Archicentre Cost Guide
Market Summary Overview
A `perfect storm of low interest rates, competitive pricing and growing
consumer confidence makes 2013 a great time to renovate or build a
new home.
Interest rates are at historic lows and can be fixed to provide certainty
around repayments for years to come. At the same time, sluggish domestic
and small commercial construction sectors have resulted in builders
and tradespeople pricing projects more and more keenly to keep active.
Finally, consumer sentiment has improved steadily for the past 12 months
suggesting that activity levels will start to pick up in the renovation and
new home markets as confidence builds.
If youve been thinking about a home improvement project, a renovation,
a new home or a small property development now might be the time to
do it!
Call Archicentre on 1300 134 513 if you need a costed Design Concept
or construction Quality Assurance inspections and visit our weekly blog
([Link] for handy home design hints
and tips.
Materials Cost Index (by State)
The estimates in this guide are based on a selection of building
materials at Sydney prices. Capital city adjustments are as follows:
Brisbane
+5%
Melbourne
- 0.5%
Adelaide
+0%
Perth
+7%
Hobart
+2.5%
Labour costs will also vary and regional areas will have increaseof 5%
to 15%.
Notes: For new houses and major renovations, the cost structure is
approximately as follows:
Materials
46%
Labour
33%
Fees, Levies, permits, taxes, GST
21%
For country areas, add 5% to 15% to capital city figures.
Good luck with your project!
Repair & Maintenance Costs
Concrete / Paving ($)
Fencing ($)
New Concrete Path (per m )
49 - 64
Perimeter Paling1
1600 - 1900mm
57 - 100 (per m)
New Driveway1
55 - 73
63 - 87
Front Picket
Various types
51 - 152 (per m)
Gates
Single
465 - 655
Double
1,255 - 1,795
Plain Concrete (per m)
Coloured Concrete (per m2)
Slate Impression on Concrete (per m2)
72
Stencilled Concrete (per m2)
82
Notes:
1. Based on average 75mm thickness and minimum area of 50m2 (An
average driveway is about 70m2)
Notes:
1. There are many varieties of fencing throughout Australia. This guide bases
its prices on the Victorian type of perimeter fence
Floor Repair ($)
DAMP - Rising Damp/Salt Damp ($)
Silicon Injected Damp-Proof
Single Brick
71 - 82
Course (per linear metre)
Double Brick
120 - 145
Replace Damp-Proof
Single Brick
150 - 180
Double Brick
220 - 255
Course (per linear metre)
Re-Point Mortar (per m )
7.8 - 17.6
New Air Vents
Clay
40 - 46
Galvanised Steel
24 - 30
Notes:
1. The price increases in all categories depending on surface condition.
2. Figures do not include re-plastering and other repair of wall surfaces.
Framing
Joists & Bearers1
15 - 31 per lineal
metre
Floorboards
From particleboard
33 - 335 (per m2)
to feature timbers
Notes:
1. Joist spacings for a normal room are 450mm apart. Bearer spacings are
around 1500mm apart. So a 20m2 room would cost around $1,185 $1,550 to replace.
2. Areas under 10m2 will attract significantly higher installation costs.
3. Excludes demolition.
Guttering & Downpipes ($)
Zincalume
Drainage ($)
Drain to Stormwater or Sump
e.g. 20m = 1,420 - 2,500
Notes:
1. Prices vary depending on access and length. An average length could be
20 metres at approx $71 - $125 per m.
2. Does not include removal or replacement of hard surfaces over drains.
Refer to paving category.
Colorbond
Per linear metre
30 - 48
Whole house
2,540 - 3,400
Per linear metre
36 - 56
Whole house
3,000 - 4,020
Notes:
1. Prices are based on an average house with 70 linear metres of guttering
and four downpipes, supplied and fitted.
Archicentre Pty Ltd Cost Guide. Please note that all cost estimates include GST. Tel. 1300 134 513 or go to [Link] May 2013
Archicentre Cost Guide
Insulation ($)
Plumbing ($)
Thermal Rating
Ceiling
Cellulose Fibre
Cellulose Fibre
Fibreglass Batts
Fibreglass Batts
Walls
R1.5 Batts
430 Foil
(per m2)
House Lot
(per m2)
House Lot
(per m2)
(per m2)
R2.0 - R2.5
4.5 - 6.7
680 - 1005
14.1 - 19
2,120 - 2,850
13.5 - 18.4
6.2 - 8.5
Notes:
1. All figures based on 150m2 house/roof with reasonable access.
Interior3
1,580 - 2,450
Hot Water Service unit renewal
1,180 - 1,630
Complete house replumb
7,650 - 12,140
Notes:
1. Complete replumbing includes hot and cold water replacement, gutters
and downpipes (using a house with 70 linear metres of guttering and four
downpipes as standard). Should get guttering price separate. Dicult
access increases the cost.
