EBC BUILDING GUIDES
EBC Construction Advice Hub
Practical information for Melbourne homeowners planning a renovation, extension or new build — explained in plain English and organised around the decisions you actually need to make.
START WITH THE QUESTION YOU HAVE NOW
59 practical guides, one place to start
These guides are general information, not a substitute for project-specific planning, engineering, legal or building-surveyor advice. Where Victorian requirements matter, we link to current official guidance.
Most useful starting points
How Much Does a Home Renovation Cost in Melbourne?
What really drives renovation costs, from structure and wet areas to services, finishes and approvals.
Read guide →How Much Does a Home Extension Cost in Melbourne?
A practical guide to home extension and house extension costs in Melbourne, covering scope, structure, site conditions, services, finishes, approvals and quote comparisons.
Read guide →What Affects the Cost of Building a New Home in Melbourne?
Understand the main factors that affect new home building costs in Melbourne, including site conditions, design complexity, structure, services, specification and external works.
Read guide →Dual Occupancy in Melbourne: Can I Build Two Homes on My Block?
Learn the key checks for a two-home or dual-occupancy project in Melbourne, including zoning, overlays, site dimensions, access, design standards, services and subdivision.
Read guide →Building on a Sloping Block in Melbourne: What Should You Check First?
A practical guide to building on a sloping block in Melbourne, covering levels, excavation, retaining, drainage, access, foundations and design choices.
Read guide →Energy-Efficient Homes in Victoria: What to Decide Before You Build or Renovate
A practical guide to 7-star design, insulation, glazing, electrification, solar readiness and energy-efficient decisions for Victorian homes.
Read guide →Do I Need a Building Permit for a Renovation in Victoria?
A practical guide to when Victorian home renovations may need a building permit, including structural work, walls, openings, bathrooms, services and the role of the building surveyor.
Read guide →How to Compare Builder Quotes in Victoria
Learn how to compare residential builder quotes in Victoria by checking scope, exclusions, allowances, specifications, variations, timing and contract assumptions.
Read guide →How to Check and Choose a Registered Builder in Victoria
Find and check registered builders in Victoria using the BPC register, then compare project experience, scope, contracts, communication and references before choosing a builder.
Read guide →Costs & Budget
Understand the main cost drivers, allowances and pricing questions before comparing building numbers.
How Much Does a Home Renovation Cost in Melbourne?
What really drives renovation costs, from structure and wet areas to services, finishes and approvals.
Read guide →How Much Does a Home Extension Cost in Melbourne?
A practical guide to home extension and house extension costs in Melbourne, covering scope, structure, site conditions, services, finishes, approvals and quote comparisons.
Read guide →What Affects the Cost of Building a New Home in Melbourne?
Understand the main factors that affect new home building costs in Melbourne, including site conditions, design complexity, structure, services, specification and external works.
Read guide →Site Costs Explained: Soil, Excavation, Rock, Access, Drainage and Retaining Walls
Understand the site conditions that can change the cost of a new home or extension, including soil, excavation, rock, access, drainage and retaining.
Read guide →Builder Quote vs Estimate: What Is the Difference?
Understand the practical difference between a builder estimate and a detailed quote, when each is useful and why project information affects pricing certainty.
Read guide →Planning & Permits
Work through Victorian permit, title and property constraints before the design becomes difficult to change.
Planning Permit vs Building Permit in Victoria
Understand the difference between planning approval and building approval before your project starts.
Read guide →Planning a Home Extension: What Should You Check First?
A practical pre-design checklist for Melbourne home extensions covering planning controls, title, site conditions, existing structure, services, access, budget and approvals.
Read guide →Illegal or Unapproved Building Work in Victoria: What Homeowners Need to Know
What Victorian homeowners should do if they discover building work completed without required permits, approvals or compliant practitioners.
Read guide →Do I Need a Building Permit for a Renovation in Victoria?
A practical guide to when Victorian home renovations may need a building permit, including structural work, walls, openings, bathrooms, services and the role of the building surveyor.
Read guide →How Can an Easement Affect a Home Extension in Victoria?
A homeowner guide to checking easements before planning an extension, including title information, access restrictions, services and why approval requirements are site-specific.
Read guide →Dual Occupancy in Melbourne: Can I Build Two Homes on My Block?
Learn the key checks for a two-home or dual-occupancy project in Melbourne, including zoning, overlays, site dimensions, access, design standards, services and subdivision.
Read guide →Removing a Load-Bearing Wall: What Is Involved in an Open-Plan Renovation?
Understand the structural, engineering, permit and construction issues involved when removing a load-bearing wall during a renovation.
