The process of building granny flat is complicated and involves many different groups. Construction planning is a process of identifying activities and resources required to make the design a physical reality and we’ve outlined the basic workflow that guides planning, permitting, inspecting, occupation and maintenance. Building your new home is exciting, especially when you understand how the process works. Below are several residential builder tips that will guide you into building a granny flat.
Rigorous Planning
The first action to take in building granny flat is contacting the local council authority to provide you with the specific regulations and compliance requirements for your area. Your first step is to find the right design. If you’re planning a build, there might be other things to think about water, electricity and other services, any hills or slopes and existing features that you want to retain.
Necessary Technical Details
Before starting on building your granny flat, contractors must first determine what standard designs are best suited for your block. They must prepare the site details by conducting soil test and site survey. They should also be ready with the floor plan layout, cost estimate, lifestyle requirements, design essentials and budget and feasibility of construction.
Tender Acceptance
Once the contour survey has been completed the design team will plot the selected design on the contour survey. This is an essential part for building granny flat since this includes the tender acceptance signed by clients and the company representative and the contract plans.
Design
All granny flats must be constructively designed to be practical, functional and affordable and to suit most properties. A preliminary design and elevation from the information must be created and gathered, some homeowners opt for the standard designs. Once all the planning is in place you’ll be given a contract to sign and this means you are well on your way to turning your vision into a reality. Designs will be normally submitted to council at this point and you can sit back until planning permission is approved.
Approvals
Among those that needed to be approved and agreed upon are architectural drawings for building granny flat, structural engineer’s drawings, pay long service levy.
Construction
Construction time is the best part of developing the property. From the inception date, the creation of the granny flat will be completed within three months. The last step in our construction process is to have your new home professionally cleaned – so that it is beautifully presented and ready for you to move in.
We at Olympia Builders will be able to help you in constructing your granny flat for elderly from its concept up until completion. Our team of licensed building professionals go above and beyond to ensure your dream home becomes a reality. We pride ourselves on excellence and offer the latest in innovations, materials and designs to provide you with the best that the industry has to offer.
One common misconception in building a new modern home is the thought that it would cost you a lot of money. However, that is not always the case. There are certain ways on how you can build a new modern home that falls within the budget. Below are ways you can do so.
Modern Homes Can Have Simple Architectural and Construction Design
Simple modern designs are now considered a trend. The materials and services necessary for a modern home are significantly less expensive since they do not have complicated and intricate requirements. Aside from that, simple architectural and construction design employs a functional approach rather than solely aesthetic. Below are the aspects of a simple and new modern home that makes it affordable.
Faster Construction
Modern house designs have simple floor plans. Simple house plans are much more affordable than complicated ones that have a bunch of ins and outs, changes in elevation, and complex angles or curves. Because most modern homes have rectilinear walls and volumes, walls line up floor to floor and across the same floor. As a result, construction is faster.
Lower Labor Costs
Less time framing walls results in lower labour costs and a reduction in the overall construction schedule. The impact of a shorter construction schedule is huge because there are associated overhead costs like supervisor salary, job site trailer rental, and portable toilet rentals that are based on total construction days. If the construction schedule is reduced, all those overhead costs and fees will be lower, also.
Unified Functions
Modern houses typically have open floor plans. Open floor plans eliminate unnecessary interior walls. They create shared spaces making everyday living more communal. Living, dining, and cooking areas are closer together and the separation between each function is blurred.
Reduced Area Footage
Creating an open floor plan can reduce construction costs by eliminating entire interior wall constructions, meaning less material cost and labour cost. It also has the potential to reduce the overall square footage of the house because spaces can be combined. An open floor plan creates shared circulation space around furniture and tables that otherwise wouldn’t be possible with walls in place. With a more compact and efficient floor plan come other cost-saving opportunities. Aside from reducing construction costs, operating costs may also be reduced because there is less square footage and volume to heat and cool. You aren’t wasting energy heating this extra space you don’t need. In addition, a more compact floor plan reduces site work, foundation work, and roofing area so construction costs can be reduced even further.
Energy Efficiency
Modern houses are characterised by large expanses of glass to either let daylight in or highlight views. Now, window walls can be very expensive, but if you’re strategic in the placement, size, and product selection, glazing doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. While large windows can be pricey, the benefit is that they allow a lot of natural daylight to enter your house. Exposing more areas to daylight reduces your demand for artificial lighting so lighting loads are less. It also improves mental health and well-being so there may be savings in medical costs.
By engaging with our expert home builders at Olympia Builders located in Alexandria, NSW, for the construction of your new modern home, you can discuss and decide the aspects that would make your new modern home an affordable one.
The outcome of a residential building depends entirely on its design and construction. Consequently, mistakes committed in such undertakings contribute negatively on the actual establishment. Below are residential building design and construction mishaps you should avoid.
Lack of Master Plan
Many people start on small-scale renovations without considering the house as a whole and the budget required. It’s easy to contract a partial repair, such as a having a door mended, but when the builder comes on site the project may start to expand. Failure to plan is caused by lack of research and notification of the relevant local authorities. Working with an experienced architect can help you avoid any nasty surprises down the line.
Wrong Property Estimate
Whenever undergoing any property-related endeavour, it’s wise to understand the property market. You may want to disregard the world around you and build a house only suitable for yourself, but considering property resale in the future is essential in protecting your investment. It’s a delicate balance between enjoying your daily life while maximising resale value, so seek advice from your architect on how to design your perfect home without compromising its future potential value.
Short-Term Mindset
It’s tempting to build or modify a house to satisfy our immediate needs, but if you haven’t considered how the space will be used in the future you may find yourself torn between your dream home and your dream life. Consider where you place your bedrooms and showers and whether you may need lifts installed. Share your dream features and lifestyle with your architect so they can advise you on how to future proof your home.
