Home renovations in Auckland, from ZA Construction. We take on alterations, modernisations, extensions and repairs, led by Licensed Building Practitioner Zaine Adamson. Whether you are opening up a floor plan, adding a room or fixing a single door, we scope it properly and line up the trades it needs.
Choosing an approach
Both are building work on a house that is already standing, and both start with the same question: what is the actual problem, size, layout, light or condition? Here is how the choice usually breaks down.
Many homeowners start with a feeling of not having enough space and assume they need an extension. Often the answer is in the floor area the house already has.
Usually suits when
An extension adds floor area. New foundations, a weathertight join to the old building and building consent are all part of the job.
Usually suits when
Not sure which one fits? Describe the house in the quote form and we will talk through both options with you. If the project carries on outside, a deck or covered area can be planned with the renovation, see our outdoor living builds in Auckland.
What we take on
Five kinds of work sit under this service. Many jobs combine more than one, and our reviews describe everything from a downstairs area turned into a man cave to a single replaced door.
Reworking rooms you already have: moving or removing walls, forming new openings, or converting a downstairs space or garage into a room you can live in. Structural changes need engineering and consent.
Alterations rework the existing house without adding to its footprint. That can mean removing or moving a wall to open up a kitchen and living area, forming a new doorway, changing window and door openings, or converting a downstairs space, garage or storeroom into a room you can live in. Walls that carry load have to be identified before anything is cut, and structural changes usually need engineering input and building consent. They are also restricted building work, which must be done or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner (see the credentials section of our homepage). We work this out with you before the quote, so the scope is right from the start.
Replacing what has worn out or dated while keeping the plan: linings, flooring, doors, joinery and insulation, plus deciding which original villa or bungalow features are worth keeping.
A modernisation keeps the layout and replaces what has worn out or dated: linings, flooring, doors and joinery, window surrounds, insulation and the finishing that ties a room together. On an older villa or bungalow, part of the job is deciding which original features, such as timber floors and panelled doors, are worth keeping. Kitchens and bathrooms are a job of their own, so for those see our bathroom and kitchen renovations in Auckland.
Adding floor area, from another bedroom or bigger living space to an extra storey or rear wing. Site limits, plans and consent come first, then a weathertight join to the old house.
An extension adds new space: another bedroom, a bigger living area, an extra storey or a new wing at the back. It starts with the site, because boundaries, setbacks, drainage and the existing foundations all decide what is possible. It usually needs drawn plans and building consent. The new work then has to join the old, with matching floor levels, a weathertight junction and cladding that suits what is already there. If the exterior needs matching or replacing, see our cladding and recladding in Auckland.
Controlled strip-out of old linings, walls, bathrooms, decks or garages, protecting the parts that stay. Older homes are tested for asbestos and services isolated before work starts.
On a renovation, demolition is controlled strip-out rather than wrecking. It covers removing old linings, walls, bathrooms, decks or a garage while protecting the parts of the house that stay. Older homes can contain asbestos, so materials need to be tested before they are disturbed, and power, water and drainage have to be isolated before strip-out starts. We have taken out an old deck and garage as the first stage of a rebuild, and the same order of work applies inside a house.
Replacing rotten framing or boards, rehanging doors, repairing linings and trim. Small jobs that need a builder rather than a handyman get the same careful scoping as a large one.
Not every job is a renovation. Repairs and carpentry cover replacing rotten framing or boards, fitting and rehanging doors, repairing linings after a leak, fixing skirtings and architraves, and the small jobs that need a builder rather than a handyman. Clients have called us for a small house repair at short notice and to replace a bathroom door, and a small job gets the same careful scoping as a large one.
Describe the house and what is not working, and we will tell you which of these it falls under and what it is likely to involve.
Pricing
We do not publish set prices for renovations, because no two houses are alike. These are the things that move the number, and they are the same things we go through with you when we quote.
Get a free quote for your renovationHow many rooms are involved and how much of each is changing. Re-lining one room and reworking a whole floor are different jobs.
Older homes can hide rot, outdated wiring or asbestos. Opening up a wall shows the real condition, so unknowns are talked through at the scoping stage.
Moving or removing a load-bearing wall brings in an engineer and beams. Building consent is part of the job.
Drawings, engineering and council fees add to the project cost. The quote says what it covers.
Flooring, joinery, tiles, doors and hardware vary widely in price. Whether you or we supply them changes the quote.
Electrical, plumbing, plastering and painting are priced by the trades doing the work. We coordinate them.
Stairs, tight access, working around people living in the house. All affect the time the job takes.
Portfolio
Interior photos from our project gallery: living areas, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, a home bar, an entry and a laundry.
Homeowner reviews
16 Google reviewsReal Google reviews from clients. The profile holds 16 reviews, all five stars.
“Quality result, great service and exceptional communication from ZA Construction. Having the joy of progressively restoring an old villa in Grey Lynn I'm very glad to find this business that provides practical solutions and strong attention to detail.”
“100% recommend Zaine to anyone looking for a builder. We had a small house repair job that needed doing and he responded very quickly and fitted us into his busy schedule at short notice. Excellent workmanship, very professional and fantastic to deal with. So pleased to have found a reliable and quality builder for any future needs we may have.”
“Zaine is amazing, he helped replace my bathroom door and made the whole process extremely easy. The door looks great and he made sure everything was fitted properly before leaving. Such a genuine, lovely guy and I'd happily call him again for any other jobs. Highly recommend!”
