“From the first visit by Matt Goodie to share ideas and options for the full garage build, to replace an eyesore carport, right to the completion of the project, I was consistently impressed by the professionalism, speed and responsiveness, the competence of (and regular communication) of Glen, the Construction Manager, the friendly engaging team of tradies, and the quality of workmanship.  It has altered my view that building projects are inherently risky and drag on forever.  My new paradigm is:  simply choose the right team and you will come out on top.  This project has left me happy, impressed and quite sure that if I ever had another project in mind, I would simply go to Custom Outdoor Living.  Thank you Matt, Glen, Demi, and the rest of the team.  I am a very happy camper and take my hat off to all of you.”    

Greg Holmes

We were delighted with Greg’s kind words (above).  With such a glowing testimonial, we could almost say nothing more and let the pictures tell the story of this successful transformation in Langwarrin.  The simple tin roof carport that was, became a 47 square metre lock-up garage that now coordinates beautifully with the existing home.  We’re very grateful to our ‘happy camper’ Greg for his kind words – another successful Custom Outdoor Living design tailored precisely to what the owners had in mind.

So, what did we do to earn such glowing praise?

The existing carport was literally cut off at the ankles and removed from the unusually shaped property.  We moved heaven and earth with concrete cutters and jack hammers for a short while with the aim of removing only the necessary surface area, so that the established gardens, landscaping, major driveway fall and stormwater drains were undisturbed.  By preserving these areas, we could then reduce the build time and use almost the same footprint as the old carport for the new garage in Langwarrin.  Once the new footings were in place, new concrete was poured to match the steepled finish of the original driveway, the garage shape joined and wrapped around the corner of the house for design cohesion and extra width, and a section at the right-hand rear of the garage was angled to avoid overshooting an easement line.  This latter space now provides a perfectly hidden rubbish bin bay and a small metal fence to protect the backyard from unwanted visitors.

At Custom Outdoor Living, we think of everything when we’re formulating the design of new, customised garages, and in this instance, keeping the lower driveway intact also allowed for easy uphill access for deliveries of materials, and provided off-street parking for our owners when the tradies left each day.

Timber framing for the gable roof trusses was melded under the home’s roofline, box guttering and rainwater heads now succinctly control water run-off, and three exit doors were established to maximise practicality and access to the garage – using a roller at the rear (to the backyard), a step-through door to the front verandah steps, and a sectional panel door for the street front.  Due to the property’s landfall and need for better drainage, both the rear roller door and the front panel door have been custom made to actually slope at their bases to allow water to traverse away from the garage and into the boundary garden bed, rather than pool in unwanted places, and/or run like a torrent down the steep driveway to the road.

Roof tiles to match the house, plaster lining, internal fluorescent lights, and external weatherboards were added, and we also installed the owner’s security light as per their wishes.

Painted in a classic Paperbark tone, with cream-coloured doors and trim, this new garage now stands tall and proudly in place.  It’s practical for housing two cars side-by-side , secure for all the right reasons, and ready to serve its purpose for decades to come.

And…..true to our word, construction flowed smoothly and all of the compliance boxes gained timely ticks of approval for all Council and Building Code regulations along the way.