Happy New Year! We here at Structure Wise Ltd wish you all a good and fulfilling year ahead.

What will this year bring? In Canterbury, we are still looking forwards to the rebuild of Christchurch, and safer soils on which to live. I love this area that we live in. Possible the parts that make it so interesting are indeed also the areas of a faultline – discovered and undiscovered. From mountains to sea, it appears we have many.

The positive things that can come out of these earthquakes (or events as they are now called) is the research that is going on to find ways of safe construction. I haven’t as yet been in to the city centre, where the shipping containers have been utilised, but what a fantastic plan to use them. Temporary, or long-term, they are visually funky, it’s better than them floating around our seas (our eastern shores even now sadly), and makes for safe areas to be in. I love the way it has become a way to continue without a phenomenal use of $$ when there is  no plan as yet how to actually go ahead. My heart truly goes out to business owners that are trying to keep going in very trying conditions. The continual quakes must be disruptive at best, to say nothing of frayed nerves. We do think of you in there and you are not forgotton about at all.

I have thought alot about different ones having to move as they have been red zoned, and their heartache at having to leave a place they called home. Perhaps it can give us a greater understanding of people that have had to shift because of suddenly being in violent war zones, to have a safer life. But even knowing that, makes it no easier that is for sure. It’s abit like being made redundant. Suddenly the job you love is being taken away from you, and there is no real choice in this matter. There is grief, and perhaps a glimmer of something new on the horizon that you may not have thought of until now, but this has happened and it is now there. When my husband and I went through redundancy,( twice I might add!), the first time was scarey, disappointing, and alot of sorrow. The second time, we looked for new opportunities, and they have been exciting, challenging and eventually rewarding. So, can I very respectfully say, it’s not the end for you. I think there will be fabulous stories that emerge, and I hope yours will be one of them. I would love to hear them. We often get the ‘get rich quick’ stories, but they don’t give human nature a good boost. They don’t challenge or inspire. I read an article once with a quote that said “Is it nobler to to stretch forth your hand to strike and to wound, or to administer Healing?” I love this. It gave me reason to pause, because in all that we do we have this choice to make. Out of hardship, comes stories that administer healing because they give hope. The ‘other’ stories I mentioned, can actually wound the soul. So don’t give up you amazing Cantabrians, keep going. We like the imagery of the Canterbury Crusaders, nobly going into battle. Well it is now the catch cry for us all – to be Noble in what we do for the good of others and ourselves. It is a crusade to be sure.

While metal buildings are incredibly hard wearing and durable, there is a misconception that they require no maintenance. The fact is while maintenance is low, there is some. This will not only have your metal building looking good cosmetically, it will also ensure the warranty on the product is in place.

This is perhaps not something that is well known, but manufacturers do stipulate regular washing down of the buildings to avoid corroding, pitting and discolouration. If you are in severe marine, geothermal or industrial areas, corrosion risk is much higher.

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It is with such sadness that Canterbury and Christchurch has suffered such loss – lives especially – and buildings as well. These events over the past 7 months now have given us much to think about.

I live in a home made of Steel and Colorsteel cladding, with plywood timber interior and concrete floor. While I also live on very stoney ground, I was only 2.5km from the big one in September of last year. My home has not suffered structural damage at all, and only one small crack line in the floor – and where it’s not a high foot traffic area though either. That morning , as we were rudely shaken awake, it did indeed sound as though the house was coming down. But as daylight came around eventually, sure enough she was standing just as strong – unbuckled, not bent, and not tumbling down – anywhere. Read more

How far has concrete come in its use as a construction material!

No longer is it just the basic concrete slab. It’s use in walls (and even roofing), is becoming more widespread and sought after. The desire for low maintenance and highly durable products that just keep looking better and better over time is getting more and more. Why? Lot’s of reasons, but probably the main ones that stand out would be: Read more

In a world that is looking for product that is sustainable and recyclable, Steel hits the nail on the head beautifully. Metal shed and building construction with steel framing and steel cladding, is proving to have a low environmental footprint. Manufacturing of Steel takes in and reuses large amounts of scrap steel  – typically as much as they can get, because reprocessing scrap steel requires less energy than making new steel.

Sustainability is great because steel is a durable product and used mainly in quite long life products. Metal and specifically Steel Cladding, can both be reused in its same form and more importantly, recycled into product indistinguishable from the original, but totally undegraded, and therefore capable of being recycled indefinitely.

Steel Cladding, which is generally unmixed with anything other than metal coating and paint, and has thin sections, is easy to recycle. It is a product that can be utilised whether old or new for projects big and small.

Structure Wise Ltd are proud to use NZ made steel products for their sheds. Not only supporting the NZ economy, but caring for the NZ environment, and working with the NZ landscape and conditions. Steel Buildings are durable, and have a vast scope for their use. Structure Wise are designers and Builders of high quality Industrial, Commercial and Farm and Lifestyle buildings of all types, turning their clients dreams into reality, and keeping it sustainable.