Most of the property owners tend to focus on renovating and adding value to their property in the current scenario. Statistics New Zealand figures this week show the value of building consents for houses and apartments slumped by 36 per cent from $6.1 billion to $3.9 billion in the year to May. But the value of consents for additions and alterations has virtually held steady at just over $1 billion as home owners switch to new kitchens, bathrooms and extensions instead.

Certified Builders Association president Derek Baxter said the renovation boom was partly compensating for the collapse in new building work over the past two years. “There’s been a dramatic shift from new house construction to additions and alterations and a lot of change to smaller work that a couple of years ago you just couldn't get a builder to do." The number of consents had fallen but the average value of the work was higher.

However, it is seen that there are 2 major concerns when it comes to renovations

Who to approach first – the builder or a designer? It is often a dilemma to decide the point of first contact. Builders usually are happy to come over and have a look to give you some advice and a quote.

However, they are conscious of the time they have to spend on site and to prepare a quote if they are not sure that they will get the job. Often it is found that they are not able to give a detailed quote in the time frame they had promised due to other priorities. Moreover they are not able to advice on any planning or Consent related matters. They may or may not be able to foresee whether the proposed activity would need a building consent. This is where the Designer is able to guide you. The ideal way is therefore to consult a designer and builder simultaneously.

Will my renovation need a Building Consent? There seems to be a lot of ambiguity amongst property owners on the nature of work that can be undertaken without a Building consent. All building work, irrespective of whether it requires a consent or not, must be done to meet the standards of performance set by the Building Code. It sets out certain building work that does not require a building consent which is referred to as ‘exempt work’. The lists below provide a summary, but it good to check with the Local council or your designer to be sure.

These activities DO require a building consent:
• Structural building - additions, alterations, re-piling, demolition
• Plumbing and drainage (except repair and maintenance of existing & comparable components)
• Relocating a building
• Installing a wood burner or air-conditioning system
• Retaining walls higher than 1.5 metres
• Fences or walls higher than 2 metres, and all swimming pools and their associated fences
• Decks, platforms or bridges more than 1 metre above ground level
• Sheds greater than 10 square metres in floor area
These activities DON’T require a building consent:
• A patio or deck at ground level
• Garden trellis less than 2 metres high
• Maintenance of your house, for example, replacing spouting or a piece of weatherboard
• replacing or altering linings or finishes of any internal wall, ceiling, or floor of a dwelling
• Building a small garden shed (provided it is no closer than its own height to the boundary, is under 10 m², and less than one storey high)
• making a penetration no greater than 30cm in diameter to enable the passage of pipes, cables, ducts, wires and hoses and the like through any existing building, and any associated work such as weatherproofing, fireproofing or sealing
• installing thermal insulation in an existing building other than in an external wall or a firewall of the building
For any renovation related queries call Bobby on 836 0576 or visit www.tarzandesign.co.nz

Bobby is the director of Tarzan Design Ltd. providing architectural design solutions for you in Auckland since the past 15 years. They specialise in renovations, new homes and commercial interior refurbishments from preparation of conceptual design to getting you a building consent