Tips to scaling down costs when building

We are a residential building company based in Sydney. Primarily we focus on architectural construction and have been building architecturally designed homes around the suburbs of Sydney for many years now.

One of the biggest problems that we find our clients have, is having grand ideas and aspirations for their home, but like many, not quite the budget to achieve them.

Do not lose hope, there are many ways to scale your costs down while not missing out on building your dream designer home. 

You can achieve great budget savings by making small changes to some of your design choices. With careful consideration to what you are willing to sacrifice and what is a non-negotiable you can find ways to bring costs down without compromising on your overall design objective.

Below I will go through just a few of the areas where you can potentially tighten your budget, hopefully these will get you thinking about where else in your build you can save, in order to get the designer dream items you simply have to have.

Firstly, think about the size of your home. A house that is built for the sake of being large may mean that all of the unique design ideas thought about at the concept stage may have to be stripped away to meet your budget. Remember the larger the house the more volume of materials is required, more flooring, more paint, more of everything. By designing a home that is unnecessarily large, you may miss out on creating a smaller but amazing bespoke home.

Roof design

A simple design consideration such as the shape of your roof can have a large impact on your budget. Naturally, the fancier the roof the more it is going to cost. If the design has more valleys, gutters, hips, downpipes and flashings the more it will hurt your budget. A simple design such as a flat roof will ultimately save you money.

Custom Detailing

It would be every architect and designers dream to be able to craft each home they design with unique bespoke details in every area of the home, but the hard truth is custom-designed and built features cost big bucks.

Without a doubt bespoke detailing is a beautiful luxury, I’m a firm believer everyone should encompass some custom detailing into their design. By doing this you create individuality and uniqueness to your home, and don’t forget a touch of opulance because who doesn’t want that. 

When it comes to scaling down costs this is where you need to be smart about what features you want custom designed and where you can be satisfied with off the shelf products. For example, I would certainly consider using a skilled joiner to create a custom tv cabinet, kitchen or bookcase. All of these items are in the main living spaces and are visual to everyone who visits the home. To save on costs, joinery in a laundry or even a walk-in robe you could use off the shelf products, these areas are not always on show and are great places to save on your budget. 

Window Frames

Door and window frames are a huge expense when building. There are many different options when it comes to choosing window frames, all at vastly different costs. This could be an area where you can save on costs depending on what look you are going for or how much you are willing to compromise on quality.

Window frames come in either timber, aluminium or if cost is no issue, slim-profile steel are simply beautiful. There are many ways to keep costs down, but choosing a cost-effective profile is perhaps the easiest. Aluminium frames, for example, come in three different profiles – commercial, semi-commercial and residential – with the latter being considerably cheaper than the others.

Ceiling heights

By sticking to standard-height ceilings for most areas of your home and choosing one or two main rooms to have an over-sized dramatic ceiling you will save a considerable amount on your budget. 

Ceilings that are 2400-, 2550- or 2700-millimetre-high can use two sheets of plaster on top of each other with only the one join. However, if you were to choose a 3000-millimetre-high ceiling, even though you have only slightly increased the height, you would be charged for an entire extra plaster sheet. Multiply this across all walls plus the additional labour and this can certainly add up.

Fixtures and Fittings

There are so many ways to keep costs under control in this area. Fixtures and fittings include items such as tiles, bench tops, light switches and tap wear, the list goes on and on.

Tiles

Choosing multiple types of tiles for your walls and floors can really add to your cost, especially if you have chosen patterned or unusually shaped tiles. By opting to go with several tile choices your tiler will need to spend more time getting the pattern and layout right and there is potential for extra wastage. Between tile costs and the additional labour, multiply this by several bathrooms and the cost can soon blow out. 

To get the designer look but keep your costs in check choose a single tile shape and colour for your walls and floors, it will reduce wastage costs, your tiler should charge you less and you may get a bulk buy discount when purchasing your tiles.

If you love a patterned tile go for a simple shape, this will save in laying time and wastage. 

Another option if you love the look of natural stone is to consider going for a ceramic tile, they will give you a similar look but at a far cheaper price.

Finally, if you have your heart set on a particular tile or pattern, consider having it in just one of your bathrooms or wet rooms, stick with a classic and simpler tile for the laundry or the kid’s bathroom.

PowerPoints and Light switches

You might be surprised, but these items have become a real fashion statement of late, but choosing non-standard switches and power points can really add to your costs. 

There are many different styles on the market, from ones that light up to censored lights to unique flush line styles, but essentially, they all serve the same purpose.

If you have your heart set on statement light switches, consider putting them in the main living spaces and use standard switches inside cupboards and places that are not really seen.

Timber flooring

If you want to go with solid timber flooring choosing readily available species such as Australian Hardwood or Victorian Ash to keep your costs down. Always remember, that the price quoted will be per square meter for the timber only, you will also need to add the cost of labour for the laying and staining.

