SDA Management Services WA

SOL Construction

Home Builders in Perth, Custom Home Builder

Building a Custom Design

How Can We Add A Second Storey?

Adding a second storey in Perth

Are you considering adding a second storey to your home? It’s a fabulous way of extending the size of your home without adding to the footprint. Adding an additional storey gives you the option of staying in the neighbourhood and avoiding the hassle and expense of buying and selling too. You’ll save thousands on stamp duty and selling fees alone.

As with all building and renovation work, going into the process knowing what you want and how you want your finished home to look are important. Let’s discuss the main points you will need to consider.

Considering Your Second Storey Options

When you hear about someone adding another level to their home, you probably think they built upwards by removing the roof, adding a second storey and then adding a new roof on top. But remember, you can also build sideways on an upper level i.e. extending over a garage.

We can work with you to advise which option is right for your property and circumstances.

Are You Ready To Build Up?

Once you’ve made the call to add another level, there are a few things you’ll need to sort out.

  • You’ll need some plans.

    An architect or draftsperson will be able to work with you on this. They are also the people to talk to about maximising natural light, how to plan for your view, where the best place for the stairs is and how high the additional storey can go. Make sure that your designs take into consideration window placement, which should match your existing home.

  • Have your home structurally checked.

    Adding a second storey can often put more stress on your home. This being the case certain building elements will require strengthening, such as footings and walls. It is important that you have your home checked by a structural engineer to determine the structural adequacy of your home.

  • Get advice on whether or not your design is likely to be approved by your local authority.

    If your home is in a flood, fire or cyclone zone, additional building standards will also need to be complied with. It is also vital you check your local building code as there may be height restrictions in place within your area which need to be followed.

  • Organise somewhere to stay during the renovations.

    At some stage, your home will not be weathertight as it will not have a roof. The construction work required will also intrude on your daily life, especially when it comes to moving services such as power, gas and plumbing upstairs.

Sol Construction in Perth

The best way to get real clarity about the options and costs of adding a second storey to your home is to contact us. We can walk you through the process, tell you what’s possible and provide costing so as to help your turn your vision into reality.

How Long Does It Take To Build A Custom Home?

How Long To Build A Custom Home In Perth?

Building Your Dream Home

Depending on the size and complexity of your new home it generally takes around 6 – 18 months from issuing of building permit to moving into your newly built home.

Being realistic about the timeframe allows you to plan ahead and understand what is happening at each of the two stages.

  1. Design & Documentation
  2. Construction

1. Design & Documentation (approx. 6 – 9 months)

The first 8-12 weeks is mostly about developing a concept design and getting a feel for costings.

The next 13 -21 weeks is where your plans are assessed for planning approval with your local authority.

The next 22-38 weeks involves collaboration with external consultants so that working drawings and documentation can be finalized and building permit issued by your local authority.

The pre-construction phase is all about the paperwork! Contour surveys, concept design, planning approval, external consultants, working drawings & documentation.

A building permit will need to be issued before building works can begin… We can help you with this.

2. Construction (approx. 6 – 18 months)

The final 39 – 78 weeks involve the actual building of your custom home.

This includes earthworks, foundations, building structure, plumbing, electrical & mechanical services, internal fit-out, painting, paving & landscaping.

The construction phase does seem to move faster. You can actually see physical progress of your home being built and it will quickly take shape.

A single storey home will be quicker to build, with approx. 6 – 12 month period till completion.

A two storey home takes longer, with approx. 12 – 18 month period till completion.

Once your home reaches lock up stage, the work begins on the interior. This includes things like your kitchen and bathroom fit-out as well as painting and floor coverings.

Generally, visual progress slows down as there are less dramatic changes in the appearance of your home. However, things will be moving at the same pace as they always have.

Your custom-built home is most likely to be the largest investment you have made. It’s important to understand the building process and how your home is built to avoid disappointment.

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Building Your Dream Home

Choosing a building company that is experienced, qualified and professional is vital to achieving the home of your dreams.

In Perth, please contact SOL Construction.

Sol Construction

Custom Home Builders Perth
1300 121 765

5 Questions You Must Ask Before Selecting Your Custom Home Builder

Before you choose a custom home builder in Perth, ask these questions:

1. Are you a registered builder?

It’s against the law for an unlicensed builder to carry out structural works in Western Australia.  You can check a builder is licensed and their registration is current by navigating through the Building Commission section of the Department of Commerce website. Here you’ll be asked to enter the builder’s registration details or the builder’s registration number.

