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St Ives Chase Home Extension Builder — Live In, Build On

Buildana extends homes across St Ives Chase 2075 while you stay in place. 1970s–1990s-era structure, Ku-ring-gai Council rules, weatherproofing during build — all managed locally from Fairfield.

Based in Fairfield, Western Sydney5.0 Google RatingLicensed & Insured (LIC 487805C)HIA Member — Buildana Custom Home Builders SydneyHIA MemberMaster Builders Association NSW Member — BuildanaMBA NSW0476 300 300
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Quick Answer

A home extension in St Ives Chase costs $150,000–$600,000+. Rear extension from $150K, second-storey addition from $300K. Buildana manages design, Ku-ring-gai Council approvals, and construction under one fixed-price contract.

Extending Homes in St Ives Chase

Extensions in St Ives Chase are bushfire-detailed — BAL 19 to FZ ratings mean the new section has to match fire-resistant construction standards even when the existing house doesn't. Hornsby Shire boundary north. Lot sizes 1,200–3,000m². Tree preservation across the suburb. Realistic budget $400K–$750K with the BAL premium driving 15–20% above ridge-top suburbs. Bus only transport.

Most St Ives Chase blocks run 1,200–3,000m² on Class M ground. Extension feasibility depends on what's underneath the existing slab and whether the frame can carry a second-storey load — Buildana checks both before quoting, so what's in the contract is what gets built. Median price band: $2.4M–$3.4M. Nearest rail is Mount Colah (4 km).

Buildana manages the complete home extension process in St Ives Chase — from design consultation and structural engineering through to DA or CDC approval, and fixed-price construction to handover. Extend your home without the stress.

Read our Home Extension Cost Guide 2026 or explore extension approval pathways in NSW.

  • Home extensions in St Ives Chase from $150K
  • Ku-ring-gai Council DA and CDC approvals managed
  • Ground floor, rear and second-storey additions
  • Class M soil — structural engineering included
  • 1970s–1990s-era homes assessed for extension suitability
  • Connect new to existing — clean, matched finish
  • 6-year structural warranty
  • Free design consultation — near Mount Colah (4 km) station
Buildana home extension in St Ives Chase near Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park & Garigal NP
OA

Reviewed by Oliver Alameri

Licensed Builder (NSW 487805C) · Master of Property Development · PhD Student · Building across Western Sydney since 2010

Why Extend Your Home in St Ives Chase?

St Ives Chase is rural-residential semi-bushland on the edge of Garigal National Park. Lots run 1,200–3,000m², many backing directly onto bushland reserves. Bushfire planning controls (BAL ratings 19–FZ) apply across most of the suburb and add 10–15% to construction. The northern boundary runs into Hornsby Shire. No train, bus only — you're buying the land and the trees, not the commute.

St Ives Chase's established streetscape and median house prices of $2.4M–$3.4M reflect a premium location within Ku-ring-gai. Building costs sit above the metro average, offset by stronger capital growth and rental returns. Transport access via Mount Colah (4 km) connects St Ives Chase to the wider Sydney network. 1970s–1990s-era homes in St Ives Chase often have good structural foundations worth building on. Extensions add living space at a fraction of the full rebuild cost. Class M soil (moderately reactive) is standard for St Ives Chase — Buildana includes engineered slab design in every quote.

Home extensions across Ku-ring-gai mostly target the post-war and 1960s–1970s stock that sits between the Federation heritage homes — those mid-century houses often have small kitchens, closed-off living, and no connection to backyards that average 400m² of lawn. Rear ground-floor extensions for kitchen-living-dining and outdoor flow are the most common scope. Second-storey additions on heritage Federation homes need careful design to satisfy Council's character controls — pitched roof forms, articulated dormers, and matched eave detailing. Tree Preservation Order applies to any tree close to the work zone. Realistic budget: $250K–$650K for a 60–120m² addition on a typical Ku-ring-gai block, plus $40K–$80K of council/heritage/structural pre-construction.

