North Shore · Auckland renovation service area
Property-specific home, kitchen and bathroom renovations for Glenfield homeowners.
Local renovation planning
An established, family-oriented suburb built out mainly through the 1960s-80s, with a broad mix of standalone homes on moderate-sized sections. Most projects here focus on practical layout and wet-area upgrades.
Predominantly brick-and-tile and weatherboard family homes from the 1960s-80s, largely on their original layout and services.
What to focus on
Glenfield homes from the 1960s to 1980s are often well suited to modernising rather than major restructuring, because their footprints and sections are usually practical. Typical projects include combining a separate kitchen and dining room, adding an ensuite, or converting a lower level or garage into living space. Checking how the existing roof and floor framing are supported shows which walls can be removed simply and which need engineered beams.
Hidden materials are the first thing to investigate in homes of this age. WorkSafe advises that buildings constructed or renovated before 2000 may contain asbestos, which can be found in textured ceilings, vinyl flooring, soffits or cladding, so testing should happen before any demolition. Older wiring, switchboards and plumbing also deserve an assessment, as renewing them while walls and floors are open is far easier than returning to the job later.
Coverage
Glenfield is one of the suburbs we cover as part of North Shore. Availability, travel and site access are confirmed for each enquiry.
See all North Shore suburbs →Services in Glenfield
Before you design
Where clay soils are present, new foundations, retaining walls and drainage may need geotechnical input, because clay can shrink and swell as its moisture content changes. Ask your designer early whether a soil investigation is needed for an extension or a new deck on piles.
Some Glenfield properties back onto bush reserves and gullies, where stormwater can flow across the section in heavy rain. Check Auckland Council's overland flow path and flood maps before adding rooms, decks or paving near the back of the section.
A lower floor that sits partly below ground level needs tanking or other waterproofing, drainage behind the retaining walls and good ventilation before it can become a dry habitable room. Confirm ceiling height and natural light requirements too, as converting such space usually needs building consent.
Common questions
Often yes, if the existing systems are original or a patchwork of later repairs. A house from the 1960s to 1980s may still have an older switchboard, limited circuits or ageing pipework. Replacing these while walls and floors are open avoids cutting into new linings later, and licensed trades can tell you which parts genuinely need renewal before the scope is set.
Start with where water goes in heavy rain. Sections that back onto bush gullies can carry overland flow, and ground near a gully edge may be softer or steeper than the rest of the site. Check council's flood and overland flow maps and the LIM, confirm your boundary position, and ask whether the slope or nearby trees call for geotechnical or arborist input before designing a deck or room.
Nearby in North Shore
Your home, made more useful
Share your ideas and property details. We’ll help you identify the clearest next step.
