From tree huts to three-bedroomed homes – Rob’s happy with a hammer

Rob Taylor was a tree hut builder.

His boyhood passion led to weird and wonderful structures perched high above his parents’ Levels property, none of which would have achieved building consent sign-off, but all of which contributed to a desire to one day build his own house.

That dream is inching closer. Last year’s Timaru Boys High school-leaver is still swinging a hammer and making precision saw cuts, but this year branches have become plumbed and true foundations and rickety tree ladders have become regulation-approved steps and stairways, all under the expert eye of Aoraki Polytechnic carpentry programme co-ordinator Eion Miller and his team of tutors.

Rob, 19, sees his pre-trade course at Aoraki, building as part of a team two architecturally-designed three-bedroomed removable houses that will go up for tender later this year, as the all-important stepping stone to an apprenticeship in the local building industry. The course runs from February to November and equips participants with the polytechnic’s NZQA-approved Certificate in Building.

“Builders like to hire young people these days who have a proven aptitude for the trade and the Aoraki course gives me that,” the young builder, who knocked up school sheds during his TBHS days, said.

Eyeing an apprenticeship with Timaru building firm Henderson Building where he has been gaining work experience, Rob is pleased he was able to stay in Timaru for his pre-trade course.

“I was going to go to Christchurch or Dunedin for this, but Aoraki means I don’t have to worry about accommodation and travel costs.”

Rob’s goal is to build his own home one day.

“That’s the big dream. Who knows? Maybe way down the track I might have my own firm and build houses for other people.”

He is experiencing life in the regulatory lane too, with regular visits by Timaru District Council building advisers.

“They’re pretty happy with our work.”

Tutor Eion Miller says Rob’s workmanship is impressive for a young lad.

Mr Miller has trained hundreds of Timaru builders in his 35 years of tutoring.

Formerly a local builder who served his own apprenticeship under John Turton, he knows the value of pre-trade experience.

“The 26 on this course will be ready for an apprenticeship anywhere at the end of the year. They will have had experience in the highly regulated and changing technical world of building materials and construction techniques,” Mr Miller said.

Changes brought about by the weathertight homes issue throughout the country have introduced many new techniques, he said.

“And we also have new wind-loading regulations to work with,” he said, pointing to galvanised straps nailed between the bottom wall plate and the foundation plate.

“It’s regulations such as these that have added to costs. Each strap costs about $3 and we use quite a few all the way around the building.

“They are not required in all sites because of the various levels of wind prevalence, but because these houses are relocatable and we never know where they will be going to, we need to strap them down here,” Mr Miller said.

Unlike some other centres around New Zealand, local builders seemed to be weathering the recession well, he said.

“Our building workforce seems to have plenty of work on and while some builders have drifted out of the industry, the future is positive here. Maybe we haven’t felt the full winds of recession yet but I am very positive for the career opportunities of our students,” Mr Miller said.

“Two or three of my students already have jobs to go to next year, and others will be confirmed when builders can better assess their requirements towards the end of the year.”

Mr Miller welcomes inquiries and he can be contacted on (03) 684 0820.

ENDS

© Scoop Media