who will use the extra space, what do you want to include, have you considered repurposing any other areas of the house or extending at ground level and you should check first with your local council for upstairs extensions and also ask about extra carspace in front of the existing garage (and use garage in the flat) and, depending on distance to side boundaries, you may find that you can't just build straight up on top of the existing building and external stairs may also be a problem but depends on where you want to locate the stairs and self contained separate accommodation will have extra conditions not applicable to standard upstairs and you can hear people walking around upstairs but shouldn't be a problem if downstairs is a garage but 62 sqm is twice the size of a standard double garage so upstairs would be above some of your living areas and any renovation does make an awful lot of mess but a well organised builder should have the roof waterproofed within a day but the rest of the work can last for months and it can be quicker to move out so the builder doesn't have to work around you living downstairs

Your first point of call should be your local council to discuss the proposed use, planning implications and side setback requirements. Look at the big picture first to see what is allowable before looking at the details. Any first floor extension that includes plumbing for a kitchenette and bathroom is going to be expensive and into the serious six figures so do your research first, and know how many $100,000s you are prepared to spend.

Best of luck

Dr Retro

of Dr Retro House Calls

Initially I want to rent the space, but am thinking about help/care down the track. I still want to maintain my own privacy and also provide privacy for the occupant. It is not necessary to provide parking for a dual occupancy in my area as I understand it, but I would need to firewall adjoining floors/walls. I am considering moving out for maybe a month but have two dogs to consider also. I think there will not be a problem getting the plan through council as there is already a second storey extension over garage in my street and my neighbour applied for one a few years ago which was approved but ultimately did not go ahead. The planned space would be a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living room with adjoining balcony. I have had an initial consultation with a builder who specialises in second storey extensions and he has not raised any concerns. He obviously wants the work though, so would like other thoughts/opinions.

62 sqm seems like a bigger than necessary space for what you describe and does that include the external stairs, two bedrooms and a laundry... do you already have plans, have you considered building a smaller upstairs space for yourself and renting out the bigger downstairs and later having the small upstairs flat for a tenant or carer although anyone thinking about aged care should check out the MyAgedCare program that provides wonderful subsided home maintenance, minor modifications and in home personal care and housekeeping but it's always best to register before care is needed

The approx 60sqm space doesn't include the stairs and is only one bedroom. I haven't decided on laundry as it could be possible to share the existing one which opens off the existing garage. The external stairs would be adjacent to the side door off the garage which is next to the laundry. I don't already have plans but have been playing around with a floor plan myself. That is why I'd like a little input on the design possibilities. Using the upstairs area myself might be possible one day, but not for the foreseeable future as I have two dogs and need the yard. I also have a number of interests for which I need my existing space. Additionally I don't want a whole houseful of tenants with which I would have to cohabit. Ideally it will just be one person.

Thank you for your suggestions re the MyAgedCare Program, but I have just had the experience of that process with my own mother. The waiting lists for care are very long and even just getting assessed takes a long time. Last time I heard there were 90,000 people on the waiting list and some 16,000 died in 2018/19 while waiting. Additionally, you only get a few hours assistance a week, there is no live in or on call help and a lot of the money gets eaten up in admin costs. It doesn't hold a lot of appeal for me in it's current form. Hopefully the Royal Commission will result in some improvements and it may provide a better service by the time I might be in need of it.

I have considered buying another house on a bigger block where I could put a granny flat , but haven't found anything suitable. Most houses which offer this possibility are unrenovated so I would have to do a full reno on the house as well as build the granny flat. When you consider the costs and disruption involved in that, plus the costs of selling and buying and moving, it just seems all too hard. That's why I've come back to this option.

https://secondstoreysolutions.com.au/projects/wellard/

Why don’t you post your floor plans, existing and proposed both levels. I lived through an extension with a new born baby no problems although didn’t have roof off or lose kitchen or bathroom. We did lose lounge room and it was hoarded off

If you're looking at this extension for older residents, build on one level it's horrible how many older people have to leave their homes because it's two story.

Have you had somebody with financial nous talk through your plans with you? It may be better to invest the money you plan on spending in the Reno. Then when you can’t/don’t want to manage the house anymore sell it and downsize, using the funds invested and the excess house proceeds to top up your super/pension. You sound very independent and I don’t think dual living will make you happy.

I agree with what has already been said and would add that IF your only option is to go up, then make provisions for a lift, particularly, if you are comptemplating residing in the extension at some point. It doesn't have to go in straight away but do allow a minimum 1100mm x 1100mm space for one.

From personal experience, you just don't know what injuries could befall you, as you age which could prevent you using stairs.

Also, rather than an extension, have you considered locating a Tiny Home onto your section?

I think you should consider all has been said above.
Upper level is hard for mobility issue. And are you sure its no problem with council or just an assumption?
Its much better to try renovate the main residence and add second level to it, then allocate selfcontained unit on part of ground floor as an attached granny flat.

Thankyou 3DA. I am not 100% sure about council but the builder I have consulted with seems very sure it is not a problem and has dealt with council many times before. He specialises in second story extensions and has been working in the area for 25 years. The upper level would not be used by a person with a mobility issue. The main house has already been fully renovated and the floor plan would not lend itself to an attached granny flat. Additionally the privacy of both parties would be non existent. If it were possible to put a granny flat on ground level I would certainly not be considering building up. It is definitely not my preferred option.

I checked out dreamers suggestion of a prefabbed extension that can be craned in which would be great, but it appears there isn't anyone doing this within reasonable distance of where I am in Northern NSW. Looks like it's back to the drawing board!

Hi Lyn, just wondering if you went ahead with your plans? I have the very same idea for my 3 bed brick veneer house with single garage.