Home Renovations Preston

Renovations in Preston

Preston has transformed into one of Melbourne's most exciting inner-northern suburbs — blending rich multicultural heritage with a booming hospitality scene centred around High Street and Gilbert Road. The suburb attracts a mix of young professionals, growing families and long-time residents drawn to its character homes, excellent transport links and vibrant community.

Preston's housing ranges from charming Edwardian and interwar homes to solid post-war brick veneers and contemporary townhouse developments — making it one of the most diverse and rewarding renovation markets in Melbourne's north. Rising property values and strong buyer demand mean that well-executed renovations in Preston deliver excellent returns.

Melb Renovations connects Preston homeowners with experienced, VBA-licensed local builders who understand the suburb's diverse housing stock — completely free, no obligation, no cold calls.

Renovation Costs in Preston (2026)

Preston sits in the mid-to-upper tier of Melbourne's northern suburbs market with strong and growing buyer demand. A well-executed kitchen or bathroom renovation typically returns

.45–

.90 for every

.00 spent. Preston's rapidly evolving market — driven by proximity to Northcote and the inner north — means renovation returns are among the strongest in the northern corridor.

Kitchen Renovations in Preston

Kitchen renovations are the most popular project in Preston. The suburb's diverse housing stock — from Edwardian weatherboards to 1950s brick homes — frequently features original kitchens that are closed off from living areas and in need of a complete transformation. Opening these kitchens up to rear living areas is one of the most impactful renovations available in Preston.

Preston's food culture and lifestyle-conscious buyer market means kitchen quality is scrutinised more than almost any other feature at inspection. A well-designed kitchen renovation in Preston doesn't just add value — it's often the difference between a quick sale and one that lingers.

Popular kitchen renovation approaches in Preston:

• •Removing walls to create open-plan kitchen, dining and living
• •Semi-custom or custom cabinetry in contemporary or heritage-sympathetic profiles
• •Stone or engineered stone benchtops
• •Quality mid-range to premium appliances — Bosch, Fisher & Paykel, Smeg, Miele
• •Kitchen island with seating — popular with Preston's entertaining culture
• •Bifold or sliding doors connecting to rear deck or courtyard
• •Skylights to bring natural light into rear kitchens in terrace and weatherboard homes

Typical kitchen renovation cost in Preston:

4,000–$52,000 for a mid-range full renovation. Basic cosmetic refreshes from

5,000. High-end custom kitchens from $58,000.

Get free kitchen renovation quotes in Preston →

Bathroom Renovations in Preston

Bathroom renovations deliver strong returns in Preston. Many of the suburb's original homes have single bathrooms that are dated — a full renovation modernises the space and adds meaningful value in Preston's competitive buyer market.

Adding a second bathroom or ensuite is increasingly popular in Preston, where young professional and family buyers strongly prefer homes with multiple bathrooms. It's one of the most reliable value-add renovations in the suburb.

What Preston bathroom renovations typically include:

• •Full strip-out and new waterproofing (AS 3740 compliant)
• •Large format or designer tiles — Preston buyers respond well to design-forward choices
• •New vanity, toilet and tapware
• •Frameless shower screen
• •Underfloor heating
• •Heated towel rail
• •Exhaust fan ducted to outside
• •Recessed niche shelving in shower

Typical bathroom renovation cost in Preston:

1,000–$38,000 for a mid-range full renovation. Basic refreshes from

3,000. Adding a second bathroom or ensuite from

3,000.

Get free bathroom renovation quotes in Preston →

Home Extensions in Preston

Preston's mix of deep blocks and rising property values makes extensions a smart investment. Many homes in the suburb sit on lots of 450m²–650m², providing scope for rear extensions that add meaningful floor space. For families who love Preston's lifestyle but need more room, extending is almost always more financially sensible than moving to a larger property.

Single storey rear extensions are the most popular choice in Preston. Second-storey additions are increasingly common as property values rise and families seek to add bedrooms without sacrificing the rear yard.

Extension considerations specific to Preston:

• •Extensions require a building permit from Darebin City Council
• •Parts of Preston have neighbourhood character overlays that affect what's permitted for extensions and external alterations — check your property's overlay status at mapshare.vic.gov.au before committing to a design
• •Preston's diverse housing stock means construction methods vary — weatherboard homes require different extension approaches to brick veneer and double-brick
• •Stumped weatherboard homes may require subfloor work and relevelling before an extension can proceed
• •Asbestos-containing materials are common in Preston's pre-1990 homes — have a licensed assessor inspect before any demolition work begins

Typical extension cost in Preston:

• •Single storey rear extension:
  50,000 –
  70,000
• •Double storey extension:

70,000 – $450,000

•Second storey addition:

General Renovations in Preston

Beyond kitchens, bathrooms and extensions, Melb Renovations connects Preston homeowners with builders for the full range of residential renovation work:

• •Heritage home renovation — sensitive renovation of Edwardian and interwar homes including lath-and-plaster walls, original timber floors, decorative cornices and period joinery
• •Weatherboard renovation — subfloor repairs, restumping, cladding replacement and painting for Preston's interwar weatherboard homes
• •Flooring — hardwood restoration, engineered timber and hybrid options popular across Preston's diverse housing stock
• •Internal wall removal — opening up floor plans in weatherboard and brick homes
• •Exterior painting — refreshing weatherboard and brick veneer to improve street appeal
• •Deck and courtyard areas — outdoor entertaining spaces are highly valued in Preston's lifestyle-conscious market
• •Full home renovations — complete whole-house transformations that bring Preston homes fully into the 21st century

Why Use Melb Renovations in Preston?

• •Vetted local builders. Every builder in our network has been verified for VBA registration, public liability insurance and local track record. We don't list anyone who hasn't been checked.
• •Free for homeowners. Getting quotes through Melb Renovations costs you nothing. We're paid by the builders, not you.
• •No cold calls. Your details are only shared with builders matched to your specific job. We don't sell your information to lead brokers or third-party lists.
• •Up to three quotes. We match you with up to three local builders so you can compare prices, timelines and communication before committing to anyone.
• •Local knowledge. Builders in our Preston network understand Darebin City Council's planning and neighbourhood character requirements, the diverse construction styles across the suburb — weatherboard, brick veneer, double-brick — and what Preston's evolving buyer market expects from a quality renovation.

Preston Renovation: What to Expect

1. Submit your free quote request — tell us your suburb, project type and a few details about what you're after. Takes about 60 seconds.
2. We review your project and match you with up to three VBA-licensed local builders who cover Preston and specialise in your type of renovation.
3. Matched builders contact you directly — by phone or email — to discuss your project and arrange a site visit if needed.
4. You receive written quotes, compare them, and choose who to hire. Or don't — there's zero obligation.
5. Your chosen builder completes the work. We follow up after completion to make sure everything went well.

Frequently Asked Questions