Read about Lewis Build and discover how Ben Lewis and his in-house team became one of Auckland’s leading high-performance home builders. Auckland is fortunate to have a number of quality builders. But while most can adequately construct a standard house or renovation, few have the broad range of skills (in design optimisation, buildability assessment, and high-performance or passive home construction) to design and build homes that are supremely comfortable and energy efficient all year round.
And even fewer have the experience and in-house team to optimise your design to give you more home for your money (and everything on your wish list).
Keep reading to discover how Ben Lewis and his team of in-house master craftspeople developed these critical skills. Or schedule a free discovery call to discuss the vision you have for your home.
“A chef, Mum. I want to be a chef!” answered Ben Lewis when he left school at 16 and started working at a small French restaurant in Howick.
Now, being a chef doesn’t sound that hard. But when you stop and think about how challenging it can be to plan simple family meals (week after week) – making sure you have the right ingredients in your fridge and cupboard, having multiple dishes hot and ready to serve at the same time – you can get a sense of how difficult a chef’s job can be (especially for a 16-year-old).
Now multiply that by dozens of hungry diners who all like to arrive (and eat) at 7 o’clock! “I had to learn – fast!” remembers Ben. And before long, he had developed skills managing stock, negotiating with suppliers, recruiting and managing staff, maintaining a safe and tidy working environment, nurturing client relationships, and remaining calm and collected while solving a million issues a night.
After enduring five ‘exciting’ years as a chef, Ben found himself in a pub flipping through the local newspaper. On a whim, he answered a job ad for a building apprenticeship. He’d always loved the idea of working with his hands, working with wood, and working outside.
“From the moment I got my hands on a set of tools,” Ben recalls, “building felt like second nature.”
“I was fortunate to join a Dutch family-run building company,” Ben explained. “I worked alongside the owner and several of his 10 children, learning building the old-school way – hands on and plenty of hard work. There were no such things as power tools. When a piece of timber needed to be cut, you sawed it by hand.”
Ben learned quickly, working on a variety of impressive construction projects, including the Auckland Airport and maximum-security prisons. With talent in both building and leadership, Ben was quickly promoted and was soon managing a team of 50 tradespeople while he was still in his twenties.
“I loved the camaraderie on the building site,” Ben remembers fondly. “Working as a team to bring something meaningful to life. And helping other people grow and reach their potential.”
H. Jackson Brown, Jr. once said, “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” And the lessons Ben learned as a chef and an apprentice helped to make him the leading builder he is today.
“The meals I prepared as a chef weren’t merely food on a plate,” Ben explains. “They brought families together, were the centrepiece of celebrations, including birthdays, anniversaries, and major milestones in life, and even served to facilitate the beginning of new relationships and life adventures.”
“And it’s the same with the homes we build and renovate. They are not merely an amalgamation of timber and concrete. They are sanctuaries where families learn their greatest lessons and make their most important memories. They are safe havens for laughter (and sometimes tears). And they are places that mums and dads and children always remember as home.”
That’s what’s true about Lewis Build: we don’t just build houses, we build the backdrop to your family’s story.
Like optimising the floorplan to make the most of every inch of space. “What’s the use of adding an extension,” says Ben, “if a huge chunk of the space is lost in unusable hallways and corners.”
Like assessing the buildability of the plan for efficient, cost-effective construction so you can get more for your money — everything on your wish list without needlessly overspending or feeling forced to compromise. And giving you honest, fixed pricing so you can plan with certainty and no surprises.
Like choosing the right building materials and installing them with precision so they work as they should to make your home comfortable and healthy all year. And paying meticulous attention to detail so everything (from the frame to the finishes) is even better than you imagined.
And like treating clients with genuine respect – generously sharing our decades of experience to help you feel confident in your decisions. And keeping you informed at every stage (including access to our project software) so you always know what’s happening, feel part of the journey, and enjoy your building experience.
