A house is a system

A home isn't a collection of separate pieces. Its parts interact, and problems are often connected.  A discoloured wall, a damp carpet or a leaking window may be symptoms of something happening somewhere else. We try to understand what's causing the problem before deciding how to fix it.

We go for the cause, not just the symptom

A fresh coat of paint can make a damaged wall look better. It doesn't necessarily stop the damage happening again.  Where we find an underlying problem, we'll explain what we're seeing and what needs to be done. Sometimes that means tackling more than the original job appeared to involve. The aim is to fix the problem properly, not create more work.

Real-world pragmatism

Most Wellington homes have accumulated a history of repairs, alterations and weathering. As you can see from our work, uneven surfaces, ageing materials and awkward access can make a textbook solution impractical.  We work with the building that's actually there. Sometimes the best solution isn't the most elaborate one - it's the one that works.

About Mike

Before starting Southerleigh, Mike Underhill was a marketing analyst, where a systemic approach, curiosity, careful definition of problems and developing workable solutions were central to the role. These days the problems Mike solves are concrete (and many involve concrete!), but the philosophy is much the same.

• Solve the right problem

• Develop an effective, practical solution

• Do the work properly

That's the Southerleigh approach to home maintenance.