BLUE MOUNTAINS BUILDERS.
BUILT TO LAST GENERATIONS.
Custom new homes, renovations and heritage restorations across Blackheath, Katoomba, Leura & Wentworth Falls. Family-owned. Award-winning. Building since 2009.
CUSTOM BUILDS, RENOVATIONS, HERITAGE RESTORATIONS
Our team of skilled trades deliver homes that don’t compromise on character. With decades of local experience operating in the Blue Mountains City Council area, you can build with confidence.
Established in 2009, Against the Grain is family-owned and led by Director and licensed master builder David Spees. David brings 20+ years construction experience – and a lifetime as a Blue Mountains local.
David has established Against the Grain’s reputation for attentive service and exceptional workmanship. Past clients speak of reliability, professional communication, and the ability to guide them through the building process.
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Against the Grain hear what our clients want and turn it into reality. Let us craft your Blue Mountains home.
RECOGNISED FOR QUALITY SERVICE
AND WORKMANSHIP.
CLIENT SERVICE
Against the Grain build in the upper Blue Mountains villages, committing to only a small number of projects at any one time. This ensures we maintain dedicated client service from commencement through to handover and beyond.
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Against the Grain clients receive professional, personalised service. We work with transparency and integrity to provide a solution that best meets your needs. Using the latest tools and finest materials, we achieve a premium result with minimum fuss.
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Most importantly, clients are assured the outcome is exactly what was hoped for when first dreaming of their building project.
DECADES OF CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE –
WE HAVE THE KNOW HOW YOU NEED.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
Against the Grain is a proven architectural builder, delivering complex projects within the Blue Mountains City Council area for over 15 years.​ We respect the unique character of our Blue Mountains villages, along with understanding the climate conditions, bushfire ratings and conservation zoning requirements.
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Achieving a great architectural design only goes so far; we integrate design with this local construction knowledge considering buildability, material selection and budget throughout the process. We also have capacity to manufacture premium custom joinery in our Katoomba factory, including custom high performance double glazed timber windows and doors.
CAPACITY
Against the Grain is an established, professional business and member of the Master Builders Association NSW. As a full-service construction firm, we have proven knowledge of local planning, permits and certification, through to the provision of quality sub-trades. We have the know-how you need.
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Our work has been recognised with two 2025 MBA NSW Excellence in Housing & Building Awards, a 2026 win for MBA NSW Western Regions for Best Use of Timber, and Finalist at both the 2018 HIA NSW Housing Awards and 2018 Timber Design Awards.
Clients receive the highest standard of workmanship and full conformity with all building codes and safety standards.
COMFORTABLE, EFFICIENT HOMES
THAT SUIT THE BLUE MOUNTAINS CLIMATE
SUSTAINABILITY
Against the Grain build for place, addressing all applicable regulations including NatHERS, BASIX and BAL requirements. Specifying reclaimed brick; high performance double glazing; and underfloor or hydronic heating; are examples of how we create comfortable, efficient homes that suit the Blue Mountains’ climate.
The love of timber underpins Against the Grain’s entire business. A natural insulator, timber is a carbon positive, biodegradable resource. We source our timber from independently accredited suppliers, ensuring your build incorporates one the most sustainable and renewable building materials available.
Preserving or conserving an existing building is the ultimate recycling. Against the Grain’s expertise in heritage works helps clients avoid the carbon footprint of demolition, redevelopment, and new construction. We retrofit period homes to provide the comforts of modern homes with improved environmental and energy cost benefits.