ASK THE BUILDER:

David Cunneen of Cunneen Construction

David, it must feel good to live in a home you’ve

built with your own hands. Yeah, it’s great. It’s a real buzz to know that your kids are sleeping in something you’ve made and to be able to tell them that – constantly!

You put a lot of effort into the negative detail in the stairwell – how has it added to the look

of the home? Negative detail is the process of creating a definitive space between materials, such as between walls and ceiling junctions. It’s a strong detail that’s really effective and in our home works between the ply and the gib to create a ‘floating’ ceiling down the hall passage. What do you wish people understood about the building process, and how can they be sure that they’re hiring the right professionals for the job? Building is a real skill that I think people underestimate. The best way to find the right builder is to ask around. I’d go for a LBP [Licensed Building Practitioner] or Master Builder, and then most ‘good’ builders like them will have subcontractors that they regularly use and trust. Ask for a terms of trade agreement and contract from your builder at the very beginning – it will safeguard both you and them.

As for architects, we prefer to work with young professionals because they’ve got a sense of freedom – they haven’t been put into a box yet.

If something does go wrong, what’s the best

way to approach it? It’s important to have open communication from the outset, before the project starts, to get on the right footing – whether over a cup of tea or a few beers. Most quality builders want to produce a home that both the owners and themselves are happy with and proud of, but there will be things that come up and have to be addressed, and if you can talk to each other openly, it’ll ease the bumps in the road.