Organise + design your Reno with these resources
◾ #1 template for organising and managing your home renovation or building project
◾ Your Finishes Schedule is the QUICK + EASY way to store + keep track of all building products, fixtures + fittings, finishes + colours
◾Store the following home product details in your Schedule of Finishes to reference at any time during the planning stage and throughout your project —
✔️ Product names
✔️ Building product + product codes
✔️ Brand names
✔️ Colours, including material and paint colours
✔️ Product sizes, length and width dimensions
✔️ Supplier and manufacturer details, including websites and contact details
✔️ Any comments, installation notes or details for trades
✔️ Upload images of the product to visualise for trades and your building team
◾ Share your Digital Finishes Schedule with your builder, trades, architect… and other half or print it for handy reference onsite
◾ Store + edit your Finishes Schedule on your computer, phone or tablet to keep project details at hand, and quickly and easily reference or check product specifications during site visits and hardware shop runs
◾ Share your Finishing Schedule with your building team instantly at any time, and refer back to your schedule template for paint touch-ups or home improvements years from now
◾ Everyone always has access to the crucial details of your project, so nothing is missed.
◾ Use your finish schedule template for renovating one room or building your new home. Enter finishes + selections while you design and plan your project.
◾ It’s the tool that professionals like interior designers, builders + architects use, and now it’s yours!
◾ Includes a Prompt Sheet so you know exactly what products to include
◾ Template is used in the free version of Canva and can be used for this project and the next
MUST-HAVE project management tool for any home or DIY project — kitchen renovation, bathroom renovation, laundry renovation and everything in between — to save time, money and costly mistakes!
The Renovation Budget Tracker is a renovation budget template pre-loaded with over 200 items, from design fees and trades to tiles, tapware and furniture. It lets you plan your budget before you start, then track your real costs as quotes come in and you start paying. It totals everything for your whole renovation and for each room, so you always know where your budget stands.
What’s inside the tracker
You're never starting from a blank page. The items are grouped into 10 sections, each one a part of your renovation:
Planning and Site: design, approvals, demolition, skip bins and equipment hire
Builder, Trades and Materials
Cabinetry and Benchtops
Tiles and Flooring
Tapware, Sinks and Fittings
Electrical and Appliances
Windows, Doors and Blinds
Outdoor
Furniture
Other Costs
When a quote comes in, you know where it goes. A tile quote goes straight into Tiles and Flooring.
Every item has a place for your estimate while you plan, and your actual cost once you have a quote in writing or have paid. If the actual cost is higher than your estimate, it shows in red, so you see it the day the quote lands, not when the money's gone.
If a builder is quoting the whole job, their total goes in as one line, and you only add what isn't in their quote, like your appliances or furniture. Items you don't need stay empty.
Short notes beside some items point out the costs that are easy to forget, like asbestos testing in homes built before about 1990.
A summary page adds it all up for you, by section, by room and in total, with your estimate and your actual cost side by side. Each item can be given a room, like the kitchen or ensuite, so you see what each room is costing you. Your contingency, the money you set aside for surprises, is added to your total at the percentage you choose. All amounts are entered including GST.
Who it's for
The tracker works for homeowners renovating or building, whether you're working with a builder or managing the trades yourself.
It's built for you if:
You don't know what your project will actually cost.
You've started planning, and costs feel like they're getting out of control.
You're juggling quotes and need one place to track everything.
I built this tracker for my own renovations and developments. It's what I've used to keep every one of them on budget for around 20 years.
Kitchen, bathroom or whole home renovation budgets
It works for a single bathroom, a kitchen or a whole home, and for a renovation or a new build. If you're building, it also shows roughly how many square metres your budget can build.
Renovation budget template FAQs
Is the Renovation Budget Tracker an Excel spreadsheet? Yes. It works best in Excel on a computer. It also opens in Google Sheets and Apple Numbers, but some features may not work the same way.
Are prices included in the renovation budget template? No. You put in your own estimates and quotes, so the total is your project's real number, not an average.
How do I estimate renovation costs? List every item your project needs, then put an estimate against each one, using quotes where you have them. Then add a contingency for the unexpected. The Renovation Budget Tracker already lists over 200 items, so you start with the list. For typical figures, here's what a renovation costs in Australia.
