Knockdown rebuild

Meet and greet

This is the beginning of your journey. It all starts with a conversation about what you want to achieve. Our decades of experience ensures we can build a home that is right for you.

Let’s discuss needs, wants, budget and goals for your new home. We have an in depth understanding of the council regulations and processes involved in a knockdown rebuild. We help you with organising the various permits and approvals required. Getting expert advice as early as possible in the knockdown rebuild will help to avoid delays and mistakes further down the line.

New home design

We will conduct a thorough property assessment in order to check its suitability for a knockdown rebuild. This usually includes a soil test that determines the reactivity of your soil and a feature survey. A feature survey is a scale drawing of your site that shows landfall, service connection points, easements and any other pre-existing features. Once this is complete, we present you with a new home tender. This covers site-related costs and the preliminary site plan.

Finishes and selection process

At this stage, we work with you and/or your architect to finalise colours and materials. Our exclusive trade-base guarantees high-quality finishes throughout your new home. Whether you opt for luxury inclusions or a standard line of fixtures, our service is always second-to-none.

This is where the fun begins. You get to choose external materials, joinery, floor finishes, tiles, appliances, and plumbing fixtures.

During this stage we will prepare a HIA New Home Contract for you to review. This will include the results of the preliminary soil test, feature survey, contract drawings and colour selection. As soon as you’ve signed the HIA Contract we submit your building application. You will need to pass this on to your lender so they can prepare your progress payments. 

It’s time to knockdown your old home

We organise an independent licensed asbestos assessor to verify that your site is free of asbestos. If successful, you will be issued with an asbestos clearance certificate. We provide you with a copy of our demolition license and disconnect your utilities before starting the demolition. Not all builders offer in house demolition, so they may refer you on to a demolition specialist for this part of the build process. Having the whole process in-house, from demolition through to landscaping makes your experience and the build process smooth and stress free.  

Site prep

Once demolition is complete we order another soil test and feature survey. This step ensures there are no additional findings on the site, post demolition. This is necessary so we can finalise your construction plan and make necessary adjustments to site costs. We then start preparing your block for site start and excavate your land in preparation for the concrete slab. 

During the knockdown rebuild process mandatory inspections are carried out. This is to prevent major issues from arising in the future and ensure all work is up to code. The first inspection occurs during the site prep stage. The building inspector will inspect excavation work, boundary clearances and reinforcements before your slab is poured. 

Foundations

It is now that initial works for underground power and plumbing are carried out. A second building inspection is conducted before the concrete base of your knockdown rebuild is poured. The slab is then poured and given time to ‘cure’. This is also the stage when the first progress payment is often made.

Frame 

This is when you can start to see the bones of your new knockdown rebuild taking shape. If you have opted for a timber frame, carpenters will start erecting the wall frames and roof trusses of your new home. A third building inspection checks that the dimensions and placements of your frame conform to the approved plans. They will also ensure that the tie down straps to your slab are correctly installed. 

“Lock-up’’ stage 

The ‘lock-up’ stage refers to the point in the knockdown rebuild process where the roof, walls, external doors and windows are installed. Effectively making your new home water tight and ‘lockable’. This is also the stage where the fascia, guttering, brickwork and external cladding are completed. While this is going on plumbers and electricians will ‘rough in’ the necessary piping, cabling and fittings. They will bring various lines to the house without making the final connections. At this stage only NSW and QLD have a mandatory building inspection for waterproofing. 

Fixing stage 

This is the stage where you’re really going to see your new home take shape. Interior features start to be fitted, plasterboard is installed on the floor and ceiling. Internal doors, cabinets and shelving are fitted as well as skirting boards and architraves. 

Completion stage

It’s the race to the finish and time to make your new home ready for you to move in. Painting and tiling are finished off. Electrical and plumbing fit offs occur, including shower screens, mirrors and bench tops. External render is completed. At this stage the final building inspection will occur. A thorough inspection will make sure that all areas of your home are completed according to building code. If everything is up to standard the building surveyor will issue you with a certificate of occupancy. Once this is all done, we arrange for you to be walked through your new home and confirm the handover date. During this stage make sure you double check that everything is working and up to standard. We have a 12month maintenance period after your knockdown rebuild is complete, in case you notice any defects after settlement. 

Settlement

It’s time to celebrate; you’ve finally crossed the line! This is the most exciting stage of your knockdown rebuild. Your payments are complete and you get the keys to your beautiful new home. 

90 Day Period: Following handover, you’ll have a 90 day period to identify and note any concerns you might have. We’ll visit you at your home to ensure that everything is meeting your expectations and resolve any defects to the highest of quality.