Masterton builders D.R. Borman this year won a unique national distinction by making the finals of the Master Builders New Zealand House of the Year Awards for the ninth year in a row. Company co-owner Dave Borman said the Gladstone home that took out the Wairarapa supreme award this year wasalso deemed a national finalist in the New Homes $600,000 to $1 million category and will be officially viewed tomorrow with judges visiting the home. "We were quite confident the house would do well although the competition is getting tougher every year. They really do go over the finalists with a fine-tooth comb. "Judging gets down to very fine detail and workmanship is most important. At the end of the day there won't be that much difference between the winner and the other finalists besides a paint run or a little dent." According to the House of the Year website, criteria for judging includes structure, external cladding and roofing, weather proofing, selection insulation, innovation and suitability of products, finishing, general workmanship, entry and access, fit to site, functionality and design, marketability and future protecting. "What is a real honour already is the fact that this is the ninth year in a row we've made the nationals in one category or another since we first entered in 1998. It's a big thing for us. "We're the only ones in the country to have done it and we're already looking to make it 10 in a row next year," Mr Borman said. "We have a couple of projects we think will be worthy that we're putting finishing touches on now." Mr Borman said the Masterton-based company employs 27 people fulltime with another 12 people sub-contracting for a sister company, Valley Village, on a major rejuvenation project at Kuripuni. He said a new retail chemist is planned to open at the shopping centre next month and other neighbouring retail properties will come on board monthly.
