Image of words - Insights and Inspiration
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A Day in the Life

It all begins at the crack of dawn, a day in the life of a chippy.


White farmhouse under an arch with a sign reading
Open-concept kitchen and living area with hardwood floors, white cabinets, and island.

Why are builders called chippys anyway? Contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with their preference for takeaways. As far back as the 16th century, a commonly used tool by carpenters was an adze which produced A LOT of wood chips. He who produces chips, is a chippy and so the slang was born. 


Anyway, back to the day in the life of a Shelton Homes chippy.

Clock reads 6am

While many people are still reaching for the snooze button, our team is already on the road.

Building homes means early starts, but it doesn't mean running our team into the ground. At Shelton Homes, we believe great homes are built by people who are well supported. Family and relationships come first, and we've created a workplace where our team can do their best work without burnout.



With homes being built across a 100km radius from Toowoomba, the day often starts with travel before arriving on site. From there, it's all about coordinating trades, checking quality, solving problems and keeping each project moving towards our target 24–26 week build time. Every day is carefully planned because every stage matters.

Building Through the Owner's Eyes

Our team does their best to build through your eyes. What does this mean exactly? Each client is different, with different needs, different preferences and different dream homes in mind. We do our best in every build to ensure your home is exactly how you want it. This thought pattern helps to provide a different perspective for every build. No two homes are the same which means our days don’t become mundane and repetitive. By seeing the plans, the finished product and everything in between through the owners' eyes, handover days are often just as exciting for us as they are for you.

Clock reads 9:30 - 10am

Time for smoko.


A quick break gives everyone the chance to refuel, recharge and catch up before getting back into the day's work. Whether it's a healthy lunch packed from home, a coffee or simply a few minutes scrolling through social media, it's an important part of the day.



Then it's straight back to work—coordinating trades, checking deliveries, answering calls and making sure every detail is completed to the standard Shelton Homes is known for. Building a quality home is about more than just working hard; it's about staying organised and keeping every project moving smoothly.

You Are Always Welcome On Site

Throughout the build of your home, you are welcome anytime to come and check progress. Our builders will welcome you with open (but usually sweaty and dirty) arms and engage with you on which stage your home is up to. 



It’s exciting! We get it! This is your dream home - of course, you want to know what the slab looks like, and the framing, and the roof and the wiring and the walls…do we need to go on? Often when our clients come to see the progress they are surprised by how much has been done and that’s a great feeling all round.

Got Questions? We Welcome Them

Building a home is an exciting journey, and naturally, you'll have questions along the way. We encourage you to ask them.


For the quickest and most accurate answers, simply contact your Project Manager or send us an email. They're across every detail of your build and are the best point of contact throughout the construction process.


Our goal is for you to feel informed and confident from the day construction begins through to handover. Open communication is a big part of the Shelton Homes experience, and we're always happy to help.



Since 1995, we've built our reputation on quality workmanship, honest communication and exceptional customer service. We want you to love your new home, and we're committed to making the building journey just as rewarding as the finished result.

When All Is Said and Done

The sweet serenity of handover! When a job is completed, the team comes together to do a walkthrough of the house. Everyone gets to appreciate the finished product and our builders get a sense of accomplishment with every build. 


A discussion is had between the team on standout features, what was done well throughout the build, is there any process that could be improved? We are constantly evolving and constantly bettering ourselves to ensure every build is a successful combination of your vision and our quality workmanship and expertise.


Are you ready to experience building a Shelton Home? We welcome your call or enquiry, well we encourage it!

THINKING OF BUILDING?

We've created a simple & easy Pre-Start Checklist for you! It'll help you understand everything you need to know about building. Simply download to take the stress out of how to started.

