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Building & Renovating

Australia

The category building and renovating deals with the major projects that are undertaken in the home, such as the addition of extra living spaces, new garages or a major revamp of the bathroom or kitchen. 

Benefits of Building and Renovating

There are many benefits to carrying out a building or a renovation project.  You will often end up with more space and this is invaluable if you have a growing family, have bought a new car or you simply don’t have enough space at present.  By adding an extension of some form or a garage, carport or shed, you will have created space that can be used for entertaining, storage or daily living.  With the extra space comes extra comfort. 

Extra comfort is also a benefit of a bathroom or kitchen renovation as these are the two most important rooms in the house in terms of usage and resale value.  By renovating these two rooms, you will instantly ensure that the spaces are better laid out and therefore much more usable.  A building project or renovation of any kind will also ensure that the home is much more attractive, not only for you as the homeowner but for any potential buyers in the future.  You will have increased your resale value substantially as buyers love the thought of moving into a property where everything has already been done for them.

The Bathroom

The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house and a well designed bathroom can be practically invaluable.  The type of bathroom you install will depend primarily on what your needs are.  For example, you may require a large shower, or a bath for the kids.  Perhaps you are limited space-wise and wish to incorporate a laundry into your bathroom space.  However, bathroom renovations or installations can be expensive, so it is important to keep your budget in mind.  Luckily, the benefits of a better bathroom more than pay for themselves, whether you are using it yourself or plan to renovate to improve resale value.

If you are renovating your bathroom, it is a great idea to look at what your existing fittings and see which of them can stay.  If you have a bath or tiles that are in fundamentally good condition but look a little dated or tired, why not consider resurfacing them?  Tiles can also be painted over using a special tile paint.  Wherever it is possible, leave the plumbing and electricals in place unless there is a compelling reason to move them.  From a structural point of view, it is important that the bathroom is well-ventilated and properly waterproofed.  This will both prevent the buildup of mould and also water damaging the structural elements of your home.

There are several different styles of bathrooms but the most common ones are retreat, minimalist, high tech, utilitarian and colonial.  The colour scheme in a bathroom can be an important choice and if you are after a classic look that will always remain in style, consider using neutral colours or whites.  Accents can always be added through the use of colourful accessories such as towels, bathmats and ornaments.  If you have a smaller bathroom, you can easily make it look larger through clever use of larger tiles, mirrors to reflect spaces in the room, and tiling from floor to ceiling.  Heating is also a consideration, especially in the colder winter months and your options include underfloor heating, heated towel rails, and heating lights.

Water efficiency is becoming a consideration in most areas of Australia now and water efficient fittings such as dual flush toilets and water saving taps and showerheads will save water and means that you’ll be paying significantly less on your water bill.

The Kitchen

The kitchen is also one of the most important rooms in the house (one of the two most important – the bathroom being the other), so it is vital that it is well-planned and the plan is well-executed.  The first question to ask is if it will be used primarily for feeding the family or if entertaining guests will be a significant factor.  When entertaining, consider how many people will be expected as this will influence how much storage and working space you will need.

If you are renovating a kitchen, take the time to identify the existing trouble spots.  Really be specific as this is your chance to get rid of those once and forever and exponentially improve the kitchen’s functionality.  Any kitchen, no matter what style it is, should have ample working and storage space, good lighting, reliable appliances and heaps of power points.  For example, nothing is more frustrating than having nowhere to store all of your kitchen stuff (crockery, glasses, saucepans and so on).  Ensure that your new kitchen will maximize storage space wherever possible.

The most important thing within any kitchen is the work triangle.  The work triangle is simply the triangle made up by the sink, the cooktop and the refrigerator.  The distance between these three elements should be no more than ten metres, and should ideally be around seven.

There are many types of kitchens that you can choose to install but the common types are U-shaped, L-shaped, single-line, galley and the island kitchen.  Common materials that are used in the kitchen include timber, stainless steel, stone, tiles, laminate and glass.  Why not take advantage of these materials to create a look that is uniquely you?

Building, Extensions and Additions and Garages, Carports and Sheds

• Builders are the professionals that work to your house plans and organize the people that are needed to complete your particular project.  They may do the building work themselves or they may project manage – coordinating projects, managing the tradespeople, and managing the supply and delivery of materials.  They can also help to organize the necessary building permits and help you liaise with the local council.  The builder you choose should be able to work to the style of your home and be able to advise you on how to incorporate new elements into the home.  As well as working with the look of your home, they will ensure that the home meets your energy usage requirements.  No matter which builder you choose, it is absolutely imperative that they are registered and licensed.  They also need to be adequately insured.
  
  
• Home extensions and additions are the best way to add extra living space to a home if you do not want to sell up and move somewhere larger, or it is impractical to do so.  An extension is when you add more space to the outside of your existing home.  An addition is when you add another level to the top of your home.  Both of these have their pros and cons so it is best to talk to an architect or a builder before making any decisions.  You will also need an architect to design the extension or addition.  An engineer will also be required to assess the structural viability of your plans.  Before any extension or addition is begun, council approval and permits will be required.
  
  
• Garages, carports and sheds are excellent ways to provide more storage in a home, whether it is for a vehicle or simply for gardening equipment. You can also use these for temporary entertaining areas, which is great when that little bit of extra space is required for a party or function.  Garages, carports and sheds can either be custom-built or pre-fabricated depending on your requirements.  Pre-fabricated is usually cheaper but retrofitting a garage to the existing home can often more than pay for itself in resale terms.  Garages and carports should blend with the existing home and also the street frontage.  This is true for sheds as well if they will be visible from the front of the home.