From Apprentice to Award-Winning Builder | Alex Caddick
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From Apprentice to Award-Winning Builder | Alex Caddick
In this episode, David chats with Alex Caddick, co-director of Design Builders Canterbury, about the evolving world of residential construction. Alex shares his journey from helping his dad on job sites as a kid to leading a high-performing design-build business today. They explore the power of bespoke homes, why Alex avoids cookie-cutter designs, and how leveraging AI and national supplier agreements is helping deliver dream homes at smarter prices. From dealing with tricky hill sites to mentoring the next generation of tradespeople, this conversation offers a rare look at what it really takes to build homes that stand out—and last. Whether you're thinking of building, buying, or just love good design, this episode is packed with real insights from the ground up.
Alex Caddick takes us through his journey from site helper at age five to co-director of Design Builders Canterbury. Coming from generations of tradesmen, he completed his apprenticeship in just 2.5 years and now leads a business focused on bespoke residential homes.
What differentiates Design Builders is their joint venture model, giving them tier-one national supply agreements while maintaining regional autonomy. Alex emphasises their commitment to quality and one-off designs rather than cookie-cutter homes, describing how their show home serves as a benchmark without being replicated.
He's embracing AI to streamline processes, using it to QS projects alongside manual calculations—potentially saving 3-4 hours per task. Alex stresses the value of face-to-face client-contractor relationships in achieving superior builds.
On hill sites, Alex highlights hidden challenges, noting volcanic rock identification from his geology studies and how clever design can save hundreds of thousands in groundworks.
Alex believes now is an optimal time to build, with material costs down significantly (timber prices halved) and contractors delivering exceptional quality. His advice: "With a good broker, open mind and willingness to take an uncomfortable step into design-build, you'll create something truly unique—how often can people say there's no other house like this in New Zealand?"
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