ABSTRACT FLOORS

Down to the ground

For Andy Crompton of Abstract Floors, living, working and serving our local community is a long-held dream come true that suits his family through and through.

WORDS MONIQUE BALVERT O’CONNOR / PHOTOS SALINA GALVAN

It’s been a busy start to the year for Andy Crompton, who has moved his business and family – including wife Alicia and their daughters Mia (2) and newborn Francesca – from Auckland to Papamoa. Busy times, yes, but a great decision, says the craftsman and owner of timber floor sanding and installation company Abstract Floors.

A qualified builder by trade, Andy made the decision a few years ago to specialise in one area of construction – and he chose flooring. He was keen to be involved in a “finishing” aspect of the building process, as opposed to the knocking-up-frames stages, for example.

“It may not be perceived as a glamorous trade, but it’s rewarding and I’ve developed a real passion for it,” he says. “My background in building brings a wider skill set to my clients, and specialising in timber flooring suits the attention-todetail aspect of my personality.”

The core focus of Andy’s bespoke business is sanding and finishing both new and existing timber floors. From contemporary homes to 100-year-old

villas, the Abstract Floors team has beautified them all. They also install timber flooring and can supply the product, specialising in the supply of traditional, long-length, tongue-andgroove strip flooring. The wide range of timber Andy can source includes New Zealand natives, Australian hardwoods, solid and engineered oak, to name a few.

Abstract Floors uses only the highest quality finishes, including natural oils, hard wax oils and low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) water-based polyurethanes. Unique looks can be achieved with coloured oils, stains and tinted finishes; custom colours are mixed in-house. Free quotes and colour sampling are part of the service.

It’s a start-to-finish offering with a personal touch, says the man who thrives on client relationships. “Some people know what they want and some don’t, so we discuss all the options. Others are building their dream homes, and there’s a real buzz associated with that. I don’t just turn off the phone at the end of a job, either; Abstract Floors offers an excellent followup service. We want to be there after the build to educate our clients on maintenance, which may, for example, involve setting up a yearly cleaning schedule.”

ABOVE Abstract Floors specialises in both new floors and refurbishments. The floor Andy created in this awardwinning home is oak finished with waterbased polyurethane. BELOW Andy’s fully kitted out van makes on-site and out-of-town jobs a breeze.

Homeowners with concrete floors but a yearning for timber underfoot, take note. Andy can install wooden flooring over materials such as concrete, timber joists and particle board. When installing timber over concrete, the team follows the best industry practices in relation to moisture-testing and the like.

Abstract Floors focuses mainly on the greater Bay of Plenty region, although

they do extend beyond it, as recent jobs in Northland and Wellington testify. Back in their Auckland-based days,

they tackled commercial projects in locations as high-profile as the Auckland War Memorial Museum and Waiheke

Island’s Mudbrick vineyard. Residential homes are their key focus, however, for customers that include top architects, designers and building companies with jobs small and big – like the 320m 2 of timber flooring recently required for an architecturally designed beachfront house in Auckland.

“I have experience with projects from 50m 2 to 300m 2 -plus,” says Andy. “When necessary, I bring in trusted subbies to assist.”

As sizable as some jobs may be, Andy’s committed to keeping his company small so he can to provide hands-on quality control on each project to ensure a high standard is maintained. He’s proud of what his business – with its Bona Certified Craftsman endorsement – delivers.

“The end product we provide looks and feels beautiful,” he says. “Nothing beats a real timber floor. They’re warm underfoot, low-maintenance, easy to clean and well suited to the Kiwi indoor-outdoor lifestyle. They’re also durable – they’re designed to last the life of the house. They can be resanded and refinished if necessary, and are an eco-friendly and sustainable option, something I’m proud I’ll be able to tell my children.”

86 | unomagazine.co.nz Those children and their parents are very much enjoying living in a welcoming community full of young families. “We’ve definitely been invited in,” says Andy. “It’s different to living in Auckland and exactly what we hoped for. It’s a beautiful community here at Papamoa East.”

Andy met English Alicia, who has a masters in primary teaching, 10 years ago when travelling through Asia. When he brought her home to introduce her to New Zealand, they took a road trip to Mt Maunganui, and it never left their minds. Living in this part of the country resonated with the couple then, and still does today.

ABSTRACTFLOORS.CO.NZ

ABSTRACT_FLOOR_SANDING

BELOW Andy did the full supply, install, sand and finish for this 320m 2 Auckland home. He says his background as a builder benefits him hugely.

MARK CASHMORE

S W I M M I N G P O O L + L A N D S C A P E D E S I G N

" I s p e c i a l i s e i n l a n d s c a p e a r c h i t e c t u r e d e s i g n i n c l u d i n g e n t e r t a i n i n g , l i v i n g a n d t r a n q u i l o u t d o o r a r e a s . I p l a c e e m p h a s i s o n t h e i n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e c l i e n t ’s n e e d s a n d l i f e s t y l e w i t h t h e i r propert y ’s character from contemporary to classic." - Mark Cashmore, DESIGNER

We are so very grateful to Logan, Carly, Deane and the team in making our dream a reality - Pure Excellence. “

We had tremendous support & advice throughout – from the design stage, planning, selections and build. We always felt confident we were in good hands with open communication and weekly progress updates during the build. As my wife says ‘A Dream Build’. - Landmark home owners, Jo & Joe May/Campus. “

Landmark Homes Bay of Plenty 174 15th Ave, Tauranga

contact Logan & Carly Stewart 07 579 6447 landmarkhomes.co.nz

NEW OMOKOROA SHOW HOME NOW OPEN! Open Tuesday - Sunday from noon untill 4pm and by appointment. 2 Goldstone Place, Harbour Ridge, Omokoroa.