Home Renovations Coburg

Usually, yes, at the rear. In precincts like Bourke Street, Merri-bek generally looks for extensions that keep the front of the bungalow intact and sit lower or further back so they are hard to see from the street. A planning permit is generally needed. We check the controls before design starts so the plans suit the precinct.

Often, yes, but it depends on the existing footings and frame, which were designed for one storey. An engineer assesses whether they can carry the extra load or need upgrading. Outside heritage areas a second storey may still need planning approval for overshadowing and overlooking, which we check early.

Reactive clay soils are common across Melbourne’s north, and they move as they wet and dry through the seasons. Old stumps and footings also deteriorate. Small cracks in plaster are common in older homes, but larger or growing cracks are worth investigating before you renovate, and we check for them at the first visit.

Often, for at least part of the job. On Coburg’s larger blocks a rear extension can be built while you live in the front rooms, with the work area closed off. There are usually short periods without a kitchen or bathroom, and we tell you in advance so you can plan around them.

Coburg mixes Victorian, Edwardian, interwar and post-war houses, so priorities vary. Common issues are cracks in walls from reactive clay soils, sagging stumps, worn floors and dated electrical work. Sorting those, repainting and fixing the kitchen and bathroom basics usually comes first. If your home is in a Heritage Overlay such as the Bourke Street precinct, keep street-facing changes modest and check with Merri-bek City Council before altering the front.