Renovation VS Knock-down Rebuilds (KDR)
You are ready to build your dream home and you can’t decide whether you should renovate your current home or knock it down and rebuild from scratch. Welcome to the beginning of a fantastic journey but do not take this project lightly.
Currently we are exposed to TV building programs which makes it seem easy, quick and cheap to renovate a house into a magnificent dream home – but is that really true? The answer is not necessarily. “The editing of those TV shows never includes the tedium of washed-out build days, delays in timber ordering and the long process of Government approvals. This means that on TV, renovations look faster and cheaper than they are in the real world” explains architect Jess Ryall from Architecture Republic.
So to renovate or KDR? Well let’s look at some comparable points.
Renovations:
Characteristics: Renovations are fantastic if your house has specific features you love and loved when you bought it. It may be its heritage feel or even have heritage protection laws prohibiting you from knocking it down. “If the existing house has a unique character or significant period features then it’s always worth preserving” states Jess Ryall.
Site: If the house is situated on a flat block or the site is good, for example the soil is of good quality or the weather does not affect the ground, then it is easy to extend on the property and provide exceptional results explains builder Chris Clowry from CJC Constructions.
Cost: In general renovations are cheaper than KDRs but sometimes the budget can exceed a cost that may mean a KDR is the best option. Jess Ryall explains in her position she finds that proposed projects in the inner Canberra area have a cut-off point where we start looking at KDRs and that is around $400,000 (less for suburbs further out). So it is important to assess your budget and be realistic.
House Design: If you have a house design that is easier to work with, for example you have a good size kitchen or bathroom plan and well-designed structural walls, then a renovation is straightforward for the builder. Therefore it would be easier and cheaper for the client to achieve their expectations. However, if you expect to renovate 50% or more of your home, you might want to consider a KDR as it could be financially better for you in the long run.
Knock-down Rebuild (KDR):
Characteristics: Starting from scratch gives you unlimited options and ideas to building your dream home. In particular, if you want a larger or totally different floorplan to what you have, a KDR is truly the best and cheapest way of achieving this.
Site: If you want to stay in a suburb or location but you don’t like the house, then a KDR is the next best option. You get to stay where you want and reap all the benefits.
Age: Builder Chris Clowry clarifies “One of the most costly and time delaying problems of any old homes is the unexpected surprises that commonly occur like leaky pipes, risky wiring and undetected asbestos. This is more common in poorly maintained houses. If you don’t want such headaches or wallet drainers, then go for the KDR option to get what you want.”
House Design: With a KDR, you have the opportunity to make your home sustainable, unlike a renovation, as you can orientate your home to get optimal exposure to sunlight, install double glazed windows etc. All these design strategies reduce your home’s carbon footprint while reducing the households’ energy expenditure and bills.
SUMMARY
Renovations Knock-down Rebuilds
- Has heritage protection or unique features – Bigger or different floor plan
- Good site/soil and on a flat block – Energy efficient changes
- Cost less than approximately $400,000 – More than 50% renovated
- Good size kitchen and bathroom plans – The unexpected surprises