Read guide →Heritage Overlay Renovations and Extensions in Victoria
Learn how a Heritage Overlay can affect demolition, external alterations, extensions, materials and planning approval for a Victorian home.
Read guide →Protection Works and Neighbouring Properties in Victoria
Understand when protection work may be required for adjoining property, including notices, engineering, insurance, condition surveys and building surveyor involvement.
Read guide →Retaining Walls: When They Affect a New Home or Extension in Victoria
Learn when retaining walls affect design, drainage, engineering, boundaries, permits and site costs for Victorian residential building projects.
Read guide →Stormwater and Drainage When Building or Extending a Home in Victoria
A practical guide to stormwater, site levels, permeability, legal points of discharge and drainage planning for new homes and extensions in Victoria.
Read guide →Bushfire-Prone Sites and BAL Ratings in Victoria: What Homeowners Should Know
Understand Bushfire Prone Areas, Bushfire Management Overlays and BAL ratings when planning a new home, rebuild or extension in Victoria.
Read guide →Choosing the Right Approach
Compare renovation, extension, rebuilding and owner-builder pathways before committing to a direction.
Renovate, Extend or Rebuild?
Compare the practical trade-offs between renovating, extending and starting again.
Read guide →Owner Builder vs Hiring a Builder in Victoria: Responsibilities, Costs and Risks
Compare becoming an owner builder with engaging a builder for a Victorian renovation, extension or new home, including responsibilities, permits and risk.
Read guide →Ground-Floor vs Second-Storey Extension: Which Is Better?
Compare ground-floor and second-storey home extensions, including site area, structure, stairs, access, disruption, planning and cost drivers.
Read guide →What Should I Check Before Buying Land to Build a Home in Victoria?
A practical checklist for checking a block before buying to build, including planning controls, slope, soil, services, easements, access and site costs.
Read guide →Knockdown Rebuild Feasibility Checklist: What to Check First
A practical knockdown-rebuild feasibility checklist covering planning controls, demolition, access, services, site costs, design, finance and project sequencing.
Read guide →Architect vs Building Designer vs Draftsperson in Victoria: Who Do You Need?
Compare architects, registered building designers and drafting services in Victoria and understand which role may suit a renovation, extension or new home.
Read guide →Multi-Generational Home Design in Melbourne: Renovate, Extend or Rebuild?
Plan a multi-generational home for parents, adult children or extended family with practical advice on privacy, accessibility, kitchens, bathrooms and future flexibility.
Read guide →2027 Melbourne Home Design Trends: Practical Ideas Worth Considering
Practical 2027 Melbourne home design ideas for new builds, renovations and extensions, including all-electric homes, flexible layouts, storage and low-maintenance materials.
Read guide →Choosing a Builder
Check registration, compare quotes and understand what to look for before selecting a builder.
How to Check and Choose a Registered Builder in Victoria
Find and check registered builders in Victoria using the BPC register, then compare project experience, scope, contracts, communication and references before choosing a builder.
Read guide →How to Compare Builder Quotes in Victoria
Learn how to compare residential builder quotes in Victoria by checking scope, exclusions, allowances, specifications, variations, timing and contract assumptions.
Read guide →Custom Builder vs Volume Builder: Which Is Better for Your Project?
Compare custom builders and volume builders for design flexibility, site complexity, pricing, selections, communication and project fit.
Read guide →Contracts & Process
Understand contracts, variations, payments, insurance and the records that keep a project clear.
Building Variations in Victoria: Cost, Time and Approval Explained
A practical homeowner guide to building variations in Victoria, including scope changes, written approval, price changes, time impacts and record keeping.
Read guide →Before You Sign a Building Contract: A Victorian Homeowner Checklist
A practical Victorian homeowner checklist covering builder registration, scope, plans, specifications, price, payments, dates, variations, allowances and contract review before signing.
Read guide →Building Insurance During a Renovation or Extension in Victoria
A homeowner guide to Home Warranty insurance, existing home insurance and insurance checks before a Victorian renovation or extension starts.
Read guide →Building Delays in Victoria: Extensions of Time, Responsibilities and What Homeowners Should Do
Understand common Victorian building delays, extension-of-time notices, contract dates, records and practical steps when a residential project falls behind.
Read guide →Prime Cost Items and Provisional Sums Explained: Why Building Quotes Can Change
Understand prime cost items and provisional sums in Victorian building contracts, how allowances work and why the final price can change.
Read guide →What Is a Building Specification and Why Does It Matter?
Learn what a residential building specification covers, how it works with drawings and why clear specifications help pricing, contracts, selections and construction.
Read guide →Progress Payments in Victorian Building Contracts Explained
Understand residential construction progress payments in Victoria, including payment stages, claims, evidence, variations and why payments should match the contract.
