How much does building a home cost in South Australia?
What drives the cost of building a home? A guide to managing your budget
How much does building a home cost?
Building a home is a significant investment and understanding the cost structure is critical right from the start. How much does building a home cost? This is one of the most important questions you need to explore early in the design phase.
As an Adelaide-based architect company, in this blog, we will explore the main cost drivers in building a home and how your architect can guide you through the design phase with your budget in mind.
Everything decided on in a house contributes to the cost, such as location, size, shape, roof design, slope of block, location, single or double storey, materials selected, ceiling heights, window and door sizes, and finishes.
Cost to consider for different locations
When building a home in different areas around South Australia you must consider specific building requirements due to the environment. For example, Adelaide’s coastal areas require specialised windows and materials to withstand saltwater corrosion and high wind exposure. Corrosion-resistant materials and high-quality glazing for windows are essential to ensure durability and protection against the harsh coastal elements.
If you are building in areas like the Adelaide Hills or rural South Australia, these are classified as bushfire-prone zones, and therefore your home must meet Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) standards. This includes using fire-resistant materials for roofs, walls, and windows and specific glazing that provides additional protection.
Custom home design and your budget
Every block and home is different, and design solutions must be tailored to your unique circumstances. When you meet us at Yvonne Svensson Architect, we discuss your budget early in the design phase to ensure the final plan fits your financial expectations.
Bringing professionals such as estimators, surveyors, and engineers on board during the preliminary stages ensures that your home will be as cost-effective as possible without compromising quality.
Per square meter rate
Over the years, builders in South Australia have simplified the building costs for customers by providing a per-square-meter rate, and this can be misleading. Builders typically provide a square metre cost, which is based on the overall cost of the house and then divided by the size of the house. However, this is based on past projects. When calculating real now time construction, builders and estimators never use this method.
To calculate the actual cost of a house, every material and every trade needs to be added to the spreadsheet and then tallied up at the end. This is a lengthy process, and it is only at the tender/contract stage when the builder does this, and the actual cost comes out. That’s why you hear of customers getting so angry when the initial cost per square meter does not match the true contract cost- which can end up being higher.
Preliminary build agreements
Many builders will entice customers to sign a Preliminary Agreement that forces you to build with them when you haven’t even received a design! Builders do this so they do not need to provide you with a competitive build quote when the design is completed. Builders will say you have ‘saved’ money by going straight to them. However, it is them that have saved costs by capturing a long-term contract at a preliminary stage. If you design through a builder, you will still need to use an architect or designer however you will not know if you are getting value for money during construction as your design is not allowed to be competitively tendered by other builders.
Major components in construction cost
Overall size
The size of the project is probably the biggest factor in the cost of building work. This includes the building’s total floor area, bulk or volume, number of storeys, and the ratio of the envelope to usable floor area. With architects, the design process involves careful consideration of space use and minimising waste. In poorly designed homes, circulation space can blow out, reducing the level of usable space for the same budget.
Site works
The slope of your block can significantly influence your building costs and become a large component of the cost. Sloping blocks and steeper sites often require more extensive earthworks, retaining walls, and site preparations including filling or cutting of soil to prepare a flat surface or stepped levels for your new home.
An architect will organise a site survey of your property at the earliest stage of your design. This survey will pick up all the items on the block, including the fall of the land, trees, fences, etc. At the sketch design stage, these levels will be used to inform where possible cuts/fills are required. The architect, depending on the fall and other constraints, may work in conjunction with the engineer to provide a site works plan.
Stepped House due to fall of land
Footing design
The foundation, or the footing design, will also be a major contributor to the cost of a house or addition. A footing /foundation is designed by the engineer who calculates the size, depth and strength of concrete & steel required. All of which depend on the overall size & shape of the house design and the type of soil. Soil type does have a significant impact on the footing design. For example, building on sandy soil is typically cheaper than building on heavy clay soil, which requires deeper footings and more steel reinforcement. Also, certain shapes of houses will be more cost-effective than other shapes. It’s all about the concrete volume and the length of steel required.
Walls and framing
Walls are another major component of a house. The materials chosen and the height of the walls all influence the cost. This includes any raked walling sections and opening sizes that will need beams to support either a floor or new roof above. Walls are a large architectural element in the design of your home and play an important role not just in cost but also in energy rating and visual appeal.
Roof design
The roof is a major architectural feature that contributes to your home’s cost and aesthetics. As the roof is a major design area of the house, it can make the difference between an ordinary house and a grand piece of architecture. The cost of materials is generally not the primary driver (it’s either tiles or corrugated sheets), but it is the complexity of the shape and size. Hipped or raked sections, gable ends, box gutters, and parapets contribute to the cost. At Yvonne Svensson Architect, we consult with engineers and timber framers to discuss the best design options available regarding the overall visual appearance, practical construction and cost-effectiveness of your home.
Mutliple Skillon Roof Desgin
Windows and doors
Windows and doors are essential to energy efficiency, especially in South Australia’s climate. Nowadays, everyone likes large openings to the alfresco and large expanse windows to capture views and light.
All of these openings need to be supported by the wall framing. Glass itself has limitations, and the larger the glass area, the thicker the Glass needs to be for it to support itself along with the frame.
Also, energy ratings play a major role in the glazing level and its cost. The larger the area of glazing, the higher the specifications (e.g., double or triple glazing) is required to achieve energy ratings. This increases costs but offers long-term savings in terms of energy consumption. Incorporating smart, energy-efficient glazing early in the design can help balance upfront costs with future savings.
Large Alfresco Doors ( 8m span)
Plumbing and wet areas
Wet areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry are among the most expensive parts of a home or addition.
These rooms require careful planning to accommodate all trades involved in relatively small spaces, including plumbing, electrical, and waterproofing space and are generally more complex in construction. They also contain cabinetry which is a costly yet beautiful component of a house. High-quality kitchen and bathroom design ensures that these critical spaces function well but also add value to your home.
Interior and exterior features
Stonewall features, fireplaces, flooring, and cabinetry are beautiful elements that can elevate the design of your home but also contribute to the cost and, therefore, important to be considered when budgeting for areas in the house. They are essential to the design and need to be thoughtfully included, not just added everywhere or in areas where they are not often seen. This is where Yvonne Svensson Architect can help you visual your new space and where cost savings can be made without impacting on the overall design and quality of your home.
Exterior, red brick , rendered sections and hardwood decking
Estimator
An estimator is a person who calculates the cost of things and is officially called a quantity surveyor. They are professionals in their field and are used extensively within the building industry during tender and construction processes. Large firms use teams when tendering for large, complex jobs. Every builder uses one or has the knowledge to complete this themselves through specific programs. Yvonne Svensson Architect always recommends the use of an Estimator to independently provide a preliminary construction budget at the Planning Stage or earlier (once Elevations are drawn) so you can be confident going forward in the design process.
Planning from start to finish
How much does building a home cost in South Australia depends on various factors, including location, design complexity, and material choices. Whether building in Adelaide’s coastal suburbs, the Adelaide Hills, or a regional area, careful planning, budget management, and collaboration with professionals are essential. By working with Yvonne Svensson Architect, you can ensure that your home design is both aesthetically pleasing and cost-efficient, taking into account all of the considerations discussed.
If you’re ready to start planning your dream home, contact Yvonne Svensson Architect today so we can help you understand how much does building a home cost and then design a beautiful home that meets your needs.
Set up an initial consultation with Yvonne Svensson Architect to discuss further.