The Construction Source Australia

Welcome to the latest issue of Construction Source Australia, the magazine that highlights the best in building and building products across the country. In this edition, we take a look at a variety of building industry providers with home bases all across Australia. Chateau Architects and Builders, for example, is one of Sydney’s leading luxury custom home building companies, with a history in the city going back over 50 years. To tell their story, we spoke with Alex McDonald, the company’s construction director, and the son of founder Malcolm McDonald, who first started the business in 1969. We talked about the company’s storied history and about some of their recent landmark homes. In particular, we discussed their recently-acclaimed Seaforth home, for which they were awarded the 2023 MBA NSW prize for ‘Master Builder of the Year’ and the HIA NSW award for ‘Home of the Year,’ among other accolades. Also featured in this issue are Supersett Constructions and Ceasefire PFP. The former is one of Western Australia’s leading civil contractors, and a market leader in concrete and formwork construction, and the latter is a leader in passive fire protection serving clients across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Both companies have been involved in several high profile and highly challenging projects in their regions. We talked to their leaders about those projects and how they overcame those challenges. We also talked about their exciting plans for growth, as both companies intend to expand geographically and introduce their industry-leading service to new markets. For those stories – and a whole lot more like them, in this edition and future editions – just keep reading. All the best, The Editorial Team We will keep adding business units that enhance our offering and separate us from our competition. “ ” Editor From The Dear Reader,

MAY 2024

The Construction Source Australia With a readership exceeding 136,000 senior executives, The Construction Source Australia takes immense pride in providing an enticing platform to amplify your message to the most pivotal audience – your valued customers. Whether your aim is to promote an exciting new condo development, attract crucial financial investments for upcoming projects, or establish a commanding brand presence, we’re here to assist you every step of the way. To explore opportunities for featuring your company or showcasing your latest project in The Construction Source Australia, please reach out to our Group Publisher. Jermaine Poulsen e:info@theconstructionsource.com.au The Construction Source Australia Suite 11.01, Level 11, 175 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia info@theconstructionsource.com.au ABN: 42 976 059 923 Executive Publisher Jermaine Poulsen COO Alexandra Box Editor in Chief Zach Janes Director of Operations Scott Carter Jacqueline Van Belois Business Development Managers Rondal Gardner Production Manager Brennan Midghall Digital Strategist Pranim Thapa Administration Manager Belyn Quijance-Dorero

MAY 2024 Industry INNOVATIONS Product of the Month The Kights Scanner CHATEAU ARCHITECTS + BUILDERS Complete solutions SUPERSET CONSTRUCTIONS Market Leaders among Industrial and Civil Contractors in the South West CEASEFIRE PFP PTY LTD. Sydney-Based Ceasefire is a Market Leader in Passive Fire Protection EXTEND A HOME Offers ‘Smooth Sailing’ to Clients Looking for Residential Extensions TRESCON Brings Collaboration and Transparency to High-Quality Construction Projects IN THIS ISSUE MAY 2024 CEASEFIRE PFP SUPERSET CONSTRUCTIONS EXTEND A HOME

MAY 2024 Aluminum expected to accelerate worldwide adoption of electric and self-driving vehicles Material takes on an ever-widening role in tomorrow’s vehicles For more than a decade, concerns about fuel efficiency have been encouraging OEMS to replace steel with aluminum on vehicle bodies, doors, trunks, hoods, bumpers, crash boxes, brakes, cables and wheels. With the advent of electric and autonomous vehicles, OEMs worldwide are discovering new uses for aluminum. The need for battery casings and heat exchangers in electric vehicles, combined with autonomous vehicles’ demands for high visibility and structural integrity, is expected to exponentially increase the use of sheet aluminum in tomorrow’s cars, trucks and buses. Supporting the transition to battery-powered vehicles Four major design challenges confront OEMs in their transition to electric vehicles. Extending vehicle range Improving battery and passenger safety Increasing passenger comfort Optimizing cooling systems for lithium-ion batteries The substitution of sheet aluminum for steel helps resolve OEM concerns. Industry INNOVATIONS

