Beach Pines Project Brief

Our clients were looking to expand their beachfront holiday home they enjoy regularly with their family. While previous renovations had been undertaken, their aim was to create more functional areas for their growing extended family.

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Rather than completely overhauling the layout, the focus was on extending existing spaces and improving circulation. A new laundry room was added, facilitating a more open main living area, while expanding the rumpus room provided additional space for their children.

Given the harsh coastal environment, durability was a key consideration in the external structure, ensuring longevity amidst the coastal elements.

Our Approach

From the outset, our goal was to maintain a modest design with touches of beach house flair, prioritising durability.

During the initial pricing stages, we identified potential issues with the existing roof and proposed improvements to its design. This led to a complete reconstruction of the roof, ensuring robust weather resistance for the challenging local conditions.

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The external cladding was always intended to be in a standing seam style, initially specified in aluminum for its corrosion resistance. However, considering budget and product lifespan, alternative options were presented to the clients. Ultimately, we selected Magnaflow, a lesser-known material with an impressive warranty suitable for this location.

The clients favoured timber windows, emphasising durability and longevity. We recommended Accoya timber windows, known for their resistance to rot and dimensional stability, aligning with their preferences.

As typical in our projects, the design evolved during construction, guided by ongoing collaboration with the clients to achieve the best outcomes. Suggestions included extending the ocean-facing deck as per the original drawings, providing enhanced weather protection and sun coverage to make the rear space more versatile across different conditions. Additionally, our on-site team proposed relocating the recycled timber feature wall to the curved wall, which was embraced by the clients and transformed into a distinctive feature for the entrance and living room.

Obstacles that we overcame

Water management is a critical focus for us. The original house suffered from roof leaks due to inadequate detailing, a roof pitch lower than recommended for the materials used, and poor workmanship. Additionally, we were concerned about directing 40 meters of roofing into a single box gutter. To address these issues, we decided to break the roofing system into sections and install a gutter midway down the roof to better manage water runoff.

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Working with an older house presents its challenges. Sometimes, it’s tempting to strive for perfection in every detail, but it’s essential to draw a line and prioritise practical solutions. Some walls required complete reconstruction, while others could be adjusted by planing or packing to straighten them. The lower-level floors were originally designed for a driveway or garage, resulting in significant slope. We chose to level the floors by packing them to create a stable surface for construction.

The ocean-facing facade features a substantial roof overhang with a cantilevered section. Although the design was well-engineered, upon assessing the house’s existing foundations, we decided to add additional point load supports. This proactive measure ensures that the structural weight does not cause further settlement into the sandy soil.

What we would do differently

Overall, the project progressed smoothly. Our clients were fantastic, trusting our guidance and receptive to our suggestions throughout. If there’s anything we might change in hindsight, it would be allocating a larger budget for rectifying the existing structure. The varying conditions of the timber frames required more effort than expected to ensure everything was perfectly aligned.

Three things we’re most proud of

  1. The family can now enjoy a more functional space. Even with minimal adjustments to the internal living room walls, the main living area is much more spacious and inviting.
  2. Throughout the project, we were able to work alongside our clients to propose enhancements that greatly improved the home’s overall usability, such as extending the deck line and integrating a curved timber wall.
  3. Our team of carpenters and subcontractors showed exceptional craftsmanship in achieving specific design details.