Rough estimate for building costs

[silentC]

Renovations are inevitably more expensive than a new development of a comparable size. Probably even double the price. We're talking about quotes from a builder, not DIY.

Add an architect to the mix = lots of whizz bang ideas that are expensive to implement. Glass ain't cheap, neither is steel. I would say $4k is at the top end, but I can easily see a builder in Sydney charging that for this type of job.

[MikeK]

Just got back from holidays. Thanks all for the input. We are going to go to a Quantity Surveyor to check out the costings. Stay tuned for further updates.

Regards,
Mike.

[Mahaylea]

Good luck, we are renovating the back of our house right now. We have added on 120 sq mtres, 60 sq mtrs on the bottom which is a gamesroom and 60 on top which is a bedroom, bathroom, robes, retreat, all in double brick, concrete slabs on both floors, large double french doors with panels at the sides, 8 windows aswell, and without flooring/curtains/bathroom accessories/painting/ it is the bare shell right now we are looking at approx $60k total. To clean up and finish it off we are probably up for another $15k..But we owner built, we did alot of labour ourselves and we are in W.A..

[Bleedin Thumb]

Mahaylea, thats not too bad. If my math is right thats $625/m2

[Mahaylea]

I know even our architech estimated approx $77k total when he proposed it to our council..But we saved in areas like we moved all the bricks upstairs for the brickie, so they did the job a bit cheaper for us, same with the roof carpenters, he was semi retired, rounded up a couple of his younger mates and with us labouring, (women and all) saved alot, we also put all the guttering up, painted it, this all saved us a fortune too....We bought 2nd hand roof tiles, we are laying them ourselves, I will make all curtains etc, so where ever we could chip in we did to save a $$ and it looks great so far..The structure is all done professionally but some on the cheap as I said

[zongatron]

Hi guys,

I am considering owner building an extension of about 60sqm, in mud brick, and must say that my materials costing comes in at a little under 30k. ( much like mahayleas )

Every time i find a post on costing though everyone seems to agree that 1-3k sqm is about right.
As i will be doing the work mostly myself, after plans and councils i would be looking at about 35k ( to lockup with no finishing)

i will be laying the footings, laying the mudbrick, building the roof, laying the tin and doing the gutters... I already have all my doors and windows...

Am i missing something here as my costings are less than $500sqm, or does that all sound about right for materials

Does anybody see any holes in this plan?

thanks