Struggling to find the perfect location or land size for your new home? Consider the benefits of a knockdown rebuild!
Como offers a full service for your knockdown rebuild. From design to handover. We are with you every step of the way.
One of the key factors in building a home is its orientation. In Australia, a north-facing design is the most popular—and for good reason. It allows the sun to naturally warm your home, making Canberra's chilly winters more comfortable and energy-efficient.
Many older suburbs in Canberra have homes that weren't built with orientation in mind, often resulting in low Energy Efficiency Ratings (EER) and higher energy costs. A well-planned rebuild can change that, creating a home that's warmer, brighter, and more sustainable.
Love your location but need more from your home? A knockdown rebuild in Canberra offers a smarter solution with plenty of benefits:
A new home gives you access to the latest technology and smart, energy-efficient solutions. Enjoy a home that's more cost-effective to run, environmentally friendly, and designed for modern living.
Design
Your journey starts here—with a conversation about your vision and goals. With decades of experience, we're committed to building a home that perfectly suits your needs.
We'll explore your requirements, desires, budget, and objectives for your new home while guiding you through the entire process. Our deep understanding of council regulations and knockdown rebuild procedures means we can assist in securing the necessary permits and approvals.
Getting expert advice early in the process is key to avoiding delays and costly mistakes. Let's work together to turn your dream home into reality.
We begin with a detailed property assessment to determine its suitability for a knockdown rebuild. This typically includes a soil test to assess the soil's reactivity and a feature survey. The feature survey is a scaled drawing of your site, highlighting landfall, service connection points, easements, and any existing features.
Once the assessment is complete, we'll provide you with a comprehensive new home tender. This will outline site-related costs and include a preliminary site plan, giving you a clear picture of the next steps in bringing your dream home to life.
Then we collaborate with you and/or your architect to finalise the colours and materials for your new home. With our exclusive trade base, we ensure exceptional quality finishes throughout, whether you choose luxury inclusions or standard fixtures—our service remains unparalleled.
This is where the excitement begins! You'll have the opportunity to select external materials, joinery, flooring, tiles, appliances, and plumbing fixtures to create a home that truly reflects your style and vision.
All Inclusive Quote
At this stage, we will prepare an HIA New Home Contract for your review. This contract includes the results of the preliminary soil test, feature survey, contract drawings, and your colour selections.
Once you've signed the HIA Contract, we'll submit your building application. You'll also need to provide the contract to your lender so they can arrange your progress payments, keeping everything on track for your new home build.
Demolition
It's time to say goodbye to your old home. We arrange for an independent licensed asbestos assessor to confirm your site is free from asbestos. Upon successful assessment, you'll receive an asbestos clearance certificate. Before demolition begins, we provide a copy of our demolition license and handle utility disconnections.
Unlike many builders who outsource demolition to specialists, we manage the entire process in-house—from demolition to landscaping. This seamless approach ensures a smoother, stress-free experience for you.
Site Preparation
After demolition, we conduct a new soil test and feature survey to identify any changes or additional findings on the site. This step is crucial for finalising your construction plan and adjusting site costs if necessary. Once complete, we prepare your block for construction, including excavating the land for the concrete slab.
During the knockdown rebuild process, mandatory inspections are carried out to ensure everything complies with building codes and to prevent major issues down the line. The first inspection takes place during the site preparation stage, where the building inspector reviews excavation work, boundary clearances, and reinforcements before the slab is poured.
Construction
At this stage, initial works for underground power and plumbing are completed. Before pouring the concrete slab, a second building inspection is conducted to ensure everything is up to standard. Once the slab is poured, it's left to cure, providing a solid foundation for your new home. This is also when the first progress payment is typically made.
Next is putting up the frames of your home. This is where the structure of your new home begins to take shape. If you've chosen a timber frame, carpenters will erect the wall frames and roof trusses. A third building inspection is carried out to verify that the frame's dimensions and placements align with the approved plans, and to ensure the tie-down straps to the slab are correctly installed.
We then move to the 'lock-up' stage. This marks the point where your home becomes weatherproof and secure. The roof, walls, external doors, and windows are installed, effectively sealing your home. During this phase, fascia, guttering, brickwork, and external cladding are also completed. Meanwhile, plumbers and electricians begin to 'rough in' piping, cabling, and fittings, bringing essential lines to the house without finalising the connections.
Currently, only NSW and QLD mandate a building inspection for waterproofing at this stage.
The fixing stage, also known as the extra excitement stage, is where your home really starts to take form. Interior features are installed, including plasterboard on the walls and ceiling. Internal doors, cabinets, shelving, skirting boards, and architraves are also fitted, giving your new home its defined interior character.
Completion Stage
You're in the home stretch—time to get your new home ready for move-in! Painting and tiling are completed, and electrical and plumbing fit offs are finalised, including shower screens, mirrors, and benchtops. External rendering is also wrapped up during this phase.
The final building inspection will ensure your home meets all building codes and standards. Once approved, the building surveyor will issue a certificate of occupancy. After this, we'll schedule a walkthrough of your new home with you and confirm the handover date. Take this opportunity to double-check that everything is functioning properly and meets your expectations.
We also offer a 12-month maintenance period after your knockdown rebuild is complete, providing peace of mind in case any defects are noticed post-settlement.
Settlement
It's time to celebrate—you've made it! This is the most exciting stage of your knockdown rebuild. Once payments are finalised, you'll receive the keys to your beautiful new home.
90-Day Period
After handover, you'll have a 90-day period to note any concerns or defects. We'll visit your home to address these issues, ensuring everything meets the highest quality standards and exceeds your expectations.