Planning Controls — Ku-ring-gai Council

Ku-ring-gai LEP 2015 & Ku-ring-gai DCP. R2 Low Density: FSR 0.3:1 on lots under 1,200m² (sliding down to ~0.27:1 on larger lots), building height 9.5m, front setback 9–12m varying by streetscape, landscaped area 50%, deep soil 30%. Heritage Conservation Areas cover significant portions of Gordon, Killara, Pymble, Wahroonga, Warrawee, Roseville and Turramurra — heritage character assessment is required before any DA. Tree Preservation Order is one of Sydney's strictest: any tree over 5m high or 0.45m trunk circumference needs Council consent before removal. Bushfire planning (Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019) applies in St Ives, St Ives Chase, North Turramurra, North Wahroonga and bush-edge lots — BAL assessment is mandatory. The 2024 NSW TOD reforms permit medium density inside 400m of Roseville, Lindfield, Killara, Gordon, Pymble, Turramurra and Warrawee stations, but Council scrutiny on built form and tree retention remains heavy.

Home extension builder in St Ives Chase — key facts

Suburb
St Ives Chase, NSW 2075
Council / LGA
Ku-ring-gai Council (Ku-ring-gai)
Primary zoning
R2 Low Density
Typical lot size
1,200–3,000m²
Soil class
Class M
Median house price
$2.4M–$3.4M
Home era
1970s–1990s
Typical price range
$150,000 – $600,000+
Typical timeline
6–12 months design to handover
Approval pathway
CDC for most rear extensions, DA for second-storey

Building in St Ives Chase — Local Context

Ground Conditions That Affect Your Build

Class M is the rule across St Ives Chase — moderately reactive. For your home extension, expect engineered footings in the $15,000–$32,000 range. The variables that shift you up or down inside that band: building footprint, number of storeys, point loads (heavy stone benchtops, masonry feature walls), and whether the adjacent stormwater system needs upgrading. St Ives Chase is close to Mount Colah (4 km) station — site access on tighter blocks adds a logistics premium, which is why we cost cranage and material delivery before signing, not after.

Ku-ring-gai Council & Approval Pathway

St Ives Chase sits inside the Ku-ring-gai LGA, governed by Ku-ring-gai Council. For a home extension, the approval question is usually CDC vs DA. Extensions in St Ives Chase usually need a full DA through Ku-ring-gai Council — typically 40–90+ days from lodgement, longer if neighbour notification triggers objections. Either way, we manage submission, RFIs, and re-lodgement in-house — you don't deal with the council.

Where the Money Goes on a St Ives Chase Extension

Cost breakdown for a typical extension in St Ives Chase: structure and frame around 30%, slab and foundations 8–14% (driven by Class M soil), roofing and external 10–12%, services (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) 12–18%, fit-out (kitchen, bathrooms, joinery) 18–25%, and finishes (paint, tiles, flooring) 8–12%. The remaining 4–6% covers approvals, certifications, and site establishment. Buildana itemises every line so you see what you're paying for — no lump sums hiding margin.

Lifestyle Fit in St Ives Chase

St Ives Chase has a settled residential character. Mount Colah (4 km) from the nearest station. Local landmark: Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park & Garigal NP. For families extending here, the design considerations that matter day-to-day: orientation for natural light (north-facing living wherever the lot allows), separation between adult and kids' zones, a kitchen that opens to outdoor entertaining, garage size that fits a real family vehicle plus storage, and a layout that doesn't require renovating again in 10 years as the kids grow. Buildana designs for the long arc of how families actually use a home, not just the showroom photo.

Why Some St Ives Chase Builds Stall

Builds in St Ives Chase stall for predictable reasons. Lodgement defects (missing BASIX, wrong drawing scale, undeclared overlays). Soil surprises on Class M ground when the builder didn't commission a borehole upfront. Variation creep when the contract was light on inclusions. Trade scheduling gaps when the builder is over-committed across too many sites. Ku-ring-gai Council delays when neighbour objection triggers committee review. Buildana protects against each of these at contract stage — fully documented lodgement pack, geotech in the price, itemised inclusions instead of allowances, and a tight project-manager-to-job ratio that keeps trades moving.

