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What to consider when renovating in a strata building

April 19, 2016 Leave a Comment

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There are numerous factors to consider when renovating within a strata building, as opposed to a private property or house.ย A strata building in a residential area can be a unit or apartment complex, townhouse, villa or duplex.

RA renovating in a strata building bathroom

Image: Pinterest

Strata approval
Before making any renovations to the structure of a building, including the walls, ceilings, balconies, pipes, ducts and services, it is crucial you consult with the strata about these changes. These alterations wonโ€™t only affect you, but those that live around you.

Changes to floor coverings
Many multi-storey or high-rise buildings have strata conditions or by-laws in place to control the acoustic properties of how the floor can be used, the thickness of the flooring and issues surrounding the acoustic insulation and noise transmission. To avoid any issues, its important to consult with the strata and get your flooring choice cleared before construction โ€“ itโ€™s also the neighbourly thing to do.

Differences on the outside
We all desire to make changes to make our home more aesthetically and functionally pleasing. However, you need to consider how changes to your unit and property will look from the outside and might affect others. Simple changes such as installing private screenings or shutters on windows for heat insulation or privacy need to be considered from a strata perspective.

RA renovating in a strata building kitchen and dining

Image: Pinterest

Do you need approval before making changes to a strata building?
So you donโ€™t fall into any legal perils, its important that you get a copy of your building’s by-laws and review them to find out whether your renovations need to be altered or can be passed.

Documentation is important
When completing any renovation it is best to keep a copy of all documentation and receipts for future need. Keeping a copy of council approvals and/or certifications is necessary for strata, as they will want to see them before any construction takes place. Donโ€™t wait until the last moment to get these โ€“ plan in advance!

Access to noise and rubbish removal
Itโ€™s necessary for your tradesmen to have access to a good work area and dispose of waste easily. Unlike on a single dwelling, having portable toilets, skip bins and allowing tradesmen to work on the front and back yard isnโ€™t so easy in a strata building. Due to the space, structure and surrounding people, there is a different level of complexity.

Maintaining and controlling rubbish removal can be especially difficult. How do I get permission for a skip bin? Where do I put it? How does it not block the driveway? ย These questions arise frequently, but there are a few solutions to help with the problem. Thankfully, fabric skip bins are now available that can be craned over a verandah or stored in the garage. Tradesmen can arrange access. For large renovations, a demolition shoot will need to be planned from the window/verandah of the complex, which dumps the debris in the skip. Approval needs to be sourced as the process involves, not only the shoot, but also the permission of the person whose land is used to place the skip.

Noise
Noise during construction can be annoying for some residents. But if you are respectful and working within your limits then you are starting from a good position. Itโ€™s important to check state laws regarding noise control in an urban or residential area. More specifically, check what applies to your specific building. This will let you make sure the construction occurs during a certain time and that online power tools are permitted. Hopefully then you can enjoy your renovations and not worry about being the noisy neighbour.

Amenities in-check
Tradesmen are people too and need access to a toilet onsite. Itโ€™s your job to find out where the nearest toilet is for them and gain approval for a portable one if needed.

RA renovating in a strata building lounge room

Image:ย Pinterest

Working areas for trades
When renovating a building in a strata environment, tradesmen donโ€™t often get the luxury of working on a driveway or front yard, which can be difficult when it comes to the preparation of the renovation. You need to consider that a work area needs to be created and that you might not only be vacating the renovation area but an adjacent one as a work area.

All that cutting, sawing and grinding inside will create a cacophony of a mess, but itโ€™s fairly unavoidable. You need to weigh up the choices. Would you rather a tradesman walking to and from a building to grab materials outside (taking up a lot of time) as opposed to one big construction clean up at the end of the renovation.

Naomi Findlayย is one of our resident experts, principal ofย Silk Homeย and founder of theย International Institute of Home Staging. Want to be a home stager? Attend theย 2016 Home Staging Symposiumย in Sydney this June!

Ask Naomi a questionย |ย Read all her articles for Reno Addict.

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Oh what a night. Thankfully Hornsby Hospital were as amazing as always and we avoided stitches. All taped and glued  back together and now to keep him calm for the next few days (๐Ÿคช) and watch for signs of concussion. 

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A big fat NOPE! ๐Ÿ’ง 

Which is why we have recently covered ours with a Caesarstone top (thanks to @justinplace_sydney for the advice and supply) and the sweet RELIEF of not having to worry about this high traffic area anymore, I'm telling you!๐Ÿค—

Doesn't matter what they tell you or how many times it's sealed, I'm not sure it's a great idea in a room which is so, well, wet!

I love having the warmth of timber in the bathroom and it's a beautiful piece, but timber on the top? Never again.

Ours probably lasted a year (if that) before it started to go downhill (and we want a good decade out of a bathroom, right?!). 2.5 years on, everything else in this bathroom looks virtually brand new and the water marked vanity top was really letting the side down and making me sad!

But I'm so pleased with this solution, I have to say! Took the plumber less than an hour to remove the sink, install the top and connect the sink back up. We didn't need to move the tap and it isn't too close to the basin.

The kids are allowed to brush their teeth and wash their hands (liquid soap ๐Ÿฅด) in here again and I can leave my hair straightener on there with gay abandon ๐Ÿ˜†

The reflective surface (which I can clean with whatever I like!๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป) brightens the room up too!

Next week I'll tell you what I really think of my brass tile trim too ๐Ÿ˜‰

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โœ”๏ธ Before becoming a blogger and running my own small business, I was a journalist from the age of 18. My favourite news gathering times were as a newspaper crime reporter (bit different to interiors!) ๐Ÿ““ 

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โœ”๏ธ My favourite cuisine is Japanese ๐Ÿฃ ๐Ÿœ and Damian and I honeymooned in Tokyo and Venice 

โœ”๏ธ I have zero design qualifications. I just started blogging about my passion, which is trying to persuade everyone to #heartyourhome That was 11 years ago...

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Hope you feel like you know me a bit better ๐Ÿ˜˜

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Blue, green or lilac? ๐ŸŽจ @nood_co coloured con Blue, green or lilac? ๐ŸŽจ 

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โ€œWe are very honoured to have been a part ofย The Block, and all they have done for us. I am, however, a believer in letting the product take centre stage,โ€ he says.

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๐Ÿ™Share your favourite colour basin in the comments!

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Pic 1 by @naibudesign_ and 2 by @twostyleinteriors
I'd love to see more colour in Aussie interiors! I'd love to see more colour in Aussie  interiors! ๐ŸŽจ 

At the end of the day though, it's a matter of personal taste. I love pops of colour but it's not for everyone. 

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Project by @in.house.design
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That was the brief for the conversion of a corner shop and a warehouse bakery into a luxury family home in Sydney's Newtown. And how about the library?!

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Amy Collins Walker

About Amy Collins Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

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