Building from Wollongong
Nowra is the Shoalhaven's main town, and we are a Wollongong-based builder rather than a Nowra firm. We say that plainly because it shapes how we work. The drive is a little over an hour from Unanderra, so each visit is planned. The site check is thorough, the quote is complete, and we do not make several trips for what should be one.
The process matches our Illawarra jobs. One team, one fixed-price proposal and one person to call, from drawings through approval to handover.
Granny flats on Nowra blocks
Generous blocks are the reason granny flats suit Nowra. The first number we check is lot size, since a secondary dwelling can be approved as complying development only on a lot of at least 450 square metres, with a floor area of up to 60 square metres (measured to the outer face of the external walls). Below that the flat needs a development application with Shoalhaven City Council. Larger Nowra blocks usually clear the limit with room to spare.
The checks stack up in a fixed order. We measure the lot, then the setbacks and any easement or sewer line, then look at bush fire and flood mapping. Read granny flat council approval in NSW to understand the two paths. The granny flat designs page shows layouts, and the granny flats service explains the build.
If you are also considering Bomaderry across the river, see our Bomaderry page, which covers a different set of planning controls.
Extensions and house additions
House additions suit Nowra's generous blocks, where most extensions can go at ground level instead of up, which is usually the cheaper route. A bedroom, a larger kitchen and living area or a second bathroom can often be added at the back.
Because the work adds floor area, it runs through a Complying Development Certificate or a development application. We prepare the design, engineering and paperwork together. See the home extensions service and the home extension cost guide for what to expect.
Renovating older houses
Renovations of older houses begin with finding out what is behind the walls. Wiring, framing and drainage get checked, and so does the chance of asbestos-containing material. That is the way we make sure the figure in the proposal does not move during the build. Our home renovations service describes the sequence, and how long a renovation takes helps with planning when you are travelling from elsewhere.
Getting a quote from Nowra
Send us the address and a short description of the job. We walk the block, measure the lot and check the planning mapping, then write a fixed-price proposal that spells out what is included. The gallery shows finished work from across our service area, and the fixed-price versus cost-plus contract guide explains why we price this way.
When you compare Nowra builders, the useful comparison is the contract. Ask any builder what the price covers, what happens if the ground or the existing house turns up a surprise, and who you ring when something goes wrong.
Questions from Nowra
How far is Nowra from your base?
Nowra is a little over an hour from our Unanderra base. Because of the drive we plan site visits and quotes carefully, so the check and the price are done properly the first time.
Do you build granny flats in North Nowra and Worrigee?
Yes, we work across Nowra and the nearby suburbs. A secondary dwelling is complying development on a lot of at least 450 square metres, and larger Nowra blocks usually clear that easily. Below it, the flat goes to Shoalhaven City Council as a development application.
Is a ground-floor extension cheaper than building up in Nowra?
Usually, since generous blocks mean most extensions can go out. That avoids the structural assessment a second storey needs. We price the ground-floor option first unless the lot rules it out.
What do you check before renovating an older Nowra house?
Wiring, framing, drainage and the possibility of asbestos-containing material. These are checked before pricing, so the number you are given is the number you pay.
Do bushfire or flood rules apply to a Nowra block?
They can. Land that is bush fire prone or a flood control lot has its own standards in the Housing Code. We look up the address before any plan is drawn.