We are well underway on our new dwelling at Willoughby, and its been an interesting process to date. The old home on the site was removed and as a parting gift it unveiled some nasty asbestos buried underground that needed to be removed. Once completed we could commence levelling, plumbing rough in, slab forming and pour, all now complete. This week has seen the commencement of framing including our large steel portal frames which now give a great sense of the scale of building to come. Although only single storey, this home will have a very strong presence in the street and definitely change the face of the area.

As we blog each week I will attempt to leave you with little pieces of advice, based on the stage of the project that we are at, for all those considering a renovation or new build.

Here’s this weeks advice:

Whenever considering a new project it is important to understand that you need to have a contingency amount built into your budget. Our advice is generally around 5% for a new build. This allows coverage for unforeseen circumstances (as we found with our buried asbestos) and the ability for you to change your thinking if you, your architect or builder see a different way to do something that results in a better outcome for you. Of course the aim is never to draw on contingency, but always sensible to have access to it if needed.

Picture shows living area portals as viewed from the street frontage.