An alternative to solid timber is timber laminate, these are a cost-effective solution while still giving you a beautiful timber look. Timber laminate is a thin layer of timber veneer on top of a cheap timber interlay. They come prefinished which means they are already stained and are quick to lay.

Timber laminate comes in a large variety of species and colours so there are many different looks to choose from but be sure to ask your supplier to specify the thickness of the veneer component. Some inferior timber laminates have very thin veneers that are easily scratched and dented. Laminates with a thicker veneer are much better quality and will allow you to sand back the floors a couple of times to refresh your boards, which is a better long-term investment.

Taps

This space has come a long way, tap wear is now considered a real feature in a home. They come in an array of finishes and styles from white to black to the very on-trend champagne, bronze and gunmetal finishes. Taps can be a large expense depending on what it is you are after and just how many you may need. For practical rooms such as the laundry, keep costs down by choosing a standard tap design. Save your money for public areas such as the kitchen or guest bathroom.

The way in which you choose to mount a tap will also affect your cost. A wall-mounted tap will have to be installed in the early stages of a build, prior to the vanity or splashback being ordered. Your plumber will need to set out where your tap wear is going to go early on as it has implications down the track when finishing these spaces.

You also need to choose the tile or stone thickness for your splashback before the tap is installed. This is because the plumber needs to know the thickness so that they can install the tap in the stud-work at the right depth. Changing your stone or tiles choices later in the build could have implications if the plumber has already mapped out your tap wear based on your original choice.

By mounting a tap on a basin, it is cheaper than on a bench top as you will not need to cut a hole into your stone.

If chosen correctly tap wear can be a stunning feature, with some designs having an almost artistic sculptural look.  If you choose to go with a more neutral colour pallet in your kitchen or bathroom tap wear is a fantastic way to add a little bit of wow factor with on trend colours and designs. 

Standard or custom designs

You can achieve great budget savings by asking your architect or designer to choose a combination of both standard and customised designs. Just about all building materials can be bought off the rack from windows to doors and even kitchens. High volume builders tend to only use these products which is why they can build homes to an exact budget, but in my opinion these homes are often lacking in individuality and luxury.

By taking careful consideration to what you are willing to compromise on, there are many areas where you can save on costs leaving you with space in your budget to get your designer bespoke features in other parts of your home.

When building an architecturally designed home finding the right balance between what you can afford and what your vision is will be key. Ideally you do not want to fall into a debt that you cannot afford as this is sure to take the joy out of building your home.

When you’re renovating or refurbishing your home, you want to get it right. 

Once you’ve got your layout and larger construction decisions sorted where do you go for advice on how to customize it? For the finer details of design, an interior decorator or interior designer are most commonly, your go to professionals.

You want your home to make you feel a certain way when you walk through the front door, so who is the best person to help you create this? In this article we discuss what an interior designer and an interior decorator offer?

An interior designer takes the ‘big picture’ approach to your custom design needs, whether the brief involves the interior of a newbuild or a refurbishment of your current home. 

They help you make the big decisions around functionality, dimensions, aesthetics, colours and the structural and spatial elements of your home. Using a range of imaging and blueprint technology, they can work with your architect, home designer, draftsman and, in some cases, tradespeople, to assist with making design decisions.

Interior designers think about the technical requirements of a space in terms of who’s going to be using it, for what and in what way – how people enter, move through a room and exit, has an impact on the size and placement of fixtures and fittings, lighting, couches, armchairs, bookshelves and tables. Interior designers also know what features are needed for the look you’re after. Traditional or uber modern?  Formal 19^thcentury antiques or mid-century design classics? 

Interior Designers may be freelancers, or work within an interior design company or architectural firm. They will have a qualification in interior design, such as a Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration, a Bachelor of Interior Design (Residential) and may have a Master of Design. The industry has its own awards; foremost are the Australian Interior Design Awards. Interior designers charge a project fee or an hourly rate. The average hourly rate for an interior designer in Australia starts at around $100. 

Interior decorator

This person is your ‘outside eye’: they’ll make sure your choices in furnishings ‘speak the same language’. An interior designer will help you decide on fixtures, fabric, textures, colours, objects, artworks and all the other details that go into creating a space. Decorating is an intensely visual creative process, but an expert interior decorator will also go with their intuition to get your space ‘feeling’ right. Does this space feel crowded or intimate? Would we call this room ‘fresh’ or ‘cold’? When you’re renovating or refurbishing, the decision-making process can be the worst aspect of the whole experience.  Marriages have come apart through disagreements over a pendant light fitting versus a chandelier. You might have a strong sense of how you want your space to look and feel, but not know exactly how to achieve it – that’s when you hand over decisions to an interior decorator: it’s their business to know that, a group of three or five objects on a shelf will always look better than two or four. They’ll know about incoming trends, where to place art work, what colour linen you should choose, and whether macrame wall hangings are still a thing (they are). 

