Remedial building, Mullumbimby and the Byron Shire
Structural repairs, water damage, roof remedial and hazardous materials work on existing buildings across the Byron Shire and Sydney.
Remedial building, properly understood
Remedial work is not the same as a renovation. A renovation reworks the home to make it suit the people living in it. Remedial work fixes a defined problem on a building so the rest of it can keep functioning. The skills overlap, but the brief, the budget and the approach are different.
People arrive at a remedial project from several directions. Sometimes it is a defined fault: water coming in, a slab moving, a roof at the end of its life, asbestos uncovered during another job. Sometimes it is a building report or insurance claim that has flagged work to be done. Sometimes it is a strata committee that needs work scoped properly and delivered. And sometimes it is a renovation that has uncovered problems no one knew about, which now have to be handled before the rest of the project can continue.
What is needed in all of these cases is a builder who can diagnose carefully, scope the work honestly, and deliver it with the right trades and the right licensing.
The work we take on
The categories of work below cover most of what Canstruct does in remedial. The mix on any given project depends on the building and the problem.
Structural repairs and underpinning
Footing repairs, underpinning, reframing, removing or replacing load-bearing elements. This is the work that protects the integrity of the building. At Garnet 2 in Lilyfield, structural footing underpinning was completed as part of the broader renovation when issues were discovered during the build. At Glebe Point Rd, the entire floor was reframed as part of the heritage renovation, addressing structural issues alongside the cosmetic work.
Water ingress and moisture
Where water is getting into a building, the work is to find the source, address the materials it has affected, and correct the conditions allowing it in: drainage, waterproofing membranes, sealing and ventilation. Older buildings in particular need careful diagnosis, because the visible symptom and the actual cause are often in different places. At Glebe Point Rd, moisture work was carried out as part of a full heritage renovation.
Roof and external remedial
Slate roof remedial, new roofs, chimney repairs and pots, gutter and fascia replacement, external waterproofing, painting. Archer in Chatswood was a large estate remedial project covering new roof tiles, chimney repairs, waterproofing, external painting, new gutters and fascia, window awnings and a reinstated veranda.
Asbestos and hazardous materials
Removal, disposal and replacement of materials that cannot safely stay in the building, coordinated through licensed asbestos removalists. Gaggin St in New Brighton involves extensive asbestos removal as part of the work to preserve a two-storey beach house in a coastal spray zone, alongside external steel work, new windows, an enlarged garage, bedroom extensions and a new roof.
Strata remedial works
Common property repairs scoped and delivered with the body corporate, the building manager and the relevant certifiers. Strata work has its own coordination demands: getting scope approved across multiple owners, working around tenants, sequencing work to keep buildings functioning during repairs. Canstruct has delivered remedial work across multi-unit buildings in Sydney and is set up to handle the same locally.
When a remedial project starts
Remedial projects tend to start in one of a few ways. The most common is a defined problem on the building: water coming in somewhere, movement showing in the walls, a roof that is failing, deteriorated services. A strata committee or building manager has identified work that needs doing and wants it scoped and delivered. An insurance claim or building report has flagged repairs. A renovation is underway and the demolition has uncovered work that was not on the plans, like asbestos, rotten framing or structural issues. A heritage property needs preservation work alongside or instead of a renovation.
In all of these cases the first step is to look at the building properly, understand what is actually going on, and scope the work honestly. Canstruct’s preference is to be straight about what is needed and what is not, even where that means a smaller job than the client expected.
Recent remedial projects
A selection of remedial work delivered or underway.
Wave Hill House
Lennox Head /
Remedial
Cove
Birchgrove /
Remedial
Archer
Chatswood /
Remedial
From first conversation to completion
A remedial project runs through a similar shape to a renovation, but the diagnosis at the front matters more. The first step is a site visit and assessment, looking at the problem itself and at what may be connected to it. From there, Canstruct prepares a scope of work covering both the diagnosis and the proposed remediation, with costing.
If the project moves forward, it enters contract on the same basis as any other Canstruct build. Site work proceeds with the appropriate licensing (asbestos removal, structural certification, certifier sign-off as required) and the project completes with the necessary documentation for insurance, strata or council records.
Common questions
Do I need a builder or a specialist contractor?
It depends on the work. Some remedial jobs are properly the work of a specialist (waterproofing membranes, asbestos removal, structural engineering reports). Others sit naturally with a builder who can coordinate the specialists and integrate their work with the rest of the project. Canstruct usually plays the second role, bringing in specialists where required.
How do remedial costs differ from renovation costs?
Remedial work is usually priced by the specific scope rather than on a square-metre basis. The cost reflects the complexity of the diagnosis, the difficulty of access, the licensing required and the materials involved. A defined remedial scope is usually more cost-predictable than a renovation because the work is targeted.
Can you work with my strata committee?
Yes. Strata remedial work needs careful scope, approvals across multiple stakeholders and clear documentation. Canstruct is set up to provide all of this.
Will you handle the licensing for asbestos work?
Yes. Asbestos removal requires licensed removalists and proper disposal. Canstruct coordinates this within the project rather than leaving it to the client.
What if the problem turns out to be bigger than expected?
It is normal for remedial projects to uncover work that was not visible at the assessment stage. When that happens, Canstruct will pause, document what has been found, give you a clear picture of the implications and the options, and only proceed once you have signed off on the variation. The aim is no surprises in the final invoice.
Areas we service
Mullumbimby and across the Byron Shire: Brunswick Heads, Ocean Shores, Byron Bay, Bangalow, New Brighton and South Golden Beach. Remedial work in Sydney continues for existing clients.
Talk to us about your remedial project
If you have a defined problem on a building, the first step is a site visit and assessment.