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Cedar-clad contemporary timber home in Titahi Bay, overlooking the Porirua Harbour towards the South Island
Titahi Bay, Wellington

Building With Timber,
Building With Care

We're a small, hands-on building company working with timber across the Wellington region. Cedar, weatherboard, kwila — we love working with wood and it shows.

See Our Work About Us
3Years Building
50+Timber Projects
3People — That's It
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About Us

Three People,
Timber Through & Through

Willow Building Co. started in 2022 when Ted and Pax decided that building homes properly shouldn't be complicated. Ted builds, Pax designs, and Seth keeps everything running smooth on site. That's the whole team — no project managers you never meet, no salespeople, no hand-off to strangers. We're based in Titahi Bay and work right across the Wellington region. We specialise in timber because we reckon there's nothing quite like a well-built wooden home.

Timber frame construction on a new residential build in Porirua, Wellington — pine framing and floor joists in progress
Timber Framing, Porirua
Close-up of natural macrocarpa timber grain showing the warm golden tones we love working with

"I didn't start Willow to build an empire. I started it because I wanted to build timber homes the way they should be built — with care, honesty, and proper craft. Pax and I figured if it's just us three, we can make sure every job gets the attention it actually needs."

— Ted Ingram-Johnson, Founder

Honest From Day One

Straightforward pricing, realistic timelines, and no surprises. When you ring, you get Ted or Pax — not a call centre. Timber's not cheap and we won't pretend it is.

Timber Specialists

Ted's an LBP carpenter with years of timber-frame experience across Wellington. Cedar weatherboard, kwila decking, ply bracing — between the three of us, we know our wood.

Built for Wellington

We know what works in Wellington's wind, rain, and salt air. Proper flashings, treated timber to the right spec, and cladding that actually lasts.

What We Do

Timber Building
Done Properly

We keep our services focused so the three of us can do them really well. Everything revolves around solid timber construction — across Porirua, Wellington, the Hutt Valley, and Kapiti.

New Home Builds

Timber-frame homes built properly — Pax designs, Ted and Seth build. Cedar or weatherboard cladding, proper H1.2 treated framing, and insulation specs that work for Wellington.

Cedar Weatherboard

Renovations

Timber kitchens with solid wood joinery, bathrooms with cedar features, extensions that match your existing weatherboard. Pax redesigns, the boys build it.

Kitchens Bathrooms

Timber Repairs

Rotting weatherboards, dodgy deck joists, cracked window flashings. We fix timber properly — not just patch over it. Replacement weatherboard matching is a specialty.

Weatherboard Rot Repair

Decking & Outdoor

Kwila and pine decks built to handle Wellington's weather — proper drainage, H4 treated substructure, stainless fixings. Pergolas and timber screens too.

Kwila Pine

Windows & Joinery

Timber or aluminium-clad windows, properly flashed into your weatherboard or cedar cladding. We don't cut corners on flashings — ever.

Double Glazing Flashing

Commercial

Small commercial fit-outs with the same timber craftsmanship. Shop fit-outs, office interiors, community spaces — timber panelling, feature walls, and proper build quality.

Fit-outs Feature Walls
Our People

The Whole Team
All Three of Us

No subbies you've never met, no project managers passing messages along. Ted, Seth, and Pax — that's everyone. On every job.

Ted Ingram-Johnson, LBP carpenter and founder of Willow Building Co, Titahi Bay

LBP qualified carpenter with years of timber-frame experience across Wellington. Started Willow with Pax because he reckoned building should be simpler than everyone makes it. Titahi Bay local who knows what the coast does to a house.

Ted Ingram-Johnson

Founder & Lead Builder

Seth Sethy, senior carpenter and second in command at Willow Building Co

Ted's right hand. Quiet, thorough, and the kind of bloke who measures twice, cuts once — then checks it again. Weatherboard specialist who takes genuine pride in joints you'll never notice. Unless you look, which he hopes you will.

Seth Sethy

Senior Carpenter

Pax Erica Ratternbury, designer and co-founder of Willow Building Co

Co-founder and the design brain. Pax handles everything from concept sketches to working drawings — making sure what looks good on paper actually works in timber and makes sense on site. Also handles the quotes, scheduling, and council paperwork.

