Knock-Down Rebuilds

A Knock-down Rebuild – Is It Right for You?

With literally thousands of different home designs across Australia, filled with thousands of different families who have varying needs and reasons for deciding to renovate, the question of whether a knock-down rebuild is the right option depends on a range of reasons, which we will explore below.

It is critical that you understand the intricacies of both options so you can make an informed decision—this is where the right advice can come in very handy.

What Is the Ultimate Goal of Your Renovation?

While a glossy brochure may tell you how much easier a knock-down rebuild is, the first thing you have to consider is the ultimate goal of your renovation. For example, your goal may be more space, or perhaps increased functionality and flow through the floorplan. Once you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve you should now consider whether this can be done via changes to your current structure.

As we take our clients through the design phase of our unique Design-Plan-Construct methodology, time and again, we find that with some experience and creativity we are able to achieve what clients want without resorting to drastic knock-down measures.

A major home renovation is a big decision, affecting not only your immediate circumstances but also how your home will function well into the future. This is why we do a lot of work upfront to make sure your renovated home suits your current and future requirements. In the discovery process we dig deep into how you and your family currently use the spaces in your home, what you need/want/hope for, and what you anticipate your future needs will be as life goes on. With these bases covered we can ensure that we provide the right solution in terms of both value and the long-term liveability of the result.

Again, in many cases, getting creative and thinking outside the box can avoid a complicated, and potentially expensive, knock-down rebuild process.

How Is Your Current Home Constructed?

Another factor in the knock-down rebuild vs major renovation decision is the way in which your current home has been constructed, and how conducive that construction method is to either option. In Australia multiple different construction methods have been employed across the decades and each has a significant influence on the feasibility of a knock-down rebuild or a major renovation of the existing home.

An example of the way in which the construction of a house comes into the equation can be demonstrated in the scenario where a family wishes to increase the overall size of their home. If the existing house is of block construction—which can safely support a second storey on top without extra reinforcement to walls—then instead of knocking the entire structure down as a knock-down rebuild, it may be more efficient to add another storey.

Instead, if the house were of a style unable to support the upper storey, walls would need to be stripped back and additional bracing constructed—this is a significant extra expense—and so alternative options might be considered. This is just one possible scenario. Your home’s construction method can influence the decision to renovate or to knock-down and rebuild in numerous ways.

What Condition Are the Bones of Your Current Home In?

Another major factor to consider in the knock-down rebuild vs home renovation choice is the condition of the bones (or structural integrity) of your current home. You don’t have to be in the building game to understand that superficial improvements made on a sub-standard starting point are less than ideal and won’t survive the test of time.

There are, of course, properties that cry out to be knocked down. This is evidenced by properties being advertised on the market with phrases like, “Knock me down and start over”. These are properties that are very dated, are built with potentially hazardous materials, or may have rot or other structural issues that clearly mark them for demolition.

On the other hand, most people living in the average suburban house don’t really know what state the bones of their home are in—what does that truly mean and how good is good enough? This is where an experienced builder can help out by inspecting for signs of underlying issues, such as cracking walls (internal and external), lifted tiles or other concerns in wet areas, sagging roofs, and many other small indications of problems.

If the bones are no good this is an indicator that things could get expensive when you start to pull walls down and is certainly something you need to take into consideration when deciding between a knock-down rebuild and a home renovation.

What Is Your Capacity to Handle Lifestyle Interruption?

What we mean by lifestyle interruption is the level at which you and your family can live without the full functioning capabilities of your home. How well could you and your family handle being away from home for an extended period of time (three to four months if everything goes according to plan)? If you have travelled extensively with family, this is a good indication!

Let’s face it, even with a basic bathroom or kitchen renovation there is going to be some level of inconvenience. With a major renovation, there will be disruption to your lifestyle, but in some cases, you may still be able to live in your home, albeit in and around tradespeople/inspectors/deliveries and more. By no means will you have the comfort of your usual home, but a good builder will do their utmost to make life as easy as possible during the process.

With a knock-down rebuild there is no doubt that you will be moving out of your home for at least three months, and likely longer. They say that moving house is the second most stressful life experience—and that’s when you’re out of one house and in the next on the same day. Consider how you will manage a protracted relocation in the event of a full demolition—the inconvenience, the expense, or at best, the possibility of outstaying your welcome if the process is delayed. Then, of course, there is the storage of all the items you are not taking with you to consider. You can see how this can become a major operation.