Keep the suburb, the school zone, and the block you already own — demolish the old home and build exactly the home your family needs. Sync manages the entire process, from asbestos assessment to the day you move into your new home.
What Is a Knockdown Rebuild?
A knockdown rebuild is exactly what it sounds like — you demolish your existing home and build a brand new custom home on the same block. You keep the land, the location, and everything you love about where you live. You replace the structure that no longer works for your family.
It's a particularly popular choice in Canberra, where many homeowners own well-located blocks in established suburbs — inner north, inner south, Woden, Belconnen — but are living in ageing homes that are tired, inefficient, or simply too small for how their family lives today.
Fady manages the entire process — asbestos assessment and safe removal, demolition, design, approvals, and the full custom build. You deal with one builder, one point of contact, from the decision to rebuild all the way through to moving in.
Is a Knockdown Rebuild Right for You?
A knockdown rebuild is the right choice in certain situations — and not the right choice in others. Here's an honest guide to help you think it through before you reach out to Fady.
Fady offers free consultations that specifically address the renovation vs extend vs knockdown rebuild decision. He'll assess your block, your existing home, your goals, and your budget — and give you an honest recommendation, even if the answer is that KDR isn't the right option for you.
Understanding the Investment
Three paths to getting the home you want in Canberra. Here's an honest financial breakdown of each — so you can make the right decision for your situation.
Extend and renovate existing home
Demolish and build brand new on your land
Purchase a new block and build on it
When stamp duty on a new purchase, agent fees, and the cost of leaving an established suburb are factored in — a knockdown rebuild on land you already own is often the most cost-effective path to the home you want. Fady can walk you through the numbers for your specific situation in a free consultation.
Important — Pre-1990 Canberra Homes
Canberra has one of the highest concentrations of asbestos-affected homes in Australia. If your home was built before 1990 — which covers the vast majority of established suburb homes — an asbestos assessment is a mandatory first step before any demolition work begins.
Homes built before 1990 in Canberra frequently contain asbestos in fibrous cement sheeting (eaves, fences, internal linings), floor tiles, roof sheeting, pipe lagging, and textured paints. Disturbing asbestos without proper containment and licensed removal is illegal and carries serious health risks. Sync manages the full assessment and removal process — you don't need to navigate this yourself.
We engage a licensed asbestos assessor to identify all asbestos-containing materials in your home and produce a register. Required before demolition can be approved.
All asbestos is removed by a licensed asbestos removalist under the Work Health and Safety Act. Proper containment, PPE, and regulated disposal at an approved facility.
Post-removal air monitoring and a formal clearance certificate is issued by the assessor before demolition proceeds. All documentation provided to you.
Once the site is clear, licensed demolition proceeds. All waste is disposed of to council requirements. You receive a clean, clear site ready for the new build.
The Full Knockdown Rebuild Process
A knockdown rebuild is one of the most complex residential projects you can undertake — because it combines demolition, approvals, and a full new home build in sequence. Sync manages every stage personally.
Fady reviews your block, existing home, goals and budget. He confirms whether KDR is the right path for your situation — and if not, advises on alternatives honestly.
Free · No obligationLicensed asbestos assessor inspects your home and produces a register. Required before demolition approval can be granted. Sync coordinates the assessor and manages the process.
⚠️ Mandatory for all pre-1990 homesAll identified asbestos-containing materials removed by a licensed removalist. Clearance certificate issued post-removal. Cost depends on extent of asbestos found.
⚠️ Additional cost — assessed per propertyElectricity, gas, water, and telecommunications are safely disconnected from the existing home before demolition commences. Sync coordinates all utility providers.
1–2 weeks lead timeDemolition permit lodged and approved. Licensed demolition contractor razes the existing structure. Concrete slab broken up and removed. Site cleared, levelled, and ready for the new build.
2–4 weeks for demolitionWith a clean site, the new home design is developed. Fady works alongside your architect or designer from day one — ensuring the design is buildable, compliant, and aligned with your budget before approvals are lodged.
4–12 weeksDA prepared and lodged with the ACT Planning Authority by Sync. We manage all communications and conditions. Most new dwellings in established ACT suburbs require a DA.
4–10 weeksStructural drawings, energy compliance report, and soil assessment submitted for Building Approval. Private certifier engaged for faster turnaround than council assessment.
3–6 weeksFixed-price contract signed. All material and finish selections finalised — cabinetry, tiles, benchtops, flooring, fixtures. Trades engaged and construction programme issued.
4–6 weeksSlab, frame, roof, lock-up, services, fitout, and finishing. Fady manages every trade personally on site. Mandatory stage inspections completed. Regular client updates throughout.
6–14 months depending on scopeFull walkthrough with Fady. Occupation Certificate issued. All documentation — warranties, manuals, certificates, and survey marks — provided. Welcome home to your brand new house on the same block you've always loved.
✓ The day it all comes togetherACT Planning Considerations
Knockdown rebuilds in Canberra's established suburbs are subject to ACT planning requirements. Sync assesses all of these upfront — before you commit to the project.
