Project: Major extension in New Plymouth
Building up: Dash of style for Pzazz Building Master Builder
‘Cookie cutter’ houses don’t cut the mustard for Isiah Reynolds. This master builder favours a dash of style and originality in his work, which is just as well given he’s the New Plymouth and Taranaki affiliate at Pzazz Building, a nationwide group of renovation specialists that aims to ‘make living spaces come alive!’
“I love working on architectural builds,” Isiah says. “They require imagination and forward thinking at every single step.”
The father-of-five is in his element right now as he and the team get creative with an ‘out of the ordinary’ build on Barriball Street, Fitzroy in New Plymouth. A brainchild of New Plymouth’s Imagine Building Design, it’s a two-storey home with plenty of standout appeal.
“The second storey has a cast insitu concrete floor that has elements of cantilever,” says Isiah. “It’s exactly the kind of project we love to get involved in. There’s no manual for this kind of job so we draw on the experience of the team and we rise to the challenge.”
Architectural builds like this are what gets Isiah out of bed in the morning (although his kids probably help with that!).
“I love these builds because they’re much less conventional,” he says. “It’s about concurrent activity and making use of every minute and hour you have available. There’s lots of stuff happening at the same time so you need to be right on top of your game. At Barriball Street for example, part of the roof is being laid at the moment but we’re also doing roof framing for another part of the house.”
Although currently busy on the new build at Barriball Street, the team at New Plymouth’s Pzazz Building spends most of its time on renovations.
“We cover everything, from small jobs like bathrooms right through to large extensions and additions going upwards as well as outwards,” says Isiah.
And whatever the size of the job, it’s always approached with professionalism and consideration for the customer.
“Right from the initial in-home consultation we like to build up a really good rapport with our clients," says Isiah. “At the consultation we learn about their values, what’s important to them and what they’re hoping to achieve. Our customers put a great deal of trust in us and it’s important that everyone on the team treats that with respect. Their homes are their castles and we are temporary guests. We try to minimise the disruption and always consider how the work we’re doing, and our presence, is going to affect the home dynamic.”
A flick through the written and video testimonials on the Pzazz Building website shows the Taranaki team has a string of happy customers and Isiah says their record is largely due to their collective experience.
“We’ve got three great builders in Malcolm Masters, Phillip Miller and Aaron Knauf, plus an apprentice Sam Town and our administrator Sara Eden,” he says. “Mal is very experienced and has picked up a few awards in his time. The others come with good experience too and together we have a great work ethic.”
Isiah himself brings a heap of know-how to the Pzazz team, which is based at Oropuriri Road, Waiwhakaiho. After qualifying as a carpenter, he continued his professional development by completing his national certificates in advanced carpentry, construction leading hand, construction supervision and business first-line management. He also spent eight years as a soldier and was among the New Zealand Army’s first rotation to East Timor in 1999.
Just a couple of months before the East Timor trip Isiah had a double stroke of luck, winning a horse racing bet that led to him meeting his wife Coral.
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“I was out for the evening with friends and got lucky with a $35 win,” he recalls. “If my horse had lost I would have just gone home for the evening.”
But Isiah was glad he stayed out when he caught the eye of Coral, who herself was on a blind date.
“Her date wasn’t going great and she fancied me instead,” says Isiah. “And the rest as they say is history.”
A former Spotswood College student, Isiah returned to Taranaki three years ago, taking up the reins at Pzazz following a spell in the South Island managing commercial construction projects. He and Coral now have three boys, William, 12, Jeremiah, 4, and Gus, 3, and two girls, Jordan, 11 and Eve, 7. A sixth child is due in the autumn.
With a house full of kids and a thriving business, and a lifelong commitment to the Christian faith, life is all go for Isiah Reynolds. And he is loving it.
If you’re considering a renovation, extension or new build – and you’d like a sprinkling of pzazz on top – then give him a call.
All Pzazz Building Taranaki projects come with Pzazz's exclusive Peace of Mind Guarantee and the option of a 10-year Master Builders Guarantee for your complete confidence.
5 ways we can give you a helping hand
If you’re talking to anyone else about your home renovation or extension plans, do yourself a favour. Ask them if they offer everything you see at right – the Pzazz Building 5-step Renovation Process.
If you’re thinking about a relatively extensive renovation, it would also pay you to ask them if they offer 3D Design or 3D Video Walkthroughs so you can truly experience the completed project and make any adjustments to your plans before your project gets started.
It all starts with our In Home Consultation where you will find out if your ideas are feasible, if you need a permit and what the best solutions are.
Where we do it:
