Renovation Builder Canberra

Rentoule Projects is a Canberra renovation builder focused on the inner suburbs. We do full-home renovations, kitchen and bathroom transformations, structural work and open-plan conversions. Most of our clients are people who love where they live but need their home to work better for them.

Jeff Rentoule manages every renovation personally. He holds an ACT builder’s licence (ACT 20211145) and has spent years working through the specific challenges that come with Canberra’s older housing stock. If your home was built before 1980, he’s seen it before.

Types of Renovations We Do

We handle a broad range of renovation work, from single-room updates to whole-home transformations.

Kitchen Renovations

A proper kitchen renovation changes how you live in your home. We handle structural changes, new cabinetry, benchtops, splashbacks, lighting and appliance integration. We can open the kitchen to living areas or reconfigure the layout entirely.

Bathroom Renovations

Full bathroom and ensuite renovations, from waterproofing through to tiling, fixtures and finishes. We manage all trades in-house and don’t subcontract the coordination.

Full-Home Renovations

Some homes need a complete overhaul. We project-manage full renovations covering multiple rooms, structural changes, new flooring, updated wet areas and improved flow throughout.

Open-Plan Conversions

Many Canberra homes from the 1960s and 1970s were built with closed, compartmentalised floor plans. Opening these up often involves removing load-bearing walls and installing steel beams. We handle all the structural work and engineering sign-off.

Structural Renovations

If your home needs restumping, subfloor repairs, wall removal, lintel replacement or other structural work, we carry out the full scope under our builder’s licence.

Renovating Canberra’s Older Homes

A large share of Canberra’s inner suburban homes were built between the 1940s and the 1980s. These homes have character, good bones and locations that are hard to beat. They also come with specific challenges that not every builder handles well.

Asbestos. Homes built before 1987 commonly contain asbestos-containing materials in eaves, wet area sheeting, flooring, fencing and more. Jeff knows where to look and what the regulations require. We engage licensed removalists when removal is needed and manage the process properly.

Reactive clay soils. Much of Canberra sits on reactive clay. This can cause footing movement and cracking that needs assessment before you renovate. We inspect subfloor conditions and factor this into the project scope.

Single brick construction. Many Canberra homes are single-skin brick. This affects insulation, wall thickness options and how penetrations are made. It also means dampness can be an issue. We factor the construction type into the design and the build.

Original electrical and plumbing. Older homes often have wiring and plumbing that needs upgrading as part of a renovation. We identify this in the planning stage, not mid-build.

Our Renovation Process

Initial consultation. Jeff visits the site to understand what you want to achieve, inspect the property and talk through what’s realistic. There’s no charge for this.
Scope and design. We work through the scope in detail. For larger projects, we co-ordinate with a designer or architect. For smaller renovations, we work from sketches and your brief.
Fixed-price quote. Once the scope is clear, we price the full job before you sign anything. Every cost is itemised. No surprises.
Approvals. We advise on whether your renovation needs a development application or building approval. Where approvals are required, we manage the submission.
Construction. Jeff manages the build on site. All trades are coordinated through us. You get regular updates and a clear line of communication.
Practical completion and handover. We carry out a defect inspection before handover and make sure everything is finished to standard before we call it done.

Renovation Costs in Canberra

Renovation costs vary significantly depending on scope, finishes and the condition of your existing home. As a general guide:

Kitchen renovation: $40,000 to $90,000+ depending on size and finishes
Bathroom renovation: $25,000 to $55,000 for a full renovation
Full-home renovation: $150,000 to $500,000+ depending on scope
Open-plan conversion with structural work: $30,000 to $80,000

These are broad ranges. The actual cost of your project depends on its specific scope, the complexity of structural work involved, your material selections and site conditions. Jeff will give you an honest assessment during the initial consultation.

We don’t underquote to win the job. A fixed-price contract means you know the real number before work starts.

Suburbs We Work In

We focus on Canberra’s inner suburbs where older character homes make renovation a smart investment.

North Canberra

Braddon. One of Canberra’s most transformed suburbs. Federation and inter-war cottages alongside newer infill. Renovating here adds strong value given the suburb’s popularity.

Ainslie. A mix of 1920s to 1950s homes on larger blocks. Strong heritage character. Renovations need to respect the streetscape while modernising the interior.

Dickson. An established suburb with good school zones and solid amenity. A lot of 1960s and 1970s homes that suit open-plan conversions well.

Turner. Close to the city. Smaller blocks, but the location means renovation makes more sense than moving. A popular suburb for bathroom and kitchen upgrades.

Campbell and O’Connor. Leafy established suburbs with quality housing stock. Both are well-suited to full-home renovations and structural updates.

South Canberra

Griffith and Narrabundah. Largely post-war housing with good block sizes. Strong demand for renovation work, particularly open-plan conversions and full-home overhauls.

Forrest and Yarralumla. Prestige suburbs where renovation quality matters. We work to a high standard in both areas.

Deakin and Red Hill. Established suburbs with loyal long-term residents. Many homeowners here are looking to renovate rather than move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I stay in my home during a renovation?

It depends on the scope and the stage of work. For smaller renovations like a single bathroom, staying put is usually fine. For major renovations involving the kitchen, multiple rooms or structural work, it’s often more practical to move out for part of the build. Jeff will give you an honest assessment of what to expect at the quoting stage. We plan the build to minimise disruption where possible.

How long will a renovation take?

A single bathroom renovation typically takes three to five weeks. A kitchen renovation takes four to eight weeks. A full-home renovation can take three to six months or longer depending on scope. We give you a build programme at the start so you know the timeline before work begins.

Do I need DA approval for a renovation?

Most internal renovations, including kitchen and bathroom upgrades, do not require a development application. Structural work, extensions and changes to the building envelope may require either a building approval or a DA. We advise on this during the initial consultation so you know what’s needed before the project starts.

What about asbestos in older homes?

Asbestos-containing materials are common in Canberra homes built before 1987. Before any renovation work begins, we carry out an asbestos assessment. Where materials need to be removed, we engage a licensed asbestos removalist. The removal is managed under the relevant ACT regulations. All of this is factored into the project scope and cost upfront.

How do you handle unexpected structural issues?

Older homes can reveal issues once walls are opened up. Rotted frames, unexpected services, additional movement in footings. Our fixed-price contracts are based on a thorough site inspection and scope, which reduces surprises. Where genuinely unforeseen structural issues are discovered, we document them, explain the options and agree on the variation in writing before any additional work proceeds. We don’t proceed without your approval.

Ready to Talk?

If you’re thinking about renovating your Canberra home, the best first step is a conversation. Jeff visits the site, looks at what you want to do and gives you an honest assessment of cost and timeframe. There’s no obligation and no fee for the initial consultation.

Rentoule Projects is an HIA member and Master Builders ACT member. We hold ACT builder’s licence ACT 20211145 and NSW builder’s licence 453726C. We have a 5.0 star rating from 19 Google reviews.