Preserving heritage character with modern craftsmanship

We restore and recreate timber joinery for villas, bungalows and protected buildings, ensuring compliance from day one. Your heritage home deserves joinery that honours its past while meeting today's council requirements.

Heritage joinery and conservation

We work with heritage properties across New Zealand, helping to ensure that every restoration meets council requirements and respects original character.

What council actually requires

Heritage listings come with rules. We know them inside out. Like-for-like means matching materials, profiles, and finishes exactly as they were. Some changes need approval; others don’t. Common mistakes happen when owners skip documentation or choose materials that look right but don’t meet requirements.

Heritage joinery expertise

Specialist knowledge, traditional craftsmanship and practical solutions for heritage homes and buildings.

Understanding Heritage Requirements

Making informed decisions from the start. 

Restoring Original Joinery

Preserving original timber wherever practical.

Reproducing Heritage Details

Recreating traditional profiles, mouldings and joinery with precision.

Improving Performance

Incorporating modern glazing and craftsmanship while respecting heritage character.

Heritage Doors & Entrance Joinery

Restoring the features that create a lasting first impression. 

Check your heritage listings

Find out how to check if your property is listed, scheduled, or in a protected area. Your local council holds this information. Different listings mean different rules. 

Understand what you have

We visit and document existing joinery, timber type, profiles, glazing patterns and hardware. This assessment becomes the baseline for any restoration or replacement.

Heritage style joinery by PK Joinery. Image courtesy of Murray Long Builders mlbuilders.co.nz
Matching like for like Heritage joinery by PK Joinery. Image courtesy of Boyd Cox + Thompson boydcox.co.nz

Know what like-for-like means

We clarify what can change and what must stay the same. This prevents costly mistakes and ensures council approval from the start. 

Heritage restoration work

Explore our completed projects
Heritage Timber Joinery Auckland Grey Lynn Villa PK Joinery Image courtesy of Murray Long Builders mlbuilders.co.nz 2

Grey Lynn Villa Transformation

Traditional timber joinery helped transform a century-old bungalow into a substantial villa-style home.

Reproduction Timber Joinery Auckland Hobson House PK Joinery image courtesy of Boyd Cox + Thompson boydcox.co.nz (1)

Historic Hobson House Renovation

Like-for-like timber joinery recreated existing details while extending the home’s established character.

Heritage Joinery Auckland Ranfurly Village Case Study by PK Joinery Image supplied by Boyd Cox + Thompson boydcox.co.nz 2

Ranfurly Heritage Style Extension

Bespoke timber joinery for a major extension complementing historic Ranfurly House.

Responsible restoration matters

Heritage homes are part of New Zealand’s story. We use sustainable timber, respect original craftsmanship, and restore rather than replace when possible. Conservation isn’t about freezing time. It’s about keeping buildings alive and useful for the next generation.

Heritage Restoration Guides

Heritage renovation projects vary significantly depending on whether a building is a private home or a commercial building.

Heritage homes are typically governed by residential planning rules and focus on careful repair, sympathetic alterations, and protection of character features.

Heritage commercial buildings involve additional regulatory complexity, including Building Code upgrades, accessibility, fire safety, and often earthquake strengthening requirements.

To help property owners navigate these differences, we have created two tailored guides:

  • A Heritage Restoration Guide for Homeowners
  • A Commercial Heritage Restoration Guide for Building Owners and Professionals

Each guide explains what to expect, how to prepare documentation, and how to avoid common delays.

Ready to protect your heritage

Let's assess your joinery and plan the right approach for your project.

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1. Understanding Heritage Requirements

Helping you make informed decisions from the start.

Every heritage project begins with understanding the building itself.

Some homes are individually listed, while others sit within heritage precincts or character areas that have specific planning controls. Those requirements can influence everything from replacing a single window to restoring an entire façade.

While PK Joinery doesn’t provide planning or consent services, we regularly work alongside homeowners, architects and builders on heritage projects. We understand how joinery contributes to a building’s heritage character and can help develop solutions that respect the original design while supporting your project’s goals.

If you’re still exploring what’s involved, our Heritage Restoration Guide is a practical place to start. It explains the process, and the first steps in planning a successful restoration. Or speak to our knowledgeable team about your heritage project.

2. Restoring Original Joinery

Preserving original timber wherever practical.

One of the first decisions on any heritage project is whether existing joinery can be repaired or should be replaced.

Many original windows and doors have lasted for generations because they were built from quality timber and designed to be repaired. Where the timber remains structurally sound, restoration can preserve the craftsmanship and character that make heritage homes so distinctive.

Where replacement provides a better long-term outcome, our focus is on retaining the appearance and integrity of the original design.

Our Timber Joinery Care Guide explains how quality timber joinery performs over time and why regular maintenance can significantly extend its lifespan.

3. Reproducing Heritage Details

Recreating traditional profiles, mouldings and joinery with precision.

The smallest details often make the biggest difference.

Window profiles, glazing bars, mouldings, panelled doors and decorative timber elements all contribute to the character of a heritage home. Reproducing these accurately helps new joinery sit comfortably alongside original features while maintaining the architectural integrity of the building.

Understanding traditional detailing is just as important as quality craftsmanship.

Our Heritage Restoration Guide explores the importance of like-for-like reproduction and explains why these details matter throughout the approval and restoration process.

4. Improving Performance

Modern comfort without compromising heritage character.

Many heritage homeowners are surprised by how much comfort can be improved while still respecting the original character of their home.

Modern glazing, improved weather sealing and thoughtful manufacturing techniques can reduce condensation, improve thermal performance and create quieter interiors. Every building is different, so the most appropriate solution will depend on its heritage requirements and the objectives of the project.

Our Understanding Glazing Guide explains the available options and helps you identify the solutions most suited to your home.

5. Heritage Doors & Entrance Joinery

Restoring the features that create a lasting first impression.

The front entrance is often one of the defining features of a heritage home.

Panelled doors, sidelights, fanlights, decorative mouldings and handcrafted timber detailing all contribute to the character of the building and its street presence. Recreating these elements requires careful attention to proportion, craftsmanship and period detail.

Whether restoring an original entrance or manufacturing a faithful reproduction, our aim is to preserve the features that give heritage homes their identity while ensuring they continue to perform for years to come.

If you’re planning a renovation, our Timber Style Guide provides inspiration and practical advice on designing timber joinery that complements both heritage and contemporary homes.