Home Renovations Eltham
Eltham Homes,
Reimagined
Complete home renovations in Eltham and across Melbourne for over 20 years, from a single room to the whole house. Family-run, fixed pricing, no hidden costs.
Your Eltham Home, Done Properly
Hi, I’m Tony Simonovski, owner and founder of our family-run business, Smarter Home Renovations. Established in early 2002, we have over 20 years of professional experience in carpentry, construction, design and home renovations in Eltham.
What Our Clients Say
5.0 out of 5 stars, based on 25 reviews
Exceptional service at reasonable prices!
“We can't recommend Tony and his team enough and we're very grateful for their service. From the onset of the quote, Tony was very professional and clear about what was included. The team were prompt, tidy and the quality of the workmanship was excellent. We will definitely be using Tony and the team again for future renovations.”
Great Experience
“I really can't say enough good things about Smarter Home Renovations! Tony and Milan were wonderful to deal with. They explained every detail of the process and were very responsive with the questions I had along the way. Their attention to detail was outstanding and they really worked hard to make it a great experience for me. Workmanship was great quality, their work ethic was solid and presentation was very professional. I'm extremely pleased with my renovations and would not hesitate to recommend their workmanship. Thanks again.”
Professional all the way
“We initially talked to Smarter Home Renovations due to their reputation and experience. Plus we were referred to them through someone who had already updated their laundry and they were rapt. Tony was personable, a good listener and made sure he understood our needs. He was very flexible in negotiations, ensuring a win-win outcome. The team were highly professional and excellent communicators making sure the work was completed on schedule and to budget. We now have an attractive and spacious family home which we have no intention of leaving! My wife and I would not hesitate to recommend Tony from Smarter Home Renovations.”
Renovating Homes in Eltham
Eltham sits among hills and gum trees on the edge of Melbourne’s green wedge, near where Diamond Creek meets the Yarra, with mud brick and timber houses, split level homes and larger 1970s and 1980s family houses on big, often steep blocks. Many of these homes have rooms on several levels, single glazed windows and layouts that turn away from the bush outside.
That shapes most of our Eltham home renovations: reworking split level layouts into better connected living, adding rooms or a new wing that steps with the land, upgrading insulation, glazing and heating, and refreshing timber and mud brick interiors without losing their character. Parts of Eltham are covered by bushfire, vegetation and significant landscape controls, so we confirm planning and building requirements with Nillumbik Shire Council early.
Eltham at a Glance
- Postcode
- Eltham VIC 3095
- Council
- Nillumbik Shire Council
- From the CBD
- About 20 km north-east
- Typical Homes
- Mud brick and timber homes
- 1970s and 1980s family homes
- Brick veneer houses
- Townhouses near the town centre
- Property Market
- Median house price$1,271,500
- Median unit price$820,000
- House rent$782 a week
- Unit rent$650 a week
Source: CoreLogic via Your Investment Property, prices to July 2026, rents to September 2026
Before You Start
What to Plan For in an Eltham Home Renovation
Bushfire
Bushfire Overlay and BAL Ratings
The Bushfire Management Overlay covers much of Nillumbik, including parts of Eltham, while other parts are in a Bushfire Prone Area or neither. Where bushfire rules apply, an extension usually needs a BAL assessment, which sets the construction standard for walls, windows and roofing. We check your property’s status before design starts.
Trees
Significant Landscape Overlays
Much of residential Eltham is covered by a Significant Landscape Overlay, with different schedules for areas such as the town centre, central Eltham and bush garden streets. These generally require a permit to remove substantial trees and guide how buildings sit in the landscape. An extension is easier to approve when it works around the trees.
Materials
Extending a Mud Brick House
Adding to a mud brick home means deciding whether to build in mud brick, use rammed earth or contrast with lightweight timber. Joining new to old needs care with footings, moisture and movement. Some significant Eltham mud brick houses are in a Heritage Overlay, which also affects external changes.
Slope
Building on the Slope
Eltham blocks often fall several metres across the house. Extensions usually step down the land on stumps or a suspended slab rather than cutting deep into the hill, which also limits retaining walls and drainage problems. Getting soil and site information early keeps footing costs predictable in your fixed-price quote.
