Warren Street, Pascoe Vale South

5 days ago

3 min read

A 1940s Home Extension and Renovation About to Begin in Pascoe Vale South

We're about to start work on Warren Street in Pascoe Vale South, a double storey extension and major internal renovation of a 1940s home. It's the kind of project we love, where an older home with good bones gets the space and function a modern family needs, without losing what made it worth keeping.

Here's a look at how the project came together, what's involved, and what we've already sorted out before the first tools hit the ground.

It Started With Build Consultancy

Our clients first came to us through our Build Consultancy service. Like a lot of homeowners with an older house, they knew they wanted more space but weren't sure what was actually achievable on their block, or what it would realistically cost.

Build Consultancy is designed for exactly that stage. We look at the existing home, the site and the design intent, and give honest advice on buildability and budget before anyone commits to a full set of drawings or a contract. It means decisions are made with real numbers and real construction knowledge behind them.

Once the feasibility work was done and the clients were confident in the direction, they engaged us to build it.

The Scope of Works

Designed by Monoform Architecture, the project combines a new double storey extension with a major renovation of the original 1940s home:

Double storey extension to the existing house
Largely full internal demolition of the existing areas, with some original internal walls retained
Major upgrades throughout, so the original home and the new extension work as one cohesive residence
Quality finishes, including stone benchtops, designer tapware, custom cabinetry and new flooring

Retaining some of the original walls while rebuilding around them takes careful planning. It's work we've done many times on period homes across Melbourne's north and north-west, and it's where experience on site really counts.

First Hurdle Cleared: The Boundary Line

Before construction starts, every extension needs its setbacks measured from the true title boundary. On Warren Street, the boundary survey showed the existing fence wasn't sitting on the correct line, so we had the fence modified to suit before works begin.

This is very common with older homes. Fences built 70 or 80 years ago were often put up by eye, the original survey pegs are long gone, and each replacement fence tends to follow the last one. Small errors add up over the decades, and they usually only come to light when an extension triggers a proper survey.

Sorting it out now means the extension is set out accurately, approvals stay on track, and there are no surprises once the frame is going up.

Building in Pascoe Vale and Pascoe Vale South

Pascoe Vale South is full of solid older homes on good-sized blocks, many of them perfect candidates for an extension rather than a knockdown. Keeping the original house and building onto it can preserve the street character and the parts of the home people fell in love with, while adding the living space and layout a modern family needs.

Warren Street joins a list of projects we've completed in the area, including:

Cornwall Road, Pascoe Vale — extension and renovation to an existing period home
Ward Grove, Pascoe Vale — architectural extension to an existing home
Oak Street, Pascoe Vale — brand new townhouse build
Caringa Avenue, Pascoe Vale — four-townhouse development built with a developer client

M.M Constructions has been building since 2007, and we're a registered unlimited builder and HIA member. We keep a small, hands-on team and only take on projects we can deliver within our stated timeframes, with every job's schedule tracked daily from the office.

Follow Along

We'll be sharing progress on Warren Street as the build moves from demolition through to handover. Follow us on Instagram at @m.mconstructions to see it come together.

Thinking about extending or renovating an older home in Pascoe Vale, Pascoe Vale South or nearby suburbs? Not sure what's possible or what it might cost? Our Build Consultancy service is a great place to start. Book a Build Briefing with us at mmcons.com.au or call 0408 382 210.