Woman in blue dress walks toward a white house with dark gray front doors.
September 5, 2025
A bit of background around the 7 Stars.
White house with wrap-around porch, on a grassy hill, backed by trees, under a blue sky.
September 4, 2025
You may have heard us mention that we are custom home builders…but what does that mean exactly? At Shelton Homes, we take our job very seriously, and our job is to help make your dream home a reality. Custom home builders take the time to discuss and figure out what it is you may need and want to create. We don’t pump out cookie cutter home designs that look identical, we prefer to work closely with you during the design process and give you the freedom to add and change design aspects to suit your own aesthetic and lifestyle…butlers pantry anyone?
White farmhouse with a porch and metal roof in a grassy field.
September 3, 2025
Building a new home is one of the biggest investments you'll ever make, so it's only natural to wonder how today's building industry could affect your project. From labour shortages and rising material costs to changing regulations, there's plenty of information circulating. At Shelton Homes, we believe in being upfront with our clients, so we'd like to explain what's happening in the industry—and more importantly, why you can build with confidence. The Building Industry Continues to Evolve Over the past few years, Australia's residential construction industry has experienced significant change. While some of the challenges have eased, others continue to shape the way homes are built. Today, builders are navigating: Labour shortages across key trades, particularly bricklayers. Rising material and freight costs. Fuel levy increases impacting transportation and deliveries. New government energy efficiency standards for all new homes. Ongoing changes to building regulations and compliance requirements. These factors have increased both the cost and complexity of building a home. Unfortunately, many homeowners have experienced extended construction timeframes as a result. Experience Makes the Difference At Shelton Homes, we've been building quality homes across Toowoomba and the Darling Downs for more than 30 years. During that time, we've learnt that strong relationships, careful planning and clear communication are what keep projects running smoothly. As a family-owned and operated business, we've built long-standing partnerships with trusted local trades and suppliers who share our commitment to quality workmanship and reliability. Rather than taking on more work than we can comfortably manage, we focus on delivering every home to the high standard our clients expect. Why Some Builds Experience Delays You may have noticed homes sitting idle for weeks while waiting for the next stage of construction. One of the biggest challenges across the industry has been the availability of skilled trades, particularly bricklayers. When trades are delayed, it can create a domino effect that pushes back the entire construction schedule. At Shelton Homes, our established trade network and proactive scheduling help minimise these delays wherever possible. While no builder can control every circumstance, careful planning and strong industry relationships allow us to keep your build progressing efficiently. Rising Costs Across the Industry There's no avoiding the fact that construction costs have increased over recent years. New energy efficiency requirements, higher material prices, increased freight costs and labour shortages have all contributed to higher building costs across Australia. While these increases affect every builder, our focus has always been on delivering genuine value. We work closely with our suppliers, carefully manage every project and price our homes fairly, without compromising on the quality our clients expect. Why Building Sooner Can Make Sense Many people ask whether they should wait for prices to come down. The reality is that construction costs have continued to rise over time due to ongoing changes in regulations, labour availability and material pricing. Waiting often means paying more in the future rather than less. If you're financially ready and you've found a builder you trust, there's rarely a better time to start your building journey. Why Families Choose Shelton Homes We're proud of the reputation we've built throughout Toowoomba and the Darling Downs. Many of our clients tell us they first noticed Shelton Homes by watching one of our homes being built. They saw consistent progress, organised building sites and quality workmanship—often while other nearby builds experienced lengthy delays. That reputation has been built over decades through honest communication, experienced project management and a genuine commitment to every client. When you build with Shelton Homes, you're choosing: A local family-owned builder with over 30 years of experience. Trusted trades and long-standing supplier relationships. High-quality workmanship from start to finish. Clear communication throughout every stage of your build. A team committed to delivering an exceptional building experience. Build With Confidence While the building industry continues to evolve, our commitment remains the same: to build beautiful, high-quality homes while making the experience as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.  If you're thinking about building your dream home, we'd love to show you why so many families choose Shelton Homes. Ready to get started? Explore our home designs or contact our team to discuss your custom home ideas. We'd love to help bring your vision to life.