‘Original condition” is a jaded euphemism in the property world. But it’s the best way to describe the Casebrook, Christchurch property purchased by Billy Bates and business partner Tiaan Kilian as a do-up in October last year.

The pair were looking for a place that was structurally sound where they could hone their reno skills. This would prove ideal and make the pair a tidy profit in the process.

They are both tradies (Bates a registered drainlayer and Kilian an electrician) so they had a head start on many new renovators. But there were plenty of skills that they learned on the job, and that was one of the aims of this project.

The two-bedroom, one bathroom home was owner-occupied, but hadn’t had any TLC for decades. The pair purchased it for $327,000 (a reasonable price for this area of Christchurch) and settled on October 1. It would take only five weeks to refresh and renew the dated interiors and exteriors of the home, and bring it into the 21st century.

Six Steps To Establishing A Perfect Lawn

The lawn was a nightmare in this month’s renovation. Here are some tips for success.

1 CLEAR: A successful lawn needs a great base. This base will typically be clay or gravel on larger site developments, but otherwise topsoil if rejuvenating an existing lawn. In the cases of a gravel or clay base this surface should be at least 15cm below the final surface to allow for topsoil. In the case of rejuvenating an existing lawn, the site should be clear of growth by using a broad spectrum weedkiller.

2 PREPARE: Most seed suppliers recommend at least 15cm of quality, screened topsoil as a medium for growing grass. This will typically be laid over a compacted base. If rejuvenating an existing lawn, the topsoil should be tilled or rotovated to this depth. This is much easier to do when the soil is damp! Sterile compost and other soil conditioners can be worked in at this point to give your lawn a boost.

3 LEVEL: The loose topsoil needs to be raked, worked and rolled to create a flat, firm (but not hard) surface. If you’ve tilled existing topsoil in place rather than using screened topsoil, it can take some work to break up larger clumps and create a fine, flat surface.

4 LAY OR SOW: Apply a lawn-starter fertiliser to give your lawn the best start. If using a ready lawn type product, this can be rolled out according to the supplier’s instructions. If growing from seed, sow the seed according to the supplier’s directions, paying attention to getting an even distribution. Cover the seed with a fine layer of quality topsoil and roll.

5 WATER: Regular, even watering will result in good seed germination, or establishment of rolled lawn. Be careful not to water too heavily as this can prevent seed germination and inhibit growth.

6 MOW: Use a mower with a sharp blade and a catcher! Undertake the first mow once the grass is around 10cm in height, with the mower on a high setting; this will allow your grass to build strength and resilience. Gradually reduce the height over the following weeks.

Full Interior Makeover

Built in the 1970s, the home had undergone architectural intervention after a fire in the 1980s. It had sloped roofs and a certain charm, but needed to be freshened up significantly.

One of the key issues was makeshift seating that had been added after the fire in the living area. “We wanted to remove this seating, but we found bearers underneath, which were supporting the bay underneath them.

We found a welder to create a bracket to put under the window, then we were able to remove the seats,” says Bates.

“This brought a lot of room back to the interior space.”

While most of the interiors would remain the same, there was a wall in the living room that they had intended to remove. This plan was scuppered after it was discovered it was a load bearing wall. “We didn’t want to have to do anything that would require council consent,” says Bates.

The full makeover of the interiors would include ripping up all the existing flooring, changing wall colours, and replacing the kitchen and bathroom. The kitchen was a dated mess, with an ugly lime benchtop and dark, dreary cabinetry.

“With the help of Vision Kitchens, we got good deals from Harvey Norman and Trade Depot,” Bates explains.

The new kitchen is sleek and modern, with white splashback tiles and white cabinetry with silver handles. Dismal cork flooring has been replaced by grey, wood-look vinyl, which brings a sense of light and space to the area.

‘We didn’t want to have to do anything that would require council consent’ BILLY BATES

The bathroom was also an issue, with dirty red tiles on the vanity, and old cabinets. The pair managed to resurrect the original shub, and added a glass screen from Trade Depot. A new toilet was added, and a new vanity with two sinks and a wide mirror (also from Trade Depot).

Kilian’s electrical skills came in handy when it came to putting new lighting throughout the entire house. The existing lighting ranged from stained glass lightshades, to odd, 1980s-esque upward-tilted lamps. Set into the ceiling, the new downlights add to the sense of sleek, clean modernism.

Adding A Room

The home came with a garage and the pair saw the opportunity to turn this into an extra living space. They had the concrete stained and added carpet, and the existing sink and bench have created a nice sleepout or office space, adding value at a minimal cost.

Outside, there was a reasonable section, but they discovered that rabbits had been at work digging potholes in the lawn. It had to be dug out, and ready lawn laid to create a useable outside space. The roof was repainted: “We had a friend with a cherry picker, so we were able to get up to the roof, which was painted black. We hired a painter to do the exteriors and interiors as well, which was the main expense, at around $15,000.”

A Learning Curve

By early November, the renovation was complete. The pair had a $45,000 budget, but ended up going over by $6,000. The property sold within three weeks of being listed, at $445,000. This budget overrun wasn’t a major concern.

“Our main focus of this was to learn,” says Bates. And they did. Bates explains that they learned the importance of process, how to arrange tradies to be at the right place at the right time, and how vital the small details can be.

“There was a debacle with doors. When we laid the carpet, the doors were too tight to open and close. So, we had to take them down and plane them, then put them up again.”

But overall, the process was a success. “We learned so much, and we achieved our goals,” says Bates.