Builder Wade Harris from Harris Construct always chooses Terracotta roof tiles from Monier Roofing because he believes in using only the best building materials for his projects.
Builders working in the suburbs on various worksites often get to view a variety of before-and-after projects, and see opportunities that others don’t. Harris is one such builder – he not only operates his own successful building business but also works with his father Terry in a few extra development projects.
“It's actually a bit of a family collaboration,” explains Harris. “My father has been a developer-builder for 35 years, and I'm a builder as well. I do a lot of work for clients such as building homes and townhouses.”
“These additional projects are a joint venture, with my father basically as the developer, and me as the builder.”
Working in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, the father and son have now completed four development projects, including a three-homes-in-one project in Mont Albert North. This project involved knocking down the existing house on the property, subdividing it and building a new home at the front, with two connected duplexes at the rear.
As a small-scale developer, Harris understands the advantages of personally being involved in every aspect of the project from design to execution while ensuring it meets the current market demands, especially at the prestige end.
7 Star energy ratings
Energy efficiency has been prioritised throughout the build – all three homes are Seven Star energy rated and include in-slab hydronic heating, a much-in-demand addition to new homes in Melbourne, which is known for its extreme temperatures.
“It’s unlike Queensland where it’s more consistent and high temps stay at 35 – they don't really have days over 40, whereas we do,” he explains. “We get much more extreme weather in Melbourne than other parts of Australia, so that's where the energy rating really makes a difference.”
“The minimum energy rating you’ve got is six stars, which is probably 95% of houses, but we’ve done seven. It doesn’t sound like a lot, one star, but it does make quite a significant difference in terms of heating and cooling your home. It’s almost 25% better.”
Quality for the roof
This attention to detail as well as focus on quality extends to the material choices Harris has made for the new homes, including the roof tiles. The choice of roof tiles was an important consideration to the overall project – in addition to the quality aspect, the roof tiles had a major bearing on the exterior aesthetic.
They chose the Terracotta Nullarbor roof tiles in Titan, a rich charcoal tone that contrasts strongly with the white façade.
“We chose those tiles because they’re Terracotta, which are the best tiles you can buy, basically. And we wanted a flat profile that’s got that slate look.”
Combined with A-line ridging, the tiles give the new building a streamlined and contemporary look. The Terracotta tiles won’t fade, ensuring that the strong contrast on the home’s exterior will last well into the future.
