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Renovating With Us

We meet you wherever you are

Whether you have plans ready to go, need help with design, or you're starting with just an idea, we're here to guide you the whole way. Six clear steps. One team. Full visibility.

🪪 Licensed Builder 274849C 📍 North Shore Sydney 💰 Fixed-price available
1 Let's Talk
2 We Come to You
3 Design & Selections
4 Your Quote, No Surprises
5 We Build, You Watch
6 Handover & Aftercare
The Process

Six steps from first call to finished space

Every renovation follows this path. Select your situation and we'll show the steps that apply.

How big is your project?
Do you have a design?
Do you have approvals?
Tailoring your process...

Let's Talk

It starts with a phone call. Tell us what you're thinking and where you're at. No pressure. If you're ready, we'll arrange a time to come and see your home.

LikeSilk renovation consultation with homeowner in Sydney

We Come to You

We visit your home, walk the space together, talk about your goals and budget, and figure out exactly what your project needs.

LikeSilk builder visiting a North Shore Sydney home for renovation planning
We guide your vision

Design & Selections

We help with design and selections, working within your budget so the final quote lands where you need it. Planning costs are credited to your build contract.

LikeSilk renovation mood board with material selections and design direction

Your Quote, No Surprises

A detailed quote based on actual selections. Fixed-price or cost-plus. HBCF home owners insurance arranged. 10% deposit (the legal maximum). No grey areas.

LikeSilk fixed price renovation quote with detailed scope of works

We Build, You Watch

Construction with daily updates through Buildern, progress payments at milestones, regular inspections, and one dedicated contact throughout the build.

LikeSilk construction team building a renovation in Sydney

Handover & Aftercare

We walk through your completed space together. Every detail inspected. All documentation handed over. A maintenance period follows for peace of mind.

Completed kitchen renovation by LikeSilk Building in Sydney
Approvals

Does your project need approval?

We determine which pathway applies when we visit your home and manage the process on your behalf. You don't need to figure this out alone.

✅ Simplest path

No Approvals Needed

  • Timeline: Straight to quoting
  • Typical projects: Bathrooms, kitchens, and cosmetic renovations that don't change the building's structure or footprint
  • What you need to do: Nothing. We handle it all from the first visit
⚡ 3–4 months total

Complying Development Certificate (CDC)

  • Assessed by: A private certifier (not council)
  • Design (stages 1–3): 8–12 weeks
  • Approvals: 3–4 weeks
  • Typical projects: Renovations that comply with predetermined development standards
  • Construction Certificate: Required before construction begins. We arrange this
🏛️ 4–6+ months total

Development Application (DA)

  • Assessed by: Your local council
  • Design (stages 1–3): 8–12 weeks
  • Approvals: 2–3 months
  • Typical projects: Work that doesn't meet CDC criteria, heritage properties, or projects with neighbour impact
  • Construction Certificate: Required before construction begins. We arrange this

We engage and coordinate trusted third-party professionals (architects, certifiers, engineers) on your behalf.

Not sure which pathway applies to you?

Why this process feels different

We simplify everything

Plain-language quotes. Clear options. No jargon. If it can be simpler, we make it simpler.

Daily updates, not radio silence

You get progress updates through Buildern every single day. No chasing. No wondering.

Every dollar accounted for

Fixed-price or cost-plus, you see every cost and every decision. Full visibility from day one.

Knowledge at every turn

Renovation guides, a cost calculator, showroom support. We arm you with what you need to decide with confidence.

Obsessively organised

Systems for everything. Clean sites. Milestones tracked. You'll notice the difference from the first conversation.

Built around your life

We work around your schedule, keep disruption to a minimum, and make the process fit your life instead of taking it over.

Ready to start the conversation?

Tell us about your project and we'll put together a no-obligation quote.

FAQs

Common questions about renovation

Planning a renovation raises a lot of questions. Here are the answers to the ones we hear most often.

How long does a home renovation take?

Timelines depend on the scope. A single bathroom renovation typically takes 3 to 5 weeks. A larger whole-home renovation can take 3 to 6 months or more, depending on whether you need design, approvals, or both. We give you a clear timeline at the quoting stage and keep you updated throughout the build with daily progress reports via our project management platform.

What is HBCF insurance and do I need it?

Home Building Compensation Fund (HBCF) insurance is mandatory in NSW for all residential building work over $20,000. It protects you if your builder is unable to complete the work or fix defects due to insolvency, death, or disappearance. LikeSilk arranges HBCF insurance for every qualifying project. You do not need to organise this yourself.

What is the difference between fixed price and cost plus?

Fixed price means the total cost is agreed upfront before construction starts. You know exactly what you will pay, with no surprises. Cost plus means you pay the actual cost of materials and labour, plus an agreed margin. This gives full transparency on every dollar spent. Both models are available for all project types. We walk you through the pros and cons of each so you can choose what suits your situation.

Do I need council approval for my renovation?

It depends on the scope of work. Smaller renovations like a bathroom or kitchen refresh typically do not require approval. Larger projects may need either a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) or a Development Application (DA). A CDC is assessed by a private certifier and usually takes 1 to 4 weeks. A DA goes through your local council and can take 3 to 6 months or longer. We determine which pathway applies at your site visit and manage the entire approvals process on your behalf.

What happens at a site visit?

We come to your property, walk through the space together, and talk about what you want to achieve. We discuss the scope, your budget, and any ideas you have. From this visit we understand what the project involves, whether you need approvals, whether you need help with design and selections, and where you are in the process already. There is no cost and no obligation.

How do progress payments work?

You pay a 10% deposit to begin (the maximum allowed by law for projects over $20,000 in NSW). The remaining balance is paid in progress payments tied to milestones throughout the build. You only pay for work that has been completed. The milestone structure is agreed upfront in your contract so there are no surprises.

Can I live in my home during a renovation?

In most cases, yes. For smaller renovations like a single bathroom, you can usually stay in your home with minimal disruption. For larger projects that involve structural work, kitchens, or multiple rooms, it depends on the scope. We discuss this at the site visit and help you plan around it. Our team works efficiently and keeps the site clean and organised to minimise impact on your daily life.

What does design and build mean?

Design and build means one team handles both the design phase and the construction. Instead of hiring an architect separately and then finding a builder, you work with us from the start. We manage design, selections, approvals, and construction as one coordinated process. This means your design stays aligned with your budget from day one, and there is one point of contact throughout your entire renovation journey.

Trusted reviews from our clients

Hear directly from our clients about their renovation experience with LikeSilk.

Ready to start?

The first step is a simple phone call. Tell us what you're thinking and we'll take it from there.

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