Planning a home renovation on the Northern Beaches can be fun and a headache as well. Everyone wants a property there that’s cool, comfortable, and meant for beachside living. Houses on these beaches have to face strong sea winds, salt corrosion, and bushfires. Over time, these factors make renovation necessary. That’s why it is important to understand how to achieve a quality home renovation to improve the design and raise the value of your property in the market. Read the article to know some tips and tricks.
1. Pinpoint Your Needs and Style
Give yourself some time to be clear about what kind of renovation you want in your Northern Beach home. Coastal living is unique in itself, so think about the changes twice before you apply them. Do you want exterior home renovation, or do you want interior home renovation? Some simple changes, such as open space, a change in layout, or ventilation points, can make a huge difference.
Every homeowner has a bucket list, but they find it difficult to filter the desires from the necessities. For that, ask yourself, “Will this change improve my quality of life?” For example, a necessity can be better insulation to withstand salty air, while a desire can be a pendant light you saved on Pinterest. Both are great, just not equally important. Whatever your renovation is going to be, it should be long-term. Go with ideas that serve you for a long time.
2. Set a Realistic Budget
Once you have a firm vision for the renovation of the Northern Beach home, have a budget you can invest in it. The basic step to calculate the budget is to know the purpose of your home renovation. Are you after a complete renovation or just a couple of minor upgrades? A realistic budget means making the best use of your money. For instance, installing high-quality flooring or windows might look expensive at first but pays off later in the long run.
Also, consider unexpected bills in the budget. Coastal sites are notorious for water damage, foundational flaws, or bad weather. So, it’s best to keep aside 10 to 15% of your budget for these surprises.
3. Follow Rules & Take Approvals
You cannot renovate or build a home on the Northern Beaches without approvals. There are some local building rules and standards that exist to secure the community, the environment, and the lifestyle that makes this area so popular. One of the most important tasks of homeowners of Northern Beaches is to take council approvals. Even if it’s a house exterior renovation or an interior one, you need to have a Development Application (DA) or a Complying Development Certificate (CDC).
As the Northern Beaches are covered by coastal protection zones, you should have required plans for erosion, flooding, and vegetation controls. For example, if you’re adding a deck near a cliff, you should have approval of the board for that also. Another key factor is heritage character. Some homes are built in preserved areas where all the homes’ designs are the same. This rule doesn’t mean your home should look “old”; its aim is to respect existing heritage and nature around.
4. Hire AAG Constructions
Now comes the most important decision of home renovation in Northern Beaches: hiring a builder. When you start searching for a builder on the Northern Beaches, make sure to select one that is local. Only a local builder understands the conditions, rules, and design demands better than a builder from another region. And that local builder is AAG Constructions. We are award-winning builders of Sydney’s Northern Beaches who have built and renovated countless properties. Our team has a family-like work ethic, is highly skilled, and has a decade of experience in this field.
Founded in 2011 by renowned builder Adam Gabay. Our aim is to offer an elite, client-focused building service. Further, there are some aspects that make us better than other builders out there and they are: We completely understand local council rules. We are familiar with coastal conditions and the most suitable construction materials. We give priority to craftsmanship, safety, and respect on-site. We always stay transparent, honest, and open with our clients. AAG Constructions ticks every box. Plus, we keep worksites professional and non-smoking.
5. Try to Keep Renovation Process Smooth
Suppose you want an outdoor home renovation and the process begins; it’s not just the responsibility of the builder to keep the process smooth; it’s yours too. Weather in Northern Beaches is quite different. Mornings can be slow and afternoons can get hot fast, which affects the construction work, such as the paint, which may take a long time to dry or the concrete, which may take time to settle. Further, timelines also matter. Ask your builder for updates from time to time. This way you will stay in the loop without any worry.
Furthermore, your neighbours may raise concern over the renovation process. It can be a friendly chat, a complaint about noisy work, or even a note in your mailbox. It’s important to give respect to the people living next door, as the whole process feels lighter and less stressful for everyone.
6. Post-Renovation Care and Maintenance
After a full home renovation, your work is not done yet. As in Northern Beaches, salt, moisture, and sea breeze can slowly wear down all that hard work if you don’t pay attention. Once every few months, take a slow walk around your place. Look for early signs of wear: tiny cracks in paint, rusty screws on outdoor lights, or moisture in the corners. Spotting these things early on can keep you away from costly repairs later. Create a checklist if you can. For example:
- Before summer, clean windows and screens so you can enjoy the beachside view.
- After stormy weeks, don’t forget to check roof tiles and gutters.
- At least once a year, clean balconies, railings, and outdoor furniture to remove accumulated salt.
To Conclude
A quality home renovation is always worthwhile, especially in an area like Northern Beaches. When you plan everything in advance in home renovation, you dodge the expensive mistakes, utilize quality material, and develop a home that supports long-term use. On the other hand, when you work with trusted experts like AAG Constructions for home renovation, it’s like the cherry on the cake. We guarantee that your renovation will be done with care, clarity, and high standards. So reach out to us, explain your project details, and we will provide the best possible quote for your project.