Metra Panel Speeds Up Construction for Woodlands Resort

Woodlands Resort is a lifestyle village that offers independent living for over-70s in Fielding, Manawatu. Over the past 18 months, the retirement village has undergone a huge expansion, with 37 new two and three-bedroom villas completed in 2019, and a further 13 villas in the final stages of construction. Meeting the tight timeframes of the project meant looking beyond traditional construction methods, with Metra Construction Panels chosen to ensure speedy installation and high performance.

Stew Buchanan, builder and owner of NailingIt Ltd, had used the Metra Construction Panel system in the past and knew that it would help streamline construction of the 50-villa project. “We’d been building with the Metra Panel system for almost two years prior to the retirement village project and we just found it to be a really efficient system,” he says. “It gave us the ability to timeline our jobs more accurately with subcontractors coming on site.”

“The main benefit is speed,” says Stew. With minimal framing required, the 2.45 x 7.35m construction panels are crane lifted to site — reducing labour time and costs and resulting in a much faster installation. Using the Metra Construction Panel system has meant that wall and ceiling installation for each villa takes as little as an afternoon.

“As of August we would have done 50 wall and ceiling stands in less than 18 months,” says Stew. “And that would be more like 16 months if we took out lockdown.”

The panels provide health and safety benefits for Stew’s team. “The truck does the heavy lifting for you, so the system saves our guys from lifting and is good on their joints,” he says. Once installed, the MetraCeiling can be used as a work rated platform, allowing builders and roofers to work on the ceiling without risk of in-fall.

The use of Metra Construction Panels also simplifies the installation of services and furnishings. “It’s a solid panel wall, so there’s no need for timber nogging,” explains Stew. “This means you can screw in fixings wherever you want to.” This will make it easy for additional handrails and other accessible features to be added to the villas in future if needed.

The finished walls and ceilings provide exceptional durability, low maintenance, thermal performance and acoustic benefits, as well as excellent aesthetics. “The level of finish is really high,” says Stew. “It’s a true level 5 finish on the panel, so it’s easier for the painter as the walls are smoother.”

Ultimately, the use of the high-performance Metra Construction Panel system has helped Stew and the NailingIt team make significant time savings on traditional builds. “I work quite closely with the owner of the retirement village and he’s very pleased with the progress,” says Stew. “We’re definitely on target for 18 months so he's very happy — especially with a project of that scale.”

Metra Panel System

Metra Construction Panels

View Product

The Metra Panel System is a house building system based on Metra Panel wall, floor and ceiling panels.

Homestar / Green Star

Lifemark Product Partner

NZ Made

NZ-Owned Business

Metra Panel can be used as a stand-alone product, or complimentary to other systems leveraging a hybrid approach. The system can be used in the following applications:

Residential (according to BRANZ Appraisal 364, single unit (detached) housing which meets the scope of Clause 1.1.2. of NZS 3604).
Transportables (including minor dwellings, baches, traditional farm style cottages, granny flats, classrooms and subdivided properties). In a factory built environment can deliver a 153sqm transportable house in 4-6 weeks.
Commercial (including internal office fit outs and partitioning, modular components such as bathrooms for high rise structures and purpose built factories, storage units and two storey apartment complexes and student accommodation facilities).
Retirement (including individual units, duplexes, multi-storey complexes, communal facilities and hospitals).
Education (including classrooms, gymnasium, scholl facilities adn student accommodation).

In the opinion of BRANZ, the Metra Panel System comprising Metra Panel wall and ceiling panels, and connections if designed, used, installed and maintained in accordance with the statements and conditions of the BRANZ Appraisal 364 (2015), will meet the following provisions of the NZBC: This is an appraisal of an Alternative Solution in terms of the NZBC

Clause B1 Structure: B1.3.1, B1.3.2, B1.3.4 The Metra Panel Construction System meets the requirements for loads arising from self-weight, imposed gravity loads, earthquake, snow and wind (i.e B1.3.3 (a), (b), (f), (g) and (h)). See paragraphs 8.1-8.8
Clause B2 Durability: B2.3.1 (a) not less than 50 years. The Metra Panel Construction System will meet this requirement. See paragraphs 9.1 - 9.3
Clause F2 Hazardous Building Materials: F2.3.1. The Metra Panel Construction System will meet this requirement and will not present a hazard to peoples health. See paragraph 15.1 - 15.3

BRANZ Appraised

Metra Ceilings

Metra Construction Panels

View Product

Compatible with traditional timber framed buildings, MetraCeilings reduce falling-from-height issues in residential construction.

Lifemark Product Partner

NZ Made

NZ-Owned Business

MetraCeiling has been appraised for use as ceilings in timber-framed buildings subject to specific engineering design.
Trusses are the subject of specific engineering design following the information in the Technical Literature.
The safe working platform system comprises of separate panels supported by pre-certified scaffolding posts (props) along the edge and centre of each panel.
Free edges of the panel are attached to existing walls to give rigidity to the platform.
Ceiling panels are installed on the temporary props and fixed on top of the wall framing prior to the installation of roof trusses.
Roof space ventilation should be provided when using MetraCeiling.

Metra Panel Installers are responsible for the quality of the installation of MetraCeiling panels, the building contractor is responsible for the quality of installation of the roof, and the building owner is responsible for the maintenance of MetraCeiling.

MetraCeiling panels
Ceiling straps (CP1), 50x 1.2mm thick galvanised steel
Ceiling clips (CPC40), 60x40x50x 2mm thick galvanised steel right angle bracket
Ceiling U-channels, 600mm x 1.2mm thick galvanised steel
Ceiling square plates, 200x200x 2mm galvanised steel
Connection and fixing screws, adhesive, sealer/primer paint

In the opinion of BRANZ, the MetraCeiling if designed, used, installed and maintained in accordance with the statements and conditions of the BRANZ Appraisal 951 (2017), will meet the following provisions of the NZBC:

Clause B1 Structure: Performance B1.3.1, B1.3.2, B1.3.4. The MetraCeiling meets the requirements for loads arising from self-weight, imposed gravity loads, earthquake, and wind (i.e B1.3.3 (a), (b), (f), and (h)).
Clause B2 Durability: Performance B2.3.1 (a) not less than 50 years. The MetraCeiling will meet this requirement.
Clause F2 Hazardous Building Materials: Performance F2.3.1. MetraCeiling will meet this requirement.

BRANZ Appraised

Categories

Popular Products

Popular Brands

Features

Sections

This Month

Murihiku Marae’s Tohorā-Inspired Design Showcases Techlam's Curved Glulam Beams

Achieve Complex Decking Designs without Budget Blowouts

Electric, Like You've Never Seen Before: Introducing Escea LE Series

SECTIONS

What Shading is Needed for Summer Cooling?

The Relationship Between E1 and E2

What Happens When a Warm Roof System with PIR Insulation Catches Fire?