Issue 09 Vol. 08, No. 02 Lower Hutt · Wellington 2026 / 05 / 08 4.8 ★ / 16 reviews

A working journal of one Lower Hutt builder, open to read.

Eight years on the tools, nine on the team, in-house architectural design and quantity surveying, and a habit of writing down what we learn on every job. Heritage churches, state-house overhauls, Roger Walker mansards, predator fences. The work, and the thinking behind it.

Editor · Sam Guerin / Co-editor · Sylvia Main / Set in Source Serif 4 & JetBrains Mono / Photo plates · Jono Parker, Sam, & site
§01 / Issue contents

In this issueRecent projects, recent writing, recent thinking

§02 / Practice

Six trades, one crewSix service lines, two of them in‑house and uncommon for a nine‑person Wellington builder

PR / 01

Residential Construction

New builds and end-to-end renovations across Wellington and the Hutt. Foreman on site every day, sub trades known and accountable, finish work without compromises.

LeadSam Guerin, LBP
PR / 02

Architectural Design

In-house architectural design with Sylvia Main, LBP AoP 2. Concept through council to keys, with a builder reading the drawings on the same desk that drew them.

LeadSylvia Main, AoP 2
PR / 03

Quantity Surveying

Honest numbers, drawn up before the build starts and tracked weekly through it. In-house with Nathan Wilson, LBP. Most builders in our bracket subcontract this; we do not.

LeadNathan Wilson, LBP
PR / 04

Renovations & Interiors

The volume work. State-house remediation, kitchen and bathroom replacements, half-house transformations. The detail-heavy end of building, where finish carpentry and patience earn their keep.

LeadMilo Beven, LBP
PR / 05

Commercial Construction

Heritage retail retrofits, fitouts and small-scale commercial work. Burger Liquor on Willis Street and conference-centre work for St John’s in the City sit in this column.

LeadSam Guerin, LBP
§03 / Marginalia

What clients have writtenPulled from Google reviews and Builderscrack · cross‑linked to the projects they refer to

Google
★★★★★
“All aspects of the construction process were completed to a high standard, and finishing work second to none.”
Sean McGruddy · Google review · Lower Hutt See Project ThirtyTwo →
Builderscrack
★★★★★
“Absolutely dream to work with. Quick, easy, and quality work.”
Builderscrack client · 5.0 ★ over four jobs See work register →
Builderscrack
★★★★★
“Their communication was excellent and the work was completed quickly and to a good standard.”
Builderscrack client · 5.0 ★ See services →
§04 / Reading list

From the journalLong‑form construction writing · fifteen entries to date

§05 / Talk

Got a build, a renovation or a heritage problem worth solving?

Sam picks up the phone himself. Tell us what you’re thinking; we’ll tell you honestly whether we’re the right crew. The first conversation costs nothing and almost always saves more than it takes.

Start a conversation  → Or ring 022 614 9703
sam@sgb.nz Lower Hutt · Wellington Mon–Fri · on the tools