The Construction Source Australia The lighter the vehicle, the longer its range. According to Ducker Worldwide, aluminum is expected to contribute more than half of the anticipated vehicle mass reduction demanded by electric vehicles (EVs) to extend range. Ducker reports that in North America alone, aluminum content in EVs will increase to nearly 565 pounds (256 kilgrams) per vehicle by 2028. The larger the vehicle, the heavier the battery and casing required to optimize the EV’s range. It is the larger EVs, i.e., sedans, SUVs, taxis, trucks and buses, that will realize the greatest benefits from a steel-to-aluminum conversion. In the U.S., a vehicle’s gross weight determines which class of commercial driver’s license (CDL) will be required. Without lightweighting, some EVs could demand a higher-class license or additional endorsements due to the added weight of the battery. In older European cities like Brussels or London, some bridges and tunnels only allow vehicles up to 3.5 tons in weight, a target that is very difficult to meet for larger EVs without lightweighting. For heavier material transport EVs such as trucks, weight reduction enables an increased payload, providing a significant monetary benefit. Generally, the larger the vehicle, the higher the payback. Particularly relevant for larger human transport EVs such as buses and taxis, the weight reduction made possible through aluminum provides the added benefit of reduced CO2 emissions and improved air quality, of value not only to vehicle operators, but to the communities they serve. The thermal and anti-corrosion properties of aluminum make it ideal for battery frames. Sea-water resistant, highly formable, highly surfaced aluminum alloys provide the strength necessary to pass side-impact crashworthiness testing, protecting passengers and the battery should impact occur. Casing floor plates made out of aluminum are not only strong, but also capable of resisting corrosion related to weather exposure. These characteristics enable aluminum battery casings to resist weather-related deterioration and impact from road debris, minimizing the risk of related fires and further securing passenger safety. Optimizing battery and human safety Extending range Dispersing heat The batteries used in EVs produce energy while charging and decharging, requiring the use of heat exchangers to dissipate heat. But the types of heat exchangers used in vehicle air conditioning systems are inadequate to meet this new challenge. Aluminum clad brazing (which connects multiple layers of aluminum together to disperse heat) requires heating in a controlled atmosphere (e.g., a vacuum) to achieve optimum joining. Aluminum heat exchangers designed specifically to meet the challenges presented by electric vehicles can use as many as five types of aluminum sandwiched together, with the layers providing gradient properties to optimize cooling. These specialized processes and materials address OEM concerns, ensuring adequate dissipation of the heat generated by battery-powered vehicles. An experienced aluminum processing partner can help OEMs specify the right process and alloys to meet specific vehicle temperature thresholds, ideally working side by side with OEM engineers early in the design process to maximize the performance of electric vehicles. IT IS THE LARGER EVS, I.E, SEDANS, SUVS, TAXIS, TRUCKS AND BUSES, THAT WILL REALIZE THE GREATEST BENEFITS FROM A STEEL -TO-ALUMINUM CONVERSION .

MAY 2024 The luxury sedan market will likely be the first to transition to self-driving electric vehicles. Passenger comfort and safety, and an expansive view of the surrounding environment, are expected to be top priorities for this market. The hefty B pillars used in conventional vehicles to meet structural requirements for crashworthiness are undesirable in a self-driving scenario. To enable large windows and an unobstructed view without sacrificing passenger safety, lightweight aluminum will be the strong material of choice. Supporting the eventual transition to autonomous vehicles In addition to the design challenges presented by EVs, society’s demand for sustainable solutions will likely continue to be a driver in the transition to aluminum-lightweighted vehicles. A Forschungsgesellschaft Kraftfahrwesen mbH Aachen (fka) study, using a Volkswagen Golf as its reference vehicle, determined that an electric aluminum-based vehicle could meet the same safety standards as its steelbased equivalent, while emitting 1.5 tons less greenhouse gases over its lifecycle, taking into consideration production, a total driving distance of more than 93,000 miles (150,000 kilometers) and eventual recycling. Ongoing environmental concerns Conclusion Aluminum alloys are ideally suited to the design challenges presented by electric and autonomous vehicles. By aligning with aluminum partners deeply experienced in developing processes and alloys to meet demanding performance requirements, transportation vehicle OEMs are accelerating the pace of EV and self-driving vehicle adoption throughout North America. .

