Demolition for the Dream Home build is finally happening. There is a difficult balance between bringing our dream home to life and seeing the original Age Dream Home come apart. Modernists be assured that we are taking the integrity of the main spaces of the home – the living room, facade and front room – into consideration with every step. This is not a knock down, but a precise partial demolition project done with heart and skill.
We are not simply bringing down walls, but carefully removing some windows, fixtures and fittings.
As this is a partial demolition, a building permit must be in place. This will vary by your location, so check with your local council for the relevant rules and regulations.
Maintaining the integrity of the original structure is so important. We also considered moving the property forward in order to create more space in the backyard but after living in it for 12 months we realised how much we utilised the front yard. The imposing nature of the front facade required a large front yard.
We had previously looked at relocating period homes onto land sites (like what they did on the Block 2017 in Elsternwick) and the first thing you need is to get a permit. One of the restrictions we found with an old Edwardian was that it was lath and plaster, so once you’ve taken all that out plus the roof you have to weigh up what you are moving and is it worth it? If you can’t get the permit to move it, you need to know that earlier rather than later.
Utilise the professionals that do this all the time – home relocation. It is very popular to take old homes to the country. Since a move could cost around $100k, the house could cost $100k to buy, and then add on replumbling, rewiring, restumping etc. It can be a very cost effective way of getting a home but you need to do your homework. You will need to check with the local council where you want to move the home to as many country sites are covered by bushfire regulations and the home may not meet the strict codes required. So, to avoid disappointment and a lot of wasted money, you have to make sure it can be moved in the first place!
Here is a tip for your demolition stage of renovation projects; ensure that if you plan on keeping any existing fittings or fixtures list them clearly in the contract with your builder or you risk losing things. It has happened to us, so learn from our mistakes all along this Dream Home journey!
If you do plan to store things and reuse them, the easiest way to keep them close by is to park a big container out the front on your land. These will be delivered and picked up and are much more cost effective than storage boxes. And if you are planning on swapping out things for new features, look to sell if they are still in good condition. Our kitchen has been sold to a young couple for their own renovation and we have given away a large robe. We are also keeping the original interior timber wall. The two lead light windows – doubtful if original, were given to a family member who is making an art sculpture from them.
These chances to recycle are a great opportunity to give useful items additional life, keep perfectly good materials out of the landfill and make period pieces affordable for those just starting their renovations.