Greg's and Toni's company, Timber Construction Solutions Ltd (TCS), sources product from a number of New Zealand timber manufacturers for the customised and prefabricated buildings they design, manufacture and export for resort and housing developments, mainly in the South Pacific and Asia. 

"Outside of New Zealand we are seeing a huge drive for sustainability," Greg says. "New Zealand radiata pine is seen in international markets as a very sustainable building material compared to concrete, bricks and steel."

Timber and glass are emerging as materials of preference for a new generation of architects and developers across Asia.

"These materials are not just sustainable. They deliver the more Western look architects want, plus you can build quickly with timber. That's important as labour costs start to rise."

Resort development has slowed since the global financial crisis started in 2008, Greg says, but other large scale projects have emerged.

"We're currently involved in developing several hundred houses in the Solomon Islands, for example, for the Australian government aid agency, AusAid. They're all built of New Zealand treated pine."

The selection of the pine weatherboards for Greg's and Toni's Karaka build was not difficult, Greg says.

"I don't like fibre cement. I don't like the finish, the way it is fixed, and I have questions about its longevity. I like timber, but I know that radiata pine is an unstable timber. The more care that is taken in the preparation, the better the performance."

"My experience with Jenkin though is that there is real integrity in the timber preparation. That's why we chose them to supply our weatherboards."

The installed A-lign has lived up to Greg's and Toni's expectations.

"The finish is perfect. Whatever light you see it in, you cannot see one blemish. It just looks fabulous."

For the Jenkin team, Greg's verdict on A-lign is a reassurance that our investment in quality throughout our manufacturing process, is paying off.