Sample comparison
A 1965 brick veneer in Brisbane.
The clients want more living space and lower summer cooling bills. Here's how the four pathways compare.
Post-war home140 m²No insulationSingle glazed
| Indicative | Retain | Retrofit | Extend | Replace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | ~$25k | ~$50k | ~$225k+ | ~$650k+ |
| Embodied carbon | Very low | Low to moderate | Moderate | Highest |
| Floor area | No change | No change | +50 m² | Full control |
| Comfort & health | ●●○○○1–2 | ●●●●○3–4 | ●●●●○3–4 | ●●●●●5 |
| Delivery | Low | Moderate | Moderate to high | Highest, move out |
What your client reads · Retrofit
Retrofit keeps your home's structure and focuses on how it feels to live in. Sealing draughts, insulating the ceiling and walls and upgrading some windows would typically make summers noticeably cooler and lower your cooling bills, for roughly $50k. It doesn't add space, so if more room is the priority, it pairs well with Extend.
Illustrative example. Indicative, order-of-magnitude estimates for early feasibility discussion. Not a quote, and not a structural or regulatory assessment. Full disclaimer.