Pictures on the right are of our home extension which we have been working on for the last 3 years. We realize the scale of upheaval required to renovate and extend so we try our hardest to make the process as painless as possible.
I began by helping my husband, Brenton, on the weekend by cleaning out his plaster buckets and keeping him company. Although a supervisor at the time, he was doing 55mm plasterboard cornices on flats and units. After a few times I asked if I could try and within 12 months I had commandeered his ute, scaffold and tools and was working for myself, fixing cornice, full time.
That was 13 years ago. I worked with him for about 5 years and then I branched out, with an assistant. This was the most economic way of working when doing the sub-contract type of work that we were engaged in at the time. We started contracting directly to builders and home owners which is more demanding but also more interesting work. I obtained a builders licence in my own right and worked in partnership with Brenton. I enjoy being able to communicate directly with clients to ascertain exactly what they want rather than dealing with a middle man. This avoids frustration for our clients.
In June, 2000 I worked as Production Manager for Ornamental Plasterworks, where I was able to gain many insights into the production of fibrous plaster products. I also discovered the vast range of products available throughout the industry. I worked there for about 12 months but realized my true passion was for seeing the work through to the finished article and teaching others who feel likeminded about taking pride in their work.
For the last 5 years I have completed the work with the help of our team, which now includes Jarred Brown and Dale Reid. After 30 years in the building industry Brenton had to give up working on the tools due to emphysema, which he got from the combination of smoking and dust. He looks after all the bookwork which includes taxation, accounts and working out quotes, job scheduling and material delivery.
I have always been keenly interested in the more decorative aspects of our trade like fibrous plaster cornices, ceiling roses, arch decorations, columns etc. We worked in conjunction with Norwood Fibrous Plasterworks, who supplied the components, to win an award of excellence at the annual Building Trades Awards of Excellence 2002. The columns in the last picture were fabricated from straight sections to match the pilasters, which were a stock item, shown in the first photograph.
In 2004 we completed Moorish
arches, designed by Brenton, for the fit out of
Zelij
Moroccan Interiors on Magil Rd. It involved the construction of a
timber stud partition wall and the forming of 3 Moorish (Arabic) arches which
Lois decorated with a pattern that she designed, moulded and produced. It also
won an award of excellence at the annual Building Trades Awards for 2004.