Interior decorators are usually freelancers, with qualifications such as a Certificate IV in Interior Decoration or a Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration. Unlike an interior designer, there is no hard and fast rule for what qualifications are required to be an interior decorator, some decorators attract a client base via their sheer creative talent. 

An interior decorator charges a flat project fee or an hourly rate. In Australia, the average hourly rate varies from $50-$200/hr. 

Do you need to hire both an interior designer and a decorator for your project?

This depends on a number of things: how much time you’ve got, the kind of space you’re working with, your budget and your sense of perfectionism. If you do decide to go down the path of hiring both, be sure to have an upfront conversation with both parties to ensure everyone is working together to achieve a uniform and cohesive outcome.

When it’s time for new kitchen bench-tops, you have a lot of choices at your disposal. Whether you are building a brand-new home or renovating an existing property, you cannot afford to make a costly mistake.

The ultimate kitchen benchtops should be stylish, beautiful and practical, and that is not always an easy combination. No matter which kitchen benchtop material you choose, there are bound to be a few trade-offs along the way. Here are some of the pros and cons of various kitchen benchtop materials, so you can make a wise investment in the future of your home.

Granite – The Beauty of Natural Stone

It is hard to beat the beauty of the great outdoors, and granite benchtops let you bring that stunning beauty indoors. Granite is certainly striking to look at with its natural colours and patterns.

Granite benchtops may be an indulgence, but they can also be a wise investment. When properly cared for, granite kitchen benchtops can last as long as your home.

The biggest downside of granite is probably the cost. Compared to other kitchen benchtop materials, granite is quite costly, and it may not be the best choice for a budget-minded renovator.

Granite also needs proper care, and it is important to use the right cleaning supplies. Granite benchtops can suffer scratches and other damage, and repairs can be very expensive.

Marble – The Ultimate Luxury

If you are looking for the ultimate luxury in your new kitchen, you cannot go wrong with marble. Nothing beats the stunning look of a marble benchtop, and the natural veining just adds to the appeal.

Marble is also a natural choice for your kitchen benchtops, and marble can be an environmentally friendly alternative to other types of materials. If you crave a beautiful kitchen and a greener planet, marble could be a smart choice.

Like granite, the biggest downside of marble is the cost. Marble may be the ultimate luxury, but the price tag is equally luxurious. Marble benchtops are also extremely heavy, and that can make the material difficult to work with.

The complexity of the installation can drive up the cost even further, and it is important to hire a contractor who has experience working with marble. But once those marble benchtops are in place, their durability could last a lifetime.

Butcher Block – the Natural Choice for the Serious Chef

For serious chefs and home cooks, a butcher block kitchen benchtop could be the perfect choice. Butcher block has a warm and welcoming look and feel, and these benchtops would be right at home in a professional restaurant kitchen.

Butcher block surfaces are also naturally antimicrobial, and that can make meal preparation and clean-up easier. If you love to cook, a butcher block benchtop is the natural choice.

One of the biggest problems with butcher block kitchen benchtops is their extensive maintenance needs. Butcher block requires regular oiling to maintain their good looks and antimicrobial properties, and many homeowners underestimate the amount of care their new benchtops will need. If you plan to choose a butcher block benchtop, you need to do your homework and be prepared for the annual maintenance requirements.

Laminate – An Affordable Alternative

If you are looking for an affordable alternative for your new kitchen, you cannot go wrong with laminate. These benchtops are not as costly as marble, granite or butcher block, but when properly cared for they can be just as durable.

You can find laminate that looks just like granite, all for a fraction of the cost. If you crave the beauty of granite benchtops but hate the cost, laminate could be the perfect choice.

Laminate benchtops do have their downsides, including the fact that they are made from artificial materials. Laminate may not be the most environmentally friendly choice, and that could be a major consideration for some homeowners.

Putting new kitchen benchtop’s in your home is a major project, and it is important to weigh the pros and cons of the various material options carefully. Knowing your requirements and your options will make your life a lot easier and stop you from making a costly mistake.

So, you’ve made the decision to do some renovations or get some extensions done to your home. The plans have been drawn up and the dates have been set, so the next big question is, should you stay or move out during construction?

This is a question many people ask themselves, unlike new builds or second storey additions, a renovation or extension can potentially be carried out while you stay in the home.

There are many things to consider before you can make your decision and a major one is time:

• When will construction start? Knowing how long you have to organise yourself, your family, the pets, and your home in order to move out and find a rental before construction starts could affect your decision.
• How long is the work quoted to take? Depending on the work you are having done your home could be disrupted for days, weeks, or even months. Plus, you can’t discount the occurrence of unforeseen events that may push the timeline out.

