Adding a storey
On many Towradgi lots the yard is the best part of the property, and a second storey keeps it. Going up also adds light and, in places, a view of the water. The trade-off is disruption, because the roof comes off and the house is exposed for a period. Our post on rear extension versus second storey addition weighs the two paths, and what it costs to add a second storey lists the main price drivers.
Before any design, an engineer checks the existing footings, slab or stumps and the walls. That check decides how much can be added and whether the structure needs strengthening first. The home extensions page explains how we run the job from there, and our Wollongong home extension page covers the city as a whole.
Near the creek and the beach
Towradgi Creek reaches the coast here, and lots close to it can carry flood mapping. A mapped lot follows a different approval route and may need a minimum floor level, which affects how a ground floor addition is designed. Our post on CDC versus DA in NSW explains why an overlay moves a job from a private certifier to council. We read the mapping at the start so the design matches the path.
Beach proximity brings its own wear. Exterior fixings, flashings and window hardware should be chosen for sea air, and paint systems need to suit the exposure. We raise these at scope stage.
Renovations for older beach-suburb homes
Where an older brick or fibro house needs work, a home renovation can open up a closed plan and bring services up to date. See ground floor extension ideas for ways to add living space without building up. Where the existing house is beyond reasonable repair, our post on renovating versus knocking down and rebuilding sets out how to decide.
Rebuild option
A knockdown rebuild suits a lot that is worth keeping but a house that is not. The process, from demolition to handover, is covered on the knockdown rebuild page.
Staying in the house or moving out
A rear extension leaves most of the existing house intact until the final connection, so many families stay through the work. A second storey is different, because the roof is removed and the upper structure is built over the existing rooms. Many families move out for that stage. The open roof has to be protected from the weather while the new level goes up, and a builder should tell you in advance which stages you can live through. Our post on where to live during a knockdown rebuild has useful thinking on the same question.
Nearby
Towradgi is inside Wollongong City Council. Corrimal and Fairy Meadow are the nearest suburb pages, and the gallery has photos of finished work.
Questions from Towradgi
Is a second storey a good idea in Towradgi?
It can be, particularly on a smaller lot where the yard is worth keeping. Going up needs an engineer to check what the existing footings and walls can carry, and it can bring a view that ground level cannot. Our second storey cost guide explains the price drivers.
How much does a second storey addition cost?
Costs depend on the size, the structure below and the finish, so a number without an inspection is a guess. Our guide to the cost of adding a second storey gives the main drivers, and we quote after seeing the house.
Do you work near Towradgi Creek where flooding is possible?
Yes, but flood mapping has to be read first. A flood notation can change the approval path and the minimum floor level, so we check council's mapping for the lot before we draw.
Can a Towradgi house be extended and kept liveable during the work?
A rear ground floor extension usually can, because the new work is separate until the final connection. A second storey often means moving out for the roof stage.
Do you rebuild instead of renovating in Towradgi?
We can, through our knockdown rebuild service. It makes sense when the structure or layout is poor. Our knockdown rebuild page for Wollongong covers the process.