The Construction Source Australia

MAY 2024 Business World Australia

The Construction Source Australia Business Worl d Australia

Sets the Gold Standard for Luxury Residential Living in Sydney

MAY 2024

Chateau Architects + Builders has been at the forefront of Sydney’s luxury custom home building market for the past 50 years. This awardwinning and family-owned company is known for producing architectural masterpieces built to the highest standards. “We always aim to provide the very best product and quality is not negotiable whether it be finishes or the structure of the home,” states Alex McDonald, a company director. “We’re dedicated to providing the very best quality that the budget allows for and that’s been the ethos from day one and continued right through to today.” Chateau had its beginnings in 1969 when Alex’s father, real estate agent Malcolm McDonald, builder Les Dicker, and designer Neville Hopkins set out to fill the niche for luxury residential living in Sydney. They envisioned a company that would offer the most discerning clients a home that reflected their identities, achievements, and aspirations. Sadly, tragedy struck with the loss of Les a year later, but Malcolm and Neville committed themselves to fulfilling their dream. Now, more than half a century later, Chateau is thriving with Alex driving construction and his brother, Roderick, overseeing architecture, as they continue to create Sydney’s landmark homes. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

MAY 2024

Chateau has earned a solid reputation during the past five decades, one built on trust, quality, and a commitment to excellence. Alex explains that trust is essential in maintaining the longstanding relationships established by the company through the years and developing new ones with current and future clients. This commitment extends from their in-house team right through to the suppliers and trades who help them build each home. “Trust is absolutely paramount and that goes right through with the trades and the suppliers. They’re the guys on the site doing the work and we have to trust them as well. Trust starts with the client, but it goes through every part of the business,” he says. “We have many, many trades who have been with us 20, 30 years so it’s the next generation of trades. Getting back to the ethos of quality, as soon as we Trust is paramount THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

MAY 2024

find a good supplier or a good contractor, we stick with them. Because ultimately they will know what we will accept and what we won’t accept. The trades are always the representative of the company on site.” According to Alex, in the Australian housing industry, a large majority of the builders are project builders. They repeat the same home over and over and over again with a bit of a change here or there. Chateau, however, is not in that majority. “Chateau has always since day one provided a custom home for the client’s budget or the block of land so that every home is individually designed to what the client’s looking for, what the budget allows for, what benefits the block of land. Rather than trying to take a square peg and shove it into a round hole, we come up with something custom and unique to the client. Under the direction of Roderick, the company architect, we design every home from scratch, and that has always been our practice,” he says. “One thing that Chateau has always provided to all of its customers, even back to 1970, is the understanding that the client and the service that we provide them is the most important thing. From day one, there’s always been the onerous of looking after the client, looking after their money, always providing them a good quality home. But also, to provide the service that we’d all like to expect when we’re engaging in the largest single most important asset that most people ever have and which is the family home. Over the years, what we build today is nothing like what we started building 50 odd years ago, but the commitment to providing the best quality home and the best quality service hasn’t changed whatsoever. That’s always the first and foremost in our mind when dealing with the client. Alex goes on to say that while building homes is his job, it’s also his passion. “It’s a passion. You’ve got to love it. You’ve got to be part of a process.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Through the years, Chateau has amassed an extensive list of awards from building associations including the Master Builders Association (MBA) and the Housing Industry Association (HIA). The company’s dedication to excellence has been recognized with more than 25 industry awards since 2018. “These awards are not just honours; they are the embodiment of trust our clients place in us and our unwavering dedication to quality and design,” Alex says. In 2023, their ultramodern Seaforth home, completed the same year, received an impressive five top industry awards. Carrying a price tag of more than $8 million, this exciting waterfront home is an architectural masterpiece. Awards for that Seaforth home included: 2023 MBA NSW Master Builder of the Year; 2023 HIA NSW Home of the Year; 2023 HIA NSW Custom Built Home of the Year; 2023 MBA NSW Construct Houses $8 Awards and accolades MAY 2024

