Yes, we design and construct renovations and extensions, in addition to new homes.

A typical renovation or extension project often involves significantly improving the energy efficiency of the existing home. This can mean removing all the internal linings to allow for proper insulation and air sealing, helping the home perform better long-term.

We strongly believe in the value of a collaborative process between client, designer, and builder from the very beginning.

This approach delivers greater cost and construction efficiency, and ultimately leads to better project outcomes. For that reason, most of the projects we build are ones we’ve been involved with from the design stage.

That said, if you already have plans, feel free to share them with us—we’re happy to have a conversation and see whether we’re the right fit for the build.

For a custom home, the design process typically takes between 6 to 8 months. If the project requires development approval (DA), this can add an additional 6 to 8 weeks.

A typical construction timeline is around 12 months, depending on the complexity and scale of the project.

Yes, our construction contract is a lump sum fixed-price contract, providing you with cost certainty and peace of mind.

However, there are some allowances, also known as provisional sums, for items that can’t be fully defined until works commence. A typical example is earthworks, where the final cost can vary depending on what’s encountered on site (e.g. rock, soil conditions, or buried services).

We aim to keep these allowances to a minimum and clearly communicate how they’re calculated. Any variations to these provisional sums are discussed and agreed with you before proceeding.

No. We operate with two separate contracts.

The first is a design contract, which is usually broken into three itemised stages:

1. Sketch Design

2. Design Development

3. Documentation & Building Approvals

At the end of each stage, we provide updated costings to keep things transparent and aligned with your budget. After the final stage, you’ll receive a lump sum construction quote—no surprises.

If you’re happy to proceed, we then enter into a separate construction contract to deliver the build.

Our passion is making energy-efficient homes more accessible to Canberrans. Rather than aiming for full Passive House certification, we focus on the sweet spot, using building science and data to find the most cost-effective ways to deliver year-round comfort and performance in Canberra’s climate.

Typically, we build homes with air tightness levels between 3 and 5 air changes per hour (ACH). While we rarely use triple glazing (due to cost-benefit trade-offs), we prioritise thermally broken double-glazed windows, high levels of insulation, and heat recovery ventilation systems (HRVs) as standard.

That said, we can build to full certified Passive House standards if that’s your goal. We’re happy to discuss what level of performance best suits your project, budget, and lifestyle.

Not at all. We’re here to make the process manageable and clear.

Some clients like to be hands-on with every detail, while others prefer a more guided experience. We support both, offering clear advice when needed or collaborating closely if you want to dive in.

Either way, we’ll help you make confident decisions at the right time, so the process feels smooth, and the finished home feels truly yours.

We’re strong believers in clear, consistent communication throughout your project.

During the design phase, we provide detailed drawings and 3D visuals so you can confidently understand and contribute to the evolving design.

During construction, we welcome you to visit the site and see your home taking shape. We also ensure you’re kept up to date through regular communication, site meetings, and access to key project documentation and updates.

Our goal is to make the process transparent, collaborative, and engaging from start to finish.

Yes, we do. We’ve been pressure testing all our homes for the past 15 years to reliably measure and verify the level of air tightness achieved.

This helps us continuously improve our building practices and ensures each home performs as intended, whether it’s a new build or a renovation.

We typically have 4 to 5 projects underway at any given time. These are carefully staggered across different stages. For instance, we might be pouring the slab on one while another is nearing completion.

This approach allows us to work with a trusted and consistent team of subcontractors and suppliers, which is key to maintaining high quality, on-time delivery, and budget control across all our projects.

Our team of skilled carpenters and experienced site supervisors oversee each project to ensure quality and attention to detaik, which is especially important when building high-performance, energy-efficient, airtight homes.

We do also work with a group of subcontractors who’ve been with us for many years. They understand our standards and are committed to delivering build certainty and clear communication throughout every stage of the construction process.

During the design phase, we guide you through a decision-making process, helping you select everything from splashback tiles to door handles. This ensures clarity and confidence about what will be delivered, and helps avoid surprises during the build.

If however you decide you’d like to make a change during the build, it’s always possible to raise it.

We’ll assess the request, discuss any cost or timeline implications, and, if agreed, formalise it through a variation process.