Renovation Collaborative – Details, episodes & analysis

How do you design a Passive House in a mild temperate climate like Melbourne?

In today's episode, I continue to investigate the design specifics for each of the four climate zones around Australia where most of our population lives. I talk to very experienced Passive House designer Andy Marlow, a director of the award winning environmental practice Envirotecture in Victoria and New South Wales.

In this episode, Andy explains the Passive House design specifics for Mild Temperate. Plus we talk more about Enerfit, the renovation and retrofit tool, and he shares heaps of other information and insights from his years of experience to help you better understand Passive House.

Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours for these podcasts.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.

KEY POINT SUMMARY

1. In terms of the five Passive House design components, mild temperate is very similar to cool temperate.

• Windows are double or sometimes triple glazed depending on the design.
• The fresh air circulation system is an HRV
• Stud framed wall thicknesses are typically 140mm to allow for more insulation, and insulation is required to separate a concrete floor slab from the cool earth temperature below.
• An internal wrap for air tightness and moisture control is usually required in addition to the exterior weather tight wrap, and
• Removing thermal bridges is always important.

2. The colour of the roof and walls is considered in the PHPP modelling and affects the design's performance. In cooler climates, dark coloured buildings perform slightly better than light coloured buildings. Dark coloured roof and walls will dry out faster which can be beneficial to reduce any moisture in the wall and roof structure. However, Andy noted that as a nation going forward into climate change and increasing temperatures, generally speaking, lighter coloured buildings are the best solution.

3. Passive House is a performance standard so buildings can be constructed from any material as long as they deliver the required results through the PHPP modelling. Andy references a Passive House that Envirotecture have completed made from straw bale.

4. Passive House certification costs around 3 to 8% extra, however the value it adds far outweighs the extra cost. Envirotecture prefer to build certified Passive Houses over uncertified high performance because of the rigorous testing on site. The quality assurance.

5. When renovating, the whole building must be upgraded to achieve Enerfit certification. Improvements must be made to...

Passive House design is different in every climate zone.

Over the next four podcast episodes, I talk to Passive House designers in the four Australian climate zones where most of our population lives, to discover the key differences.

Today I start with Passive House design for cool temperate climates like Canberra and Hobart. I talk to Michael Tolhurst, the director of award winning practice Envelope Architecture in Canberra.

Michael clearly explains the Passive House design specifics for cool temperate. Plus he shares heaps of other information and insights to help you better understand Passive House design

Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours for these podcasts.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

1. Passive House design for cool temperate climates has a focus on warming. Of the four Australian climate zones accommodating most of our population, cool temperate is the most extreme. In Canberra, winters regularly go down to less than -5 degrees Celsius and in summer can reach the 40s.

2. Using a compact building form makes the Passive House standard much easier to achieve in more extreme climates like cool temperate. However, if you want a more linear form because of your site or to capture views etc. The PHPP tool can be used to determine building form alternatives and compensate for heat loss in other ways.

3. Windows are generally triple glazed. The window glass area reduces as the climate becomes colder to reduce heat loss. However, it's still critical to have opening windows in all habitable rooms to get cross ventilation when needed. And shading is still very important to prevent too much heat gain.

4. The fresh air circulation system is a HRV, which stands for Heat Recovery Ventilation System. The HRV provides a constant supply of filtered fresh air and incorporates a highly efficient heat exchanger to retain heat from inside the house. Some additional mechanical heating, usually from a reverse cycle air conditioner, is generally required.

As a side note, Michael clearly explains how Passive House heating is generated from three sources:

i) Solar heat gain,

ii) Internal gains from occupants, showering, cooking and equipment, etc.

iii) Mechanical heating.

The air tightness and insulation in a Passive House very efficiently retains the heat inside the house.

5. An internal air barrier is required in a cool temperate climate zone and this is in addition to the vapour permeable external membrane used for weatherproofing. Heat energy

Today, we move on to the next step in the Renovate or Sell journey - Borrowing finance.

You might think of mortgage brokers only for getting the best home loan rates, but they've got a lot more knowledge and value to offer than that. Loans for construction and renovation are definitely not one size fits all.

When it comes to construction projects, everyone has different objectives: large projects, small projects, owner-builders, licensed builders, and even modular or relocated homes. And that's just the beginning. Not all banks will finance everything, because from the bank's perspective, there are different levels of risk. So, finding out what finance is available for your project ideas is essential before you go too far.

I talk to highly respected mortgage broker Richard Jefferies from Newbridge Home Loans in Brisbane. 

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process. 

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

There are so many key points from today that narrowing it down to three is hard, but I'll start with these.

1.Depending on your personal financial situation and construction project specifics, you can access a number of loan types. You may also be able to access finance for the design stage consultants as well as the construction.