Million - $10 Million – Winner; and 2023 HIA NSW Custom Built Home Over $2.5 Million – Winner. Alex explains the backstory and the engineering behind that award-winning project. He says that when Chateau took on the project, they started working with a design brought in by the client, one that wasn’t conceptualized by the Chateau team. With this being the case, they basically had to start from scratch and redesign it. “We took the concept provided by an external architect and pulled it apart so that it could be practically built,” he says. “It’s one thing to draw a pretty picture on a page, but you literally have to pull everything apart, engineer it, so that everything’s going to work together. So, once it gets to site, it goes through quite quickly.” “There’s a huge amount of work behind the scenes. In this particular instance, the owner’s overall intention has always been to have an ultramodern, almost industrial finish, an industrial feel, but delivered with warm natural accents.” While the home was completed in 2023, work was done on the project during several years of the COVID pandemic. Alex says this created a special set of challenges. “The industry was shut down here. We had massive labor issues. We had massive material issues that impacted throughout the build. We also had two years of some of the wettest weather on record. “We were dealing with an ultra-modern home which is extremely difficult. We’re going through the COVID period which is extremely difficult. We’re also dealing with huge weather issues, again out of our control, so everything was against us. So the whole team, the staff in the office, the supervisors out on site the tradesmen, the suppliers out on site – we all had to simply come together and work together like we do on all our projects so that the overall outcome at the end was what the owner was looking for.” The result of that collaboration was an outstanding home that was appreciated not only by the clients, but also by Chateau’s peers in the industry, as evidenced by their aforementioned award recognition. In their comments, the MBA NSW judges commented that the company has “consistently submitted exceptional projects every year,” and that their Seaforth project was no exception. “The Seaforth Home was a testament to their skill, quality, and diversity that the company can deliver,” they wrote. “The use of multiple materials all blended with seamless accuracy and was outstanding.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

As Chateau Architects + Builders embarks upon a bright future, they are dedicated to upholding the legacy of the Chateau name established by the company’s founders half a century ago. With an eye for excellence and distinction in every detail, they are moving forward focusing on creating even more landmark homes in Sydney. Upholding a legacy MAY 2024

For more on how Chateau Architects + Builders can bring your dream home to life with their unwavering dedication to excellence in design and construction – and to get in touch with Alex, Roderick and their expert team – visit their website at https://www.chateau.com.au THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Market Leaders among Industrial and Civil Contractors in the South West

MAY 2024

Supersett Constructions are leading civil contractors serving Western Australia’s industrial, commercial and infrastructure sectors. As a market leader in concrete and formwork construction, the company has a rich history of collaboration with construction and mining companies, as well as government agencies, in Bunbury and the South West. Known for delivering exceptional results, Supersett’s experienced team specializes in providing bespoke services while ensuring safety, quality, and management standards that consistently surpass expectations. “We’ve got a good culture here,” states Aaron May, Director. “We’ve been able to grow a really strong professional team. Everyone relies on each other for their roles and that’s been finetuned over the years to create a really bonded team environment. They’re a good bunch that work together in the office and in the field.” Supersett was founded in 1998. Aaron moved into the leadership role of the family-owned company in 2010. Today, the business maintains its focus on family values with a strong commitment to the wellbeing of employees. Supersett’s four main company values are safety, quality, timeliness, and teamwork. “Safety is at the top of the list,” Aaron says. “We have a lot of systems in place to ensure that safety is being met and carried out and that we’re not getting complacent with things that we’re doing on site. A lot of the work that we do can be dangerous and some of the sites can be additionally dangerous especially as compared to some of the residential jobs even some of the commercial jobs. The industrial side can have that extra level of risk. A lot of our guys are used to working in those environments. They have the experience of working in a high-risk environment.” Employees have the opportunity for training to advance in their skills, certifications, and positions. This includes compliance-based training and training necessary to obtain their tickets. A few THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

MAY 2024

apprentices who are working toward their trade certificates are also part of the team. Supersett currently has around 50 employees with many of those having a long tenure with the company. Aaron says that they have been fortunate in attracting top quality applicants to join the team even when there have been labor shortages elsewhere. “We’ve been fortunate to pick up people fairly easily because we’ve got such a good crew on the ground. Good guys attract good guys. A lot of those people have worked together in the past. They tell their friends, “Why don’t you come and jump on board here?’” “We’ve had a lot of employees join our team like that especially in the past several months when it’s been pretty tight,” he says. “That’s our main way of getting people.” Along with word of mouth between employees and potential employees, the company is also using social media as a hiring tool. “We’ve been reaching out through Facebook and that’s been successful.” Supersett also has a solid relationship with their subcontractors and suppliers. “We’ve created relationships with subcontractors that we work with regularly. They’re incredibly important to our success as well. We wouldn’t have been as successful as we have been during the last 10 years without them,” Aaron says. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