“Zaine was absolutely amazing to work with! I originally just needed help with a deck extension, and he was the absolute go-to for the project. He did a fantastic job on the deck, but then he had the great idea of adding a louvre system... Next thing I knew, he was helping me source and measure a premium system from Louvre Lounge. He installed the louvre and the deck extension perfectly, creating an incredible new outdoor living space. I am already enjoying the new setup with a couple margaritas (or two) with friends on the weekends. Zaine was incredibly easy to deal with and he did a bloody good job! Highly recommend!”
“Zaine was great to work with - superb communication with quick response time and a friendly manner. Overall very happy with the results of the work he's done and would highly recommend ZA construction for anyone looking for quality work!”
“Zaine helped us by building a fantastic deck at our beach house in Pauanui. His workmanship and attention to detail is second to none. He is a very good communicator and kept us up to date through the project with daily photos and txts. I would highly recommend him to anyone. Thanks, Grant”
“We recently had ZA Construction transform our downstairs area into an amazing man cave, and we couldn't be happier with the result. From start to finish, Zaine was professional, reliable, and easy to work with. His communication was excellent throughout the entire process, and they paid great attention to detail to ensure everything was completed to a high standard. The workmanship was outstanding, and they turned our vision into reality. The space is now functional, stylish, and exactly what we had hoped for. We would highly recommend ZA Construction to anyone looking for quality workmanship and a stress-free building experience. Thanks again to the team for creating such an awesome space!”
“We had a great experience with ZA Construction on our home improvement project. ZA Construction was professional, reliable, and easy to communicate with throughout the build. The quality of workmanship was excellent, and they took pride in delivering a great result. We'd happily recommend ZA Construction to anyone looking for a reliable builder for their home renovations or improvements.”
“We have worked with Zaine on several small building projects over the past few years and have consistently found him to be honest, reliable, and meticulous in his work. We highly recommend him and will continue to rely on him for all future building projects, including an upcoming new build.”
“Very tidy job on our front deck - Zaine is a good communicator and helps think through the right approach to whatever problems you're trying to solve. Trustworthy and reliable.”
“Zaine did an outstanding job on our project! He handled the demolition of our old deck and garage, then built a beautiful new one with incredible attention to detail. He coordinated seamlessly with other subcontractors - electrician, pergola installer, plasterers - and made sure everything came together perfectly. His finishing work was top-notch and really elevated the whole look. Highly recommend Zaine for any building work - professional, reliable, and goes above and beyond!”
“Zaine was recommended to me as reliable, honest, helpful and professional. He lived up to all expectations. He made everything seem so easy, always keeping me informed as to what was happening, co-ordinating with other tradesmen, making it all effortless. Worth so much more than a five star review. Thank you Zaine.”
Service area
We are based in Howick, and most of our renovation work is in East, Central and South Auckland, including older Central Auckland villas like the Grey Lynn restoration one reviewer describes. If the work moves outside, see decks and outdoor living in Auckland, or go back to the ZA Construction homepage. All our work is listed under building services in Auckland.
Howick, Pakuranga, Botany, Flat Bush, Bucklands Beach, Whitford, Beachlands, Clevedon, Maraetai.
Remuera, Epsom, Grey Lynn, Ponsonby, Mt Eden, Mt Albert, Ellerslie. One reviewer is restoring an old villa in Grey Lynn with us.
Manukau, Papakura, Takanini, Pukekohe.
Pauanui, Whitianga, Tairua, Whangamata.
Not sure we cover your suburb? Put it in the quote form and we will confirm.
Get a free quoteHow we work
A renovation has more moving parts than a new deck, because the house is already there and the order of work matters. This is the sequence most jobs follow.
Get a free quoteWe go over what you want changed and note what is likely to affect the job, such as structure, access and the age of the building.
You get a free quote built from the agreed scope. If the work needs drawings, an engineer or building consent, we say so now rather than halfway through.
Old linings and fittings come out, then any structural changes are made once the framing is exposed. If we find something unexpected, we talk through the options.
Electricians and plumbers do their first-fix work while the walls are open, then plasterers close them in. We line these trades up so each one arrives when the last has finished.
Doors, trims, flooring, paint and fixtures go in last. You get updates by photo and text along the way, and the site is tidied each day.
FAQ
Cost, consent, living in the house and who does what. For anything else, call 027 577 5892.
It depends on the scope, the size of the house, the condition of what is behind the existing linings, whether the work is structural, and the finishes you choose. We do not publish set prices because no two houses are the same. Describe the job in the quote form or call 027 577 5892, and we will price it after talking through what you want.
Often, but not always. Structural changes, new floor area and some changes to plumbing and drainage generally need consent. Cosmetic work such as repainting or like-for-like replacement often does not. Auckland Council makes the call, and when we scope your job we talk through whether it is likely to need one.
On many jobs, yes, and on others it is not practical. Strip-out is dusty and loud, power and water are switched off while new work is connected, and a kitchen or bathroom renovation takes that room out of use. Tell us at the quote stage that you will be living there and we will plan the order of work around it where we can.
We do. Electricians and plumbers do their first-fix work while the walls are open, then plasterers close them in, so we line the trades up in that order. Electrical and plumbing work has to be done by suitably licensed tradespeople.
Yes. Clients have booked us for small house repairs and for replacing a single door as well as larger renovations. Tell us what needs doing and we will let you know when we can fit it in.
Most of our renovation work is in East, Central and South Auckland, from Howick, where we are based, to older villas in Central Auckland suburbs such as Grey Lynn. Not sure about your suburb? Ask in the quote form.
Tell us what you want changed, added or fixed and where the house is. We will call you back to talk it through, whether it is a single repair or a full renovation.
Call direct
027 577 5892 admin@zaconstruction.co.nz