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Drawings are the language used by the building industry and how you control what your finished home will be. But just how many drawings do you need to ensure your vision is executed? It really depends on the type and scope of your renovation project. An entire first floor addition will need many more detailed drawings than a kitchen remodelling project.

What Do Drawings Do?

Drawings describe how construction is to occur. As with any language, there are codes and symbols used to represent different things. From what materials to use and how walls are put together right through to where all the light switches and power points are located.

They usually require professional help to produce them to the standard required to be useful. Drawings ultimately describe what you want and how you want it to be. Those lines on a page inform the construction team what choices to make and how to deliver the dream home you want.

Common Drawings

When building or renovating, there are a variety of drawings you may be looking at depending on what kind of work you are doing including:

• Site Plan – This describes the block of land and how your home sits on it. It also includes any notable features such as trees, services and external features.
• Floor Plans – These describe the layout of your home, showing each room and what occurs in the walls of those rooms and in each of them.
• Elevations – These are flat drawings describing the external walls of your home. They represent the outside of your house including details like walls, windows, doors, the roof and other external building features.
• Sections – These are vertical slices through your home displaying the roof, wall and floor structure. They are also useful for describing the volume, which may not be visible in other drawings.

There are more drawings used, but whether you need them depends on how big your project is, what’s required for in terms of council and building approvals and what your builder needs in terms of information.

Hiring the Right Team

Choose your designer and builder team based on their level of expertise and appropriateness for your project. Before choosing a team, look for:

• Their portfolio and see if their designs appeal to you
• Proof of their professional qualifications and licences
• References or examples of their previous work in your area
• If they belong to a state or nationally recognised professional association.

Using a company that provides both professional design and construction services can help ensure your vision is consistently executed. You’ll also want to find a team that you feel comfortable talking to and are willing to rely on throughout the project.

Expert Renovation Designing and Builds in Sydney

Contact the leading designers and builders at Extend a Home for expert renovations. Our team specialises in ground floor extensions and first floor home additions for homes throughout Sydney, with over 80 years of combined experience bringing functional and beautiful home renovation ideas to life.

Call us today on 02 9736 3344 or contact us online for a free consultation.

It’s a common situation — a house that has served you great for years can no longer meet your changing needs. This is all too familiar for growing families. Family situations are dynamic. From new members of the family to a new hobby, changes in your life may mean you need to upgrade your home.

This often leads to the question — should you move or renovate? It’s a complex decision and both options bring hassles, so deciding what to do depends on factors such as your financial situation and lifestyle.

What to Consider

There are several things to consider if you are thinking of renovating your current home rather than move to a new one. Do you have a plan for where you want to live and how long? For example, thinking about where you want your kids to go to school, vicinity to healthcare resources for aging family members, etc.

Are you prepared to live in a property while it is being renovated or will you need to make other arrangements? Which option is more financially viable? When it comes to comparing costs, it makes more sense to renovate.

The Cost of Moving

Selling your home and buying another could cost you around 10 per cent of the price of the new home. If you sell a home for $700,000 and buy another for $900,000, you would be looking at close to $90,000 in expenses such as loan fees, agent’s commission, legal fees, stamp duty and removalist fees. That is a huge loss of capital.

The Cost of Renovating

The cost of renovations is usually balanced out by the additional long-term value it adds to your home. The main financial risk is overcapitalising. This is when the money you spend on renovations is more than the increase in value to the property, so you end up not getting a return on what you have spent when you sell.

Tips for Renovating

For a successful renovation, do extensive research and get as much advice as you can. Find out the details of other similar properties nearby and how much they are worth to give you an idea of what your property could be worth. Set a budget and get a building inspection to ensure your property is structurally sound and capable of being renovated. Make changes that are widely appealing, for example, outdoor entertainment areas, plenty of storage and a large, open kitchen.

Quality Home Renovations in Sydney

Contact the leading designers and builders at Extend a Home for expert renovations in Sydney. Our team specialises in ground floor extensions and first floor home additions, with over 80 years of combined experience bringing functional and beautiful home renovation ideas to life. You can count on us to execute your vision for your home.

Call us today on 02 97363344 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Small jobs such as painting and small repair jobs can be completed by yourself, but when it comes to major renovations, using a licenced builder is essential. Don’t take any risks with electrical, plumbing or building construction work. Licensed tradespeople are required to hold current licenses for a good reason.

You want a team that is appropriately trained and aware of any changes to Building Codes and Standards. Using unlicensed trades can lead to poor quality workmanship, which means spending more money and time fixing issues. Worse, you could be putting yourself and your family in potential danger if work is not completed to current standards or with a lack of regard for safety.

Dangers Involved in Home Renovations

Licenced builders have the experience and expertise to manage the various dangers involved in renovating a home, including:

Dangerous materials – Renovating homes (especially those built prior 1990) can involve removing dangerous materials like asbestos, lead and crystalline silica. Safely doing so requires professional safety equipment and specialised knowledge.

Electrical hazards – Mishandling electricity during renovations can result in injury or death. Qualified builders know how to work around power lines and wiring to ensure everyone’s safety.

Falls and other injuries – Qualified builders have the right tools and work practices to avoid injury from falling, moving large objects or from repetitive movements.

When is a Home Building Licence Required?

