Built to last
BayBuilt is a multi-generational building company run by Zak Read and his two sons, Cruz and Zeth. Zak brings over 25 years of experience to every project, including building Homestar and Passive House certified homes.
We're hands-on from the first conversation to the final handover. We keep you informed, work through the challenges as they come up, and do the job properly, on every project.
We build new homes, renovate existing ones, and specialise in small homes, cabins, and granny flats.
We also build decks, retaining walls, outdoor shelters, and landscaping throughout the Wellington region. And we're supplier and specialist installers of Chartek shou sugi ban charred timber cladding.
We're based in Titahi Bay, Porirua.
NEW BUILDS
Building from the ground up means real freedom — and real constraints. We view a challenging site or a tight budget as a puzzle to solve, and we enjoy the process of solving it with you. We're happy to recommend a great architect or work with one you've already got.
Renovations
Renovations are rarely straightforward, and we know that. Open up a wall and you'll often find a different story to what was on paper, so we stay in close contact throughout, let you know what we find, and work through the options with you before moving forward.
small homes & cabins
Small homes and cabins are full of the right kind of challenges — intelligent design, functional space, and features that make every square metre work hard.
We've built on particularly challenging sites, in backyards, and on bush blocks, and we're good at finding solutions that feel obvious in hindsight. Most things are possible with clear expectations and good communication from the start.
OUTDOOR SPACES & Landscaping
We help you figure out what's possible and practical, and we're happy to work from a landscape architect's plans or your own sketch on the back of an envelope.
We build decks, retaining walls, garden beds, outdoor shelters and storage sheds — and we've even built a sauna or two, complete with outdoor shower and plunge pool.
shou sugi ban CHARRED CLADDING
We're proud suppliers and specialist installers of Chartek cladding — a fireproof system built on the ancient Japanese tradition of charred timber, known as shou sugi ban or yakisugi.
The charring process dramatically enhances the timber's durability, making it one of the most weather-resistant cladding options available. It also looks exceptional. We can install it on exteriors and interiors, and it works particularly well on homes where you’d like to make a quiet statement.