Ground Floor & Second Storey Specialists
Continued success of Complete Construction & Design is based on the key principles boutique service with volume pricing.
With so many new exciting materials available in the building industry today the possibilities are endless, building your extension, new home or renovation is only limited by imagination. Each project is delivered by a dedicated, experienced and professional team striving for the best possible finished product.
All of our projects are fixed price contracts and all are delivered on time.
We pride ourselves on knowing we have the best;
- Designs
- Trades people
- Materials
- Finishes, Fixtures & Fittings
- Energy efficient strategies
- Attention to detail
Please feel free to browse the site and contact us if you would like to talk about your project.
Complete Construction News and Information:
Renovating an Apartment, Flat or Unit
Before you start renovating there are also some legal and practical issues for you to consider.
Living in a unit or apartment
- Consider strata requirements. Owners must inform the Owners Corporation of any proposed structural alterations or renovations on their unit/apartment in writing.
- There are several legal responsibilities that an owner has to comply with the by-laws set by the Owners Corporation. These come under question when renovating, e.g. noise levels and floor coverings.
- The Owners Corporation may also have other by-laws governing renovations, including the appearance of the renovating unit from the outside, and the hours in which the renovations can take place.
- The strata may also have insurance issues, especially if structures are being changed.
- From a practical point of view, consider whether you’ll need to move materials through common areas.
- The only way to be
certain before you start renovating –
indeed, before you buy or move in to
your apartment – is to get a copy of the
registered plan that created your ‘strata’
subdivision. This document sets the
ground rules and you must follow the
drawn lines (with expert assistance from
your solicitor or conveyancer where at
all possible because the plans can be
confusing) so you know what’s yours
and what belongs to the OC as common
property. This is the line we’re looking
at: the boundary between your lot and
the common property. - If it’s in your lot,
or you have exclusive rights to a piece of common property through an
amendment to the strata plan or
by-laws, it’s your responsibility to
maintain and repair as well as
your right to decorate (within
limits as discussed below).
If it’s common property –
generally the roof,
footings, gardens,
services, walls,
floors, driveways
etc. – it
belongs to the
OC. (bodycorporate)
Renovation and Extension Terminology
During the process of interviewing contractors or building companies, or when you are discussing and planning your extensions and renovations with your final choice, you may find them using building or design jargon. Unless you are familiar with some of this renovation terminology, you can get lost or confused about what it is they are talking about.
Below are some commonly used words and terms associated with home additions, house renovations and home building plans.
Bearer a sub-floor timber that supports the floor joists.
Builder’s warranty / indemnity insurance compulsory insurance for builders that is supposed to protect homeowners from faulty work in the case that the builder dies, goes missing or becomes insolvent.
Building period the time that is allowed for your home to reach practical completion.
Certificate of final inspection issued by a building surveyor after final inspection of a renovation to show that work is up to scratch.
Contractor the party engaged to supply goods or services.
Contract price the amount payable to your builder for any work. It can be adjusted according to terms set out in the contract.
Cooling-off period the period when a person may legally withdraw from a contract without incurring a penalty.
Cost-plus contract a contract in which the builder determines labour and material costs, then adds a percentage to ensure a profit.
Covenant guidelines that require structures in a particular development or area to conform to specific standards.
Default interest the amount payable to the builder if you do not pay by the due date.
Defect liability period the period of time specified in the contract in which the builder is required to rectify defects (except for minor settlement or minor shrinkage).
Defects work that is faulty or not to the level specified in the contract.
Easement areas of land located above or around the equipment used for essential services such as pipes and electrical wires. Government authorities control use of this land.
Estimate the amount that the contractor expects to spend on materials and labour during the course of a project. Depending on the terms of the contract, this cost may change.
Fixed-price contract a contract in which the customer and contractor agree on a price that will not change, no matter what the project actually costs the contractor.
Flashing waterproof material that prevents moisture from penetrating a house through the walls or roof.
Footing a rectangular masonry section which is usually made wider than the bottom of the foundation wall or pier it supports.
Foundation the part of a building where all loads are transferred to the ground.
Joist timbers that provide the main structural support for a ceiling or floor.
Liquidated damages the amount of money you are entitled to if your home is not practically completed by the end of the building period.
Load-bearing wall a wall that supports weight from a floor or ceiling above it.
Occupancy permit issued by a building surveyor after the final inspection of a new home.
Planning permit councils place restrictions on building activities in their jurisdiction. Planning permits are needed for most large projects and many smaller ones.
Plans technical drawings completed by an architect or draftsperson and used in the construction of a house.
Practical completion the stage when the works have been completed in accordance with the contract apart from minor defects and is reasonably suitable for habitation.
Prime cost items this allowance is a reasonable estimate for fixtures and fittings that you select after the contract is signed and may include special kitchen and bathroom items.
Progress payments payments made to the builder at specified stages during the building process.
Provisional sum items amounts your builder has determined as ‘best estimates’ of the cost of certain work.
Sarking a reflective foil laminate that is installed inside roofs. It has many benefits including weather proofing, insulation and reduction of dust and sound.
Specifications A detailed description of work to be undertaken including the type and quantity of materials that will be used.
Strata title grants ownership over a section of a larger building.
Subcontractor a person, partnership or company who contracts with the builder to carry out part of the building works.
Subfloor A floor that will serve as the base for another floor; for example, a concrete floor that is covered over with floating floorboards.
Surveyor an engineer who carries out surveys of property elevations and boundaries.
Truss a structural support unit of three or more members, usually arranged in a triangular shape. Trusses are often used to support roofs and floors.
Variation is an omission, addition or change to the works, or a change in the manner of carrying out the works and should be outlined in the contract. A variation can be made at your request or at the request of the builder.
Warranty a statement that guarantees the material and workmanship of a product is defect-free and will remain so for a specified period of time.
Works means the work to be carried out, completed and handed over to you in accordance with what is set out in your contract documents including the variations.
Zoning council rules regarding the uses that an area of land may be put to.
