Photos coming
ProjectSecond-storey extension
SuburbTBC
FileCX-01
Home extensions and renovations in Canberra
More room, a better layout, and you get to stay where you are
Ground floor extensions, second storeys and whole-home renovations, planned so the new part looks like it was always there. One licensed team from the first measure-up to the final clean.
- Licensed in the ACT and NSW, ACT 2023538 and NSW 499527C
- Engineering and approvals sorted for you
- We call back within one business day
Short answerUpdated
What an extension costs comes down to its size, whether it has a kitchen or bathroom, and whether you build out or up. Second storeys cost more because of the structure, stairs and roof. Most extensions take 3 to 6 months on site once the approvals are in, and many families stay in the house for most of it.
Is this you?
Why people extend instead of moving
Stamp duty, agent fees and moving costs add up fast. For a lot of families, the money goes further spent on the house they've already got.
01
You need another bedroom or two
A new baby, a home office, or parents moving in. Add the rooms without changing suburbs or schools.
02
You want the living areas opened up
Take out walls, open the kitchen to the garden and get light into the back of the house.
03
There's no room to build out
Go up instead. A second storey adds space without giving up the backyard.
04
The whole house feels tired
A full renovation sorts the layout, kitchen, bathrooms and energy use in one go, so you're not living in a building site three times.
Out or up?
Ground floor extension or second storey?
Most people start here. The short version: building out is cheaper if you've got the yard for it, and building up keeps the yard but costs more and usually means moving out for a while.
| Ground floor extension | Second storey addition | |
|---|---|---|
| Best when | You've got yard space to spare | The block is small or you want to keep the yard |
| Cost per m² | Lower | Higher, roughly 50% more (structure, stairs, roof) |
| Living at home | Usually fine for most of the build | Often need to move out once the roof comes off |
| Approvals | Setbacks and site coverage are the main checks | Height, overshadowing and privacy get checked too |
| Engineering | New footings and tying into the roof | The existing walls and footings get checked first |
What we build
Extensions and renovations we take on
Ground floor extensions
Extra bedrooms, a bigger kitchen or a family room out the back, matched to the house you've got.
Second storey additions
Go up and keep the yard. We handle the engineering, the approvals and the scaffolding.
Whole-home renovations
A new layout and new finishes inside your existing walls, with the energy upgrades done while the walls are open.
Kitchens and bathrooms
As part of a bigger renovation, or on their own.
Age-in-place changes
Wider doorways, step-free entries and safer bathrooms, so you can stay put for longer.
Local know-how
Approvals on each side of the border
The rules are different in the ACT and NSW, and that changes how long things take before we can start. Send us your address and we'll tell you which path you're on.
ACT
Most extensions need building approval
In the ACT a private building certifier signs off the plans before work starts. Smaller extensions that meet the exemption rules on size, height and setbacks can skip development approval. Bigger ones, or ones that don't tick every box, need a DA first.
NSW
Exempt, CDC or DA
Over the border in Queanbeyan, Googong, Bungendore or Yass, small works can be exempt. An extension that meets the state's standard rules can go through a CDC with a private certifier, often within a few weeks. Anything else needs a DA through the local council.
Older homes
Built before 1990? Test for asbestos
Older Canberra houses often have asbestos in the eaves, the wet-area walls or under the lino. We get it tested before we quote, and a licensed removalist takes out anything we'd disturb.
Energy
Upgrade while the walls are open
An extension is the cheapest time to add insulation, double glazing and a heat pump. We'll show you which upgrades pay for themselves and which ones don't.
How it works
How an extension comes together
Typical times. You'll get your own programme in writing before you sign anything.
On-site visit
We look at the house, listen to what you want and talk through what it might cost.
Week 1Measure and concept
A measured survey of the house and a concept design, with an early cost check before you go further.
3 to 6 weeksEngineering and quote
Structural engineering, the energy assessment and an itemised quote you can compare line by line.
3 to 5 weeksApprovals
Building approval or exemption in the ACT, or a CDC or DA in NSW. We lodge it and chase it.
4 to 12 weeksBuild
The new part goes up first where it can, then gets joined to the house, so you're living around it for the shortest time.
3 to 6 monthsHandover
A walk-through together, anything not right gets fixed, then the certificates and warranty papers.
1 week
Costs
What decides what an extension or renovation costs in Canberra
What decides the price, so you can see where your budget goes. Your actual quote depends on the house, the design and the finishes you pick.
| What you're doing | What decides it |
|---|---|
| Ground floor extension | Size, finishes and the join to the existing house |
| Second storey addition | New structure, stairs and roof, so it costs more per square metre than building out |
| Kitchen or bathroom as part of the jobWet areas cost the most per m² | Priced on what's in it |
| A tricky site or an older house | Access, slope, asbestos and matching what is already there |
Every price is worked out for your site and your inclusions. The quote and the first site visit are free.
The details
What makes an extension look like it was always there
You can usually spot a cheap extension from the street. These are the things we sort out on paper, not on site.
01
Rooflines that carry on
Same pitch, same overhang, same gutter line, so the new roof reads as part of the old one.
02
Bricks that match
Colour, size and bond. When the old brick isn't made any more, we find the closest match or design a deliberate contrast.
03
No step at the join
Floor and ceiling heights lined up, so you walk from old to new without noticing.
04
Honest advice
We do knockdown rebuilds too. If renovating isn't good value for your house, you'll hear it from us first.
Projects
Extensions we've built
Each with the before and after, the size, how long it took and whether the family stayed home through it. No stock photos.
Photos coming
ProjectGround floor family room
SuburbTBC
FileCX-07
The owner is on site for every job we build.
FAQ
Questions about extensions and renovations
How much does an extension cost in Canberra?
It depends on the size, whether it includes a kitchen or bathroom, the finishes and the site. Second storeys cost more because of the structure, stairs and roof. We look at the house for free and give you an itemised quote. Our cost guide breaks it down.
Do I need approval for an extension in the ACT?
Almost always you'll need building approval from a certifier. Smaller extensions that meet the exemption rules can skip development approval, while bigger ones need a DA as well. We check your block and lodge whatever's needed.
Can we live in the house during the renovation?
Often, yes, especially with ground floor extensions, where we build the new rooms first and join them to the house near the end. For second storeys and whole-home renovations you'll probably need to move out for part of it. We'll plan that with you up front.
How long does an extension take?
Most extensions take 3 to 6 months on site once design and approvals are done. Second storeys and whole-home renovations usually take longer.
Can my house take a second storey?
Many can, but it depends on the footings, walls and roof you've got now. A structural engineer checks it early, before you pay for a full design.
Will the extension match the rest of the house?
That's the whole idea. We track down matching or complementary bricks, roofing and windows, and line up the floor and ceiling heights so the old and new join cleanly.
What about asbestos in an older home?
Houses built before 1990 can have asbestos in the eaves, wet-area walls and flooring. We arrange testing before we quote, and a licensed removalist takes out anything the work would disturb.
Can we do it in stages to spread the cost?
Yes. Some jobs split nicely, like the extension now and the kitchen later. We design the first stage so nothing has to be pulled apart for the second.
You might also be looking at
Free tool
Renovate or rebuild?
Eight quick questions about your house, and we'll tell you which way we'd lean.
Try it Knockdown and rebuildChanging more than half the house?
A rebuild might cost about the same and give you a new home.
Have a look ShedsNeed a garage or workshop too?
We build those as well, slab and all.
Have a lookNeed more room? Let's have a look at the house.
We'll come out, measure up, and tell you whether going out or up makes more sense for your house and your budget.