The owner of a contemporary-style renovated home on a large block in Five Dock, Sydney, was tired of mowing the unused rear section of the backyard, behind an existing swimming pool and pool-shed. This valuable land was simply going to waste and a nuisance to maintain. An old garden shed in the far corner could go to make more space for a secondary dwelling, however, obstructed access would make any conventional building method near-impossible (ie: ridiculously expensive).
The wasted section of yard at the rear of the property. The old garden shed in the far corner can be removed but the pool-shed in the foreground must stay.
The home-owner’s brilliant idea was to use a Backyard Pod to build the largest-sized granny flat that his site and prevailing regulations would allow, for maximum potential return at minimal outlay, and with nil impact on the existing backyard amenities. The interior design layout of the ‘garden apartment’ would need to be highly practical and attractive to tenants for maximum rental and occupancy, yet the orientation would need to preserve the family’s privacy in the pool area once the secondary dwelling is tenanted.
Five Dock is a very handy location for people working in the CBD and many other areas of Sydney. As with all residential areas close to the many commercial/industrial centres within Sydney – good quality, affordable rental accommodation is always in high demand.
SITUATION:
A Sydney home-owner wanted to turn the disused rear area of his backyard – behind the pool and pool-shed – into an income-producing secondary residence (granny flat). Modern granny flats in Sydney that are so close to the CBD can attract high rental.
CHALLENGE:
Maximising the rentable internal size of a granny flat on the difficult-to-access site, yet preserving the family’s enjoyment of the private pool area. The home-owner already possessed the sewerage diagrams for the property and had already accepted that the connection of sewerage and plumbing to the far rear of the property, near the rear boundary, would represent a very significant proportion of the overall project value.
SOLUTION:
In consultation with the local builder who would undertake the project, it was confirmed that the available area at the rear of the property (approximately 6.5m x 12.4m) would comfortably accommodate a backyard pod up to 4m x 10m with a small veranda and lawn or paved area leading to the main entry. The design/layout was refined and agreed; the project was estimated to lock-up for budgeting purposes. The next step would be the preparation of technical drawings etc for certification/approval purposes. A glitch was discovered due to the proportion of land that has been concreted for pool area, driveway/parking, etc. The proportion of soft landscaping area (lawn, garden) would need to be increased. The homeowner is working to address such broader issues for the granny flat project to proceed.
INTERESTED?
BUDGET GUIDE:
BASIC BACKYARD POD KIT
- 4m x 10m Backyard Pod kit in Colorbond® ‘Monument’ with standard Zincalume® skillion roof plus 10x standard 600mm foundation piers
Prices @ Jan-2018
$11,360.00
- Delivery of flat-pack Backyard Pod kit via crane-truck to site address in Five Dock (Sydney) NSW
est. $295.00
WINDOWS & DOORS
- 1x Polar-Eco View double-glazed sliding door 2145mm-high x 1800mm-wide + locks/keys + fins/reveals + matching sliding flyscreen door
$1,323.50
- 3x Polar-Eco View double-glazed awning-style windows 600mm-high x 1545mm-wide + locks/keys + fins/reveals + 3x matching hinged flyscreens
$1,220.16
- 2x Polar-Eco View double-glazed awning-style windows 600mm-high x 600mm-wide + lock/keys + fins/reveal + matching hinged flyscreen + frosting
$629.10
INSTALLATION TO LOCK-UP STAGE
We don’t do installations, however we have asked a local builder to quote on installing the pod kit and doors/windows to lock-up stage as the starting point
TBA