As a general guide, the standard loan types are construction loans and smaller renovation loans. A construction Loan is for projects over about $150,000. It involves a licensed builder and payments made over the standard stages in a construction contract. The alternative is smaller renovation loans for more cosmetic work under the $100,000 mark. This is for bathrooms, kitchens, and other similar projects where you don't necessarily have to have a licensed builder. You can manage the process yourself, and the amount of money will be paid out in a lump sum drawn down at your discretion.

2.Some projects will require specialized loans, and limited lenders will be available. Typical examples of this are when you're going to be an owner builder for a large project of a size potentially that would have usually been covered by a typical construction loan. Also, if you're looking for finance for a relocated home, modular home, prefabricated home, or something similar.

3.If you need finance, getting in touch with a mortgage broker at three key stages is essential.

• The first stage is the initial discussion. Before you start any design, you need to determine your budget so it can guide your design brief.
• The next stage is pre-approval finance. When you've got some draft floor plans and more of an idea of what you want to do, be aware that pre-approval finance is only valid for 90 days....

Buy or Renovate? Which is more affordable?

When you discover the price to build your renovation plans you may think, ‘Surely it must be cheaper to sell and buy something better instead?’ 

In today’s episode, I talk to a real estate agent to find out what is happening in the real estate market in 2024-2025 in Brisbane and all around Australia, and the forecast moving forward.

I also investigate the impact of flooding on property prices and how environmental design is valued in the market.

I talk to highly respected and experienced real estate agent, Tim Douglas from Place West Estate Agents in Paddington Brisbane.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process. 

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

Another fantastic interview with Tim Douglas. I just want to draw your attention to three main points from today.

1. Firstly, the property market is showing growth in most Australian capital cities, with Brisbane looking particularly strong going into the Olympics. Brisbane has had a very strong run since COVID and there's no sign of that stopping over the next 7 - 8 years.

2. Secondly, the high price of construction over the past few years has led to a shortage of completed larger renovations and new houses in the Brisbane market. Therefore, these products are now in high demand. On the flip side, unrenovated smaller cottages are not performing as well as they used to. This is obviously because there's not as much enthusiasm for renovating as there used to be, making these products less desirable. Tim advised that if you're able to hold onto one of these properties and just wait, they'll become a better investment over the longer term.

3. The third point was that environmental design adds value. I've always known it does, but it's really great to see that reflected in the market. Getting the climate responsive design basics right is always a winner. Get those living areas facing north, the indoor outdoor living areas, so they'll be filled with light and responding to the climate, responding to the seasons, winter through summer.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

00:00 Introduction

01:09 What's happening with the price of real estate in Brisbane in 2024-2025 and looking forward?

11:18 What is happening with house prices in the other Australian capital cities looking forward?

19:21 Does a house designed to suit the climate have greater property value?

21:19 Do other environmental initiatives add value and are buyers looking for them?

23:07 What effect does potential flooding have on a property in the current market?

30:22 If someone was planning to renovate and sell within 5-10 years, what advice would you give them on the...

You might think of real estate agents only for buying and selling property, but did you know that they have a heap of knowledge that can add value to your next renovation or new home project?

In the previous episodes, I covered the cost of house construction to help you understand what your design ideas or your house plans might cost. In today's episode, we move on to the next step in the renovate or sell journey - property value and feasibility. You'll find out how a good real estate agent can help you answer your design brief and budget questions, and add real value to your home.

I talk to experienced real estate agent Tim Douglas from Place West Estate Agents in Paddington, Brisbane.

Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours for these podcasts.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process. 

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

00:00 Introduction

01:17 Do many renovators ask you for advice on their design brief and budget?

05:48 What information can real estate agents provide regarding brief or budget?

07:53 If someone is thinking of selling, should they talk to a real estate agent before they do any improvements?

11:46 What are the most common features that make a house not worth renovating?

16:59 For people putting together a design brief, what are the things that potential buyers always look for?

20:33 Do swimming pools add value and are people looking for them?

23:20 What is your advice on baths?

26:02 Do very personal or unusual design features make a house difficult to sell?

30:45 If you create a smaller home than others in the area, will it cause a problem when it comes to resale?

37:25 When is the best time to approach a real estate agent to get advice?

43:05 What are the typical relocation costs?

46:33 What design information should people bring when meeting with a real estate agent?

47:59 Key Points Summary

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

These are the key points from this episode:

1. Firstly, if you've got design brief or budget questions, it's always worth talking to a few experienced local real estate agents to get their opinion, particularly if you're considering selling in under five years. Agents talk to buyers on a daily basis so they're in a unique position to provide information on features that add value and those that don't, as well as what buyers are prepared to pay for them. At the end of the day, it's your house, so you can do what you want. You don't have to follow the agent's advice, but I always think it's worth getting informed before you start spending any money, so there's no regrets later on.