Builder's Take on St Ives Chase

Existing-structure assessment is the non-negotiable first step. St Ives Chase 1970s–1990s homes often have undersized footings or termite-damaged wall plates that won't carry a second storey. We check with drilled inspections before quoting — no point designing a dream that's not structurally viable.

Second storey on a St Ives Chase home: the existing single-storey footings usually need reinforcement, which adds $15K–$40K. The roof comes off. The house is exposed for 4–8 weeks (weatherproofed nightly). Clients often underestimate the disruption — but the result is a doubling of floor area for 50% of the cost of a rebuild.

St Ives Chase vs Nearby Suburbs

St Ives Chase vs nearby suburbs — key metrics for extending.

SuburbMedian PriceTypical LotSoil ClassEraStation
St Ives Chase2075this suburb$2.4M–$3.4M1,200–3,000m²Class M1970s–1990sMount Colah (4 km)
St Ives2075$2.6M–$3.8M1,000–2,000m²Class M1960s–1980sPymble (3 km)
North Turramurra2074$2.8M–$4.2M1,000–2,000m²Class M1960s–1980sTurramurra (3 km)
Pymble2073$3.2M–$5.0M1,000–1,800m²Class M1920s–1960s (heavy heritage stock)Pymble

Median price, soil class, and lot size shape build feasibility and final cost. Buildana assesses every site against these and other constraints during the free feasibility stage.

Have a question about your project?

Talk to our team — free site assessment and fixed-price quote.

Cost Guide

ItemEstimated Range
Small rear extension (up to 30m²)$110,000 – $220,000
Medium rear/side extension (30–60m²)$220,000 – $390,000
Large ground-floor extension (60–100m²)$390,000 – $610,000
Second-storey addition (60–120m²)$340,000 – $670,000
Wrap-around (ground + 1st floor)$610,000+
Structural engineering & tie-inIncluded

Prices are indicative for Western Sydney (2025). Actual costs depend on site, specifications, and approvals.

Existing structure assessment — St Ives Chase homes of the 1970s–1990s
Extension design (ground floor, first floor, or wrap-around)
Structural engineering for tied-in load paths
Geotechnical assessment (Class M soil — St Ives Chase)
BASIX for the extended total envelope
Ku-ring-gai Council DA or CDC lodgement
Temporary weatherproofing during build
Full construction — tie-in through to fit-out
Matching or contrasting external finishes
Final inspection and Occupation Certificate

How It Works

From First Call to Final Key

Everything that has to be right before we touch the ground. Free consultation at your St Ives Chase home. We inspect the existing structure, check Ku-ring-gai Council's controls, measure available space, and discuss what you need. You get a clear scope, budget range, and timeline before committing. Two design moves are usually on the table: match the existing house so the extension reads as original, or contrast with it so the new section is clearly modern. Both work — choice is aesthetic, and we'll show 3D renders of both before you commit.

The St Ives Chase construction phase. Fixed price, programmed, supervised. CDC (10–15 business days) or DA through Ku-ring-gai Council depending on scope. Structural engineering, BASIX, and all documentation prepared and lodged. Construction Certificate obtained. Construction phase connects new to existing — footings, frame, roof tie-in, waterproofing at junction, internal fit-out and external finish. Staged works minimise disruption to your daily routine in St Ives Chase.

The job isn't done when the site's clean; it's done when you have keys, certificates and warranties. Final inspection focuses on the integration: paint blend, flooring transitions, ceiling height, junction waterproofing, sound transmission. The extension shouldn't feel bolted on — it should feel like the house was always meant to be this size.

Our Team

OA

Oliver Alameri

Founder / Director / Builder · MPropDev · PhD Student

AA

Ahmad Alameri

Accounts Manager

CW

Claire Wendell

Project Manager

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St Ives Chase Extension — Free Consultation

Free design consultation for St Ives Chase 2075. We'll assess your home, design the extension, and provide a fixed-price quote.

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