Your house is not working. You do not need to leave.
- Fighting the morning rush for one bathroom?
- Living room noise stopping you from sleeping?
- Cooking in a dark kitchen while guests are in the garden?
- Dining table buried under laptops and homework?
You love your street. You love your neighbours. But your house has not kept up with your life.
Adlington Homes fixes this. We have spent 50 years building extensions across the Illawarra, from Thirroul to Shell Cove, from beachside cottages to escarpment-edge homes. We add space without making you move.
Adlington Homes fixes this. We have spent 50 years building extensions across the Illawarra, from Thirroul to Shell Cove, from beachside cottages to escarpment-edge homes. We add space without making you move.
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Ways To Connect With Adlington Homes
Build Up or Build Out? The Decision That Changes Everything
Before you spend a cent on design, you need to answer one question: do you extend at ground level, or add a second storey?
This decision affects your cost, your timeline, your council approval path, and how disruptive the build will be.
This decision affects your cost, your timeline, your council approval path, and how disruptive the build will be.
Build out (ground floor extension) if:
- You have enough land to extend without breaching setbacks
- You want single-level living (no stairs)
- You want a strong indoor-outdoor connection
- Your block is relatively flat
Build up (second storey addition) if:
- You have run out of land
- You want to keep your backyard
- You want to capture views (ocean, escarpment)
- You need significant extra space (3+ rooms)
We help you make this call during your free consultation. We look at your block, your council rules, and your budget before recommending a direction.
How Much Does a Home Extension Cost in the Illawarra?
Honest ranges for 2026:
Build out (ground floor extension) if:
- Ground floor extension (standard): $3,000–$4,000/m²
- Second storey addition: $3,500–$5,000/m²
- High-end extension (premium finishes, complex design): $4,500–$6,000+/m²
A typical rear kitchen/living extension of 40–60m² costs $150,000–$280,000 depending on complexity and finishes.
A second storey addition of 80–120m² costs $320,000–$550,000.
These figures include design, council approvals, construction, and standard landscaping reinstatement. They do not include furniture, removals, or temporary accommodation.
A second storey addition of 80–120m² costs $320,000–$550,000.
These figures include design, council approvals, construction, and standard landscaping reinstatement. They do not include furniture, removals, or temporary accommodation.
Our Design-and-Build Process
Unlike hiring an architect and builder separately, we take responsibility for the budget from day one. This prevents the most common disaster in residential building: beautiful plans that cost twice what you expected.
- Site meeting + feasibility — We inspect your block, check soil conditions, measure setbacks, and confirm what council will allow. Free.
- Design development — We draft a layout that solves your specific pain points. You see it in 3D before committing.
- Fixed-price quote — We give you a number that does not move unless you change the scope.
- Council approval — We manage DA or CDC lodgement and respond to any council queries.
- Construction — We build it. Regular updates, clean site, clear timeline.
- Handover + warranty — Keys, maintenance guide, and our Adlington Assurance guarantee.
We help you make this call during your free consultation. We look at your block, your council rules, and your budget before recommending a direction.
★★★★★
Google Maps review
“I recently engaged Adlington Homes to undertake substantial renovations between July and September, having previously used them on two other occasions at another property over the years. Duane, Leisa, and the entire team are always a pleasure to deal with. The quality of their work is excellent, and they are professional, dependable, and reliable. I have no hesitation in recommending Adlington Homes and Duane to anyone looking to build their dream home or undertake major renovations.”
START YOUR DREAM HOME TODAY
Secure Your Complimentary Design & Build Consultation
During this consultation, you will receive:
- Personalised Design Consultation
- On-Site Walk-Thru and Inspection
- Contractor Collaboration
- Detailed Selections Checklist & Comparison
- Preliminary Estimate and Budget Outline
- Project Timeline For Completion
- Access to our Trusted Partner Network
Why the Illawarra Is Different
Extension builders from Sydney often underestimate Illawarra conditions:
- Reactive clay soils near the escarpment swell and shrink with moisture. Foundations must be engineered for this.
- Salt spray in coastal suburbs (Austinmer, Coalcliff, Wombarra) corrodes standard fixings within years. We specify marine-grade hardware.
- Sloping blocks are the norm, not the exception. Most extensions need pier-and-beam foundations or cut-and-fill earthworks.
- Stormwater is heavily regulated by Wollongong Council. Your extension cannot increase runoff to neighbours.
We know these conditions because we have been building in them for five decades. Not five years.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Ground floor: 4–6 months construction. Second storey: 6–9 months. Design and approvals add 3–6 months before construction starts.
For ground floor extensions, usually yes if we can seal off the work zone. For second-storey additions, we recommend moving out during the roof removal and framing stages (typically 6–8 weeks).
Not always. Many extensions fit within Complying Development (CDC), which is faster and cheaper. We assess this during feasibility.
We match rooflines, eave details, window proportions, and cladding materials. If exact brick matching is impossible (common with discontinued bricks), we discuss alternatives like rendering or feature cladding.
We design the foundation for it. This typically means deeper piers or a waffle slab with appropriate stiffening. Our engineer specifies this based on the geotechnical report.
Realise Your Home's Potential
Unsure whether to renovate or rebuild in Wollongong? Take the first step towards your dream living space. Download our free “Illawarra Home Extension Inspiration Guide” for expert tips and concept design ideas. Then, book your no-obligation consultation with our experienced team. Let’s work together to create the perfect extension for your Illawarra home.