2. Secondly, it was...

Are you looking for the current cost of renovating or building a new house in Brisbane, South East Qld or Northern NSW, Australia in 2024-2025? 

In this episode you’ll find out the current square meter rates for new custom construction. 

I talk to a building cost estimator and find out the cost of house construction in 2024 and what's forecast to happen in 2025.

If this is your first episode, I recommend you go back and listen from the beginning of the season because everything builds on the episode before. At the very least, please listen to Episode 4. What are square metre rates? so you understand what they are and most importantly, when they're used by inexperienced people, they can lead to very inaccurate results!

The information covered in this episode on current square metre rates is for education only.

I talk to building cost estimator David Knight from Total Estimating Services in Brisbane.

Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours for these podcasts.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process. 

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

We covered so much information in this episode, but I just want to draw your attention to three main points.

1. The first point was the wide range of costs to build custom, mid-range quality houses in the current market, which varied from around $3,000 up to over $6,000 per square metre.

I predominantly work on residential renovations two storeys in inner Brisbane, which is quite sloped. So the fact that you could build on a flat block, a single story building for so much less, was quite a surprise to me.

It was important to note what did make those renovations in inner Brisbane to older houses so much more expensive that everything is custom. Every bit of timber has to be custom cut. Everything has to fit in unusual sizes for houses out of square and that's what adds to those prices compared to the new single level building on a flat site.

2. The second point to make is that there's no easy way to get costs down.

There's never one or two big items that you can just take out of a job and save those costs. Costs are always spread across the entire project, so you really have to go through everything and take out little bits through the entire job.

A better way to deal with this is when you're designing and as you go through and you choose each item, make sure you choose an item that's within your budget. Try to keep the costs down in the design stage so you don't have to go back through and take them out after costing.

3. The third important point to note that in this market where costs are so high, it's only worth...

If you are trying to figure out how much your renovation ideas will cost, you will have come across square metre rates. But what are they?

In this episode I investigate square metre rates in detail. You will find out what they are, how they are calculated, and why building cost specialists hate using them!

I talk to highly respected Quantity Surveyor, Flavio Costanzo, from Flavio Costanzo and Associates, in Brisbane.

Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours for these podcasts.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process. 

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

We cover so much information in this podcast but I just want to stress the three most important points:

1. If you're ever quoted square metre rates, make sure you find out what they include, because that can just be so variable and everyone has a different interpretation.

2. Square metre rates may or may not include verandas or bits and pieces attached to the house, but they never include work outside the house.

So make sure you allow to add all of this on to your building cost work. This includes things like driveways, cut and fill, complex footings, pools, pool houses, landscaping, fences. All of those things need to be added onto your construction cost.

3. Both the quantity surveyor and the building cost estimator really didn't like using square metre rates because they're so variable and it's hard to get a really accurate result.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

00:00 Introduction

01:00 What are square metre rates?

02:10 Where do square metre rates come from?

03:28 What is included in square metre rates?

08:30 What is Rawlinsons?

10:55 What is excluded from square metre rates?

13:44 What are typical items that make square metre rates higher or lower?

16:09 Key Points Summary

IN THE NEXT EPISODE

In the next episode, I find out how much it costs to build in Brisbane and South East Queensland in 2024 and the forecast for moving into 2025. I will be talking square metre rates, so it's really important that you take on board everything that we've covered today in this interview.

RESOURCE LINKS

Flavio Costanzo and Associates. Quantity Surveyors and Building Cost Consultants

https://au.linkedin.com/in/flavio-costanzo-6165b22a

GET IN TOUCH

If you've got any comments or questions or there's...

Did you know that a quantity surveyor can give you independent building cost advice on your house plans and ideas, and help you decide whether to renovate or sell?

Welcome to the Renovation Collaborative ‘On the tools’ podcast, where I interview industry experts to find out practical information to help you renovate smarter. My name is Stephanie Skyring. I'm an Australian architect with 20+ years of experience helping people create better, more environmental homes on any budget.

In the previous episode, I spoke to a building cost estimator. In today's episode, you’ll find out how a quantity surveyor can also provide you with independent building cost advice. You’ll get further insights into building costing that will add value to your residential project, whether you’re an owner, an architect, a building designer or a builder.

I talk to highly respected quantity surveyor, Flavio Costanzo from Flavio Costanzo and Associates building cost consultants, in Brisbane.

Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours for these podcasts.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process. 

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

00:00 Introduction

01:16 What is the difference between a quantity surveyor and a building cost estimator?

06:42 At what stages of the design process would a quantity surveyor provide costing advice?

11:13 Do you provide cost estimates at the tender stage for builders?

19:06 When you are putting together an estimate, where do the material and labour prices come from?

20:01 What are the benefits of obtaining independent building cost advice from a quantity surveyor?

