Appleton Builders is a Christchurch-based building and renovation company run by Toby Appleton, a Licensed Building Practitioner with a background in joinery. That joinery training gives Toby a distinctive eye for the finishing details that separate a competent build from a genuinely well-crafted one — something he credits as the main point of difference in his work.
Toby started the business because he wanted to work on quality projects and deal directly with clients from start to finish. He and his team manage the whole project and are known for turning up when they say they will, quoting carefully, and delivering tidy, professional results. Clients consistently note his attention to detail and clear communication throughout the build process.
The work spans a wide range across residential construction: bathroom and laundry renovations, custom kitchen doors and panels, home extensions and alterations, outdoor living spaces, decking, pergolas, and bespoke custom builds. Past projects include a Lyttelton grandad flat fitted out from a bare steel shell with kitchen, bathroom, and a Kwila deck overlooking the harbour; an Americana-style man cave conversion with macrocarpa cladding and a custom macrocarpa and wrought iron bar leaner; a Lyttelton bathroom renovation with underfloor heating, tiled shower, and a site-built custom vanity; bi-fold door and Kwila deck installations; and public pergola installations contracted through Morgan and Pollard Landscapes. Appleton Builders is also experienced in smaller-scale work including wardrobe fit-outs, kitchen refreshes, and integrated bathroom-laundry designs.
Projects are quoted individually. Contact Toby directly on 027 310 7334 for a consultation.
Appleton Builders is a Christchurch-based building and renovation company led by Toby Appleton, a Licensed Building Practitioner whose background in joinery shapes the way he approaches every project. Toby started his own business with a clear purpose: to work on quality projects and deal directly with his clients — without the layers of subcontracting and hand-offs that can erode both quality and communication.
The business has grown through a mix of residential homeowner work and contracted projects for building and landscaping companies. Past clients include Morgan and Pollard Landscapes, who engaged Toby to manage a technically complex outdoor living project, and Eurotech Windows and Doors, who list Appleton Builders as a preferred installer of their bi-fold door systems.
Toby is direct about where he believes the difference lies: "I think it is the finishing details which make the difference between me and the next person." That precision shows up across the portfolio. A Lyttelton bathroom renovation included tiled floors with underfloor heating, a site-built custom vanity matched to a client's drawing, tiled shower walls with custom glass surrounds, and bi-folding doors to enclose the laundry area. A grandad flat in Lyttelton was taken from a bare steel shell to a fully fitted modern flat — kitchen, bathroom, and a wraparound Kwila deck with panoramic harbour views. A man cave conversion used locally sourced kiln-dried macrocarpa cladding, CD plywood ceiling, and a custom macrocarpa and wrought iron bar leaner, with full power, plumbing, heating, and internet installed throughout.
This range — from fine joinery detail through to structural builds — is unusual for a small building firm, and it's backed by an LBP licence that allows Toby and his team to carry out restricted building work on residential projects.
Appleton Builders' formal service list covers bathroom renovations, laundry renovations, custom kitchen doors and panels, home extensions and alterations, outdoor living spaces, decking, bi-fold door installation, and pergola construction. But the project portfolio reflects a wider scope: grandad flats and self-contained units, wardrobe fit-outs, alcove makeovers, garage conversions, and bespoke custom builds.
For kitchen refreshes in particular, Appleton Builders offers a practical alternative to full remodels: replacing the doors, drawers, and panels to make a kitchen look new without the cost and disruption of gutting the entire space — a project they documented in a case study from Arthur's Pass.
Clients consistently note three things: Toby turns up when he says he will, his quotes are careful and transparent, and the finished result is tidy and professional. A free consultation is offered to discuss plans before any commitment is made. Contact Toby on 027 310 7334 to get started.