Laying the foundations for your outdoor building project

With summer fast approaching, you might be thinking about starting work on an outdoor building project, such as a retaining wall, garage, swimming pool, spa or gazebo.

It’s important to remember that such works are covered by the same laws as other types of domestic building and renovations.

Before you start:

• shop around and work out exactly what you want (photos can help)
• have detailed plans and specifications that suit your budget, your land and regulations. You may need to engage an architect or registered draftsperson and have a written contract with them also.
• check with your local council whether you need planning and building permits
• have a written contract with your builder - regardless of the size and price of your project.

For work costing more than $5000, you must have a written major domestic building contract and your builder must be registered with the Building Practitioners Board.

Always ask for their registration details before you sign a contract. You can also use your own experts (such as a building lawyer or consultant) to check the contract and quality of work during construction and at completion.

Don’t pay more than the deposit amount required by law:

• 10 per cent, if the total contract price is less than $20,000
• 5 per cent, if the total contract price is $20,000 or more.

For more information and advice on building laws and planning your outdoor building project, visit consumer.vic.gov.au/building.

Swimming pools and spas

Installing a pool or spa for summer? Before the work starts, make sure you are aware of your legal requirements.
You must have a building permit for:

• pools or spas (including above ground) used principally for swimming, wading or paddling
• pool or spa safety barriers where the pool or spa can hold water deeper than 30cm (300mm).  

Temporary inflatable pools and portable spas do not require a building permit. However, if they can hold water deeper than 30cm, they must have a permanent safety barrier, which does require a building permit.
You have legal obligations to maintain the pool fence.

For more information about safety fences for pools and spas, visit buildingcommission.com.au.

Choosing a builder

When you’re choosing a builder for your outdoor building project, it can help to ask your family or friends to recommend someone they have recently used. You can also contact industry organisations to find the right person for the job.

Get at least three quotes for the same plans. Ask for the builder’s:

• address
• landline phone number
• if they are required to be registered, their registered business name (get their details and check them with the appropriate authority – visit our website for more information).

Make sure you understand exactly what the quotes cover – the cheapest may not include some items, or may give a base rate that does not cover the cost of the materials and finishes you want.

Check references, including inspecting work the builder has done. You can ask referees questions such as: did they start and finish on time? Were you happy with the quality of the work?

For more information and advice on outdoor building projects, visit consumer.vic.gov.au/building