Builders in Maitland

Maitland is two building markets in one. There is a large stock of character homes, many of them weatherboard and many genuinely old, alongside fast-growing new estates at Thornton, Chisholm and Gillieston Heights. The work each needs could not be more different.

The factor that shapes nearly everything here is the flood overlay. Large parts of the local government area sit on the Hunter floodplain, and that determines minimum floor levels, which materials are permitted below the flood planning level, where your switchboard and hot water unit can sit, and whether you can enclose under-floor areas. It also usually pushes a job into a Development Application rather than complying development.

On older Maitland homes we routinely find termite damage, no sarking, and previous additions built on very little in the way of footings. We would rather find that at quoting stage than at week three, so we investigate before pricing.

What we build in Maitland

We offer every one of our building services in Maitland.

Local conditions that affect your build

Flood planning levels

Habitable floors generally must sit at or above the flood planning level. On a low lot that means a suspended floor or fill, and it changes access, stairs and cost substantially.

Flood-compatible materials

Anything below the flood planning level needs to be flood compatible. Standard plasterboard and particleboard are not permitted there.

Character housing stock

Weatherboard homes with high ceilings and original detailing. Sympathetic work costs more than a standard extension and is worth doing properly.

Reactive soils

Much of the floodplain is highly reactive clay, which means footings designed to the site classification rather than a default slab.