Insulation
Warmer, Better Sealed Homes
Many Eltham homes from the 1970s and 1980s have single glazing, little insulation and large timber-framed windows that leak heat. A renovation is a good time to upgrade glazing, insulate walls and ceilings and improve heating, keeping in mind that new windows in bushfire areas may need to meet the BAL rating.
Get a Free Home Estimate in Eltham
Two quick steps. We’ll be in touch within one business day to arrange a visit to your Eltham home.
- 1Tell us about your project
Two quick steps. It takes about two minutes.
- 2We call you back
Tony will be in touch within one business day to talk through your ideas.
- 3Free on-site consultation
We visit, measure up and listen to how you want the space to work.
- 4Fixed-price quote
A detailed, itemised quote. What we quote is what you pay.
No obligation, no pressure
Family-run since 2002. Your estimate is free and your details are never shared with third parties.
Your Home Renovations in Eltham
Living Areas & Open Plan
Knock out walls, open up floor plans, upgrade flooring and lighting, transforming how your family uses the heart of your home.
Extensions & Additions
Need more space? We design and build home extensions that integrate seamlessly with your existing structure, inside and out.
Flooring & Finishes
Timber, tiles, polished concrete or carpet; we supply and install quality flooring, paired with painting and plastering to match.
Built-In Joinery
Custom wardrobes, entertainment units, bookshelves and storage walls, built to your exact dimensions and finished to a high standard.
Electrical & Lighting
Updated power points, new light fittings, downlights, dimmer switches and data cabling, all by licensed electricians.
Painting & Plastering
Interior and exterior painting, skim coating, patching and full repaint, finished with precision and cleaned up completely.
Your Eltham Home in 5 Steps
Meet & Greet
We get to know you and your specific needs. And you find out more about us to make sure we are a good fit.
Consult & Design
We ask lots of questions to understand your ideal outcome for your project. We discuss layout, budget, colours and more.
Quote
A comprehensive quotation outlining all the details, costs and timelines to complete your project.
Construct & Manage
Time to get to work with all our suppliers and trades to construct your project and deliver it as promised.
Deliver
We strive to deliver your project on time and on budget. We believe in 100% customer satisfaction from start to finish.
Home Renovations In and Around Eltham
Eltham (3095) is about 20 km north-east of the Melbourne CBD, and well within our regular service area. We renovate homes in Eltham and its neighbouring suburbs, with the same team, the same fixed pricing and the same attention to detail.
Home Renovations MelbourneNearby suburbs we service
Is my Eltham home in a Bushfire Management Overlay?
Some Eltham properties are and some are not. You can check on VicPlan, which shows the Bushfire Management Overlay and Bushfire Prone Area mapping for your address. If either applies, an extension will generally need a BAL assessment and may need a bushfire management statement. We check this before design work begins.
Can we extend a mud brick house in Eltham?
Yes. A mud brick home can usually be extended in mud brick, rammed earth or lightweight timber. The key issues are joining new footings and walls to the old, keeping moisture away from earth walls and meeting current energy and bushfire requirements. If your house is in a Heritage Overlay, a planning permit may also be needed.
Will I need a permit to remove trees for an extension in Eltham?
Very possibly. Significant Landscape Overlays across much of Eltham generally require a permit to remove, destroy or lop substantial trees, and native vegetation rules can also apply. Designing the extension around existing trees is often the simplest path. We confirm requirements with Nillumbik Shire Council.
Can we stay in our Eltham house while it is renovated?
It depends on the scope. When an extension is built as a separate wing on a larger block, many families stay at home, with the join to the house done at the end. If the kitchen, bathroom and main living areas are all affected, a short move out is often easier. We plan this with you.
How do we start a renovation on a steep Eltham block?
Our first step is meeting you on site to look at the slope, access, trees, overlays and the house itself, then give you a detailed fixed-price written quote. Early checks on the bushfire and landscape controls mean fewer redesigns once drawings are underway.
How do I prepare an Eltham house for sale or lease?
Eltham buyers often value mud brick, exposed timber and a connection to the bush, so it is worth repairing these rather than covering them. Typical issues in older homes include single glazed windows, rooms on several levels, gutters full of leaves and timber that needs resealing. Fixing maintenance items, heating and safety comes first. Parts of Eltham are in a Bushfire Management Overlay, so external work may take longer to approve.
Ready to Start Your Renovation?
No matter the project, our team has the right solution. Get in touch today for a free, no-obligation quote, and let's get your renovation underway.