The Building Co Auckland Review & Testimonial
Client Review of The Building Co In Auckland, New Zealand.
If you're considering building with The Building Co 2006 Limited, I wanted to share my personal experience so others can make an informed decision.
TL;DR: My experience building with Kendal was extremely poor. The project finished around 3 years late, all bathrooms had to be demolished due to non-compliant work, there were numerous workmanship defects, changes were made without approval, and communication was difficult throughout. Based on my personal experience, I would not recommend building with The Building Co.
My experience with this Auckland building company, led by director Kendal Read, was disappointing from start to finish. Problems began early in the build and continued throughout the project. What should have been a straightforward new home turned into a lengthy and ordeal that ended going over about 3 years past the contractual completion date.
One of the biggest issues was that every bathrooms had to be demolished because the work was not compliant. There were also numerous workmanship defects and problems that required rectification before the project could move forward.
At one stage, we had prepared formal documentation to terminate the contract due to what we believed were serious breaches. The termination letter had been reviewed and supported by others involved in the project. Instead of ending the contract, we insisted that the builder return to rectify the defective and non-compliant work, which they were required to do.
Communication was another major problem. In my experience, Kendal Read regularly avoided meetings that were intended to resolve outstanding issues. Eventually, we had to make it clear that either meetings would take place or the contract would be terminated.
External flashings had been glued on rather than mechanically fixed, resulting in sections around the corners of the house coming loose. We also discovered that the cavity above the garage had been altered from the approved plans, effectively blocking the drainage cavity ventilation. These cavities are designed to allow moisture to escape and help protect the building envelope. The Building Co Changed.
The new build also had other issues, including changes being made without the owner's approval, floors and walls outside acceptable tolerances, Kendal having disputes with Auckland Council, resistance to processing necessary minor variations, Driveway issues, cladding issues, painting issues and more.
This review reflects my own experience as a client and this is my testimonial. Based on what I went through, I would not choose to build with The Building Co 2006 Limited again.