it was home. Clara grew up on the property, which had been in her family for 45 years, and when it came time to create a home for the next chapter, the location was never in question.
“We knew the area was exactly what we wanted for our family,” Clara says. “The house itself, though, needed some pretty serious renovations.”
The original plan was to renovate, but it didn’t take long for that to change.
“We started down the renovation route, but it became really clear that the better, more efficient option was a new build,” she explains. “With our kids at the ages they were, the timing just made sense. We’d also watched friends build through COVID and saw how challenging that was. We wanted the process to be as smooth as possible.”
Choosing the right builder
Clara knew early on that choosing the right builder would make or break the experience.
“We were incredibly busy and honestly just didn’t need any noise in our lives,” she says. “Building can be incredibly stressful. We wanted a team who would just get it done, to the standard we wanted, without all that stress.”
Lewis Build wasn’t a company Clara knew going into the process. The introduction came through their architect, who had met Ben Lewis as the project went out to tender. Four tenders were submitted, and Clara met with three of the builders on site.
“Lewis Build just felt like they had more of the full package,” she says. “This was going to be a really important relationship for about 12 months, and that mattered to us. From the start, we felt comfortable and could genuinely see ourselves having a close working relationship.”
A collaborative, solutions-focused process
As with any build, there were moments of hesitation — particularly around committing to a project of this scale. What stood out to Clara was how those moments were handled.
“Right down to contract signing, there were always a few little things to work through,” she says. “But each time, we just sat down around the table with the architect and the Lewis Build team and figured it out. That happened a couple more times throughout the project too — we’d catch up for a coffee, address it, and move on.”
Day to day, the site experience became one of the highlights of the entire build.
“We had Paul as our site supervisor and two other guys who were literally on site every day,” Clara says. “I’d drop by all the time, and Paul would put his tools down, explain what was happening, and show me the work for that day. When you’re spending that much money, to have that respected is pretty amazing.”
That consistency — the same core team on site from start to finish — made a lasting impression.
“You hear so many stories about people disappearing or crews constantly changing. That never happened here. It was the same guys, every day, right through until the project was finished.”
The finished result
The completed home delivered exactly what Clara and her family had hoped for.
“It’s new. It’s fresh. Every time we walk in, it feels lovely,” she says. “It’s built really well. We don’t have niggles. There are no issues. It’s been pain free.”
When an issue arose with the original heating and cooling design, the Lewis Build team stepped in without hesitation.
“The supplier suddenly changed direction, and Paul sat down with the drawings and came up with a solution,” Clara explains. “He actually went in to bat for us, which was a nice surprise.”
Custom details throughout the home also helped make it feel personal. An outdoor electric shade was something the family had their hearts set on, even though it was initially thought it might not be possible. Paul worked through the details, coordinated the engineering, and ultimately made it happen. At the entry, a bespoke internal fence was hand-built by one of the Lewis Build team.
“Those were things we really wanted to add, and they made it happen,” Clara says.
Looking back
Despite the home being entirely new, the project hasn’t disconnected Clara from her past.
“I grew up in a house on this site, and the layout is quite similar in many ways,” she reflects. “I spent over 20 years of my life here. It just feels more comfortable now — it works so much better for this stage of life.”
Her advice to others considering building or renovating is simple.
“The best advice we were given was to get out of the way and let the experts do what they have to do,” she says. “That worked really well for us.”
Would she recommend Lewis Build? Without hesitation.
“Yes — we do, and we have,” Clara says. “The project management was exceptional. The timing and planning were excellent, the team on the ground was consistent, and of course, the quality of the work was there. And it went on to win a Gold award.”
If Clara had to sum up her experience in just three words?
“Trustworthy. Reliable. Very professional,” she says. “Not just a group of builders with a hammer — a very professionally run organisation.”