Restumping (Reblocking) ($)
Painting ($)
Exterior
Renew Cold Water Pipes
Timber1 - Good Condition
Timber - Bad Condition
Brick2
per square metre
Single Room 3m x 4m x 3m
Victorian Style (per room) 4
12 - 25 (per m2)
17 - 29 (per m2)
12 - 15 (per m2)
11 - 24
650 - 830
1,800 - 2,300
Notes:
1. Painting of timber houses includes windows and door frames, plus the
weatherboards.
2. Painting of brick houses involves only windows & door frames.
3. Includes doors, skirting & architraves. Poor surface conditions can double
these indicative prices, e.g. for extra coats of paint, and for extensive
preparation.
4. Includes special trims and a variety of colours.
5. Figures based on average size house (150m2) with reasonable structural
condition.
Pest Management - Termite Treatment ($)
Dusting1
500 - 1,000
Trenching2
2,500 - 6,000
Drilling Trees (per tree)
200 - 600
Baiting3
2,500 - 6,000
Physical Barriers4
2,000 - 6,500
Timber Pest Inspection5,6,7,
300 - 425
11,500 - 14,800
Single Room 3m x 4m x 3m 1,470 - 1,870
Victorian Style Finish2 Whole House
21,300 - 32,600
Single Room 3m x 4m x 3m 2,500 - 3,900
Hard Plaster (per m2)
230 - 400 Bris
Per Average
Timber (80-90 Stumps)
(150m2) House
5,200 - 9,000 Melb
14,100 - 23,500 Bris
Brick Veneer (60 Stumps)
4,300 - 6,200 Melb
Solid Brick (40 Stumps)
3,500 - 4,700 Melb
Notes:
1. This category is only relevant in States where the houses have stumps as
part of their subfloor structure (eg. excludes NSW)
2. Excludes repairs to doors, windows, replastering etc. which can need
extensive repairs in some cases.
3. Extra to replace timber (ie. bearers, joists etc.) Allow about $15-31 per linear
metre.
4. Hourly rate for extra excavation (eg. if rock is found). Allow about $60 per hour.
5. Brisbane stumps may be 2.5 metres high at 2.4m spacing and, say, 50
stumps per house. (Note: costs can vary dramatically.)
6. Poor subfloor access requires that floorboards be lifted and replaced at a
carpenters hourly rate.
7. Melbourne houses which are low to the ground (typically inner suburbs)
require trenching for jack access under bearers, and could double the cost.
Tiles
Plastering1 ($)
Whole House
60 - 100 Melb
Replacement Roofing ($)
Notes:
1. Involves dusting termite galleries with termiticide, which spreads
thoughout colony.
2. Involves digging a trench, flooding with termiticide and backfilling with
soil which soaks up chemical, also applying under floor of building.
3. Involves attracting termites into bait boxes, then placing a termiticide to
eliminate them.
4. These are more for new housing, with prices depending on methods,
materials and extent of barriers.
5. Termite, Borer, Wood Decay Fungi and other destructive timber pests.
6. Figures based on 150m2 house with reasonable access.
7. Sydney and Brisbane tend to be at the lower end of inspection prices,
Melbourne at the higher end, and other metropolitan cities in the middle.
However, any citys prices can be in the upper or lower extreme.
Contemporary Finish
Per Stump (Concrete)
Concrete
Terra Cotta
Metal
Zincalume
Colorbond
Slate
Repointing2
Rebedding3
Strip & Re-Nail
New Roof
8,600 - 10,500
or 46 - 65m2
10,600 - 12,690
or 62 - 81m2
4,940 - 9,050
or 33 - 52m2
6,500 - 10,000
or 42 - 62m2
11,300 - 13,400
25,400 - 48,000
or 155 - 330m2
780 - 1,600
950 - 1,900
Notes:
1. Based on 150m2 house with conventional pitch and simple roof lines.
Replacement includes battens and new guttering but not ceiling joists.
2. Repointing means renewal of mortar around the outside of ridge and
valley tiles.
3. Rebedding is removal of the tile & its old mortar and repositioning tile on
new mortar.
4. Prices of 2 & 3 vary greatly depending on the number of ridges & valleys
which the roof has.