Read guide →Fixed-Price vs Cost-Plus Building Contracts in Victoria
Understand the practical difference between fixed-price and cost-plus building contracts in Victoria, including pricing certainty, allowances, records and legal restrictions.
Read guide →Process & Planning
Follow the practical steps from feasibility and site investigation through construction and handover.
The Home Building Process in Victoria: From First Idea to Handover
A homeowner-friendly guide to the Victorian home building process from project brief and site checks through design, approvals, contract, construction, inspections and handover.
Read guide →What Happens During a Builder Site Inspection?
Learn what a builder looks for during an initial residential site inspection, what information to prepare and how the visit helps improve feasibility and pricing.
Read guide →Building Surveyor vs Building Inspector in Victoria: What Is the Difference?
Understand the different roles of building surveyors, building inspectors and independent building consultants on Victorian residential projects.
Read guide →Knockdown Rebuild Process in Victoria: From Demolition to New Home
A step-by-step guide to the Victorian knockdown rebuild process, from feasibility and demolition through design, permits, construction and handover.
Read guide →What Happens at Building Handover in Victoria?
A homeowner guide to final inspections, defects, completion documents, Occupancy Permits and Certificates of Final Inspection at building handover.
Read guide →How Long Does a Home Renovation Take in Melbourne?
Understand what affects a Melbourne home renovation timeline, from design and approvals through demolition, structural work, services, finishes and handover.
Read guide →Can I Live in My House During a Renovation?
A practical guide to deciding whether to stay in your home during renovation, including safety, dust, services, access, staging and temporary living arrangements.
Read guide →What Documents Does a Builder Need to Prepare a Quote?
Learn which plans, engineering, specifications, site information and selections help a builder prepare a clearer renovation, extension or new-home quote.
Read guide →How to Prepare Your Home Before a Renovation Starts
A practical homeowner checklist for preparing before renovation construction starts, including access, belongings, pets, services, neighbours, decisions and site communication.
Read guide →When Should I Contact a Builder for My Renovation, Extension or New Home?
Learn when to involve a builder in a Melbourne renovation, extension or new-home project and how early builder input can help with feasibility, budget and buildability.
Read guide →Do I Need a Soil Test Before Building or Extending in Victoria?
Learn why soil testing may be required before a new home or extension, what the report helps determine and how it informs engineering and site costs.
Read guide →What Is a Site Survey and Why Is It Important Before Building?
Understand how site surveys support renovation, extension and new-home planning by recording boundaries, levels, existing features and site constraints.
Read guide →What Should Homeowners Know About Demolition Before Renovating or Rebuilding?
Understand demolition planning before a major renovation or knockdown rebuild, including scope, services, permits, hazardous materials, access and sequencing.
Read guide →How Long Does a Home Extension Take in Melbourne?
Understand what affects a Melbourne home extension timeline, from design and approvals through structure, services, finishes and connection to the existing house.
Read guide →What Happens During the Pre-Construction Stage of a Building Project?
Understand the pre-construction stage before a renovation, extension or new home starts, including documents, selections, permits, contracts, procurement and site preparation.
Read guide →Building on a Sloping Block in Melbourne: What Should You Check First?
A practical guide to building on a sloping block in Melbourne, covering levels, excavation, retaining, drainage, access, foundations and design choices.
Read guide →Building on a Narrow Block in Melbourne: Design and Construction Checks
A guide to narrow-block home building in Melbourne, covering setbacks, access, light, privacy, services, structure and construction logistics.
Read guide →Home Orientation in Melbourne: How Sun, Shade and Layout Affect Comfort
Learn how home orientation, north-facing living areas, shading, glazing and layout can improve comfort and energy performance in Melbourne.
Read guide →Energy-Efficient Homes in Victoria: What to Decide Before You Build or Renovate
A practical guide to 7-star design, insulation, glazing, electrification, solar readiness and energy-efficient decisions for Victorian homes.
Read guide →Building Inclusions to Decide Early: What Is Expensive to Add Later?
A practical checklist of structural, electrical, data, insulation, solar, EV and service provisions worth deciding before walls and finishes are closed.
Read guide →Renovating an Older Melbourne Home: Hidden Problems to Check Before Starting
A practical guide to hidden conditions in older Melbourne homes, including asbestos, wiring, plumbing, structure, moisture, subfloors and previous alterations.
Read guide →Asbestos and Home Renovations in Victoria: What Owners Should Know
A homeowner guide to asbestos risks before renovation or demolition in Victoria, including identification, testing, licensed removal and planning ahead.
Read guide →Termite Protection for New Homes, Renovations and Extensions in Victoria
Learn when termite management may be required in Victoria and how building design, barriers, inspections and landscaping affect long-term protection.
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