Merc.Build manages knockdown rebuilds across Sydney end to end — demolition approvals, custom design, construction and handover — under Builders Licence 377744C. If you love your street but the house no longer works, replacing it is often better value than a compromised renovation.
Some houses are worth saving. Some are holding their land back. A knockdown rebuild trades an ageing, compromised building for a home designed precisely for the block — its orientation, its fall, its outlook — without giving up the suburb, the school run or the neighbours you like.
When a rebuild beats a renovation
The honest arithmetic: once a renovation touches most rooms, the structure and the services, its cost approaches a new build — while inheriting every constraint of the old house. A rebuild resets the design to zero. Ceiling heights, natural light, thermal performance and layout are designed rather than negotiated. We will tell you plainly which side of the line your project sits on; sometimes the answer is a renovation, and we do those too.
Demolition and approvals, handled
A knockdown rebuild in NSW involves demolition approval, service disconnections, sediment and tree controls, and either a CDC or DA pathway for the new dwelling. Merc.Build runs the entire sequence — including asbestos assessment on older homes — so the site is cleared, certified and ready the day construction begins.
A new home that belongs on its street
New never has to mean out of place. We design rebuilds that hold the scale and rhythm of their streetscape while being unmistakably contemporary — like Ecru in Bondi, where curved limestone forms replace a tired post-war cottage without shouting at the neighbours.
Related work.
Questions.
What does a knockdown rebuild involve in NSW?
Four stages: demolition approval and safe demolition of the existing home (including service disconnections and any asbestos removal); custom design of the new dwelling; planning approval via a Complying Development Certificate or Development Application; then construction. With Merc.Build the whole sequence runs under one contract, typically 18–30 months end to end.
Is a knockdown rebuild cheaper than renovating?
For substantial projects, frequently yes. Once a renovation involves structural change to most of the house, its per-square-metre cost meets or exceeds new construction — while keeping the old home's constraints. A rebuild delivers a fully new structure, warranty and energy performance for comparable money. We price both paths honestly when the answer is not obvious.
Can I knock down and rebuild a duplex on my block?
On many Sydney blocks, yes — subject to zoning, lot width and local controls. Dual-occupancy rebuilds like our Ecru project in Bondi can house extended family or fund the build through the second dwelling. Merc.Build assesses feasibility against your council's controls before any design work begins.