MAY 2024

Supersett’s capabilities range from industrial project management and civil construction to earthworks, concrete construction, and formwork. Several of their recent projects are especially noteworthy. The largest for the company is a new high voltage 330-kilovolt terminal substation that was constructed north of Perth. “We had to import about 40,000 cubic meters of fill and it took about 18 months to build,” Aaron says. “We had as many as 30-40 people working on site. It was a bit challenging at first with the weather, but it ended up being a really good job for us.” In the last few years Supersett has also started taking on commercial and high-end residential projects. These include some commercial concrete packages such as a shopping center that features a 2000-square meter suspended slab and a three-story performing arts center with paneled walls. Crews were on site with this project for 18 months. “We are also starting to work on some high-end residential jobs,” Aaron says. “One is a three-story house with a suspended concrete flat roof and another a two-story house with a concrete roof as well. They are a little bit more technical and challenging, but I think the guys appreciate the challenge. They are doing a great job, and we are getting a lot of great feedback from the architects and clients.” Supersett is also currently working on a big drainage package and that is a major project for the company. Aaron says the overall project value is approximately $1.2 billion, “It’s quite a big project. We’ve had between 20-30 people there for two years pretty much solid.” Appreciating the challenge THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Turning to the future, Aaron envisions a “fairly sustained growth period” for Supersett. “I can’t see us going through any sort of major growth in the next couple years. Obviously, that depends on any other big projects that might come along. I think our current crew size is where we need to be.” “We will start looking for work a bit further away from our local town, as well. Another thing that might change in the next few years will be the high-end housing. We’re getting a lot of those jobs come through to look at almost weekly, especially down around in the Margaret River region. A lot of guys are spending a huge amount down there on new houses. I can see that’s going to be a bit more regular in the next couple of years.” Steady growth MAY 2024

To learn more about Supersett Constructions and their range of services and capabilities – and to contact Aaron and his expert team – visit their website at https://www.supersett.com.au THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Sydney-Based Ceasefire is a Market Leader in Passive Fire Protection

MAY 2024

Ceasefire PFP is a leader in passive fire protection serving clients across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Based in Sydney, the company has made a name for itself as a reputable and experienced provider of a wide range of services for new construction builds along with restorations and repairs. “Our expertise in passive fire protection encompasses a comprehensive understanding of fire safety principles, building codes, and industry standards,” states Slayde Tana, General Manager. “We specialize in the design, installation, and maintenance of passive fire systems, including fire-rated walls, doors, floors, and penetrations. Our team is trained to assess fire risks, develop tailored solutions, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.” Ceasefire PFP was founded in May 2016. Slayde explains that the overall mission and vision of the business is to provide fire protection services in Sydney. “There were not many companies doing the type of work that we do here in New South Wales, so it’s quite a niche area.” Among the services they provide are service penetration fire seals; fire rated access panels; vermiculite fire spray; duct fire protection; and intumescent paint. Ceasefire PFP is committed to providing reliable, cost-effective, and efficient passive fire protection solutions to safeguard lives and properties. They deliver exceptional client service at every stage of the project. The company is dedicated to offering an end-toend client experience that includes seamless communication, on-site organization, certification, and quality work on a consistent basis. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

“We do jobs, big and small. We don’t really pick and choose. We try to look after everyone equally,” Slayde says. “We have established a network in Australia that enables our team to confidently deliver on all forms of fire protection. We provide a 24-hour service to meet any time and project constraints for our clients,” Ceasefire employs a team of in-house staff who are highly trained in specialized applications and the installation of passive fire protection. The company currently has around 30 employees and they are always looking to onboard new talent and expand their operations. Slayde says they have a strong corporate culture. “Everyone gets on well; we treat everyone equally. I think everyone wants to be part of a team that’s doing great things.” Ceasefire also has a strong relationship with their suppliers. “We are on good terms with the manufacturers here in New South Wales and that is very helpful in our work,” Slayde says. “They treat us really well.” The company works closely with a range of manufacturers and suppliers to install only passive fire systems that are tested and approved to the standards required by the National Construction Code (NCC) otherwise known as The Building Code of Australia (BCA). In addition, Ceasefire PFP is a Gold Member of Fire Protection Association Australia. This notfor-profit organization is Australia’s top body for providing support and representation for the fire protection industry and is a chief advocate for fire safety. “It’s a small industry so having an association to represent us is particularly important,” Slayde says. MAY 2024

