Photos coming
ProjectKnockdown rebuild
SuburbTBC
FileCX-05
Knockdown rebuild in Canberra
Keep the street you love. Get a brand new house on it.
We look after the whole thing: the asbestos check, the demolition, the approvals and your new home. One builder, one contract, and nobody pointing fingers between the demolition crew and the builder.
- Licensed in the ACT and NSW, ACT 2023538 and NSW 499527C
- Demolition and asbestos in the same quote
- We renovate too, so our advice is straight
Short answerUpdated
A knockdown rebuild replaces your old house with a new one on the same block. What it costs depends on what's in the old house, the block and the new home you choose, and you're usually out of the house for 10 to 16 months. It tends to beat a big renovation when the house is tired, badly laid out or has structural problems.
The big question
Should you renovate or knock down and rebuild?
It comes down to how much of the house you'd change. We build both, so we've got no reason to push you one way. Here's how it usually shakes out.
| Your situation | Usually better value |
|---|---|
| The house is sound and you need one or two more rooms | Extend or renovate |
| You'd change more than half the floor plan | Rebuild |
| Cracking, failing footings or termite damage | Rebuild |
| Heritage controls limit what you can knock down | Renovate |
| You want a 7-star home with low power bills | Rebuild |
| You can't move out for a year | Renovate in stages |
Is this you?
Why people in Canberra rebuild
Most of our rebuild clients are in the older suburbs, on big blocks, in houses built somewhere between the 1960s and the 1980s.
01
You love the street, not the house
The big block, the trees, the school down the road. A rebuild keeps all of that and fixes the bit that isn't working.
02
The reno quotes came back huge
Once most of the house needs changing, a new home often costs about the same and runs a lot cheaper.
03
The house has structural problems
Cracked walls, sinking footings or termite damage are often cheaper to rebuild than to chase.
You want two homes on the block
In some zones you can rebuild as a dual occupancy. We'll check what your block allows before you design anything.
Local know-how
What catches people out with a Canberra rebuild
None of these will stop a rebuild. They just need sorting before the bulldozer turns up, not after.
Asbestos
Most older houses have some asbestos
Canberra houses built before 1990 often have bonded asbestos in the eaves, the wet-area walls or under old floor coverings. A licensed assessor checks the house, a licensed removalist takes it out, and we get a clearance certificate before demolition starts. It's all in your quote.
Loose-fill
Check the loose-fill asbestos register
Between 1968 and 1979, Mr Fluffy loose-fill asbestos was blown into the roofs of some Canberra homes. Most of those houses have been demolished under a government scheme, and the ACT keeps a public register of the few that are left. We check every address against it before we quote.
Source: ACT Government, loose-fill asbestos affected properties
Trees
Big trees may be protected
In the ACT, large trees on residential blocks can be regulated, and you need approval to remove or damage them. We map the trees early and design around the ones you want to keep, or the ones you have to.
Services
Disconnections take longer than you'd think
Power, gas, water, sewer and NBN all have to be cut off safely before demolition, and each provider has its own queue. We book them in early so your demolition date doesn't slip.
How it works
From old house to new home, step by step
You stay in the house through design and approvals. You only move out when demolition is booked.
Feasibility visit
We walk through the house and the block, check zoning, easements, trees and heritage, and give you a realistic budget.
Weeks 1 to 2Design
A new home designed for your block, your street and the way you live now.
6 to 12 weeksQuote and contract
One itemised price covering the asbestos, demolition, site costs and the new build.
2 to 4 weeksApprovals
Building approval in the ACT, or a CDC or DA in NSW, demolition included. We lodge it and chase it.
6 to 16 weeksOut with the old
Services cut off, asbestos removed and cleared, the house demolished and the block cleared for the slab.
3 to 6 weeksBuild and handover
Your new home goes up, with updates every step of the way. Then a walk-through together and the keys.
8 to 12 months
Costs
What decides what a knockdown rebuild costs in Canberra
What decides the price of knocking down and rebuilding. Your quote depends on the house that's there now, the block and the new design.
| Part of the job | What decides it |
|---|---|
| Demolishing the old houseMore with asbestos, a pool or tight access | What's in the house, especially asbestos, and access to the block |
| Building the new home | Size, storeys and the finishes you pick |
| Site costs | Slope, soil, and reconnecting power, water, sewer and NBN |
| Somewhere to live while we build | Allow 10 to 16 months of rent |
Every price is worked out for your site and your inclusions. The quote and the first site visit are free.
Your year out
Where to live while we build
This is the part people worry about most. A bit of planning makes it a lot easier.
Rent nearby
Keep the kids at the same school
Most families rent close by. We give you a programme early, so you can sign a lease that lines up with demolition instead of guessing.
Storage
Store what you're keeping
Book storage for the furniture coming back with you. We'll tell you what's worth saving from the old house, like timber floors or a good front door.
Finance
Talk to your lender early
A construction loan pays out in stages as the build goes along. We'll give your lender the contract and payment schedule they ask for.
Projects
Rebuilds we've done
Each one with the before and after, the suburb, how long the family was out and what they thought of it. No stock photos.
Photos coming
ProjectRebuild, double storey
SuburbTBC
FileCX-06
The owner is on site for every job we build.
FAQ
Questions about knockdown rebuilds
Is it cheaper to knock down and rebuild or to renovate?
It depends how much of the house you'd change. If you'd be replacing most of the floor plan, the roof or the services, a rebuild often costs about the same as a big renovation, and you end up with a new, efficient home under a full warranty. If the house is sound and you just need more room, extending is usually cheaper. Try our renovate or rebuild tool.
How long will we be out of the house?
Plan on 10 to 16 months from demolition to handover. Design and approvals happen while you're still living there, so you only move out once demolition is booked.
What if the house has asbestos?
Plenty of Canberra homes built before 1990 do. A licensed removalist takes it out before demolition and a clearance inspection follows. We organise all of it and it's in your quote from the start.
Who disconnects the power, water and gas?
We do the chasing. Power, gas, water, sewer and NBN all have to be disconnected before demolition and reconnected for the new home, and we deal with each provider so you don't have to.
Do I need approval to knock down and rebuild in the ACT?
Yes. You'll need building approval for the demolition and the new home, and some blocks also need development approval depending on the zone and the design. We check your block and lodge everything for you.
Can we keep the trees and fences?
Often, yes. Some big trees in the ACT are protected and need approval to remove anyway. We plan the build around the trees and boundaries you want to keep.
What about heritage areas?
Heritage-listed homes and some inner suburbs have extra rules on demolition and design. We check this at the feasibility visit, before you spend anything on plans.
How do people pay for a knockdown rebuild?
Most use a construction loan, which pays out in stages as the build goes along. Talk to your lender or broker early. We'll give them the contract and payment schedule they need.
You might also be looking at
Renovations and extensions
Rather keep the house?
Ground floor extensions and second storeys, without moving out.
Have a look New homesBuilding on an empty block?
Custom homes across Canberra and the NSW side of the border.
Have a look Cost guideKnockdown rebuild costs
Every line item, from asbestos to the final clean.
Read itWondering what your block could hold?
Book a free feasibility visit. We'll walk the house with you and tell you which way we would go if it were our house.