Tony Wilkinson Builders has been in existence since 1980 and a Registered Master Builder since 1983. At home in Hautotara, east of Martinborough, Tony and wife Sue have a small vineyard which they run on an organic basis. So, for Tony, the transition to the Lockwood franchise is a natural progression.He’s always been interested in building in an environmentally sympathetic way - using NZ pinus radiata, wool rather than fibreglass insulation and generally working in excess of the building code - which he sees as a bare minimum standard.
Over the years Tony has become a specialist in straw bale building, which he still enjoys. However, the building trade these days is increasingly dominated by companies offering ‘turnkey’ solutions. Lockwood is arguably the most well-known and successful of these in New Zealand.
As a long-standing family business - started by Joe La Grouw Snr in 1951 and with his son Joe Jnr in charge today - it fits in with Tony’s philosophy. Lockwood are sensitive to environmental and conservation issues and aim to optimise the use of NZ’s renewable timber resources and to give their customers the opportunity to live in harmony with the environment.
From his Ohio St office, Tony has access to a fully integrated team of over 250 specialist Lockwood personnel - from architects, designers and interior decorators through to the 100+ staff at the company’s 10ha Rotorua site where building components are manufactured. This means that he can call on a huge pool of expertise whenever it’s needed.
Lockwood houses have certainly kept up with the times.They still offer the same innovative building system developed in the 1950’s - walls are locked together, not nailed. The resulting structures are flexible and strong enough to resist earthquakes, wild weather and temperature extremes in places as far flung as the Middle East, Japan, Russia and all around the Pacific.
These days, as well as the ‘Classic’ and ‘Initial’ homes most people are familiar with, Lockwood also offers an ‘EcoSmart’ range (which aim to have minimal impact on the environment) and a ‘Contempo’ range which combines the unique Lockwood system with contemporary colour and texture. If none of these suits, a complete ‘Design and Build’ option is also offered.
Because so many features which are usually ‘extras’ are built in to the Lockwood system, the cost per square metre is actually very competitive when compared with other options.
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