Pax Erica Ratternbury

Designer & Co-Founder

How It Works

You talk to Pax

Pax listens to what you want, works up some ideas, and puts together a proper quote. No sales pressure — just a straight conversation about what's possible with timber and your budget.

Pax designs it

Working drawings that actually make sense on site — because Pax knows what Ted and Seth need to see. If you have an architect, Pax works with them too. Either way, the details get sorted before the first nail.

Ted & Seth build it

The two of them on site, every day. Ted leads the build, Seth keeps everything tight. No changing hands halfway through — the same people who quoted it are the ones building it.

You move in

Handover, walkthrough, and Pax makes sure all the paperwork and code compliance is sorted. Then it's yours. We're still around if you need us — we're not the type to disappear.

Customer Stories

"Pax talked us through cedar vs weatherboard — didn't push the expensive option, just laid out the pros and cons honestly. Ted and Seth built the whole thing themselves and the cedar weatherboard home they've made is absolutely beautiful. Every joint, every corner — you can see the care."

J&L

Jenny & Luke M.

Cedar weatherboard new build — Whitby, 2024

"Our kitchen reno was supposed to take four weeks. It took five because Ted found rot in the wall behind the old weatherboard — but he called me the same day, showed me photos, and explained exactly what timber they'd use to fix it. No drama. That's how it should be."

RP

Rachel P.

Timber kitchen renovation — Johnsonville, 2023

"We needed a kwila deck before summer and every other builder was booked out. Seth came out to have a look, Pax sent a quote the next day, and Ted and Seth built the whole thing in two weeks. It's honestly the best deck on our street. Proper stainless fixings, the lot."

M&K

Mark & Kate S.

Kwila deck — Plimmerton, 2024

"Pax would send me photos at the end of each day — 'Here's where Ted and Seth are at with the framing.' The exposed timber beams in our lounge were Pax's design idea and they're the best thing about the house. Felt like we knew all three of them by the end."

DT

David T.

Renovation with timber features — Porirua, 2023

Portfolio

Timber Homes
We've Built

Cedar-clad new build in Titahi Bay with kwila timber deck and pergola overlooking the harbour
New Build

Titahi Bay Cedar Home

Cedar weatherboard + kwila deck

Timber kitchen renovation in Johnsonville with solid wood benchtop and cedar joinery
Renovation

Johnsonville Timber Kitchen

Solid timber joinery & benchtop

Kwila timber deck and pergola built in Plimmerton with stainless fixings and H4 treated substructure
Outdoor

Plimmerton Kwila Deck

45sqm kwila deck with pergola

Painted weatherboard family home in Whitby with timber deck and coastal views towards Mana Island
New Build

Whitby Weatherboard Home

Timber-frame with pine weatherboard

Bathroom renovation in Lower Hutt with cedar feature wall and timber vanity unit
Renovation

Lower Hutt Cedar Bathroom

Cedar feature wall & timber vanity

Timber retaining wall and pine deck in Tawa with treated timber posts and drainage
Outdoor

Tawa Timber Retaining

Treated pine retaining wall & deck

Timber-frame family home in Papakowhai with cedar cladding, exposed timber beams, and detached garage
New Build

Papakowhai Timber-Frame Home

Cedar cladding, exposed macrocarpa beams, detached garage

Weatherboard villa renovation in Waikanae with new timber joinery, repaired weatherboard and extended rear
Renovation

Waikanae Villa Reno

Weatherboard repair + timber extension

Get in Touch

Talk to Pax
No Obligation

Give Pax a ring or send an email. Whether you've got plans for a cedar-clad new build, need some weatherboard replaced, or just want to chat about what's possible with timber — she's happy to hear from you. If it's something Ted needs to look at, he'll come out to site too.

Call or Text

021 555 0184

Email

ted@willowbuilding.co.nz

Based In

Titahi Bay, Porirua
Serving the wider Wellington region

Where We Work

Titahi Bay Porirua Whitby Plimmerton Pukerua Bay Johnsonville Wellington City Lower Hutt Upper Hutt Kapiti Coast

Pax or Ted will get back to you within a day or two. No spam, no sales calls.

Thanks! Pax or Ted will get back to you soon.