House Extensions Adelaide: Free Quotes from Local Builders

house extensions

Ready to compare extension quotes?

Contact House Extensions Adelaide about house extensions in Adelaide.

house extensions

Start with the approvals, not the floor plan

Most people start by sketching rooms. In South Australia the order that matters is approval first. PlanSA points owners to the Planning and Design Code tool at code.plan.sa.gov.au to see the policies that apply at an address, and a South Australian builder's guide says extensions require approval under that code before work can start. A South Australian builder's guide says a straightforward extension that meets standard setback, height and site coverage rules can be assessed quickly, while one that varies from the rules goes through a longer merit assessment. We cannot say which path your project takes, so ask your council and read the PlanSA page.

That is why a good first conversation with any builder covers who prepares the plans, who lodges the application and what happens if the council asks for changes. Treat a quote that skips these questions with some caution, and ask for the missing items in writing.

house extensions

What an extension really involves

An extension is a design and construction project joined to a house that already exists. The new footings and walls have to meet the old ones, the roof has to be tied in, the plumbing and wiring have to be extended, and the finishes have to look as if they belong. Some owners add a single room, and others open up the back of the house with a kitchen and living area, add a level on top, or build a separate studio in the yard. Each has different costs and different risks, and our guides explain how to think about them.

house extensions

Adelaide houses and Adelaide ground

A local builder's guide says much of Adelaide sits on reactive clay, which swells when wet and shrinks when dry, so footing design matters. It also says Adelaide homes span every era, from sandstone and bluestone in the inner suburbs to double brick from the 1950s to 1970s and lighter framing in newer areas, and that joining old to new is one of the biggest challenges in any extension. Those are one builder's views, but they are good reasons to ask each business how it would handle the footings and the join to your house.

house extensions

Heat, light and orientation

The same guide notes that Adelaide summers regularly exceed 40 degrees and recommends building in deep eaves on the north and west, windows that open for cross-ventilation and suitable glazing at the design stage, rather than relying on air conditioning later. Ask each builder or designer how the new space will face the sun, how it will be shaded and how the windows will be arranged. Good answers are specific to your block, not a brochure.

house extensions

Comparing quotes properly

A low quote and a fair quote can differ because of what is left out. Ask each builder to list design, engineering, approvals, demolition, structure, roof, windows, plumbing, electrical, fittings, painting and clean-up. Ask what happens to the price if the soil, the old wiring or hidden materials turn up surprises. Ask which allowances are fixed and which are estimates, because provisional sums can be adjusted later.

house extensions

Check the licence and the insurance first

Contact House Extensions Adelaide about house extensions in Adelaide.

house extensions

What drives the price of an extension

Published guides agree that the price per square metre is only a starting point. Access, slope, soil, the height of the new work, structural changes to the old house and finishes can each move the total. One guide gives about $8,000 to $25,000 for taking out a load-bearing wall, and $15,000 to $30,000 for the staircase on a second-storey addition. Those are indicative figures from a builder's page, not quotes, and your plans decide the real numbers.

house extensions

Adelaide suburbs we have guides for

We have written local pages for Unley, Norwood, Prospect, Glenelg, Mitcham, Burnside, Brighton and Henley Beach. They cover the character of each suburb, what to ask about the house and the street, and links to the official pages. They are not advice on any particular property.

house extensions

Before you speak to anyone

Decide roughly what you want to add, how many people will use it and how much you can spend. Gather your title or any plans you have, photograph the back of the house and the side access, and note anything you suspect about the age of the building. The more detail you give, the easier it is for a builder to say whether they can help.