Here’s a quick link: Find Registered Builders In Western Australia >

Note: A builder’s trading name may be different to the name of the entity registered with the Building Commission.

luxury home built by SOL Construction

2. Have you had any previous disputes lodged against you with the Building Commission of Western Australia or its equivalent in any Australian state?  If so, how were they resolved?

Details of building disputes lodged in Western Australia can be easily checked by navigating through the Australasian Legal Information Institute website.  Under the headings “Decisions beginning with …” and “Decisions for the years …” simply select the appropriate letter pertaining to the builder’s registered entity and search through the various years until you are satisfied there are no previous decisions against the builder.

Be mindful that not all decisions are a true reflection of a particular builder, but they will provide some insight into their background.

Here’s a quick link: Western Australian Building Disputes Tribunal >

looking out of living room to garden

3. Am I able to contact any of your previous clients to discuss their experience and thoughts of the build process?  Can I view any recently completed projects?

Contacting previous clients is an invaluable source of information when selecting your home builder.  Most builder-client relationships start out with all the best intentions but it’s how they end that will ultimately determine if that builder is right for you.  Firstly and most importantly, you need to feel confident that your builder can deliver on their promise and hand over your dream home.

Secondly, you want to feel confident the build process will be an enjoyable experience and not an unpleasant and stressful one.  If there were difficulties during the project, did the builder handle these professionally and was there always clear and open communication with the client?

Being able to talk frankly with previous clients about their building experience will give you a much better understanding of whether this is the right choice of builder for you.

Viewing a builder’s recently completed project is also an excellent way to gauge the quality of workmanship and overall standard of the build.  As the old saying goes, a picture tells a thousand words.

custom designed home in subiaco

4. What type of residential building work do you specialise in?

Some builders choose to focus on a particular type of build, such as renovations or single storey homes. Selecting a builder that has experience in building projects similar to yours may give you greater confidence that the build will run smoothly.

beautiful pool in backyard of luxury custom home

5. Which locations do you mainly build in and can you give me a firm start & completion date for my project?

You need to know that your builder is not going to be hampered by distance or location in delivering your dream home within a reasonable timeframe. If your project is a long way out of your builder’s normal area, there may be a risk that your project will be put on hold if your builder becomes busy with other work in more convenient locations.

A builder should be able to provide you with reasonably firm start and completion dates and if they cannot then it could indicate that your project is destined for delays.  That said, in some circumstances delays are unavoidable so it is critical that there are clear lines of communication between you and your builder to avoid any unnecessary build-up of frustration.

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Benefits of Building Custom

Have you ever lived in or visited a house that just didn’t feel right? A feature that seems out of place, a room that isn’t quite big enough, a house that didn’t really feel like a home?

These are all pitfalls of building from the design table of a company that has no interest in how your home fits your life, and vice versa. What’s more, big builders have pre-conceived ideas about what a house “should” be like, without taking into consideration how some people need it to be. So what can be done about this?

The answer: Custom construction. Rather than follow the designs someone else made up, who better to create the home of your dreams than you – the person who will spend the most time there. What’s more, the ideal home for you can meet or even exceed building codes and regulations in your area, be eco-friendly, and even stand out as the best house on the block. Beyond this, here’s a selection of great reasons to go custom.

Your new home, designed with you in mind

When you go custom, you can select not only the amount of rooms in place for various purposes, but also feature everything you want, the way you want it. Building with a company like SOL means you get to be an integral part of the design and development process, and ensure that the concept of your new home is something that you are not just comfortable with, but something you simply cannot wait to move into. The human imagination can take us to some pretty amazing places, and being able to use this imagination and embody it in a home is a rewarding and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.

Architect-designed homes also allow you to express yourself through your home design, but with the trained, professional eye of someone who knows the ins and outs of home design. This means you can have the nicest-looking house around, whilst maintaining and even maximising functionality.

Lifestyle benefits

Custom homes have been known to reduce stress in their occupants and improve family life, creating a personalised, liveable space that the whole family wants to enjoy together. And who doesn’t want to live in a more harmonious environment? Having a home that is functional for everybody and caters to their individual needs will help enable your family to spend more quality time together and to simply enjoy being at home..

Environmental awareness

The benefits of a custom home can also extend to the environment by including eco-friendly features within the design of the house. For example, double-glazed windows can be so energy efficient that they save enough power through better temperature regulation that they pay for themselves over time in the money saved on power bills. Designing the roof in such a way that solar panels can be included seamlessly is another way to create a beautiful home with the environment in mind.

Lower maintenance costs

Following on from the environmental benefits, reduced power consumption and the potential for the inclusion of solar energy systems means that in the long run, you’ll be saving money on bills. An energy-efficient home could save you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year, giving you extra money to spend on…..whatever you like!

