News and Blogs | Ellendale

Top building tips

Written by Cedar Woods | 9 November 2020

Matching the design of your home to your homesite can help maximise natural light and capture breezes creating a ‘passive design’ which reduces heating costs in winter and air conditioning costs in summer. 

Here are a few tips from our builders to ensure you make the most of your block:

1. Design to suit the Queensland climate

Cross ventilation is important to keep the home cool in the warmer months, so open plan living areas with plenty of windows will help with air flow.

2. North facing

Where possible, the living areas should face north to make the most of natural sunlight throughout the day and to store warmth in the thermal mass of the slab to keep the home warm in winter.

3. Create a separate wing

Split and sloping lots present a unique opportunity to build with all your living areas, main bedroom and entertainment area on the upper level, with a separate 'wing' for relatives or guests on the lower level or perhaps for a study to enable working from home. 

4. Cater for the future

Consider how the home will 'grow' with you. Think about your current stage of life and how your needs may change over the coming years and try to make your floorplan adaptable to those changes.