Too often, people have a home designed and approved by a private certifier or council, before they start talking with builders. Architecturally designed homes are beautiful; however, in my experience, architects aren’t always up to date with current pricing. So they may have designed a stunning home but their client can’t afford to build it.

Finding a builder with an inhouse architect is a more practical way forward with a knock down rebuild, custom home project. Allura has a team of inhouse architects who work with the building team and the estimating team to ensure the design meets the client’s expectation, and is kept on budget so there are no cost blow-outs before the project even starts.

Budget is one of the first questions Allura asks new clients. Every client has a budget that they can’t exceed and Allura focuses on designing a home to fit that budget. This is a critical part of the pre-construction stage so the team and the client understand everything from the very start of the project.

There are a number of factors that can influence the budget of a custom home build, including the style of the home and the client’s desired selection of materials, fixtures and fittings.

The style of home can greatly influence the cost of building. For example, as much as Hamptons style is on trend, the joinery to achieve this look is far more intricate and detailed than the joinery for a contemporary or modern style home. This means a Hamptons home is more expensive to build than other styles. Knowing this upfront means clients can make an informed decision before the house is designed.

The collaborative approach Allura takes to designing and building a custom home lets us adapt the design or modify selections to either remain within the budget, or advise the client where any additional spend is going. It’s then up to the client to decide if they want to increase their budget or not.

One of the most valuable benefits of working with the whole Allura team is that we can price the design and run the client through different options on costing, and make changes before the house is submitted for approval by external parties. Once approval for construction is received, the client knows all the associated costs and can proceed straightaway.

To learn more about the knock down rebuild process and become build-ready, download The Complete Guide to Knock Down and Rebuild or watch The Allura Building Series.

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The Allura Build Series is a collection of videos that explains every stage of the Allura Homes design and construction process.

When you build with Allura everything is documented and highly detailed. We know from experience that providing our clients with lots of information helps them feel connected to the process, confident and excited.

Each video features Allura’s director, Andrew Strachan, walking through homes in construction and explaining what each stage includes and why.

From pre-construction to handing over the keys, The Allura Building Series will help you understand exactly what to expect when you build a custom home with Allura.

The 11 stages of construction when building a custom home with Allura include:

Pre-construction: This is the first step of the Allura custom home build process, which includes initial budgets, home design, costing the entire project, interior and exterior selections, approval of your new home, construction plans and site start.

Stage 1 – Demolition: You move out and Allura moves in. Before the large machinery arrives, all services are disconnected, then the demolition begins. More than 80 per cent of the old home is recycled with the materials sent to recycling centres to help reduce land fill.

Stage 2 – Pool Shell: If your new home design includes a swimming pool, then at this stage the pool excavation takes place. Excavation of the pool shell opening and all pipe work is installed, steel fixing and formwork completed, and pool shell is then poured.

Stage 3 – Concrete Slab: Your new home begins with the right foundations. This stage of the build includes survey and site levels, cutting the site, the piering of your home, internal drainage, formwork, steel reinforcing, termite collars and pouring of the concrete slab.

Stage 4 – Ground Floor and First Floor Frames, and Roof Trusses: The house structure starts to take shape, built to engineers’ details and specifications. This stage includes frames, bracing, beams, floor joists, Hebel flooring and roof trusses. Your home is now really starting to come together.

Stage 5 – Brickwork and External Cladding: Learn about the insulation of an Allura home using Thermoseal wall wrap, and the difference between common bricks with render, face bricks and external cladding options. The external facade of your home is coming alive with texture and colour.

Stage 6 – Upper Storey Roof: There are three main roof styles: skillion roofs, traditional pitch roofs, or low-pitched roofs. This stage includes roof sarking or anti-con insulation, fascia and guttering, followed by roof tiles or Colorbond steel roofing, and finally solar panels or future provisions for solar.

Stage 7 – Internal Linings: This is the rough-in stage for electrical, plumbing and air conditioning. Following this is ceiling and wall insulation on external walls for energy efficiency, and acoustic insulation for internal walls. The walls and ceilings are finished with plasterboard, followed by square set cornice or traditional cornice profiles.

Stage 8 – Internal Tiling: All wet areas are waterproofed, underfloor heating is installed, shower and bath niches are finished, and the inside of your home comes alive with colours and patterns from your internal tile selections.

Stage 9 – Final Fix: At this stage, your new Allura home transforms with a lot of internal fittings installed. It includes the addition of staircases, kitchen joinery, bathroom vanities, all internal doors, wardrobes, skirting and architraves, and the painting of ceilings and all internal walls.

Stage 10 – Practical Completion (PC): Final items are installed and tested including appliances and hot water systems, shower screens and tapware, the driveway is poured, landscaping, pool and fencing are all now completed. After the construction team conducts final touch ups it’s time to hand over your home, and for you to move in and enjoy your new custom built Allura home.

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Using one provider makes the project more streamlined. Having a highly experienced construction manager to manage all aspects of your build means you can rest assured that all your questions and concerns will be answered and actioned. Also, if you decide to make any changes to the build, it is easier to adapt with one contractor.

An all-inclusive service is not only more convenient, it can also be better for your back pocket. Finding one provider to manage everything from the knock down and new house construction to landscaping, means you only have to pay one fee. This makes it easier to keep track of your spending.

As a knock down rebuild, custom home specialist, Allura provides you with peace of mind that your new home will be managed by professionals. Allura handles everything from compliance, approvals and demolition of your old house to the interior design, pool, driveways and landscaping of your new home. Allura will walk with you through the entire journey, delivering liveable luxury on time, on budget and above expectation. All you need to do is enjoy the experience.

What makes Allura different:

• We develop a concept design, then bring this to life visually in our Lifesize Plans facility, so you can walk through your new home and make changes before it’s built
• We prepare an accurate tender (proposal) and contracts, as well as a realistic budget for the entire process, from knock down to handing over the keys
• We finalise the design with you and move forward with the process
• We help you select finishes with our interior designer at Studio Allura
• We complete final construction drawings, documentation and timelines, and manage the entire approval process through a private certifier (CDC) or your local Council (DA)
• We can take care of the demolition and all site preparation
• We build your new custom home, on time and on budget.

If you’re considering a custom built house, Allura can manage every aspect of your project. Visit our website for more information about our all-inclusive service or call us on to discuss your needs.

For more information about the knock down rebuild process, download The Complete Guide to Knock Down & Rebuild.

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