Home Show: Simplicity saves many dollars

BOVELLE Homes from Australia is launching its panelised housing system in New Zealand with its first show home under construction at Cambridge.

The company claims that its pre-finished system can shave "several thousand dollars off the price of conventional building systems."

Its houses are constructed using pre-finished Melamine-faced wall panels fitted into pre-cut, specially-machined timber-frame components.

"The simplicity of the system, ease and speed of construction, and the substantial reduction of on-site labour are where the savings are made," says the New Zealand sales manager, Phillip Webb. He says "the homes that we put up are basically under $700 per metre, which on today's market is pretty competitive."

Several Bovelle homes have already been constructed in New Zealand, imported by their owners directly from Australia, he says.

It was this interest that prompted the company to carry out further market research, leading to Mr Webb's appointment.

"The company has also researched New Zealand building regulations to ensure the homes comply with local requirements."

Each home is certified by a New Zealand structural engineer, who also provides the producer statement usually required by local bodies for a building permit application.

The company has nearly 50 standard designs, ranging from holiday chalets through to single and two-storey, six-bedroom family homes. The most popular designs in New Zealand, Mr Webb says, are the single-storey, Queensland farmstead-style homes with wide verandas suited to larger country sections.

Also popular are the two-storey loft designs. The Cambridge show home, due for completion later this year, is of this design.

The company plans to provide a network of builders throughout New Zealand.

The kitsets are delivered in 6m and 12m sea containers and include all the materials for the house, excluding the concrete floor, electrical and plumbing items, and decorator items such as paint, carpets and curtains.