Get a Free Feasibility AssessmentMost knockdown rebuilds in established ACT suburbs require a full DA. We prepare and manage the application.
New dwelling must comply with ACT setback requirements from boundaries and must not exceed permitted block coverage for your zone.
Maximum building height varies by zone. Second storeys in some inner suburbs require additional shadow and overlooking assessments.
Some inner Canberra suburbs have heritage precincts. Demolition of a heritage-listed home may be restricted or prohibited — Sync checks this first.
Protected trees on or near your block require an arborist report and may affect where the new building can be sited.
Demolition Process Overview
Electricity, gas, water & comms disconnected safely.
1–2 weeksReusable materials removed. Hazardous materials confirmed clear.
2–3 daysStructure demolished by licensed contractor. Slab removed if required.
1–3 daysWaste removed, site levelled, ready for new construction.
2–3 daysKnockdown Rebuild Cost Guide
A KDR combines demolition costs with a full new home build. Here's an honest breakdown — asbestos and approvals costs are the variables most builders don't mention upfront. Sync does.
| Item | Est. Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Asbestos assessment | $600 – $1,500 |
| Asbestos removal (if present) | $3,000 – $20,000+ |
| Service disconnections | $1,500 – $4,000 |
| Demolition (single storey) | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| Demolition (double storey) | $25,000 – $50,000 |
| Site clearance & levelling | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| Item | Est. Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Architect / designer fees | $15,000 – $50,000 |
| DA & BA fees | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| New build — single storey | $450,000 – $900,000 |
| New build — double storey | $650,000 – $1,400,000 |
| Service reconnections | $8,000 – $20,000 |
| Total KDR (typical range) | $550,000 – $1,500,000+ |
Asbestos extent, existing slab condition, block slope, design complexity, and chosen finishes all affect the final number. Book a free consultation and Fady will give you an honest picture.
Completed KDR Projects
Client Stories
"We'd been going back and forth for years — renovate or knock it down and start fresh. The old house had asbestos sheeting and the layout just didn't work for us anymore. Fady was the first builder who actually came out, walked the block properly, and gave us an honest answer: it wasn't worth saving. From there he managed everything — demolition, asbestos removal, approvals, all of it. We never had to chase anyone or wonder what was happening. Eighteen months later we're living in a home that feels like it was always meant to be here. We only wish we'd done it ten years ago."
"We'd owned the block for 22 years. Fady helped us understand what we could actually build on it and kept us in the loop through a process we knew nothing about. The new home is everything the old one never was."
Peter H. Kambah, ACT · 2025The demolition phase felt daunting, but Fady made the knockdown rebuild process smooth and stress-free. Great communication, quality workmanship, and we’re thrilled with our new home.
Christine B. Tuggeranong, ACT · 2024Where We Build
Including Queanbeyan region
Knockdown Rebuild FAQs
The questions Canberra homeowners ask most before starting a knockdown rebuild. Prefer to speak directly? Call Fady on 0452 394 567.
You'll need to find alternative accommodation for the duration of the project — typically 14–20 months from when you vacate your existing home to when the new home is ready for occupancy. This is a significant planning consideration. Many Canberra families rent during this period, stay with family, or arrange short-term rentals. Fady factors this into the project planning conversation — it's important to discuss early.
Not every home, but the majority of Canberra homes built before 1990 contain some asbestos-containing materials — particularly fibrous cement products (fibro). An asbestos assessment is required before demolition regardless, and the assessor will identify exactly what is present and where. The cost of assessment and removal (where required) varies considerably depending on what is found. Sync coordinates the full process.
In most cases yes — the new home's size is determined by current ACT planning rules (setbacks, block coverage, height) rather than the size of the existing dwelling. Many knockdown rebuilds result in significantly larger homes than what was originally on the block. Fady assesses your specific block's development potential as part of the free feasibility consultation.
It depends on whether the specific property is heritage-listed or within a heritage overlay that restricts demolition. Many Canberra suburbs have heritage precincts, but not every home within them is restricted. Sync checks heritage status as part of the initial feasibility assessment — before you commit to anything. Some heritage-adjacent blocks can still be demolished; others cannot.
This is a question for your lender or mortgage broker — not a builder. Construction loans for knockdown rebuilds work differently from standard mortgages — they are typically drawn down in progressive stages. Some lenders require the demolition to be complete before construction finance is released. Sync recommends speaking with your lender and a mortgage broker experienced in construction finance before committing to the project. We can recommend brokers we have worked with if helpful.
It depends on your specific home and goals. As a general guide: if the existing structure has significant problems (major asbestos, subsidence, poor orientation, or needs to be almost entirely rebuilt), a knockdown rebuild is usually more cost-effective. If the structure is sound and the block's orientation and footprint work, an extension and renovation may be the better value path. Fady will give you an honest assessment of which route makes more sense for your specific situation — even if that recommendation is "don't knock it down."
Free KDR Consultation
Tell us about your block and your existing home. Fady will call you within 24 hours to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation — covering feasibility, asbestos considerations, approvals, and realistic costs.