Resale value

When you go for a custom home, you can increase the likelihood of a better resale value for your home in the future. Making sure you have a home with practical features that can appeal to the wider population, and fits well within the suburb’s aesthetics helps to strike the balance between a house that you feel comfortable living in, and one that performs above expectations on the market.

What’s more, some of the best value-retaining features you can add to a custom home also enhance its liveability. Decks, quality fittings and energy-efficient insulation are a few things you can include in your custom home that add value and increase interest in it when it comes time to sell.

These are but a few examples of what a custom build can do for you and your lifestyle. So if you’re interested in creating a home that’s beautiful as well as functional, looking after the environment and enhancing the resale value of your home, then give SOL Construction a call and see what we can do for you!

Where To Start

Where to start when considering a custom built home

Ever stepped into a home with personality from its mailbox to its benchtops? The concept of creating a space tailored to suit your needs and lifestyle is the most appealing aspect of building your own home. It makes sense – a home that’s built to your specification, with nothing you don’t want, and everything you do. However, it can be quite a daunting process to begin with. Not knowing where to start is a common problem faced when designing your own home.

First of all, it starts with knowing what you want in a home.

There are a few key elements to keep in mind when designing your home. Lifestyle, space requirements, and the orientation and limitations of your block all need to be taken into consideration first and foremost.

We work with clients who are as early on in the process as this. After initial discussions about the “must haves” and “nice-to-haves” such as the number of bedrooms needed, the size of the garage or desire for a pool, we are able to take on the responsibility of design from start to finish.

You can trust our skill and experience to help you create a home that will suit your lifestyle and budget.

Knowing what you want in a home is a delicate balance of form and function, and there’s no wrong place to start as far as form goes. Whether you’ve got a few ideas already in mind, or have seen elements you like in other homes in your travels, being clear about your own vision for your custom home is the first step towards your dream. Even flicking through architecture magazines or scrolling through Instagram can give you some great ideas to incorporate into a home. Having some definite ideas about what you do and don’t want for your house will mean a smoother design process overall. Rest assured though, we can help you develop your ideas further and  creatively integrate them into your home design in a way that’s both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

Remember when you were a kid making your Christmas wish list? Take this activity, and put it into your new home design. Except this time, you’re in control of what you get. At SOL Construction, we know what it means to dream big, and we want to help you get the best out of your custom design. We can help you fine tune your ideas and transform your dream home into a reality. Our knowledge of both the design and construction processes means less back and forth about design issues during the building phase. Getting it right from Day 1 will mean getting into your custom dream home sooner, happier and with a greater sense of satisfaction and achievement. And when we know you’re happy with the job, we’re happy too.

Trust SOL Construction to help you create your dream and turn it into a reality.

Building an Energy Efficient Home

Building a new home is all about choices.

Modern or traditional? Brick or cladding? An extra kids room or a theatre room for the adults?

To get the most value out of your new home build, you must consider elements that are going to add value to your home and save you money in the long run.

Investing in energy efficient solutions could cut long-term costs associated with owning a home, particularly considering the weather conditions that homes must endure in Perth.

Recently, a home in the Perth suburb of Schofields  made headlines proving that an energy efficient home may not set you back as much as you may have anticipated. The home, built in 2011 and designed by Australian building products company CSR, set the owners back between $300 and $400 in power costs per year.

Imagine a minuscule energy bill, and an added bonus when it comes time to sell the home.

Here are COL Construction’s top recommendations for energy efficient materials and cost cutting methods of power you should consider when building your home.

Design

There are a number of ways to incorporate energy efficiency solutions to your home during the design process, from window location and size to building materials which is why speaking to a reputable and experienced builder is key!

Orientation

Living areas and rooms that are used more during the day should be north-facing to catch sun and light for the longest part of the day, meaning you save electricity lighting the space in winter, and leaves bedrooms positioned on the southern side, making them cooler at night in summer and also cuts costs on cooling.

Insulation

Insulation is one of the most important ways to reduce your home heating and cooling costs. There is a whole host of new foam insulation technologies made with environmentally friendly and advanced composite materials on the market now. These ensure heat doesn’t escape from the roof, walls and other areas of the home during cold winter months.

Materials – Light-weight construction

The drive for energy-efficient building comes down to a quest for the “tight envelope”. In layman’s terms, the better that structure keeps out the wind and the rain, the tighter its envelope. Many builders and homeowners shy away from methods of light weight construction because of the higher costs, however, the short-term expense can often equal long-term savings. Additionally, the market for light weight construction material in Australia is growing, meaning costs are not as high as they once were.

Find out more on the YourHome Government website >