Tauranga master builder Paul Riordan is still getting his feet back on the ground after winning the national Renovation of the Year award for a Matua property.

Paul's Tauranga-based construction company won the national award at the Registered Master Builders Placemakers House of the Year Supreme Awards on Saturday night.

Helen and Paul Riordan of Riordan Construction won the Renovation of the Year award for the Matua home.

The Matua home after the renovation.

Before the renovation.

Paul says he thought he had a slim chance of winning the supreme award as it was 'such a great project”, but realistically was not holding his breath.

'Winning the award is unreal – once you get to the nationals it's really hard. You are up against the top 100 builders in the country. As one of the judges said to me it's a real ‘log-jam' at the top with very little separating the best.”

The home was originally built as a three-bedroom house 30 years ago – also won the PlaceMakers Renovation over $500,000 Award and the PlaceMakers Heart of the Home Kitchen Award. It is the first time a Tauranga builder has won the national renovation title.

Paul says the project added another bedroom within the property's original footprint, recladding, relining and bringing the home up to the latest standards.

He says the owner's commitment to achieving the best results was illustrated from the beginning when, rather than putting the project out to a competitive tendering round, they chose the builder they wanted to work with after a series of interviews.

'Straight away that showed they were going for the quality over price. It showed what they expected from the beginning.”

Competition judges described the 397 sqm cliff-top beauty as a work of art and a place to enjoy, with outstanding craftsmanship and exceptional finishing.

'Built to perfection, this home more than deserves to proudly wear the mantle of House of the Year for 2012.

'The seamless connections between indoor and outdoor living, presented with a variety of materials and colour schemes, morph together to provide a superb back drop to the finishing touches by a very discerning owner.

'We were incredibly impressed with the creative enhancement of proportions to allow for the family's changing lifestyle, without moving outside the original footprint of the home. Care has been taken to maximise the outlook of its stunning site,” judges say.

Judges also commended the time and care given to retain the old, while introducing the new, and the finishing which was 'second to none”, incorporating a theme of oak throughout with custom made cabinetry tying in with the joinery, doors and stairwell detailing.

'The relationship between the builder and the owners was integral to the success of turning this much loved family home into a masterpiece of workmanship for future generations.

'This is not only the Renovation of the Year, but a renovation for many years to come.”

Paul says the owners were 'ecstatic” with the news, and thanked all his crew and sub-contractors for their help in achieving the award which he says offers the company a 'huge platform”.

The award follows a Paul's success winning the top renovation award in the Bay of Plenty Master Builder's competition in 2009.