All structural home building work needs to be carried out by a licensed carpenter or builder. Carpenters can complete carpentry work up to a total value of $20,000 (including labour and materials) without the need to provide home warranty insurance. You’ll need a licenced builder for large projects such as home extensions and substantial renovations.

Home handymen do not require a home building licence if the work is not structural and if the total value of the materials and labour combined is $5,000 or less. Always check with your local council and talk to your builder to determine if Council Development Approval is required prior to any work taking place.

Insurance

Qualified builders are obligated to hold appropriate insurance to protect everyone in the event of an injury or damage to your home. Examples include:

• Builders warranty insurance
• Personal/professional indemnity insurance
• Home Building Compensation (HBC) cover
• Public liability insurance

This means you can enjoy peace of mind that your renovation works are covered if there is a mishap during the construction process or there is an issue due to a defect later down the track.

Quality Home Renovators in Sydney

Get in touch with the leading designers and builders at Extend a Home for expert renovations in Sydney. Our team specialises in ground floor extensions and first floor home additions, with over 80 years of combined experience bringing functional and beautiful home renovation ideas to life. You can count on us to execute your vision for your home.

Call us today on 02 9736 3344 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Picking the right team is the most important decision when renovating your home. Working with experienced and passionate renovators ensures maximum functionality, aesthetic appeal and a high-quality build. Below we look at the difference having the right team makes and how to find them.

The Difference of a Quality Renovation

A quality home renovation completed by experienced professionals will:

Minimise the amount of maintenance required
Improve the appearance and functionality of your home
Add decades to the lifespan of your home
Strike a balance between the latest trends and timeless style.

Finding the right team isn’t as simple as looking for the best builder as there are plenty of competent construction companies out there. The key is finding the team that can best meet your specific goals.

Make a Plan

It’s hard to make an informed decision if you don’t have a good idea of what you want and who can best help you achieve your goals. Are you looking to redo your kitchen or bathroom? Knock out a wall or two? Add a first floor addition? Do you want a single company to help with the design and execution of the project? Know what you want and when you want it. That makes it easier to choose the right renovator and determine a realistic budget and timeline for the project.

Researching Builders

Research different contractors and building companies online to find a team that suits your needs. A company’s website can tell you a lot. Look at their completed projects, read what previous customers are saying about them, check credentials and browse through their list of services.

Get a few different quotes from builders and have a chat to them to see how you get along. You also want to find people you trust and feel comfortable with so you can properly articulate your vision and get the best possible results.

Ensure They Have Insurance

When choosing a renovator, ask what type of insurance they have. This includes:

• Builders’ warranty insurance
• Personal/professional indemnity insurance
• Home Building Compensation (HBC) cover
• Public liability insurance

Working with an insured contractor is essential for protecting everyone from injuries as well as protecting you from damage to your home, circumstances that lead to the project not getting completed or for any defects in the work.

Quality Home Renovators in Sydney

Interested in renovating your home or adding a ground floor extension or first floor addition in Sydney? Get in touch with the leading designers and builders at Extend a Home. Our team specialise in home renovations and have over 80 years of combined experience bringing functional and beautiful home renovation ideas to life. You can count on us to execute your vision for your home.

Call us today on 02 9736 3344 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Two of the most common major renovations are ground floor extensions or first floor home additions. Both allow you to greatly expand the amount of space in your home and each offer their own pros and cons. The right choice for you depends on your unique requirements, what kind of space you are working with and what you want to get out of your home expansion.

Creating More Open Space

Ground floor extensions are excellent when you want to create bigger, more open spaces in areas of your home such as having a large, open-plan kitchen and living space. Ground floor extensions are ideal if you have plenty of space on your block that isn’t being fully utilised, and you don’t mind losing some of your outdoor space.

Mobility

Ground floor extensions are also great for adding more space while keeping the home accessible to people with mobility issues due to advanced age or disability. You can change the layout of your home to better suit your needs or preferences in a variety of ways, whether that’s adding new rooms or creating a beautiful, outdoor patio area that your open plan living space flows out into.

Got a Good View?

First floor additions allow you to capitalise on potential views, especially if you live in a hilly area or near the coast. Enjoy panoramic views from inside or add a balcony for an additional outdoor space to relax in while taking in the surroundings. If you’re considering selling your home in the future, keep in mind that a two-storey home typically has a much higher resale value than single storey with the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Part of that is due to the great views a multi-storey home can offer.

Double Your Space On a Limited Block

When you need more space in your home but don’t have enough room on your block to extend outwards, a first floor addition is your best option. Adding a second storey is doable on most houses and can cost less than most people expect. With a first floor extension, you can essentially double the space in your home and only lose a small amount of ground floor space for the stairs.

Which Option is More Work?

A first floor addition is often easier, contrary to people’s expectations. This is because the ground needs to be prepared. Having the foundations and substructure already in place saves time and money. Costs can add up if significant excavation and/or foundation work is required for a ground floor extension. You can also continue to live in the existing ground floor while the first floor addition is being completed. Most of the project can be done outside using ladders and scaffolding.

Ground Floor Extensions and First Floor Additions in Sydney

Choosing between a ground floor extension or first floor addition comes down to your specific needs or preferences. Both options are great ways to add space and revitalise your home. Get in touch with the leading designers and builders in Sydney at Extend a Home.

Call us today on 02 9736 3344 or contact us online for a free consultation.