Double Storey Extensions

Double Storey Extension Builders

A double-storey extension can be a great move for your property. You can add value and amenities to your home, create extra living space and even extend your floor plan.

We can help you with all your extension needs. With our design team, you’ll get all the features you want, ensuring that your home grows faster than your family and taking your home to the next level!

Things to Consider

  • Most people are wary of the cost of adding a double-story to their house in Melbourne. It’s common sense to be cost-conscious with any major extension, especially exterior renovations. To get the best value, talk to our experts about your renovation plans.

  • Like most home renovations, budgeting needs to start at the planning stage. We can give you a good idea of costs before you even start, and more importantly before you make any financial commitments. Take advantage of our budget estimates.

Beautiful, Functional Double Storey Extension Builders Melbourne

As one of our city’s premier construction firms, we proudly provide homeowners with a variety of options. For all your extension requirements, Capital Building is here to turn your vision into a stunning reality.

Our highly skilled designers provide full plans to you beforehand, ensuring that your vision combines with our expertise for the best possible outcome. On finalisation your design will be one you can see yourself enjoying or selling on with a return on investment, then we can proceed.

In a few months’ time, you will be so pleased with the results of your home’s transformation and find that it has been truly reinvigorated by the Capital Building experts.

Our Credentials

Building an extension or renovating is one of the biggest purchases in our lifetime. Therefore, it is essential that before going ahead with a project you can trust the building company that you choose.

Capital Building has an impressive list of credentials which means that should you choose it, you will be using a trusted, experienced, honest and safe building operator.

Registered Building Practitioner

Peter Harnischmacher and Travis Vinton, are ‘Registered Building Practitioners’ with the Victorian Building Authority.

Master Builder

Travis is currently a Master Builder member of  Master Builders Australia.

Green Living Master Builder

Capital Building is registered as a Green Living Master Builder Master Builders Association.

Victoria Building Authority

You can check Capital Building’s registration credentials by contacting the Victorian Building Authority. (Tip: search for ‘harnischmacher’ or 'vinton' under the Practitioner Name field)

Public Liability Insurance

Capital Building has Public Liability Insurance up to $5 million. For information about Public Liability Insurance see: Public Liability Insurance

Contract Works Insurance

Capital Building has Contract Works Insurance. For information about Contract Works Insurance see: CoverForce

House Extensions Before and After

Capital strives to create the perfect harmony between style and function, and our skills and knowledge allow us to do so.

There are all sorts of reasons for extending: your family may be growing and you require extra space to all live comfortably at the property; you might want to maximise the property’s space potential; or you might be looking to add more value to your property.

Regardless of your reasons, we can make it happen for you. What’s more, we keep you informed every step of the way, ensuring that you are happy and relaxed regarding all aspects of your property’s transformation. This is all part of striving to provide the best experience possible to our valued clients.

Building a Second Storey Extension

One of the most common dilemmas we come across when people are considering extending a home is whether to build out or up. Building out means extending the floor level space of your home; building up means adding a second floor.

Here we’ll look at some great reasons why to build a second storey, with some essential information about the cost and what planning permits are required.

Reasons to Build a Second Storey

There are many good reasons to build a second storey on your existing home. One of the major advantages is that you do not compromise the space around your house – allowing you to keep, for example, your existing garden or backyard area. This is a really important consideration if you have a family, like to entertain outside or love your vegetable patch or shed.

Another great advantage is that you can significantly increase your floor space even if you are on a small block of land; particularly relevant the closer you are to the city. Other significant reasons why you may want to add a second floor include:

  • Building up adds dimension to your house, giving it a more imposing architectural presence.
  • An upper level will provide natural insulation for your lower level, which means keeping the heat out during summer and preventing heat escaping during winter (in Melbourne).
  • You’ll avoid potential site costs such as installing a new slab or footings, which are required when extending outwards.
  • You can enhance your view depending on where you are. For example, the second floor can introduce a view of the city, bay or the leafy surrounding areas.
  • You can add significant value to your property, especially if you are a single level property in an area that has many double storey properties.

Most double storey extensions provide additional bedrooms and a bathroom(s) so that all sleeping is contained upstairs. Just be aware that for a second floor to be a real advantage, it’s essential that you build more than just one room. By only adding one room, you won’t gain any spatial advantage as you will lose space on the ground level from the stairs – meaning you will have no extra floor space overall.

Cost

Popular perception suggests that adding a second floor costs significantly more than extending a home outwards. In our experience, this is not the case and it very much depends on what is required and the condition of your building site.

For example, extending a home outward can mean a hefty cost in excavation and disposal and the installation of foundations. An experienced extension builder will charge you about the same per square metre price for an upper as they would for a ground floor shell. However, there is an extra cost for the stairs.

In terms of the cost of cooling or heating an upper storey, there is little difference to that of a ground floor extension. Insulating an upper storey is about the same as insulating a single storey. A second floor does add an extra layer of insulation, resulting in the ground floor being cooler during the summer months whilst also providing opportunities for cooling through *chimney stack ventilation effect if designed correctly. Generally speaking, heating is only required on the ground floor and air-conditioning on the upper level and maybe in the main living area at ground level. Hot air rises, cold air falls.

The Planning Process

When deciding whether to add a second level, the first consideration is whether the existing structure is strong enough to hold another storey. A good building practitioner will be able to advise you from the outset. In our experience, we find that in most situations second-storey extensions are possible.

One of the challenges in designing a second storey is where locate the stair access. Most people do not realise how much space a staircase can require – for example the best part of a small room (approx. 4m2) downstairs to accommodate it. Therefore, some minor redesign of your ground level is always required, for upper storey extensions.

It’s also really important from an aesthetical, functional and value perspective that the second storey blends in with your original property, giving it the appearance that it was built at the same time. This is where hiring a designer-builder is a major advantage.