40 - 80
Standard Plasterboard (per m )
2
20 40
Notes:
1. Does not include demolition or removal of existing plaster walls.
2. Prices include elaborate cornices, architraves etc.
3. Figures based on 150m2 house with reasonable access.
Archicentre Pty Ltd Cost Guide. Please note that all cost estimates include GST. Tel. 1300 134 513 or go to [Link] May 2013
Archicentre Cost Guide
Trade Labour Rates ($/HR)
Tiling ($)
Floor
Ceramic Tiling (per m )
95 - 170
Brick Layer
39 - 57
Quarry Tiling (per m )
95 - 130
Carpenter
39 - 55
Vinyl Tiling (per m )
41 - 100
Plumber and Gas Fitter
46 - 61
Ceramic Tiling (per m2)
90 - 162
Plasterer
39 - 56
Painter
39 - 56
Electrician
46 - 56
Drainer
46 - 60
Wall
Notes:
1. Prices vary significantly depending on selection of tiles and grout.
2. Figures include labour and material and assume application onto a
reasonable sub-surface.
Window Renewal (Domestic) ($)
Awning
Aluminium
240 - 500 (per m2)
Timber
320 - 650 (per m2)
Double Glazing
Skylight
eg. 600 x 600
Notes:
1. Figures include a supervision, profit and overhead margin of 10%-20%.
This will vary with dierent contractors. These prices assume continuous
work over some days. Smaller jobs rates can cost up to 50% more.
add 105 - 315 (per m2)
Tree Removal ($)
460 - 1,000
Cutting down & Removal per Tree
300 - 1,600
Notes:
1. Square metre rates for windows increase for smaller windows and
decrease for larger windows.
2. Double hung window costs are about 20% more, sashless are around 50%
more.
3. Skylight cost includes shaft installation.
Notes:
1. Prices are extremely variable and depend on the following: tree height,
trunk circumference, density of branches/foliage, access to site for travel
towers, woodchippers & grinders, obstructions, buildings underneath, tree
alive or dead. The range could be wider if all the factors counted against
easy removal. Prices decrease for volume.
Underpinning ($)
Wiring ($)
Per Pad (or pin size) 1000x1000x900
1,300 - 2,500
Complete House Rewire 34 - 53 per m2
5,800 - 8,750
Per Pad (or pin size) 1000x1000x600
1,080 - 1,940
Other Common Items
Safety Switch
280 - 400
Soil Test
225 - 350
Service Call
78 - 130
Engineers Report
310 - 850
Individual Power Points
80 - 165
Replacement of Bearers & Joists
31 - 50 per lineal metre
Removal of Sub-Floor Soil
180 - 355 (per m )
3
Notes:
1. Higher prices are likely with more unstable soil that will require more
excavation etc.
2. Soil Test and Engineers Report costs can vary by 50%.
Notes:
1. Based on 150m2 house with 15-18 power outlets, 15-18 light points, new
mains and box circuit breaker switchboard with reasonable access.
2. Price increases significantly depending on accessibility.
Archicentre Pty Ltd Cost Guide. Please note that all cost estimates include GST. Tel. 1300 134 513 or go to [Link] May 2013
Renovation & Extension Cost Guide
This part of the guide provides some typical costs for common renovation
and extension projects.
EXTENSIONS
WARNING ABOUT BUILDING PRICES
Building prices vary considerably, depending upon a number of factors
such as:
1. The indicative square metre rates are for basic shell only, and the
extended roofline over the shell.
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3. Where the extension involves kitchens, bathrooms and laundries, you
must also add the additions to new construction costs to the total,
since these rooms need special fittings and fixtures.
4. The indicative costs do not include upgrading of services such as
electrical, plumbing, heating or repairs and upgrades to parts of the
existing house such as roof and gutter repairs, painting, damp, reblocking and pest treatment. You may also need to allow for paving and
landscaping upgrades.
RENOVATIONS
Indicative costs assume that the rooms which are being renovated are
in sound condition, needing no structural upgrade. Good access is also
assumed.
A sample cost plan is provided overleaf.
Renovations ($)
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MORE ACCURATE PRICING IS AVAILABLE
1. If your architect is preparing an Archicentre Design Concept Report for
you, it will include cost estimates specific to your project.
2. Even better accuracy will be achieved after the Design Concept Report
is developed and taken to competitive tender where actual prices are
obtained. In many cases more than 30% of the construction cost can be
saved and/or a better job achieved through your architects preparing
the tender documents and helping review the tenderers.
