Renovations
Hilhorst
In the 1920’s an Architect Thomas Douce embraced concrete as a building material and created a number of iconic houses around Cambridge.
After one hundred years this American styled concrete bungalow needed a new lease of life and some modernisation.
GD Pringle Building decided to work from the top down starting with the removal of the existing leaking concrete tiles on the roof, providing some much-needed insulation and a new bullet proof long run iron roof.
Double glazing was retro fitted into existing openings and recycling salvaged doors and windows were used as new features.
Opening up the internal spaces required extensive engineering to support the concrete structure in order to create more modern and usable spaces and the new layout is worth every penny. Back and front entrance porches step into a reception room that has become the family living room, flowing to a second lounge on one side, dining and kitchen on the other. Doors open from here to a new covered outdoor living area with adjacent patio opening from the sunroom. Where there was previously no outdoor flow, there is now an abundance.
Princes
You know when your client is an interior designer, and wants to retain the home’s charming character you are going to be working on something special.
The much-needed 47m2 extension has given a new lease of life and transformed this cottage, allowing for a large open plan living area with a gas fire and a modern kitchen with a recycled butcher block table as the island unit, stained Matai flooring throughout out tie old and new together. The addition contains a laundry, bathroom, separate toilet and master ensuite.
Carefully consideration was given too re using all existing materials, the extra patterned ceiling sheets were used in the hallway, Internal doors were re used throughout the house and additional doors were salvaged from Demolition Traders as well as some lead light windows used in the toilet.
New double glazed timber joinery was fitted throughout out the house with up graded insulation and ducted under floor heating / cooling system.
Outdoors the portico creates a north facing all-weather outdoor entertainment space and welcoming entrance while retaining its original characteristics.
Dawson
The house was original designed as a one-bedroom detached dwelling that had the garage divided into bed rooms, which was too small for a family of four. We then reconfigured the bedrooms to allow for two new bed rooms opening onto a play room. A new linen/store room allowed for storage that previously wasn’t available, this new space also incorporated a walk-in wardrobe for the master bed room.
The bulk of the new 31.93m2 new floor plan was formed under the existing roof line which had to be supported while load bearing wall were removed. Once the new layout was framed up it formed a larger open plan living area incorporating new kitchen/dining and lounge with polished concrete floors. Extending the roof line to form a large covered deck area allowed for greater indoor/ outdoor flow, maximising the rural view.
The cladding was bevel backed cedar weather boards to match existing. Reusing the existing bricks on a feature wall inside and the outdoor fire place helped tie the extension into the original character of the house.
Why Choose us
GD Pringle Building provides great customer service with exceptional communication and a transparent building process. We strive to achieve your complete satisfaction and to exceed all your expectations from concept throughout completion.
Professional Team
A trade qualified Licensed Building Practitioner will oversee your build. We always have a ratio of one builder to two apprentices on-site, and we ensure all workmanship is held to the highest standard.
Quality
We only work with select subcontractors and suppliers that meet our high standards. To guarantee the overall quality of your project, we scrutinise each stage of the build against our quality control checklist.
Communication
Open communication is paramount throughout your project and after its completion. We will provide you with a 24/7 access to our project management software as well as a daily site log, weekly site summary, weekly onsite meetings and prompt response to any correspondence on time.
Timeline
We will provide a detailed construction timeline at the start of the job and will update it weekly to ensure you know when each stage of the build is happening. If the timeline moves, we will provide you with the new completion dates and the reason for the change in writing.
Fixed Price Contract
Nobody likes unpleasant surprises. For your complete peace of mind, we will provide a detailed scope of works with a fixed price contract, including a breakdown of milestone payments.
Post Completion Care
Once we have completed your new home, we will provide you with the warranties and maintenance information for all the materials and products supplied under our contract. Over the 12 months maintenance period, we will contact you to arrange for three post-care inspections.
Our Partners
SEE WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
It’s all good hearing from us, but it’s our clients that tell the real story. Read some of our testimonials below and if you would like to speak to a previous client just reach out and we will put you in touch.
“We recently completed a major renovation project with GD Pringle Building, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the results.”
“When we bought our house five years ago, it was a bit of an ugly duckling, but we saw its potential. We knew it would be a significant undertaking, but the final result is truly amazing—our home is now a beautiful space.
Our vision for the house was to update it while preserving its character. We didn’t want it to lose its charm, and George from GD Pringle Building shared our vision perfectly. The project involved a lot of decision-making on the fly, especially with integrating new features that matched the original look.
The roof was a major component, and there was quite a bit of engineering involved upstairs. We removed a few walls, replaced some old structures, and the result is a home that’s not only functional but also warm and flowing beautifully.
It’s always a pleasure to show guests around and point out how some parts are new while others are original—no one can tell the difference. The whole process was smooth and transparent, and George kept us well-informed throughout. It turned out just as we had imagined, which is a fantastic bonus.
Overall, working with GD Pringle Building has been a wonderful experience, and we’re extremely happy with how everything turned out.”
– Wendy and Bernard
“We highly recommend George Pringle and his team for anyone looking to undertake a renovation with confidence and ease.”
“We recently completed a significant renovation on our bungalow in Cambridge with GD Pringle Building, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. The project involved a major extension and a full modernisation of the interior, all while maintaining a classic look. What started as a personal renovation project quickly expanded, leading us to bring George and his team on board, and it turned out to be the best decision we could have made.
From the start, working with George and his team was a pleasure. We’ve tackled several property renovations before, but this experience was by far the smoothest. The professionalism and communication were outstanding, and the use of the app to track progress and manage schedules made the process incredibly efficient. Monthly invoicing also helped us manage our budget and cash flow effectively, which was crucial for us.
We appreciated the proactive approach to handling any changes or challenges that arose during the build. George and his team were always open to discussions, ensuring that solutions were reached promptly and minimizing stress throughout the project. This level of cooperation and transparency made it one of the best renovation experiences we’ve had.
The final result is a warm, beautiful home. We highly recommend George Pringle and his team for anyone looking to undertake a renovation with confidence and ease.”
– Jo and Richard
Our Process
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS FROM HERE?
Request a FREE Consultation
The first step is to have a 100% FREE no-obligation consultation with George. Whether you’re just starting to plan or you’re nearly ready to start your build, we can help you out.
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*When you decide to contract GD Pringle to work on your project.
Request a consultation
Our director, George Pringle, will personally conduct the session, which is normally valued at $300. However, we are offering the session FREE to people that are seriously considering building a dream home to help them make informed decisions towards the next step.