Over their almost-10-years of history, Ceasefire has successfully completed several high profile and challenging projects on landmark buildings in the region. Among the company’s more notable projects is its work on the Sydney Football Stadium. This world-class sports stadium was constructed in Moore Park next to the Sydney Cricket Ground. Ceasefire was responsible for supplying passive fire rating for all the ductwork on the development. This project was expected to host matches for the 2022 State of Origin series and the challenge of working to this deadline was compounded by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “That job was completed during the COVID lockdown so that was a quite a challenge, but we managed to get it done,” Slayde says. “We were all pushing pretty hard to get it completed to meet Pushing hard to get things done THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

MAY 2024

the deadline. A lot of our guys worked four months solid. That was our biggest project to date at the time.” Another significant project for Ceasefire was the redevelopment that expanded the luxury retail space at the Sydney International Airport. The project had its own set of unique challenges as Slayde explains. “The entire structure is supported by steel columns that had to be fire rated. This project was particularly challenging as it involved working airside in a fully operational airport facility,” he says. “We had to take into account the high level of security and the safety of passengers and aircraft throughout the project. A lot of security was involved every time we sent to the site. Our vehicles had to be checked. We had to be searched personally. We had to be escorted through the airport. We had to be mindful of construction waste and that it didn’t blow into the aircraft.” “This site was open 24/7 to achieve the outcome that was required for the development. We were able to work within multiple constraints during the assignment to deliver a successful result,” Slayde says. “We’ve just done a warehouse which was quite a large project and we finished it in record time considering how big the project was for us,” Slayde says. “We had a team on that project basically 24/7 with a day shift and a night shift crew.” He explains that the type of work they were doing was disruptive to the other crews on site, so they sprayed at night to keep disturbances minimal and cleaned and scraped during the day. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Building on the company’s past successes and growth, Ceasefire PFP is anticipating a bright future that includes expansion into additional geographic areas. Slayde explains that this expansion is focusing on reaching beyond their current service area of NSW and the ACT. “We do have plans to expand into other Australian states at the moment.” A bright future MAY 2024

For more on Ceasefire Passive Fire Protection, the range of products and services they offer, how to become part of their dynamic team, and how get in touch with Slayde and his expert team, visit their website at https://ceasefire.com.au THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Offers ‘Smooth Sailing’ to Clients Looking for Residential Extensions

MAY 2024

Extend a Home is a top industry leader in the design and construction of high-quality ground and first floor residential extensions. Based in Sydney, the company is known for delivering an exceptional product thanks to their commitment to professional systems, planning, and communication. “We have a good reputation, we build a good standard, and we always follow up,” states Tony O’Neill, Managing Director. The company has been in business since 1974. When the original owner passed away, Tony and four other individuals purchased it from the surviving spouse in 1991. Today, Tony and his business partner, Peter Wisniewski, are two of those original directors still with Extend a Home. They have a combined 80 years of experience in the construction industry. Tony started working in construction straight out of high school in 1977 as an apprentice carpenter and joiner. He has experience in both commercial and residential construction. He began supervising new home construction in 1987 leading him to his career with Extend a Home. “I was 17 when I started in the industry and 33 when I started here,” he says. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