How much contingency should I set aside? Set aside 10% for a new build or a home in good condition, 15 to 20% for an older home, and 20% or more for a heritage home or one in unknown condition. The tracker starts at 10%, and you can change it. Here's what to set aside in your renovation budget.
What happens after I buy? It's sent to your email straight away. Open it on the Start Here page, which shows you how it all works.
Can I get a refund? Yes, within 14 days. The details are in our terms and conditions.
DIY aluminium fencing is suitable for a variety of applications, from screening an outdoor swimming pool to adding security around your property. Not only does it look great and require minimal maintenance, but aluminium split batten fencing also offers a range of features, such as timber-look finishes, batten sizes and profiles, plus alternative solutions to traditional timber fences.
And if you’ve been researching home building products, you’ll know that aluminium battens are proving more popular than ever, both inside and out! They’re perfect for adding contrast and screening and when installed in a timber finish, they add texture and warmth like nothing else.
• Zephyr and Stone • Coastal 2 Ways Project featuring DecoBattens
But whether it’s for a front fence feature, outdoor entertainment area, screening or a gate; there’s a new solution to timber that has all the visual benefits with none of the maintenance. We’re talking about aluminium timber-look DecoBattens.
But are they as versatile and easy to use as timber? You betcha! Let’s take a look…
Ready From The Get-Go
By far one of the major benefits of Decobattens is that they’re ready to install from the get-go. They’re a finished product, so there’s none of the preparation of sanding, painting or staining that comes with timber.
So if preparation isn’t your forte and you just want to get in there and get the job done, the virtually effortless quality of Decobattens may be just the ticket.
• Zephyr and Stone • Coastal Facade 2 Ways Project featuring DecoBattens
Straighty One-Eighty
If you’ve ever purchased long lengths of timber, you’ll be all too familiar with the trial and error of sorting and trying to pick the straightest pieces.
That’s just not on the agenda with DecoBattens. They’re supplied in straight 6.5m long lengths, that won’t warp or split and can be cut to size on-site with an electric metal cut-off saw. This also results in less waste as each piece is plumb and the entire length usable.
• Zephyr and Stone • Coastal Facade 2 Ways Project featuring DecoBattens
• Zephyr and Stone • Coastal Facade 2 Ways Project featuring DecoBattens
What’s Your Flavour
We all know that one size doesn’t really fit all, so these handy aluminium battens are available in a huge range of timber-grain colours, batten profiles and sizes.
Whether it’s a square, rectangle or curved profile you’re after, there’s a range of size options as small as 20 x 20mm and as large as 200 x 200mm to choose from. Plus they’re also available in varied aluminium thicknesses, so when strength and rigidity are required, there’s a batten solution to suit.
• Zephyr and Stone • Coastal Facade 2 Ways Project featuring DecoBattens
Light As A Feather
Ok, so we might be exaggerating slightly…but aluminium battens are very lightweight!
Most profiles are hollow inside, so although they have the appearance of a solid timber batten or post, you won’t be left carrying the weight. This makes aluminium battens easy to manage onsite single-handedly, rather than having to call in your 2IC every time one needs manoeuvring.
DIY Install
DecoBattens are designed for DIY installation - whether it’s DIY aluminium fencing, a batten feature or screening - DecoBattens has a downloadable do-it-yourself installation manual that’s designed for beginners and is available online.
However, if you’re not handy or a bit time-poor, they’re easy for a builder or tradesman to install; or specify your preferred colour and profile to an aluminium fabricator who can provide you with a complete installed solution.
• Zephyr and Stone • Coastal Facade 2 Ways Project featuring DecoBattens
No Maintenance
By far one of the most attractive features of aluminium battens is their low maintenance quality. Unlike timber that requires ongoing sanding, staining or painting, the only maintenance with DecoBattens is an occasional clean with high-pressure water to remove any dirt buildup.
Long-term, this is a big saving of both time and money.
• Zephyr and Stone • Coastal Facade 2 Ways Project featuring DecoBattens
So, what do you think? Are DecoBattens as versatile and easy to use as timber? We think so…and with all their additional benefits and low-maintenance qualities, the title of Perfect DIY Solution is pretty close to the mark!
• Zephyr and Stone • Coastal Facade 2 Ways Project featuring DecoBattens
Want more home design ideas and inspo for your project?
