Areas we work
Renovations & Extensions in Paddington
Renovation builders working on Paddington's character homes — steep blocks, tight access, workers' cottages and Queenslanders reworked for how families live now.
Paddington is one of the harder suburbs in Brisbane to renovate well, and one of the most rewarding. The housing is largely pre-war timber on small, steep lots, much of it built before anyone imagined a family would want an open kitchen, a second bathroom or somewhere to put a car.
Almost every worthwhile renovation here runs into the same three things at once: the slope, the character controls, and access. None of them is a reason not to do the work. All three are reasons to plan it properly before anything is committed to.
The houses in Paddington
Workers' cottages and small Queenslanders
Narrow-fronted timber houses, often on lots under 500 square metres, with the original rooms arranged off a central hall. The usual brief is opening the rear third of the house to the kitchen and the yard while leaving the street elevation exactly as it is — which is also what the planning controls tend to expect.
Houses already raised, or worth raising
A great deal of Paddington's stock sits high at the back because of the slope. Where the underfloor space is already there, enclosing it is usually the cheapest floor area anyone will ever add to that house — the roof and the floor above already exist. Where it is not, raising is a bigger job than it looks and needs engineering before it needs a budget.
Post-war infill and later alterations
Not everything here is pre-1946, and plenty of what is has been altered several times. Unpicking a 1980s rear addition is often the first real decision on the project, because what was done then decides how much of what you want now is straightforward.
What we plan for here
- Steep sites mean retaining, drainage and footings are a real line in the scope, not an afterthought.
- Narrow streets and small lots limit crane and truck access, which affects both sequence and cost.
- Much of the suburb sits in Brisbane's traditional building character areas, so what happens to the street-facing form is constrained.
- Building in underneath is frequently the best value floor area available on these blocks.
- Neighbours are close. Site management and construction hours matter more here than in the outer suburbs.
Where to check this yourself
- Brisbane City Council — Heritage and character properties
- Brisbane City Council — Extensions, raising and renovations: do I need approval?
Flood, character and approval requirements are specific to a property rather than a suburb. Check your own address before making decisions.
Planning a renovation or extension?
Tell us about your home, your ideas and where you are up to. We will arrange an initial conversation to understand the project and work out whether our approach is the right fit.
Not ready to talk yet? Plan it out first — a few minutes, and we will have something to work from.