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Ben Ingledew has a background in teaching, but following the Canterbury Earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, he took a new path which eventually lead to Livewel Construction.
Ben originally trained in both design and education, but he left the design side for a while and worked as a primary school teacher. He took the opportunity to travel and spent some time living in Switzerland where he explains “I lived in a nice warm house…that had triple glazing, and we barely heated”. Ben filed that experienced away and carried on teaching. He moved to Christchurch and in 2010 experienced the Canterbury Earthquakes.
Ground Shift
In 2011, after the ground literally shifted for everyone in Canterbury, Ben responded to the sudden demand for builders. In his early forties at the time, Ben signed up for an apprenticeship through BCITO and had no trouble securing a job with a local builder.
Eight years on, Ben is loving it. He loves the active lifestyle, being outside and the daily challenge of practical problem solving.
Livewel Construction
Livewel Construction does building and renovation projects, focusing on energy-efficient, comfortable and healthy homes. To date, much of Ben’s work has been on hillside properties around Christchurch – typically individual, bespoke homes. He would like to make good quality homes available to more people though, including smaller and affordable housing in denser urban areas.
Sustainablility Credentials
Livewel Construction is part of the Superhome Movement and a PHINZ Bronze Supporter. Ben is also a Certified Passive House Tradesperson, which, as he explains, was no small achievement.
Start with Why
Ben’s vision for Livewel is, “It’s not just about building well, it’s about living well within that build”. Ben’s ‘why?’ is to improve the standard of living in New Zealand.
Learning from Education
As with teaching, a successful builder needs good planning, creativity, communication and problem-solving. Ben says that many of his clients expect a high level of communication because they’re educated in what they want. See more of Ben’s philosophy on his Livewel website.
Getting Good Clients
Focusing on good quality, energy-efficient buildings is all well and good, and something that many companies want to do. But it requires good clients who are prepared to invest in the right places. I asked Ben how he goes about getting good clients and he explained that it’s a lot like going to a job interview, back when he was a teacher. In that situation, he always felt that he was interviewing the school as much as they were interviewing him.
It’s the same now with new clients. Ben chooses the clients as much as the clients chose Livewel. “You’ve got to see if it’s going to be a good match”, Ben says. The builder – client relationship is usually at least 12 months long, so it’s important to know that you’re all going to get along.
Bertrand Windows & Doors
Ben understands the importance of high-quality windows and doors for ensuring the good performance of a home. He’s looked back to his previous experience in Europe and has recently started importing Bertrand Windows & Doors.
It’s encouraging that more options are becoming available for high-quality windows and doors made in New Zealand, (ThermaDura and SEDA for example). We also have the option of importing complete windows from Europe where the scale of production offers the potential for significant savings.
Imported windows are not constrained to standard sizes. Manufacturers such as Bertrand offer bespoke fabrication of a range of products, including high performance, triple-glazed windows. If you’re considering a Passive House build, these are likely a worthy (if not necessary) investment.
Live Well with Livewell
Ben’s path has not been without some challenges, but he’s philosophical and very positive. Like the trained teacher he is, Ben has chosen to learn from all the experiences he’s gained.
If you’re interested in living well in a comfortable, healthy home, contact Ben through his website.
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