SALTWOOD build

Having been very satisfied with a smaller job Saltwood Build did for me in early 2020 on my roof and eaves, I had them undertake a full bathroom reno for me last spring (2024!) On the whole, I was once again very satisfied with both process and outcome. Mine was a small, awkward, rectangular, pretty grim bathroom/laundry/toilet, and it was hard for me to conceive how it could possibly be transformed into a pleasant and functional space. But Renee and her colleagues at Saltwood absolutely nailed the design, opening my eyes in a truly impressive way. In particular, I couldn’t have envisaged that so much functional storage could have been built in, taking pressure off the rest of my little house. Having only the one bathroom OTOH but limited accom alternatives OTOH, I was around during the work about 50% of the time, especially but not only over weekends. I got very used the guys being around and they were very tolerant of me in turn. Mostly in charge day-to-day was Lee, a delight to deal with and an object lesson in keeping tools and materials really tidy despite a cramped working space. Also, communication about the progress of the project, mainly through Renee, was clear, sufficient and courteous throughout. As part of the reno, underfloor heating and heated towel rails supplied by Hotwire Heating were installed. One year on, the equipment is working well. While I very seldom turn on the towel rails, they are a nice luxury to have in case of having a house guest. The underfloor heating has helped keep the bathroom clean and dry, and kept me free of winter chilblains for the first time in many years! (I do still find the thermostat controls challenging though – the GUI is far from intuitive, the written instructions are scant and in tiny font, and the online videos, while helpful, still seem to omit things I’d like to know. However, I note that the GUI at least has evidently been re-designed recently, with the current version looking much more user-friendly.) But the process of reaching this point was tortuous indeed. On 19 Dec last year (2024), Jamie the electrician was at my place four hours, but seemed to spend way too much of that time on evidently personal phone calls. I do know from experience that people are generally doing their best work even when it doesn’t look that way – so all I’m saying here is that it didn’t really look that way to me on the day, nothing more. Then it turned out that the heated towel rails didn’t work – they simply didn’t heat up when turned on, no matter whether in pre-programmed or manual mode. Jamie came to investigate and said there was nothing wrong with the thermostat electrically and it was just that neither Lee nor I could program it - and he couldn’t either! When I pointed out that the rails didn’t heat up when Lee turned them on in manual mode, he replied “LEE IS NOT AN ELECTRICIAN”. But really, you don’t have to be a qualified sparky to know the difference between off and on ... Anyway, both Saltwood and Hotwire accepted that there really was some fault in the thermostat, and I was impressed that Hotwire then replaced it under the guarantee promptly and without fuss. In fact, Hotwire ended up replacing the replacement. That was probably an unnecessary step – long story – but, importantly, both entities took full responsibility for making sure everything worked for me in the end. But there was just one unwelcome surprise left – a large difference between the pre-paid contractual provision for the electricals and the amount I was ultimately charged (a 58.5% mark-up). There was no explanation for this, so it disappointed me that the provision hadn’t been more adequate in the first place. Building projects are always complex, and I think there would be few if any with which a customer would ever be entirely satisfied. So, while noting that my experience of the electrical aspects wasn’t entirely satisfactory, I would still warmly recommend Saltwood Build for any project of this kind.

Saltwood Build transformed our bathroom into a space that exceeded our expectations. The quality is exceptional, with every detail completed to a high standard and their communication was clear and consistent from start to finish. The team was professional, dependable and genuinely easy to work with, making the whole process seamless. We are absolutely thrilled with the result and would recommend them without hesitation to anyone seeking a premium renovation.

Saltwood Build designed and built a new kitchen and deck area at my 1970s Spanish Mission style house. The work involved demolishing walls and opening up a couple of small rooms into one stylish open plan kitchen/dining space and cutting out an amazing arched window embracing the bushland setting. A door was cut into a solid brick wall creating access to a new deck/alfresco dining area. I love how the kitchen is quietly contemporary but still references the style of the house itself. It has become such a happy place for my mob to gather. The Saltwood Build team were terrific - everybody very professional and highly skilled with all work completed to a very high standard and on time. Given the quirkiness of the old house, there were challenges along the way which the team took in their stride. I can highly recommend Saltwood Build!

Saltwood Build performed extensive renovations on my house in 2022. They were supportive and worked to incorporate my design ideas into the build with my budget in mind. The communication right through the build was exceptional and I never felt in the dark in regards to progress or timelines. Minimal issues arose and those that did were dealt with promptly. I am incredibly happy with the end result and would recommend Saltwood Build to anyone looking to build or renovate with quality in mind.