MAY 2024

Extend a Home offers their clients a ‘Smooth Sailing Guarantee’, and Tony says this is something that puts them ahead of the competition. “Basically, we guarantee that their project will be smooth sailing from start to finish.” In the event there’s a glitch in the process, Tony says the clients will get a $1,000 gift card to use for something like going away for a relaxing weekend to make up for the inconvenience. He thinks they’ve only had to do this once since they started offering the guarantee. “Generally speaking, clients are very happy we us. We probably get 95 percent of our work by word of mouth,” he says. Growing up in one of their homes and experiencing the value and quality of their work – and their special take on customer service – first-hand is how members of one particular Smooth Sailing Guarantee THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

family became Extend a Home clients. “We even have second and third generation clients. We’ve got a couple of clients at the moment, a couple of ladies who we built for their parents back in the 90s when they were young girls and now we’re building for them,” Tony says. He goes on to explain in more detail how the Smooth Sailing Guarantee works and how this special process keeps projects on track and their clients happy. “We take the job from an initial inquiry; we then send the design consultant out to see the inquiry. They speak to the people and find out their needs and their budget. We come up with a design for them and then if they wish to proceed, we go ahead and get all of the council development applications conditions met, we do the whole application basically in-house. We follow that through and then, once it’s all approved, we build the job for them. We guarantee smooth sailing all the way through.” MAY 2024

Tony says that while they are proud of quite a few of their projects, there are a couple of recent ones of which they are especially proud. One is a $1.2 million project at Lane Cove, and another is an extension on an old Victorian house in Burwood that also came in at around $1.2 million. Both of these projects, he says, have provided an “impressive and outstanding result” and are good examples of the style and finish they maintain on their projects. “They were a little bit out of the ordinary style of home and pretty big for an extension,” he says. “We’ve got client testimonial videos on our website and we’re pretty proud of those homes, too.” Special Projects THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Extend a Home maintains strong relationships across their stakeholder community from clients and subcontractors to the employees that make up their team. Their commitment to being approachable and available to their clients is key to their relationship building. “I’ve been told we seem more like a family than a company,” Tony says. “We get more directly involved with the people than a larger company might do. We’re very approachable.” “Our clients are dealing with the owners of the company where in some of the bigger companies they really don’t get to see the owners. I run the sales team and most of the clients I deal with right from the start, from the initial inquiry. Peter is the construction manager and clients see him frequently during the build because he is often on site.” Relationships with Stakeholders MAY 2024

THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

The family atmosphere that Extend a Home’s clients enjoy reaches to their employees as well and is an important part of their company culture. “Everyone’s like a family,” Tony says. “Everyone knows everyone. Our spouses are included in social functions and parties. We’ve seen each other’s children grow up over the years.” As for their trades and subcontractors, they’ve been working with the majority of them for 1520 years. “We have a core of subcontractors and trades that we use on most of our jobs, so we get continuity of quality and performance across our projects.” Extend a Home also has ties to other professionals in the industry through membership in the Housing Industry Association and the Master Builders Association. Tony says the company has been an active member of MBA for 40 years. Turning to the future, Tony says they are comfortable with the size and scope of the company and don’t anticipate any major expansion. “We don’t want to get too big,” he says. “We’re pretty much in our niche.” With that being said he explains they are seeing an increase in the price tag of their projects. “The value of our average job has doubled in the last couple of years. Where our average was $350,000-$400,000 a few years ago, it’s now $700,000 with the biggest ones that we’ve done coming in at $1.2 to 1.3 million.” Tony says that while he and Peter are both still actively working in the business, they are looking at “bringing in some younger, fresher people.” “We’re training some younger members of our team to take Extend a Home into the future,” he says. MAY 2024

For more on Extend a Home, their services, their capabilities, and more on Tony, Peter, and their dedicated and experienced team– and to get in touch with that team today – call them on (02) 9736-3344 or visit their website at www.extendahome.com.au THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Brings Collaboration and Transparency to High-Quality Construction Projects

MAY 2024

Trescon is dedicated to delivering high-quality work across a variety of construction sectors from commercial, residential, and industrial to hospitality, health, and education. Based in Rosebery, New South Wales, the company is committed to collaboration and transparency in all of their projects. “One of the common phrases that we’re getting in terms of feedback from our clients on the last four or five projects is our transparency,” states David Luxton, Business Development Director. “I think that’s one of our strengths. Clients are appreciating the fact that we are transparent from the get-go.” This transparency is evident in their budget, documentation, and process. David goes on to explain that a positive customer experience also helps set Trescon apart in the industry. “We’re not always the cheapest. We’re not always the most expensive. But our process, our methodology, the customer experience in general makes the difference. “We’re fortunate to have a very experienced team behind all of those projects and that helps offer that experience. Every step of the way from tender to the programming to construction and handover we’ve taken the time to think about the customer’s experience. “That’s not a one-size fits all approach, but rather a bespoke experience based on the needs of the individual client. They all need different things at different times and it’s important for us to be agile enough to meet those needs day to day. And, even though that process isn’t always perfect, the focus is squarely on improving that process and the by-product of that and it trickles down into improving the individual processes that feed that customer experience so ultimately that improves the business as a whole.” “It’s our passion not to let people down and our passion to build a project as if it’s our own project,” states Michael Kounellis, Commercial Director. “There’s a lot of passion and heart that goes into our projects. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

