9 things you must do before renovating or building: part 5/5

March 19th, 2012

There are dozens of ways to renovate a house and it’s good to consider all of them, even those that don’t immediately seem plausible due to size or budget restrictions.

“You’d be surprised at what some councils allow,” says heritage building designer Peter Latemore.

“It’s best not to assume anything and explore all your options.”

Types of renovations:

Go in: Internal works like rearrangements can “open up” a house completely. Consider a kitchen refit, or even just some new applianeces.

Go out: The traditional extension is outwards, a deck for example, or a new bedroom or sun room.

Go up: This is different from state to state, as in Queensland for example, it’s more difficult to build up on a Queenslander. It is an easier option for brick veneer houses.

Go down: You can either lift and build-in, or dig under and build-in – the latter makes for a darker space, but that can be OK for teenagers.

Go separate: Pavilions with links can be cheaper and more fun, says Latemore.

Alternative Renovations:

Already manufactured extensions that you can plonk on the land next to your house are also a good option.

“Anything built in a factory is more efficient. They are affordable, adaptable, transportable, relocatable, and energy efficient,” Latemore says.

“Pods can fit any type of house and can come around $1,650 per 2,200 square metres.”

Do you know what to consider when choosing a designer or a builder?

Keri Algar

Having once had to sit on the washing machine to stop it from bouncing into oblivion, Keri is today delighted with the new (smoother running) technologies that make housework easier every day. A self-confessed lazy-bones, Keri seeks out quirky inventions that ease the human workload, such as the robotic vacuum cleaner (wow). And as soon as someone figures out a Jetsons-like self-cleaning house, she will happily lay her pen to rest and retire from appliance journalism. Until then, her pick is a fridge that will tell her smartphone when it's time to pick up more beer on the way home. Magic.