Projects
Martin & Rhiannon Hawkins - Extension
Wow factor with more space.
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Martin & Rhiannon knew what they wanted in the way of an extension, but were not sure who to talk too, or how to go about the process of adding new living space to their existing home.
Craig from Aaron Building was able to guide them through the process to the successful conclusion seen here.
The extension has created a real wow factor to their already beautiful home, and compliments their lifestyle with a lot more space to move around in. The extension has provided some separate space for their teenage children and a large covered patio onto the pool.
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Recreational 'Pavillion' a new building, Daisy Hill
A self contained recreational area, with some storage and a work shop
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Martin & Mary approched me on the recommendation of a friend. They had architectural drawings, the foundations and structural engineering design work was already completed. The building approval was lodged while I prepared a detailed proposal. I knew they were serious and ready to commence.
The decision was made to conecntrate on completing the 'Pavillion' first. The Pavillion is a self contained recreational area, with some storage and a workshop, detached from their home. Access was limited and therefore all of the material had to be craned into the site before comstruction could start. The building comprised of a large open plan entertaining room, with a hand pitched hardwood timber frame roof lined with gyprock. The ceiling height, of 3.6 metres raked down to a 3.0 metre high stud wall. One doorway opening was 9.0 metres wide to a corner, with a 7.0 metre wide opening returning the other way. These openings required structural steel frame components specifically fabricated to suit the sizes of the openings. A timber sub-floor comprised of a combination of structural steel and hardwood to elevate the buildings floor to the same height as the pool deck.
We built a veranda around the large open plan living room, 3.6 metres wide x 16.0 metres long and returning 12.0 metres, almost 100m2 of veranda enclosed by flyscreens, the ultimate in out door living.
The building was completed, and we returned some five months later to do a major extension to the home.
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Lifestyle extension called a 'Conservatory'
An impressive architectural feature, that really has some wow factor and appeal
Termite repair to correct a design fault and total refurbishment
This project came about as a neccessity to correct an on going termite infestation problem that has been recurring over the past 15 years. The owner can now rest easy and enjoy her home. The repair provided the oportunity to remodel and became a refurbishment to provide a new media room, a larger study and improvements to the laundry.
This is a pretty typical looking lowset brick and tile home. But beneath the surface there is something you can't see happening - a breeding ground for termites. Many things are contributing to the perfect termite environment. Outside the window near the drain you can see an airconditioning unit. These can leak condensation into the soil. The downpipe is not sealed at the bottom to the drainage system. There is a garden bed against the wall of the home. These conditions provide damp environments termites are attracted too. Plants obscure the ability to do regular visual checks. The room shown was a typical renovation from the 80's to convert a garage to a rumpus room. The finished product looks OK, but some very important issues were overlooked - the provision of an adequate moisture barrier to the home and suitable termite proofing.
My client, Kathleen approached me about her termite problem and this was her story:
I found termites in the garden in an old tree stump about 15 years ago. A chemical barrier was placed around the house that was supposed to last 5 years. Five years,two months I had my first termite invasion in my house. The chemical barrier was renewed which stopped them for about 18 months and then they were back inside again. I had six monthly and yearly pest inspections but the invasions kept coming back all occurring along the same wall, the pest controller was worried the structure of the home was to blame because of an incorrect renovation done years earlier to convert a garage to a rumpas room. He pulled back the carpets and drilled holes to pump poison inside the house along that wall. This was done on two occasions, but still the termites came back. It was concluded that it was impossible to stop them coming back in along this wall without structural work. Craig demolised the brick walls of the original garage (which was done before I bought the property) and properly constructed them as well as putting in physical termite barriers.
More photos to come......
The re-construction......
The second picture above shows how the termites have made a pathway in the brickwork and not the gyprock. Structural brickwork was never intended to be covered with gyprock. The weatherproofing details around windows in brickwork are inadequate to deal with driving rain or condensation. These cause dampness to remain unable to dry out. The only way to repair the damage is to demolish and rebuild the walls with a timber frame, a cavity and brickwork and to install a physical termite barrier. We used a combination of cold joint and perimeter barriers. This form of protecting a building came about when we stopped spraying under the slab around the mid to late 90's. Any buildings built prior to that, are at risk of the diluted poisens we now use. We now regularly used treated pine framing which is far superior to any other product on the market. Now the client not only has a new media room and the 'peace of mind' the termites won't be coming back. To find out more please see our "7 step guide".
"Thanks to Craig at Aaron Building - no longer will my stomach sicken with sound of termites eating away at my home or get that shock of having the architrave disinigrate under my touch. I will be VERY HAPPY to never see a termite again"
Click here to view more project photos.
A new home design and build to the northerly aspect
Custom designed lowset home on an odd shaped block
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This design is a purpose built lifestyle home, designed primarily to suit the northerly aspect of an odd shaped block.
The courtyard design would suit an inground pool, with only glass between you and the open plan living.
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Rob & Ann Fraser - Extension & Refurbishment
A total refurbishment and extension. See the amazing transformation of this home!
New design and build home
A spectalular open plan home custom built by Aaron Building.
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After talking to many other builders, Peter and Rebecca came to us with nothing more than a block of land and a few ideas:
"I want to be able to see my kids in the Rumpus room from the Kitchen"
"I want to be able to talk to my husband in the Loungeroom"
"We want an open plan home that takes advantage of the weather"
Together with our designer, James Bentham, we came up with a spectacular design that was everything and more than Peter and Rebecca expected - and all within budget!
This home was a great home to build and even better to live in.
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Renovation
See how we turned a 70's brick and tile home into contemporary modern living.
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This home was typical of its 70's era and the occasional DIY reno in past times, and the owners thought it time to breathe new life back into their home.
Because they wanted to do so much to their home, I suggested we do a small renovation first. After completing that, we spoke in more detail about renovating the rest of the home.
I regularly consulted with the clients who were absolutely 'A Class' clients who allowed me to make recommendations and follow through on the more favourable outcomes for them.
We completed all the above works in approximately 8 weeks and was able to present this newly renovated home to a turnkey quality finish.
The task to renovate this home included:
- remove ceramic tiles from timber floors in kitchen, dining room and hallways
- remove structurally significant internal walls to create open plan living
- construct new built in robes
- upgrade aluminum sliding door to french doors with doublehung side lights and Crimsafe security screens
- replace rear verandah balustrading
- repolish timber floors throughout
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Rumpus room extension
A rumpus room can add a whole new dimension to a home
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Alan & Josephine tried to find a bigger home in their preferred suburb. They needed somewhere separate from the existing open plan living, for their boys to occupy themselves. They considered property change over costs a significant discount on extending their existing home. At my suggestion and confirmation, they engaged a building designer to draw plans that would suit their needs. We quoted on their plans and won their favour over another builder. The rest is history - see the pictures for yourself. The project was completed in approximately 8 weeks.
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Renovations to add a main bedroom, ensuite, lounge and veranda with garaging and storage below
A home can be adapted to suit most people's requirements.
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This house a typical post war home before renovating with Aaron Building
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To build the ‘Conservatory’, we first demolished a roof structure and a badly weathered & rotting deck. The conservatory is an impressive architectural feature, that really has some wow factor and appeal. A 4.0 metre high ceiling allows fixed highlights to the northerly aspect. I think this is fantastic, as it allows the warm winter sun right back into the original home, at the same time excluding the high summer sun. The windows are above the new veranda roof.
