Past Project: Kotuku Place, Snells Beach

Anne and Len came to us at the Auckland Home Show, knowing they wanted to retire to their home at Snells Beach, but overwhelmed at the thought of the home extension that would be required so that they could maximise their picturesque views of the beach.

Initially, the plan was to add a second level to their Lockwood home, but a site-visit by Certified Home Extensions company director Alvin and our personally recommended designer Blair led to our recommendation for their home extension being the lift of their existing home, and a new basement level being built underneath. This is one of the many reasons why it is so important to have a builder like Alvin involved early on in the process as this gives them the opportunity to make recommendations that will allow you to achieve your desired end result, while maximising the budget that you have available.

If Anne and Len had proceeded with their original plan, which is likely what an independent architect or architectural designer would have recommended, their existing home would have likely had to have been rebuilt from the ground up, to ensure that there was enough structural bracing to be able to support the upper level. This would have cost at least a hundred thousand dollars more, meaning that some of what we were able to achieve e.g. a spacious ensuite, fully waterproofed deck and replacement of all of the existing joinery, would have been put into jeopardy.

The final site plan for Anne and Len led to them maximising their section space, leaving them plenty of room for a garden and a bit of greenery in the midst of their picturesque beach views

Of course, the process of moving a house, building a new level and then shifting it back again is a lot more complex than a standard, single level home extension. For your understanding, we’ve illustrated the broader milestones that we completed below so that Anne and Lens dream home could become a reality;

Upgrading the Base; As we were changing the location of Anne and Lens home to give them some more space for the boat and a few surfboards, the first step was to complete the foundation works in the spot where the existing home would be moved to, and the new basement level would be built.

Existing Home Moved; Once the new base was ready, the existing home had to be disconnected from its foundations, moved to its new location and then propped up over the new foundation. Props were required because the builders needed to be able to safely work underneath the house to construct the new basement level, and then complete the internal renovation of their existing home.

Building the Bottom; Now the really exciting part of Anne and Len’s home extension could start – the framing of the new ground floor level. This is always the stage of a home extension where you really start seeing your dream home take shape and it is always a terrific milestone to tick off the list for both Certified Home Extensions and the client. Once the framing was complete, our builders were able to remove the props, and the house was ready for small changes that would make a big difference like new joinery, a waterproofed deck and a fresh coat of paint.

BEFORE; Anne and Lens home was at the back of the section, meaning there was a long way between them and the beach. While it was a great bach, it left a lot to be desired when they considered living daily life there during retirement

First, the house was shifted into a temporary location so that the foundations for the new basement level could be constructed. The home was shifted forward to utilise section space better & maximise the already gorgeous beach views

Perfect Spot for a Coffee; One of our favourite features of this home extension was the large, waterproofed deck that spanned the length of the upper level, giving Len the ideal location to check whether the surf was up in the morning. Waterproofing their deck also meant that they could minimise the likelihood of mould and mildew damage which was especially necessary considering how close they were to the beach, and the high levels of salt and water exposure their new home extension was likely to have.

“Dressing” the Exterior; Another key requirement that Anne and Len had was the re-clad of their existing home with a material that was more suitable for the high levels of salt, spray and wind that they experienced being so close to the beach, Our recommendation was palisade, which is essentially a plastic weatherboard that requires little to no maintenance. This, in combination with bricks on the new lower level, meant that their new home was stylish, durable and practical – all of the boxes ticked!

The Long Term; As with all of our home extensions and custom new builds, the bigger picture as well as short term needs were covered off as part of construction. This was especially key for Anne and Len as this was their retirement home that they wanted to spend many happy years in. So adding the finishing touches looked a little bit different with this home extension, as a lot more thought went into things like door openings, showers and access from one level to the next.

Once the foundations had been completed, the existing home was lifted to form the second level of Anne & Lens new home. The builders could then start framing out in preparation for the new ground floor

AFTER; With a simple basement extension Anne and Len took their home from a single level, dark and dingy bach to a two level picturesque family home that they will be able to enjoy many happy years of retirement in

Cherry on Top; Part of addressing Anne and Len’s long term needs was the incorporation of a lift into the extension. This meant that even if Anne or Len required a wheelchair in the future, they would still be able to enjoy every aspect of the home that we had all spent months pouring love, care and attention to detail into. Also, in order to be able to achieve the full scope of works, Len completed the interior painting of the new extension and upper level, which is an option for all of our clients if finances are tight. This mean that they were able to save some coins for doing things like increasing the height in the garage to make sure that the surfboards could stay on the top of the jeep.

Now; Anne & Len have the ultimate beachside home. Complete with terrific indoor-outdoor flow, a master suite where the first thing you see every morning is the beach and an art room and double garage for them to pursue their various hobbies, they can’t wait for retirement.

If you are reading this and thinking hey I have views and am in desperate need of some more space or are wanting a home that you can live the ultimate retirement lifestyle in, then we can help you, just like we helped Anne and Len. Don’t hesitate to send us an email or give us a call!