Simple hacks to reduce your build cost
With building costs spiralling out of control in the last few years, it's never been more important to find ways to save money on your build to make it more achievable. Here are our simple hacks to help. You're welcome.
Efficient layout
Design to maximize functions in a minimal space. Reduce or eliminate circulation spaces like passages and additional rooms such as laundries or sculleries. Make use of standard material sizes, usually multiples of 600 or 1200. For renovations, prioritize utilizing existing space before considering any additions.
Reduce or omit materials
Can you keep the structural elements visible and minimize the use of finishes? For instance, consider polishing a concrete slab or leaving a timber subfloor exposed instead of adding extra floor coverings. Also, decreasing the size of trims like architraves and skirtings or the amount of kitchen cabinetry reduces the amount of materials needed.
Reduce unnecessary framing timber
Typically more timber framing goes into NZ houses than required, such as the 'dwangs' that run horizontally between the studs. Ensure your designer or architect has limited this to only what is required for claddings and linings.
Double up on spaces
Is it possible for the scullery to double as the laundry? Could we widen a passage to accommodate storage or break-out spaces? Explore vertical space by creating nooks within the floors, walls, and ceilings that are already part of the design, potentially serving as an office, library, storage, bedrooms, or additional living/guest space.
Spend on quality items in the right areas
Allocate budget to high-traffic or prominently featured areas. Opt for more economical materials in less noticeable areas. For instance, consider using "picture" windows instead of expansive glass throughout.
Keep services confined
Locate your kitchen, bathrooms and laundry close together to reduce water supply pipe, waste pipes and drainage pipe length. This should also mean only one hot water heater is needed, and ensures hot water is quick to fixtures.
Don't just look at initial cost, but what's going to need replacing
Sure a material, fixture or fitting may be slightly cheaper, but consider will it last as long? You may only need to pay a little bit more at the build, but save in the end as the product lasts much longer.
DIY
Look for ways to save by carrying out some work or management by yourself. Painting is always a useful way to save, while managing fit-outs like the kitchen or simple floor coverings away from the main contract avoids those additional margins. If you are super handy then installing skirtings and architraves is another way to reduce the builder's work.
Spend more money on design
This might seem counterintuitive on a post about saving money, however given that design costs are just a fraction of what you spend on building materials and labour, it's always worth investing in the experience and expertise your designer brings to the table. Because as most of the points above show, a lot of your cost savings are actually determined by the design, and then flow on to the construction, where most of the expense is.
At Reform Architecture we enjoy the challenge that budgets bring, trying to bring about the best outcomes for our clients. We don't want you to have a humdrum experience with architecture and believe that joy is possible even on low budgets; it just needs some creativity. We'd love to chat if that sounds like you!
