Whittle Builders Ltd is located south of Auckland, New Zealand. The company has used LP products for seven years. In its recently completed Hobsonville Point development, Whittle was looking for a framing solution that would provide fast construction time, consistent straightness and better overall finish.

Because Whittle Builders had been pleased with the results of using LP products on more than 50 homes prior to the Hobsonville Point build, the company chose LP® SolidStart® I-Joists for the project. They’re more versatile than open web floor trusses, and more uniform and dimensionally stable than lumber. They can be trimmed on-site, and long lengths allow ceilings and floors to be designed with fewer pieces, saving installation time.

The Hobsonville Point community is about 18km west of Auckland, and its slogan is “moments away, a world apart”. The community is just a short drive from the white sand beaches of Mairangi Bay. In building the homes for Hobsonville Point, Whittle wanted to use the highest quality products to meet the demands of this upscale community.

Company director Aaron Whittle has high praise for the consistency and installation ease of LP SolidStart I-Joists: “The main things I like about the LP SolidStart I-Joists are that they install fast, are light to lift and are consistently straight,” he says. “They’re twice as fast to install as other products and provide better overall finish. They’re easy products to use and offer fast fit times. In my opinion, not using LP SolidStart I-Joists would be a step backwards.”

Bevan Snookes, technical and marketing manager at New Zealand Wood, provided the product to Aaron Whittle and his team.

“LP’s SolidStart I-Joists are the perfect fit for any construction job as they provide a solid, strong base to all projects they are installed on,” says Snookes. “LP SolidStart I-Joists have a proven track record for strength and dimensional accuracy. Their lightweight and simple installation provides builders with a faster install, easier access for penetrations and fewer callbacks. New Zealand Wood Products are proud to be a distributer of LP SolidStart products”