THE BUILDING PROCESS

We should be able to give a reasonably accurate ballpark figure once we have been able to inspect your home and discuss options with you.

To help us and you to envision the potential end product, we use in house design sketching and artist impressions because we know – a picture is worth a thousand words.

This stage is no obligation – free. If you feel like this is not what you want, you can pull out, no strings attached.

Once you have decided to push ahead we visit again with our draftsmen and engineer to create a set of plans and working drawings. This process will turn your vision into a workable set of plans and specifications that we can then refine and use to give accurate prices and timeframes.

Any work which involves changes to the outside of your home will need to get planning approval from your local council, which can take up to 6 weeks with some councils. If only the building permit is required, then this can take as little as 2 weeks. A1 Attics takes care of all requirements for planning and building approvals so you don’t need to worry about it.

A1 Attics uses a pay as you go system for the planning stage. If at any time your circumstances change or you decide its not right for you, then you’re not tied into anything. Simply pay for whatever services have been engaged in this stage (i.e. draftsman).

Depending on the size and scale of your job you will have various decisions to make on materials, colours and finishes. Along with the usual choices to be made like bathroom fixtures and fittings, tiles and carpet, there are also choices to be made particularly to attic conversions and second storey additions. Some of these include:

VELUX WINDOWS

At A1 Attics we love the use of natural light and ventilation to make your new addition feel bright and airy. A1 Attics use Velux windows a lot in our designs to create that feel and to achieve the requirements for natural light and ventilation under the Australian Building Code.

You have a great range of window sizes and styles to choose from, with a range of bug screens and blinds to suit your new attic conversion or second storey addition.

STAIRS

Stairs are an important part of any liveable attic conversion or second storey addition as it is the main visual element connecting the existing and the new. It is also very important to get the placement right as this needs to be in a good usable position on the ground floor in your existing home and needs to enter the new second level in the right spot to make it all work.

The building code of Australia sets out the requirements for any staircase accessing a habitable area in terms of height and steepness.

A1 Attics are experienced in finding the best possible solution for this and employs the services of the best third-party stair manufacturers to ensure this is done right.

You just need to choose from the range of different styles and materials on offer.