Additions to New Construction ($)
Bathroom (ensuite is less)
9,588 - 24,990
Bathroom
5,610 - 18,462
Kitchen
10,608 - 31,722
Kitchen
7,650 - 28,662
Laundry
4,182 - 9,894
Laundry
3,162 - 8,262
4,080 - 8,466
Notes:
In most respects this section is the same as the Renovation table. However,
costs are less because no allowance needs to be made for repainting,
replastering and replacing windows, since these have been included in the
extension costs.
Bedroom
Single Room 20m
4,794 - 10,302
Notes:
Prices include plastering, painting, wiring, plumbing, relocation or
replacement of windows, the renewal of fittings and fixtures, cabinetry
additions and surfacing eg. tiling. The estimates exclude stormwater drainage,
paving, carpets, drapes, appliances or the construction of internal partitions
to modify the layout of rooms. The upgrading standard is to medium-quality
brick veneer or timber.
Extensions - Upper Level ($) Shell only
Single Room (20m2)
27,132 - 47,022
Larger Extension (per m )
2
Extensions - Ground Level ($) Shell only
Single Room (20m2)
Larger Extension (per
m2)
17,544 - 38,148
Brick Veneer
989 - 1,693
Solid Brick
1,071 - 1,997
Weatherboard
881 - 1,652
Notes:
1. These prices also apply to upper level extensions when built at the same
time as the ground level.
2. Prices include removal of one or two walls at the junction of works.
3. Inclusions: Plasterboard walls, painted two colours maximum, with two or
three power points per room.
4. Exclusions: Plumbing, joinery and surfacing of wet areas, sanitary fixtures.
Brick Veneer
1,305 - 2,203
Solid Brick
1,468 - 2,499
Weatherboard
1,142 - 1,723
Notes:
In addition to ground level costs, these second storey costs include
demolition of existing ground level roof, minor structural or reinforcement of
the ground floor area and minor restructuring of the remaining lower floor
roofing configuration. (Major reinforcement of the lower storey and roof
configuration changes is often required, but this cost variation cannot be
accurately estimated without direct reference to the specific project.)
Archicentre Pty Ltd Cost Guide. Please note that all cost estimates include GST. Tel. 1300 134 513 or go to [Link] May 2013
Sample Cost Plan for New Building, Renovation or Extensions
Sample Cost Plan (80m2 Ground Level addition) ($)
Repairs and Alterations to Existing Building
PC Allowances for work (extent yet to be determined)
Re-stumping and Making Good
5,304 - 9,180
Re-roofing (eg. Colourbond)
6,630 - 10,200
Re-wiring
5,916 - 8,976
Other Alterations and Repairs to Remaining Building (misc. trade allowance)
5,100 - 10,200
SUB TOTAL
22,950 - 38,556
New Building ($)
Demolition and Removal
2,550 - 3,570
Additions (80m2 brick veneer shell allowance, ground floor)
79,152 - 135,456
Kitchen (mid-range, excluding whitegoods)
12,240 - 23,460
Bathroom Fitout (mid-range)
8,160 - 12,240
Laundry Fitout (excluding whitegoods)
4,080 - 8,160
Air Conditioning, Heating and Fireplaces, Light Fittings
Excluded - Excluded
Security, intercoms, ducted vacuum, smart-wiringetc.
Excluded - Excluded
SUB TOTAL
106,182 - 182,886
External Works and Services ($)
In-ground services - stormwater, sewer, water, gas
4,080 - 7,140
External paving and paths, crossover, carport
Excluded - Excluded
Fencing and gates, sheds, pergolas, decks etc.
Excluded - Excluded
SUB TOTAL
4,080 - 7,140
Builders Preliminaries, site costs, overheads and attendance (15 - 20%)
20,400 - 46,920
Other Costs and Allowances ($)
Escalation if project is delayed
Excluded - Excluded
Design change/contract contingency allowance (10.0%)
14,994 - 28,254
Design and professional fees
Excluded - Excluded
Items by the client, whitegoods, separate contracts, staging and miscellaneous.
Excluded - Excluded
SUB TOTAL
14,994 - 28,254
ESTIMATED TOTAL (GST is included in these figures)
168,606 - 303,756
Estimations based on average suburban prices.
Please note: The Archicentre Cost Guide has been prepared in conjunction with
PLANBUILD ESTIMATING (0417 322 074) [Link]
Archicentre Pty Ltd Cost Guide. Please note that all cost estimates include GST. Tel. 1300 134 513 or go to [Link] May 2013
