Frequently Asked Questions

Got a question? We’re here to answer!

I’ve never undertaken a project of this sort before, where do I start?

Start by giving us a call. With 20 years’ experience in the industry, you can trust us to offer the best advice and guide you through the entire process from planning, through construction to handover.

I'm considering building on the hill, what should I be thinking about?

At Strathclyde, we understand the unique challenges of building on the hill. Our team has a wealth of experience working in the Christchurch hills. When you choose us, you’re not just getting a builder; you’re getting a partner who will guide you through the entire process, giving input on constructability and possible cost savings for your foundation.

At what stage should we involve a builder?

It always pays to get your builder involved early. Simple advice from a professional builder when making critical decisions like choosing a section, design team, design methodology and materials can save a lot of cost and time later on.

Will I need and Architect, Engineer or other professional, and will I need any consents?

The answer depends on the scope of work. So, once we’ve been given the scope, we can offer the relevant advice and put you onto our expert design team to get the process started. Together we will take are of the consent process making it as stress free as possible for our clients.

Does my builder need to be an LBP?

Again, this depends on the scope however you can have faith in that all our sites are overseen by an LBP builder.

How can I keep my project within budget?

You will want a fixed price contract with minimal tags and provision allowances. Once you have received your quote we will sit down and go through your quotes in our free “price comparison” session, ensuring you are comparing apples with apples. The cheapest quote doesn’t always result in the cheapest construction costs, with nasty tags and allowances hiding actual inflated costs.

Can I make changes during construction?

We welcome you to make any changes you would like to enhance your home. Any requests by yourselves incurring extra labour and/or material costs will be treated as a variation to the contract. All variations will be costed and presented to you for approval authorising the builder to carry out these changes before any such works can be started.

Will the site be kept safe and tidy?

Yes, we believe that clean sites are safe sites. We work alongside safety advisors to ensure the highest safety standards are maintained on all our sites.

Can I live at home during construction?

If possible, we like to accommodate our clients where we can. Again, this depends on the scope, in some situations this is not practical or safe. However, we are happy to discuss this option and any resultant implications to cost or project duration.

Who will manage the project?

Our Site Manager Michael will be the main point of contact for our clients. He will be scheduling and arranging the various aspects of your project. He works closely alongside our Director Scott who assists with the operational and financial matters. In addition, weekly construction meetings on site will keep you up to date with progress.

How long will the project run for?

This really depends on the extent of the project. We can give an indication when we initially receive the scope. Before works commence we will provide a programme so you can see when the project duration, and what is happening when throughout the project.

What happens with defects?

To minimise defects, we use a comprehensive 280-point quality checklist on all our jobs. The defects liability period will be set out in the build contract, and we will remedy any defects at the end of this period.

How does insurance and finance work?

We have trusted advisors who we can recommend to you to ensure you get the best service out there.