Builders commonly refer to their clients as customers. And for most, that’s an accurate term. Because for them, building a house is simply a one-off, commodity-based transaction. You pay your builder, you get your house.
However, here at Lewis Build, we only have clients. Because clients have an ongoing relationship with their builder. You receive personal service. And as the ancient Roman origin of the word explains, a client is under the protection of the one in whom they entrust their care. And we take that very seriously – guiding you every step of the way to ensure you get the comfortable, energy efficient home you’ve always wanted. It’s this client-first approach that’s made us one of Auckland’s most trusted custom home builders. That’s what’s true about Lewis Build: we treat every client as a long-term relationship, not a one-off transaction.
This is a brief snapshot of what’s true about Lewis Build: how Ben Lewis and his in-house team of world-class craftspeople became Auckland’s leading high-performance home builder.
What’s your story? And importantly, what would you like the next chapter to look like with your new home or renovation?
Ben and his team look forward to hearing about the vision you have for your home – answering your questions, sharing their decades of experience, and helping you design and build the high-performance home or renovation you’ve always wanted.
Lewis Build has a strong team culture and Ben hand-selects each team member for the quality and energy that they bring to our crew. Get to know our team below. The people who bring every custom home to life.
Ben Lewis is the owner and Director of Lewis Build and a Licensed Building Practitioner with more than 20 years of experience. As a young man, Ben was inspired to build by his great uncle, who was a Master Carpenter in the Auckland region.
As the business owner, Ben’s primary focus is on growing the business, nurturing relationships with clients, staying across industry trends and looking after his team of builders.
Ben is passionate about building luxury homes for his clients and making sure the quality of all our work is exceptional. He enjoys meeting new people and expanding his professional network. Outside of work, Ben enjoys sports, fishing, adventures to the beach, motorsport racing and being a dad to daughter Darcie and son Hunter.
As the wife of owner Ben Lewis, Francie plays a key role in shaping the brand and messaging of the company. With a keen eye for detail, she oversees all marketing and communications efforts, ensuring that Lewis Build’s vision and values are effectively communicated to clients and partners. Francie’s dedication to the family-owned business reflects her commitment to delivering excellence in every project.
In her day job, Francie brings a wealth of experience in marketing and communications, having worked across the professional sport, property, and finance sectors. Her expertise ranges from brand development and digital marketing to event management and operations.
Charmaine is an essential part of our team, ensuring the day-to-day operations run smoothly with her excellent organisational skills and attention to detail. As our administrator, she keeps everything on track, providing vital support to both staff and clients.
Outside of work, Charmaine enjoys spending time with her grandkids, the beach, and lifting heavy weights at the gym.
Sam is one of the OG members of the Lewis Build team, joining as an apprentice back in 2015 and working his way up to a Senior Project Manager. Sam’s special skills are keeping a project moving at a fast pace while also managing to ensure a high quality of workmanship from himself and his builders.
Sam is a qualified LBP and is highly respected by our whole Lewis Build team. Outside of work, Sam is a master on the charcoal BBQ, often cooking up spicy feeds for our team social events.
Trent joined Lewis Build at the start of 2026 as a Site Supervisor, bringing around eight years of residential building experience to the team, including six years working full-time as a builder. He holds a BCITO Certificate in Carpentry and is committed to delivering quality workmanship and great results on site.
Outside of work, Trent spends most of his time looking after his family and playing footy. A handy rugby league player, he has previously played for the Sunshine Coast Falcons, New Zealand Māori and the Warriors juniors, and now plays for the Mt Albert Lions.
Lewis joined Lewis Build in March 2026 as a Site Supervisor, bringing more than 21 years of building experience to the team. With 15 years in residential construction and six years in commercial, Lewis has extensive hands-on experience and a strong focus on quality workmanship. He holds a Certificate in Carpentry through BCITO, is a Licensed Building Practitioner, and has advanced heights training.
Outside of work, Lewis enjoys watching his kids play sport, hitting the gym and working through rehab, as well as playing touch and American flag football.
