Not only do does this building supply yard have the essentials for residential, lifestyle blockers…read moreand commercial building projects, they are avid supporters of their local community. We heard all about the All-American Soap Box Derby held at local Whenuapai School, what an awesome event and what a great cause for this company to sponsor. A work colleague is getting his fencing done at the moment and has used them for this work, he's very satisfied. This company has been in business for over 65 years, so they know a thing or two about their timber products. Their yard has a huge range of different sizes and grades of wooden planks and posts for any project and all the advice to go with it. I usually leave these visits up to husband since I don't know much about timber yards, but this seems like a great place to start if you live local to Whenuapai.

This place is a solid reliable hardware, plant and timber store to buy generic items. They stock an…read moreok range of everything you need for DIY and have an average cafe. The range is sometimes a bit limited, for instance the power tools and the staff often don't know anything about the products. I have an account here and often times the discounted price is less than 1% off. I prefer shopping at Mitre 10 as this store is pretty good as far as Bunnings go but still not as clean and organised as Mitre 10. The returns policy is well implemented here, they don't even ask you why you are returning anything!

Having neither the inclination nor the equipment (after the lawn mowers recent sad demise) to do…read morethe lawns ourselves, my partner and I decided to branch out and try Green Acres Home Cleaning services. At at a reasonable fee of $20 a fortnight for a decent mow and edging, the lawn was looking awesome. There really is nothing better than the smell of freshly cut grass! The regular guy who turns up to do it is friendly and chatty (though not too chatty). Green Acres also offers home cleaning services (as per their name) , repairs and renovation, car and pool valet all at great prices. The thing about this company is the people it hires, if you have strangers inside your house around your precious things you need to be able to make sure their not going to make off with your god silverware, thankfully Green Acres thoroughly vets all their employees so you don't need to worry.

One man's junk is another's treasure, literally at a demo yard…read more Thank goodness this place exists when we renovated our garden studio for eldest teenager to move into we had some rotten windows to replace. That's where the Demo Yard came in handy because we were able to source matching windows from here at a fraction of the cost of new. After a scrape and paint, they came out looking like new and working a treat in the renovated space. These guys have stacks and stacks of recycled buildings supplies, windows, doors, planks of wood, fittings for bathrooms including bathtubs, or kitchens including the sink, right through to landscaping like garden tiles or fencing, you name it they might just have it. They'll also take your old stuff, even demo an old structure.

SD Aluminium specializes in premium aluminium extrusions, including systems for construction,…read moreindustrial manufacturing, and home projects. Their extensive product range covers T-slot and balustrade systems, sheets, panels, and custom options to meet diverse project needs. The company focuses on quality and innovation, employing advanced technology and strict quality controls to ensure reliable, aesthetically appealing solutions. Customers can explore SD Aluminium's catalog to find the right extrusion products tailored for their needs.

My home is near perfect, and it is laid out just the way I like it, but apparently babies prefer…read morecarpets to shiny wooden floorboards. Plus the Auckland winters and a carpet free lounge also don't mix... But these are just facts my wife provided me, as she elbowed me in the ribcage as I rushed to go play golf. So on my way to the club, I decided it would be the right thing to do, and I made a slight detour to stop at Flooring Xtra in Albany. The only reason I knew about them in the first place, is because they are opposite the golf shop. The shop doesn't look like much from street level, but once you're inside, it is filled with samples and off cuts for you to feel and look at. The staff seems well informed, and the prices appeared reasonable. It is a good place to get valuable information about carpeting or any flooring issues you might have. In the end I decided on getting a cheap rug; this way my son can do with it as he likes, and we can put it away in the summer.

Three Brothers is definitely one of the best hardware shops in Auckland, primarily because it has…read morea big range of items, many of them not kept in stock by the big chains (e.g they have a big range of coloured Hardi-Glaze), and all priced very well. Their prices are generally 10% or so cheaper than other places. They also have a stock of off cuts, which can be good for those fiddly little jobs where you just need a small amount of wood. The one thing that always drives me a bit nuts here is that they won't cut wood for you while you wait; you have to book it in. That can be a pain if you're not working or living nearby, especially if you want to go and look at things first rather than just make a phone order. They also sell a big range of mistints/end of line paints imported from America at ridiculously cheap prices.

Stripping wallpaper is not the most enjoyable job around but thanks to Hirepool and their…read morecommercial-strength wallpaper steamer, the time absolutely flew by. Also, their staff - well, at least the ones I dealt with - were fantastic, both on the phone and in person providing tips and carry the equipment to my car. Did I mention they have a drive-through - so so great! Oh and they also have half-day prices if you want to hire for less than 4 hours.