20:39 Can a quantity surveyor give advice for the whole of Australia or are they more locally based?

21:17 Key Points Summary

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

We cover so much useful information in this interview, however there are three critical points that came out of the discussion:

1. The first point was that quantity surveyors (QS) and building cost estimators come from different backgrounds, but when it comes to residential costing they work in very similar ways.

• Either one can provide the cost education you need. You just need to find someone local.
• Although I did not cover it in this episode, the costs for a quantity surveyor's services are very similar to those of building cost estimator. I covered a building cost estimator’s services and costs in the previous episode.

2. The second point was again about the critical importance of obtaining costing advice early in the design phase, to ensure your budget and design brief are aligned, before you go...

Do you need to know more information about the cost of house construction to help you decide whether to renovate or sell?

You might typically think of obtaining building cost advice from a builder, but did you know that’s not the only option? You can also obtain independent advice on how much it will cost to build your house plans or even your design ideas, from a Building Cost Estimator and a Quantity Surveyor.

Welcome to the Renovation Collaborative ‘On the tools’ podcast, where I interview industry experts to find out practical insider info and save you time and money. My name is Stephanie Skyring. I'm an Australian architect with 20 plus years of experience helping people create better, more environmental homes on any budget.

In the first four episodes of this Season, starting today, I focus in detail on house construction costs.

In today's ‘On the Tools’ episode, you’ll find out practical information about working with a building cost estimator; what they do, what their services cost and how they can add value to your next renovation or new build project. I talk to highly respected building cost estimator David Knight from Total Estimating Services in Brisbane.

Join me every Tuesday for Season 1. and find out whether to Renovate or Sell in Australia in 2024. 

Australian Architects can claim their formal CPD hours for these podcasts.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process. 

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

00:00 Introduction

01:19 What does a building cost estimator do on a typical house project?

02:12 What is the difference between a building cost estimator and a quantity surveyor?

03:38 On what size residential projects are cost estimators most commonly used?

04:31 What is included in a building cost estimate?

05:23 Where does your material and labour price information come from?

06:06 What are the benefits of obtaining cost advice from a cost estimator over a builder?

10:15 At what stage should I get a cost estimator involved?

14:41 What do a building cost estimator’s services cost?

17:00 Can building cost estimators provide advice Australia wide?

18:35 How would I get started with a building cost estimator’s services?

19:32 Key points summary

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

We covered so much helpful information in this interview. However, there are three key points that I want you to know:

1. The benefits of obtaining independent cost advice from a cost estimator (or a Quantity Surveyor):

• It’s impartial and obligation free.
• You get a very comprehensive cost breakdown, so you can work out what to change to lower your costs (assuming you will probably want to!)

2. Obtaining cost advice early in the design phase is critical

Are you going in circles trying to work out whether to renovate or sell? Do you need more information about current costs to help you make the right decisions? In my first podcast season, Renovate or Sell, I tackle costs head on. 

I interview five trusted industry insiders to find out the latest information:

• about the cost of house construction, from a Building Cost Estimator and a Quantity Surveyor,
• about the cost of houses, from a Real Estate Agent,
• about home loans, from a Mortgage Broker, and 
• about the right amount to borrow, from a Financial Adviser.

Each of these professionals has a wealth of knowledge to help you make the right decisions. I also find out what they can do for you, and how to move forward with their services. I demystify the process so you can stop going in circles and achieve your dream home sooner.

Join me every Tuesday to get up to date with what's happening in the industry and find out whether to Renovate or Sell in Australia in 2024.

Australian Architects can claim their formal CPD hours for these podcasts.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process. 

SEASON 1. PODCAST PROGRAMME

Ep 1. Season 1 Trailer

Ep 2. How much does it cost to renovate? Ask a Building Cost Estimator

• Guest: David Knight, Total Estimating Services www.totalestimatingservices.com.au

Ep 3. Building cost questions? Ask a Quantity Surveyor

• Guest: Flavio Costanzo, Flavio Costanzo and Associates. Quantity Surveyors

Ep 4. What are Square Metre Rates?

• Guest: Flavio Costanzo, Flavio Costanzo and Associates. Quantity Surveyors

Ep 5. Current renovation & construction costs 2024-2025: Brisbane, SE Queensland, Northern NSW, Australia

• Guest: David Knight, Total Estimating Services www.totalestimatingservices.com.au

Ep 6. Renovation design brief and budget questions? Ask a Real Estate Agent

• Guest: Tim Douglas, Place West Estate Agents, Paddington, Brisbane. www.placewest.com.au

Ep 7. How much do houses cost in 2024-2025? Brisbane and Australia

• Guest: Tim Douglas, Place West Estate Agents www.placewest.com.au

Ep 8. How much can I borrow? Ask a Mortgage Broker

• Guest: Richard Jefferies, Newbridge Home Loans