The type of work that is being done, and where it is happening in your home, will completely affect your decision whether to stay or go. 

Perhaps you are having the bathroom renovated; if this is the only one in the house then going elsewhere while the work is being done is probably the best option. However, if you have another bathroom in the home you are still left with options.

An extension (extending the floor size) to one end of the house may mean that construction is not too intrusive to your family’s homelife, but an addition (adding new levels) is more likely to be a lot more disruptive.

The Pros and Cons of Staying:

The pros:

• You save money on rent.

• The children can still get to school in their usual manner e.g. walk, bus, ride.

• No moving costs or packing hassles.

• You are on-hand to make decisions that may be time sensitive.

The cons:

• There will be workers in and out of your home, privacy will be hard to come by.

• Noise will become a constant and living within the construction zone will make it hard to take a mental break from thinking about the build, it will surely dominate evening conversations since its right in front of you.

• Dust and debris can be hazardous. Children can stumble into areas that are dangerous and those with respiratory ailments, such as asthma, can be at risk from small dust particles.

And finally, although debatable as to whether it is a pro or con:

• Entertaining could be hazardous and difficult, which can mean not too many visitors.

When you are getting your custom home building done there is no doubt your life will change. How much or how little will depend on the time the work will take, its location within the home, and how much money you’re prepared to spend on alternative options.

At BIC Construction we are an experienced residential construction company, we understand the stress of renovating and building which is why we have procedures in place to make it as easy & smooth as possible. 

7 tips for a Dream Garden

There’s not many of us who don’t have some sort of idea about what the ‘dream home’ looks and feels like.  It might have high ceilings, a home theatre, high-tech automation, three storeys, or a hot tub — or all of the above and more!

But an often-overlooked design feature of the ideal home is the landscaping.  From the front gate, you’re looking at the sensational gabled roof amid the context of a brilliantly planned and executed front yard.  And at the rear, building up that perfect space for happy, relaxed outdoor living is only possible because someone knew exactly how to put together the pieces of the perfect garden jigsaw puzzle.

Luckily, good garden planning is not just necessary for creating the home lifestyle you seek, it can also be enjoyable.  We believe the garden is the icing on the cake as you plan the architectural features of your dream home, so here are some of our wisest tips for those looking to get their hands dirty:

1. Give it space

It’s tempting to max out the possibilities of your space, especially when it’s limited.  But don’t forget that a relaxing garden is one with wide, comfortable paths that allow you to hold hands as you take in your private paradise.  For your outdoor living and entertainment spaces, factor in plenty of elbow and breathing room around the furniture and features, and when planning pergolas and archways, don’t let the tall visitor leave with a bump on their head.

2. Gentle steps

Whether it’s to ease the slope or because levels are just amazing, make sure the construction of any garden steps and stairs is done so with a gentle incline in mind.  Don’t forget, it’s your place to relax, not a permanent outdoor gym.

3. Practical surfaces

Polished granite may sound like a fabulous idea for a path but slipping or tripping is not something normally associated with the perfectly planned garden.  If gravel seems unsexy for a walkway, but it will mean a sound footing through your beautiful paradise, give it more than a second thought.

4. Gardens do grow

Close your eyes and think of the perfect garden.  There’s a lot of full, beautiful foliage, right?  Fast-growing plants can be a great fast track to a lush garden, and don’t forget that you can plant slower-growing plants at the same time that can then replace the short-term ‘fillers’ in the future.  And when planting near patios and walkways, always leave a generous gap to the edges so they don’t encroach on your personal space.

5. Don’t forget the lawn

Not everyone loves that weekly Sunday lawn mowing chore, but rarely is manicuring a grassy place to play, lounge and chill out a waste of time.  We’d even go so far as to say you can’t have a great garden without a great lawn area, even if it’s small and you prioritise low maintenance.

6. Plants are colour and texture

When you think about what plants will look best for your garden, your first thought is probably a plethora of sensational, colourful, blooming flowers.  But rich foliage, falling autumn leaves, delicious summer fruits and the contrasting textures of glorious bark will make your garden a true natural wonder that will endlessly delight through all the seasons.

7. Plants are useful

And while plants are most definitely beautiful, they are also incredible useful.  Aussie shrubs like callistemon or melaleuca are perfect windbreaks.  Lilly Pillys are commonly chosen to give Australian gardens an extra bit of natural privacy.  And you’ve never enjoyed the heat of a summer’s day quite as much as under the ample shade of a stunning Trumpet Tree.

The final word: Always a work in progress

While these tips will put you on a tree-lined path to a perfect garden, those with the greenest thumbs will always tell you that the best gardens are the ones that are always evolving.  But if you start that process from well planned-out beginnings, you too can have a private Garden of Eden to go with your next dream home.