How to stretch your renovation dollar further

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Wants v needs: Let’s tackle the tough one first. If you want maximum value from your budget, it’s important to identify what you need from your home improvement project, as opposed to those cheeky ‘wants’. The ‘wants’ are those things that would be nice to have – but aren’t strictly necessary – and have a nasty habit of breaking the bank. Single them out from the start and it’ll be easier to keep them in check so they don’t put pressure on your budget.

Valuation: It advisable to get a clear picture of what your home is worth now and what it might be worth once you’ve improved it. This insight will not only help you set your budget, but it will also help keep you focused.

The right designer: In our experience, you’ll get a more cost-effective design if you team up with a designer who works in-house for a home improvement specialist

building company. They will have a clear understanding of what things cost when it comes to home improvements. They’ll also design from a practical, budget-conscious perspective, rather than being driven more by design and lifestyle aspirations.

Next, ask yourself…Can we avoid moving wet areas? Can we avoid taking down walls? It’s not always possible, but it pays to keep wet areas in the same place if you can so that you don’t have the expense of relocating plumbing. Wet areas are the most expensive aspect of a renovation.

If you can, keep all the major walls in the same place. That’s because there’s more money involved in changing what’s there, than there is in adding something new. Too many changes and you’ll be wondering why you’re not knocking the house down and starting from scratch.

How to stretch your renovation dollar furtherIt’s possible to save many thousands of dollars if you’re smart about how you spend your home improvement budget. Understand where the money goes, and you may well be surprised at just how far your renovation dollar will stretch. It’s not about skimping. It’s about spending your dollars wisely to get the best overall result.

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The fundamentals of cost-effective designIf you’re looking at your existing home and wondering how you can add space without it costing the earth, you might want to bear the following in mind:

Adding a simple, single-storey, open-plan space at the back of your home is a very cost-effective option, especially when you keep the bones of the original property in tact.

If you need to go up, putting the upper storey over a new ground-floor extension is often the most cost-conscious solution.

Perimeter walls costs money, so the squarer the better. A perfect box will cost less than the same number of square metres in a rectangular shape. A seasoned home improvement designer can ensure it’ll never be obvious that you’ve simply added a straightforward box.

‘Hug the ground’ wherever possible. By following the contours of the land and adding a step or two here, you’ll minimise the need for expensive engineering. Engineering – like scaffolding – is one of the hidden costs that’s best avoided if possible.

Honour your existing house, but don’t be afraid to add something new at the back. In fact, you can positively embrace a clear definition between old and the new. After all, today’s lifestyles lend themselves to uncluttered, open-plan living and contemporary kitchen and living areas. There can be real wow-factor when you transition into a beautiful, modern new area.

A few more top tipsCeiling heights: Avoid scaffolding costs on a single-storey extension by keeping ceiling heights in check and being picky about where you include high ceilings. Adding a bulkhead can enable you to raise ceiling heights without the expense of changing the roofline.

Volume: Treating the kitchen, main living area, alfresco and garden as one space will trick the eye into seeing volume and openness. Adding lots of glass will visually push the walls out.

Open-plan design: Keeping areas simple and open-plan means you can ‘borrow’ space as needed. Passageways typically add cost, so creating a walk-through alongside an open-plan dining room, for example, works well because one area borrows from the other.

Parking: A double carport costs less to build than a double garage. A carport often suits the existing streetscape better, too.

Match v contrast: You can create a seamless flow between old and new as long as the overall balance of the house feels right. You don’t always have to match elements such as floors, ceilings and cornice, for example. Picking something similar – or different – from a standard range will save you money.

Avoid voids: If you’re adding a second storey, adding a void doesn’t work out much cheaper than turning the space into a useable room.

A word or two about windows and doors

‘In general, glass is cheaper than bricks and mortar, which means a 25-course window is cheaper than a shorter window with brickwork underneath.

‘Aluminium frames are cheaper than timber.

‘Sliding windows are cheaper than awning windows.

‘It can often be more cost-effective to get new doors throughout the house, rather than hunting down a special design to match what’s already there.

‘Sliding wardrobe doors come in standard widths, so it’s best to design to fit those rather than go to the expense of one-off design.

‘The combination of sliding doors and a corner post is far more cost-effective than opting for a columnless corner that requires costly engineering.

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Don’t get carried away in the kitchenIt’s easy to spend upwards of $50,000 on fitting out a new kitchen, but with some smart design decisions, it’s possible to get a stunning result for around $20,000. ‘Functionality first’ should be your mantra. Some of the best kitchens are actually quite simple in design. Here are a few points to bear in mind:

‘Decide on a hero piece. An island bench is perfect. You can opt for a chunky benchtop on the island bench, for example, then stick to standard thickness for the benchtop in the rest of the kitchen.

‘Brick walls are cheaper than floor-to-ceiling laminate panels. This is good to know when it comes to designing the pantry, fridge/freezer recess and linen cupboard.

‘Open cabinetry is more expensive than straightforward cupboards as there is more work involved in when the insides are on display.

‘Engineered stone comes in standard lengths. Work to these so you don’t have to buy material that will end up being wasted.

‘Pick appliances from a trusted, well-priced manufacturer instead of falling for the expensive high-end brands.

‘Laminate has come a long way. It looks great, is hardwearing and durable, and offers endless colour options.

Beautiful bathrooms on a budget ‘Do you really need floor to ceiling tiling? You’re locking

yourself into a style and you’re adding cost.

‘Sunken sinks are cheaper than above-counter basins.

‘The cheapest shower size is 900mm x 900mm, but an experienced designer will use his design smarts to keep waterproofing costs down and still give you the look of an expensive walk-in shower.

Once you know the basics, you’ll be able to make your renovation dollar stretch much further than you might have first thought.

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