A clear, structured process designed to take the unknowns out of building.
Most clients have not built before. The early stages of a building project can feel opaque: development applications, construction certificates, certifiers, scopes of work, tender summaries, contracts. These are the documents and approvals that move a project from idea to site, and the language is unfamiliar to most people. Canstruct’s process is built around making each stage clear, with the right document at the right point and a conversation that explains what it means.
What follows is how a Canstruct project actually runs, from the first phone call through to the day the keys are handed back.
The first stage is a no-cost initial conversation, usually on the phone or by email, followed by a site visit if the project warrants it.
The aim is to understand what you are working on. Is there an architect engaged? Is there a development application in progress, approved, or not yet started? What is the rough budget? What kind of finish are you imagining? What is the timeline you have in mind? The site visit covers access, the existing structure if there is one, the constraints of the site, and the practical questions a builder needs to answer before pricing anything.
By the end of this stage you should have a clear sense of whether Canstruct is the right builder for the project. There is no obligation either way.
For most renovations, extensions and new homes, council approval is required before site work can start. The two main documents involved are the development application (DA) and the construction certificate (CC).
A development application is the planning approval. It is the document that tells council what you propose to build and confirms it complies with the local environmental plan. The DA is usually prepared by an architect or designer and lodged by them or the homeowner. Approval times vary by council and the complexity of the project; a straightforward DA might take six to twelve weeks, a more involved one considerably longer.
A construction certificate is the technical approval that the building you have had approved at DA stage actually complies with the Building Code of Australia. The CC is issued by a certifier, who is either appointed by the council or engaged privately. The certifier checks structural engineering, fire safety, energy compliance and the rest of the technical detail. The CC is issued after the DA is approved, though some projects can run a complying development certificate (CDC) instead, which is faster and combines both approvals.
Canstruct can come into the project at any of these stages, but is usually engaged at or before the construction certificate stage, as Home Owners Warranty is generally required from the builder before work begins. The earlier we are involved, the more cost certainty you will have going into council, because we can advise on buildability and budget implications before the design is locked.
Once we have enough information about the project, Canstruct prepares a written scope of work and a tender summary.
The scope of work is a detailed document setting out exactly what is included in the build: materials, finishes, fixtures, structural work, services, allowances, exclusions. It is organised by trade and by location in the building, so you can see what each line item is for and where it sits in the project.
The tender summary is the costing that sits on top of the scope: a breakdown of the cost of each component, often supported by a bill of quantities that itemises materials and labour. The summary is structured so it can be compared against other builders’ quotes on a like-for-like basis.
The document is yours. It becomes the basis for the contract if you proceed with Canstruct, and you can use it to make decisions about scope and finish before you commit.
This is the document that does the most to reduce surprises later in the project. Time spent on the scope at this stage saves time on variations during the build.
If you are ready to proceed, the project enters contract. Canstruct uses the standard residential building contract (most commonly the MBA contract for NSW residential work), with the scope of work attached as the basis for the build.
The contract sets out the payment schedule (typically tied to milestones rather than calendar dates), the construction period, the Home Owners Warranty insurance arrangements, variations procedures, and the obligations on both sides. You will have time to review it, take it to your solicitor if you want to, and ask any questions before signing.
Once the contract is signed, Canstruct mobilises the project: notifying the certifier, ordering long-lead materials, scheduling trades, setting up site.
The build runs from site setup to practical completion.
What happens on site depends on the project, but the structure is similar across all builds. Site setup, demolition where required, structural work, framing, services rough-in, lock-up, fit-out, finishes. Council and certifier inspections happen at the right points: typically at footings, frame, wet area waterproofing, and final.
Throughout the build, you will have regular communication. The pattern depends on the project (some clients want a weekly site walk, some want a brief email update), but the principle is the same: you should know what is happening, what is next, and how the project is tracking on cost and time. Variations, if any, are documented and signed off before the work proceeds.
Canstruct manages all the trades on site directly. Safe work practices are non-negotiable, and the site is set up to be worked safely from day one.
The project finishes with practical completion, certification and handover.
Practical completion is the point at which the building is finished to the standard of the contract and ready to be occupied. The certifier issues either the construction certificate sign-off (for renovations) or the occupation certificate (for new builds and additions). Canstruct walks you through the building, hands over warranties and manuals, and goes through the operation of any new systems.
The defect liability period follows handover. During this period, Canstruct comes back to address any defects that emerge as you live in the building. After the defect period, the project closes formally and Canstruct’s structural warranty under the Home Building Act continues for the statutory period.
From first conversation to handover, a substantial renovation typically runs twelve to eighteen months, including the DA period at the front. An extension is often a similar length. A new home is typically eighteen to twenty-four months from first conversation to handover. Smaller projects are faster.
You can engage Canstruct at any point, but the earlier we are involved, the more value we can add. Coming in before the design is locked allows us to advise on buildability and cost. Coming in at scope-of-work stage is the typical engagement point.
If you are not sure whether your project is at the point of approaching a builder, get in touch anyway. A brief conversation will usually clarify what the next step is, even if that step is not engaging a builder yet.
The initial conversation, site visit and rough budget guidance are no-cost. Canstruct only charges for the formal scope of work and tender summary, which is a substantial document and represents real work. On larger or more complex projects, a scoping fee may apply, reflecting the depth of work involved; where it does, this is agreed with you in advance and is typically credited against the build if you proceed.
Cost movements during a build are handled through variations. Variations are documented before the work proceeds, signed off by you, and reflected in the final invoice. The aim is no surprises: if a cost is changing, you know about it in writing before it happens.
If you have a project in mind, the next step is a brief conversation.