Harbour Build is a specialist design and renovation company based in Brisbane. We offer our services to the north and south of Brisbane, and up and down the coast. We specialise in renovations in the range of $100,000 and upwards, but we gladly take on smaller jobs too.
Whatever the scale, the standard is the same: quality workmanship, an eye for detail, and a finish we'd accept in our own homes. Owned and operated by the Monaghan family, we manage the whole project under one accountable team, so you're never left chasing trades or wondering who's responsible for what.
If your project isn't on this list, ask anyway, chances are we've done something like it.
If you're looking for an affordable, experienced builder with an eye for detail who can take on any job, get in touch to set up a meeting with Ken, our fully licensed builder and the founder of Harbour Build. You can have your dream renovation planned in no time.
Together with the customer, Ken brings forth a project vision so we can proceed with a clear strategy and plan. A successfully completed project comes from the builder's ability to communicate with the client, combined with his knowledge, integrity and eye for detail. He's the builder who can bring ideas to a quality reality, with the client's satisfaction always at the forefront of the whole process.
Brisbane's housing stock is unlike anywhere else, and it shapes the smartest way to renovate. Many of the city's most sought-after homes are pre-war Queenslanders and post-war timber houses: elevated on stumps, full of character, and sitting on land that's only gone up in value.
That elevation opens up one of the best-value renovations available in this city: the raise and build under. Rather than extending outwards, we lift the existing house and build an entirely new level underneath, creating bedrooms, living areas or a garage while keeping the original character façade above. For homes already on stumps, it's frequently more cost-effective than a second storey, and it preserves the heritage charm that makes these homes so desirable in suburbs like Ashgrove, Bardon and Coorparoo.
A second-storey extension is often the better call when the home sits on a concrete slab, when access or the block is tight, or when the downstairs layout already works and you simply need more rooms above. Part of our job is helping you work out which approach suits your home, your block and your budget, before you spend a dollar on plans.
Many older Brisbane homes carry character or heritage overlays under the City Plan, which means external features often must be preserved and council approval is required. Renovating these homes well takes a builder who understands both the rules and the craft, exactly the kind of careful work Harbour Build is known for.
It can be a challenge knowing which upgrades are worth the effort and money. There are four types of project worth keeping in mind when you remodel.
the things that simply make the home feel like yours.
improvements that lift what the property is worth.
roof, walls, plumbing, floors and structure.
how the home presents from the street.
Sometimes an upgrade across all areas is neither necessary nor beneficial. Is the goal to bring one area of the house up to the standard of the rest, or to lift the property to the level of the rest of the street or neighbourhood? In those cases, regular maintenance and smaller, cheaper improvements may be the better choice.
On the other hand, if you want to genuinely enlarge the property, modernise it, or make the home stand out, then a focused renovation of the right area is where the real return lies. We'll give you an honest read on which your project actually needs: not the biggest job we can sell, but the right one for your home and your goals.
A renovation is a coordination job across many trades, and in Queensland most of that work is regulated for good reason. Building with a QBCC-licensed builder protects you in ways a handyman simply can't.
Licensing is the law. Any residential building work valued at $3,300 or more must be carried out by a QBCC-licensed contractor. Plumbing, drainage and gas work require a licensed contractor regardless of value, and electrical work requires a licensed electrician.
You're insured. For work over $3,300, your builder pays into the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme on your behalf, protecting you if the project isn't finished or has defects. Cover for structural defects lasts six years and six months from the contract date, and stays attached to the property even if you sell.
Approvals are handled. Structural changes, additions to the footprint, new wet areas and most external alterations need building approval and certification. We manage the certifier and council process so it's done properly.
One point of accountability. From first meeting to final handover, one experienced builder is responsible for the result.
Whether it's a single room, a full extension, or lifting and transforming an entire Queenslander, we deliver renovations built to last and finished to a standard we're proud to put our name to.
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