Money-Saving Tactics
You may consider design fees as an unnecessary cost and feel capable of working with builders directly to save money. This is particularly common with those operating on a limited budget. However, the truth is the best advice when you have less to spend. You want to achieve exactly what you want the first time and to the highest level possible within your budget. Hiring an expert means you can plan the whole project in advance and reduce the costs of hiring suppliers and contractors – ultimately saving you time and money while avoiding potentially disastrous errors.
Price Estimate from Planning Designs
The designs you submit to the regulatory council to be granted planning permission are primarily concerned with the exterior of the building and only provide a basic sense of the entire structure. These documents should not be submitted to builders in order to estimate prices, as incomplete information will inform only vague estimates. Depending entirely on the planning design will lead to the incorrect items and materials being delivered and on-site changes to the design, making you vulnerable to ballooning prices and delays.
Excessive Eagerness
Everyone is eager to have their project completed, and every architect understands that the wait for moving into your new home can be agonising, but patience is essential in making that home exactly what you want it to be. Take your time at every stage and give yourself room to change your mind. A project needs to be able to adapt to your desires, which can often transform through the process.
Consult the top-rated home renovators at Olympia Builders located in Alexandria, NSW for residential building design and construction mishaps you should avoid. We guarantee that you will receive excellent advice, unique designs and highly skilled construction services for all of your home improvements.
Home renovations and extensions are a hodgepodge of ideas; these are dos and don’ts and considerations that homeowners are most likely to become overwhelmed. However if you take out the unnecessary ones and only keep in mind that which is important, you are bound to find yourself with a peaceful heart and a more beautiful home. Below are important things to keep in mind when undertaking home renovation and extension this 2020.
Never Rush Designs and Processes
Planning your project may well take longer than executing it, but it is worth taking your time to get it right. Design every detail up front and build according to detailed plans. Don’t design on the fly with builders on site. What seem like small changes can have a serious knock-on effect if not planned properly at the start. Very few extensions or major renovations involving significant structural work and drainage alterations can be done to a good quality in less than five or six months. Internal reforms can be done more swiftly, but the last stages of any building job will inevitably slow down – if only, for example, to avoid carpenters creating dust when the painters are trying to get a flawless finish on their eggshell. Unduly rushed building work will almost always come back to haunt the client.
Ensure Great Builder Reputation
This will make your life so much easier. Ask friends for recommendations and take references. Tender your building works with at least three builders. It’s the only way to ensure you are getting good value for your project. Take the time to go and see some of their previous projects. It is also very important to see their work beforehand so that you understand the finish you will be paying for. If you are particular about the final finishes being perfect, then you need to ensure your contractor can produce this.
Never Purchase Cheap Products
Projects often run into problems if clients opt for the cheapest tender. Small builders often don’t use quantity surveyors and sometimes get pricing wrong, or do not fully comprehend the level of detail involved in a project. Familiarise yourself with the actual pricing and be wary of those who offer services below the average price.
Consult Professionals
What with builders, architects, party wall surveyors and building control costs, professional fees will add a big chunk to your outlay. But unless you really understand the process, don’t skimp on experts if you are doing a big project. If you are undertaking a large project, especially one running well into six figures, a quantity surveyor is worth his or her weight in gold. They can drill down on the numbers to a level of detail that a builder won’t and this can really help you get your budgeting right and your costs low.
Consult the top-rated home renovators at Olympia Builders located in Alexandria, NSW. We guarantee that you will receive excellent advice, unique designs and highly skilled construction services for all of your home extensions. Our design and building experts will ensure that your home addition or desired renovations will result in superior quality home improvements that will completely satisfy and even surpass all of your preferences, needs and expectations.
Small properties, such as granny flats are a viable alternative for budding investors. Since these properties initially serve as a secondary dwelling that you build within the boundaries of your own property for ageing parents, more and more teenagers and young couples are availing of such flats due to inflating property prices.
Nowadays, granny flats have become suitable for people who want to downsize from their current home. You could build a granny flat in your block and live in it while renting out the main property. However, there are important things to consider prior to building one. Below are some of the tips from your top-notch residential builders.
Create a Seamless Connection
Make a seamless connection between the indoor and outdoor living areas. The main house and the flat should be attached in an aesthetic manner by highlighting specific similar building materials. You could use a brick or any similar material.
Install an Additional Path
Since you now have two dwellings, install a path to link the two. However, you must always separate the garden areas with a gate so as not to create a chaotic indoor and outdoor living space.
Divide the Living Room
Divide the living room from the kitchen with an L-shaped wall that cleverly houses the fridge and a bank of cabinets. White framed windows and doors on all sides of the floor plan, up high and down low, ensure the flat is flooded with natural light. Just add streamlined roller blinds for when you require privacy.
Opt for a Neutral Kitchen
There’s plenty of space to cook up a feast in a kitchen this size. Note how a well-curated collection of neutral finishes on the walls, cabinetry, bench tops, splashback and floor make this zone appear ultra spacious.
Make it Appear Homey and Accommodating
Add kitchen knick-knacks to make the granny flat feel like home. For a mod look in the bathroom, go for tiles in pared-back tones and a glossy white vanity. Add colour with your towels. Also, you can add a round table. A round table is a fantastic way to use limited space. Aside from that, it still allows you to comfortably host a couple of guests. As far as styling goes, hang your favourite artwork nearby to create a window into another world.
Consult none other than Olympia Builders in building your very own granny flat. We can take all the hassle away from home owners by using our extensive experience to help you achieve the best results. We only use high quality building materials and we are also conscious about sustainability and the environment. We make it a point that we meet all quality and environmental standards, and we are always open to new ideas and innovations that will help make your dream home into a reality.