Up high and down low � finishing up the extension

Well Matt and Rowena�s house enlargement is finally at an end. But this week has certainly not been a wind down! It�s been frantically busy as the team tries to get everything looking ship shape.

Up high, the final touches went on the roof. We made sure they�re ready to face the infamous Auckland weather with new Marley spouting. We opted for Marley Stormcloud spouting with internal brackets, which, like the Linea Weatherboard below it, has the major benefit of keeping a traditional look of an older house.

Down low, having an extra 10sqm of flooring meant Matt and Rowena had to match up some new floorboards. The original floorboards were made from Matai but the previous owners had used some Kauri along the way. Kauri Warehouse came in to do a measure up and suggested re-using some of the old exterior weatherboards to save money. Sadly, most were too short and many of the longer ones were being used elsewhere. The only Matai they had in stock was too red to match the old stuff, so Matt and Rowena chose Kauri. After a good polish to the existing floors they came up looking very close and as they fade over time they will be virtually indistinguishable (except for the bora holes of course!).

The Linea on the outside was finished with Dulux paints. Conveniently, we were able to send in a colour sample from the old timber weatherboards to the local Dulux colour shop, which meant we could be sure of the colour and also not have to repaint the whole house. There�s no point wasting paint on bits that don�t need painting!

Their old dining table has made way for an office. There is only just enough space for a desk, but Matt and Rowena plan to maximise the space by adding shelving and storage in the near future. The Home Plus wardrobe doors went on in the bedroom, making for great space savings, and the family opted for Horizon lining Silver Mist with matching joinery. All these space savings are really important for Matt and Rowena � they both wanted an open plan house and Rowena especially wanted to be able to keep an eye on the kids from the kitchen. The bi-fold doors that fold back on themselves were just what the doctor ordered.

The final step was to install a Home Plus 3-metre awning on the deck, providing shower proofing and shade for the kids. This was another little cost that was not included in the budget, but they went for the crank-handle version over the electric, so it only cost $3,700.

Tips and tricks

Budget � it�s always wise to budget 5-10% over what you think you will need to absorb an unexpected costs.

Home Staging � statistics show houses that are staged sell much quicker than those that are not. See Home Base for details.

Matching floorboards � take a piece of the old floorboard to your timber dealer to ensure the closest match. Any colour differences can be patched up with varnish and time.