“I suppose our number one priority is not to let the client down and to deliver the highest value project and the highest quality project that we can deliver. Every time that we do a project, we get praises from the clients. That praise is passed through the industry to others,” he says. Trescon is known in the industry and to their clients for completing projects on time and on budget. That track record trickles down to future clients and to the subcontractors they work with on their projects. Michael, along with Nick Rodopoulos, who is also a director of the company, started Trescon in 2017. The two had worked together in another business prior to teaming up to launch their own company. While Trescon is young, the experience of the leadership team is mature. Both Michael and Nick bring 30-plus years of experience each to their work with Trescon. “They are well connected within the construction community, and they’ve been able to win projects that probably wouldn’t be won by a company as young as us had they not had that exposure and that prior experience,” states Yanni Ganas, Marketing Director. “We’re about to kick over to seven years. While we are quite young, we’re really hitting our stride now this year. It’s kind of flagged to be our biggest win year ever and we can project that because of the projects that we’ve won in the last four months are coming to fruition this year and we’ll start construction on a lot of things this year.” The team is especially excited about Redan Lane, a residential project in Mosman, which is setting MAY 2024

records within the industry. Already, three of these exceptional apartments have sold for $19.5 million each making this the largest amount for an off-project ever in Australian history. Double Bay Sail, headquarters of Ray White Double Bay, is another outstanding project for Trescon. The building will offer premium commercial space and is set to become a defining feature of Double Bay. A unique architectural approach has gone into the design which takes inspiration from the sails of yachts in the bay. “I feel like the company is really maturing at this stage,” Yanni says. “It’s a young company comprised of mature experience. We’ve been very fortunate to have the team that we’ve got. Everyone’s come with a lot of experience and that’s really helped us with our processes because they already know what they are doing. As a brand, the logo might be young, but these guys really know their stuff and so the experience our clients get is not that of an immature company. “The individual team members and leadership have longstanding relationships within the industry. That client network that we are able to pull on is really advantageous,” Yanni says. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Michael discusses his vision for the company’s future in terms of the team’s size, location of their market, and scope of projects. While he anticipates growth ahead, he also appreciates the current dynamic of the company as it relates to employees. “We’re a group of almost 80 employees and that’s employees directly employed by us,” he explains. “We’re going into another phase of growth at the moment moving toward 200-plus men this year. We’re looking at growing that to maybe 300 or 400 but trying to hit 500 as a target in the next five years.” “The group dynamic at the moment is really great,” Michael says. “Everyone’s collaborative. It’s a team environment. The teams aren’t competing with the other teams. Each team helps each other in a moment of need.” Young, vibrant, dynamic MAY 2024

THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

“We understand that growing further and developing the team to 90 or 100 or 100-plus, the group dynamic does change. Our focus is to try and maintain that group dynamic that we have now in the short-term and maybe in the longterm.” He says that moving into the Tier 1 market is not on the horizon at present and that they would like to stay within Tier 3 and maybe move into Tier 2 at some point. They are also definitely open to going into the Melbourne and Brisbane markets in the coming years. “We’re a young, vibrant, dynamic builder in the market,” David says. “We bring about a high level of experience with the top management that we’ve got here, but we’ve got some young, really enthusiastic builders in the company that I think will flourish in terms of the work and projections that we’ve got moving forward. It’s an exciting time for Trescon in this market.” MAY 2024

To learn more about Trescon and the services they offer – and to contact Michael, David, and the rest of their team – visit https://www.trescon.com.au THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Made with FlippingBook

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTYzNTg=