Adding a verandah to your home
When we were first contacted by our clients Peter and Heather, they said they wanted to add an upper-level extension to their two-storey Balmain home. We know from experience that Inner West Council usually opposes three-level additions, so we did a bit of research, which confirmed what they wanted to do was really pushing the boundaries. It would obstruct neighbours’ views and would be way over on other planning metrics, including floor space ratio. They wanted something simple, and we advised that a third level was a high-risk development. So, we decided to think about it differently. We broke it down to what they really needed. They said they wanted more living space, particularly for when friends visited because they didn’t have an outdoor living space. We came up with a different solution for their needs by putting a vergola at the back, which opens and closes. They also had a tiny, impractical balcony and they wanted to maximise the views from the front of their home. We realised we could create extra space there by adding a heritage-style verandah. The solution was extra functional space but without additional internal floor space.
The clients had moved from Queensland and they loved the idea of verandahs and outdoor living, so it was an easy sell. We did some sketches, put it all together and submitted a DA. As well as being practical, we wanted to make sure that we were adding value to the street presence as the façade was a boring 90s-style development.
I love verandahs and would like to add them to a lot of buildings I see in the area. I think they add character and help add value to a heritage area. They give you extra space to sit and are really good for shading in summer, which is beneficial to the thermal performance of the building, and provide a sunny spot to sit in winter. They also provide a good buffer, offering additional privacy as they separate your inside living areas from the street.
Our old office in Beattie Street was housed in a building with a verandah, but in 2022 a truck was delivering scaffolding next door and the jib of the crane pulled one of the posts down. The building was not the same without the verandah. Our office was very hot and unbearable even in early spring, so we had to move out. Sadly (and predictably) the verandah hasn’t been replaced.
The cost of adding a verandah depends on the size, but it’s not as expensive as you may think. And adding a verandah is good bang for your buck. You get the dual impact of enhanced street presence and extra living space. Our clients love sitting outside in the sun drinking coffee and reading books.
The thing I enjoyed about this project was the way we pared it back to understand the real need of the clients rather than just the brief. It was a great lesson for our team.
If you're thinking about making the most of your home, whether it's adding outdoor living spaces like a verandah or creating practical solutions that align with council regulations, we’re here to help. Contact us today for a consultation, and let's work together to find the perfect solution for your renovation needs.