Before having your plans drawn up, it is essential to check the rules and regulations of your local council. There are specific rules covering areas such as not blocking out neighbours’ sunlight and regulations to prevent your extension ‘overlooking’ neighbouring properties.

Also, the existing structure needs to be considered and taken best advantage of; to attain an aesthetic, efficient result.

In most cases, a second storey can be built whilst you still occupy part of your home. However, builders will need access to your home throughout the construction process. In some cases, you may need to move out of your house, especially if your existing bathrooms, kitchens and laundry are affected.

Our Reviews

suzanne L. ★★★★★ Our project with Capital Building was a demolition of the rear of the house, for a new two-story extension, followed by a reconfiguration and renovation of the existing part of the house. This project lasted almost 12 months and transformed our small and outdated house into a modern, spacious, and well-functioning home.Dean was our building designer, who played a pivotal role in the early stage. Although we had a rough idea of what we wanted to do in the beginning, Dean helped us to test our ideas to the practicality and guided us to alternatives that would work better and more economical to achieve. I see his advice extremely valuable because of not only his knowledge and expertise, but also his easy access to his building team for technical opinions.Dealing with Pierce was smooth and easy. He took care of the contract, responded to all our queries clearly and promptly, and made amendments to our satisfaction before contract signing.Next up is the building process. We were glad that we did not experience anything like a quiet and empty building site. We always had trades working consistently. The build quality was satisfactory. Even though I didn’t have a lot experience in building as this was my first major project, I did find their choice of building materials and selection of trades were in good quality.Travis was the director of the company but amazingly he was all over the details. We had many unexpected challenges throughout the build, however, he showed us a lot of passion and his can-do attitude was the most impressive. He made it happen to build a S-shaped handrail for our staircase while the stair company did not even want to touch it. He was a very good communicator and a great listener. I appreciated that he always put himself in our shoes in solving problems. Tom was our site supervisor. He too was a good communicator to keep us informed about the progress, to share his knowledge and to hear our concerns. Overall, I found Travis and Tom were very professional, responsive, and easy to talk to.There are a few other people I would like to mention: Carole, who helped selecting colours and bathrooms. We were so happy with the beautiful results; Tiffanie, who was over almost everything else on managing meetings, documentations, liaising with the team for any inquiries, and following up anything outstanding; and individual trades, from carpenters and tilers to plumbers and cleaners, who showed their care and respect.Conclusion: Capital Building is a mature and professional team that has great skills and customer services. I feel the people there being honest and considerate. I would highly recommend them and would certainly consider them again in the future.Response from the ownerHi Suzanne, thank you so much for taking the time to write such a nice and detailed review. You were a pleasure to work with and we really hope you are enjoying your new space. All the best, CBC Team. michael B. ★★★★★ I recently had capital building do a second story extension , I had no idea what i was getting myself into, my first point of contact was with Pierce, he assured me not worry the whole process was a breeze with Tom,Laura and Tiffany.and Travis and the crew Dylan,Jarrod and the rest of the boys did an exceptional job, it was all done and completed way ahead of schulude.The professionalism and workmanship was above and beyond ! I highly recommend Capital building,Response from the ownerThank you so much for your kind words, Michael. You were an absolute pleasure to work with and we are so happy you enjoyed your experience with us. We wish you all the very best and hope you enjoy your new space.Thanks again, CBC Team Madhu R ★★★★★ We engaged Capital building contractors after going through an arduous taks of wishlist/quote/review with ~20 extension specialists across Melbourne.From the get go, Ali,Travis and team were professionals in listening to our needs and wants, driving it against the stringent budget we had and designing the best extension space we could have asked for.Our approval process took about 12 months and the team kept us in loop throughout and helped update whatever changes wer asked for in quicker time.The build was a breeze!!! Kyle and the guys stood up an entire second floor in no time and helped us add ~60 sqm space in 4.5 months ( Christmas shutdown included).It's been 6 months since we have had our newly extended space and we cannot thank Ali,Travis,Kyle,Pierce and Tiff ( a very special shout-out for those regular updates and all changes incorporated without a fault) enough !!More space ✅Quality ✅Budget ✅Ease of engagement ✅Work ethics including all the sub contractors who came to site and worked through ✅ ✅Equity on property ✅Response from the ownerThank you so much Maddy. You were both such a pleasure to work with, we are so happy you enjoyed your experience with us and are loving the final result.All the best, CBC Team js_loader

A double storey extension involves expanding a single-story home to improve its functionality, aesthetics, and value. It typically includes renovations to multiple areas of the house, adding rooms, extending living spaces, or upgrading existing features.

Double storey extensions provide an opportunity to maximise space, increase living area, enhance comfort, and improve the overall layout of your home. They allow for better utilisation of the available space and can add value to your property.

Capital Building offer a range of double storey extension options, including adding levels, expanding living areas, remodelling bathrooms or kitchens, creating additional bedrooms, and optimising the floor plan to better suit your needs.

The need for planning permits depends on the specific proposal and planning regulations for your property. Our team will guide you through the permit application process and ensure compliance with all necessary permits and permissions.

The duration of a double storey renovation varies depending on the size, complexity, and scope of the project. It can range from several months to a year or more. During the planning phase, we provide estimated timelines based on your specific project.

Yes, Capital Building offer design and build services to help you plan and visualise your double storey extension . Our team of experts can create concept designs and work with you to ensure the proposal meets your aesthetic and functional goals.

Relocating during a double storey renovation depends on the scope of the work and your personal preferences. In some cases, it may be necessary to temporarily relocate to manage disruptions. However, we strive to complete the construction with minimal inconvenience to you.

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5.0
Based on 24 reviews
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