Home Renovations Reservoir

Renovations in Reservoir

Reservoir — or "Rezza" as locals know it — is one of Melbourne's largest and most dynamic northern suburbs. With the South Morang train line providing easy city access, a thriving food scene along Broadway, and a strong multicultural community, Reservoir has become one of the most sought-after suburbs for families and young professionals looking for value without sacrificing lifestyle.

The housing stock is wonderfully varied — from interwar weatherboards and classic 1950s brick veneers to 1970s split-levels and newer contemporary builds. This diversity of housing types means renovation opportunities are everywhere in Reservoir, and the suburb's rapidly appreciating property market means well-executed renovation work delivers strong and reliable returns.

Melb Renovations connects Reservoir homeowners with experienced, VBA-licensed local builders who know the suburb's housing inside and out — completely free, no obligation, no cold calls.

Renovation Costs in Reservoir (2026)

Reservoir has seen strong and consistent property value growth and sits in the mid-tier of Melbourne's northern suburbs market with excellent buyer demand. A well-executed kitchen or bathroom renovation typically returns

.40–

.85 for every

.00 spent. The suburb's rapidly improving market means renovation returns are strong — and improving.

Kitchen Renovations in Reservoir

Kitchen renovations are the most popular project in Reservoir — and with good reason. The suburb's diverse housing stock includes a large proportion of interwar weatherboards and 1950s–60s brick homes with original kitchens that are closed off from living areas, cramped and outdated. Transforming these spaces is one of the most impactful renovations available in Reservoir.

A kitchen renovation in Reservoir typically involves opening the kitchen to the rear living and dining area, installing new cabinetry, stone benchtops and quality appliances, and improving natural light. The result is a home that feels dramatically more modern and spacious — and commands a significant premium from buyers in Reservoir's competitive market.

Popular kitchen renovation approaches in Reservoir:

• •Removing walls to create open-plan kitchen, dining and living
• •Semi-custom or custom cabinetry in contemporary profiles
• •Stone or engineered stone benchtops — strong return in this market
• •Quality mid-range to premium appliances — Bosch, Fisher & Paykel, Smeg
• •Kitchen island or breakfast bar where layout allows
• •Bifold or sliding doors connecting to rear deck or yard
• •Skylights to bring natural light into rear kitchens in weatherboard homes

Typical kitchen renovation cost in Reservoir:

2,000–$48,000 for a mid-range full renovation. Basic cosmetic refreshes from

4,000. High-end custom kitchens from $55,000.

Get free kitchen renovation quotes in Reservoir →

Bathroom Renovations in Reservoir

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

Adding a second bathroom is highly popular in Reservoir, where young family buyers strongly prefer homes with at least two bathrooms. It's one of the most reliable value-add renovations in the suburb.

What Reservoir bathroom renovations typically include:

• •Full strip-out and new waterproofing (AS 3740 compliant)
• •Large format floor and wall tiles
• •New vanity, toilet and tapware
• •Frameless or semi-frameless shower screen
• •Underfloor heating — particularly valued in Melbourne's cold winters
• •Heated towel rail
• •Exhaust fan ducted to outside
• •Recessed niche shelving in shower

Typical bathroom renovation cost in Reservoir:

0,000–$36,000 for a mid-range full renovation. Basic refreshes from

2,000. Adding a second bathroom or ensuite from

2,000.

Get free bathroom renovation quotes in Reservoir →

Home Extensions in Reservoir

Reservoir's generous block sizes and strong property growth make extensions a smart investment. Many homes in the suburb sit on lots of 500m²–700m², providing good scope for rear extensions. For families who love Reservoir but need more room, extending is almost always more financially sensible than moving — especially as stamp duty and agent fees climb with rising property values.

Single storey rear extensions are the most popular choice in Reservoir. Second-storey additions are increasingly common as property values rise and families seek to maximise the potential of their existing blocks.

Extension considerations specific to Reservoir:

• •Extensions require a building permit from Darebin City Council
• •Most standard extensions in Reservoir proceed under ResCode without requiring a planning permit — confirm with your builder for your specific property
• •Reservoir's diverse housing stock means construction methods vary significantly — weatherboard homes require different extension approaches to brick veneer and double-brick — use a builder experienced across multiple construction types
• •Stumped weatherboard homes near Edwardes Lake may require subfloor work and relevelling before an extension can proceed — budget a contingency accordingly
• •Asbestos-containing materials are common in Reservoir's pre-1990 homes — have a licensed assessor inspect before any demolition work begins

Typical extension cost in Reservoir:

• •Single storey rear extension:
  45,000 –
  60,000
• •Double storey extension:

60,000 – $430,000

•Second storey addition:

General Renovations in Reservoir

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

• •Weatherboard home renovations — sensitive renovation of Reservoir's interwar weatherboard homes including subfloor work, restumping, and period-appropriate detailing
• •Laundry renovations — practical upgrades that improve daily life for busy families
• •Flooring replacement — hardwood restoration, engineered timber and hybrid options popular across Reservoir's varied 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 alfresco areas — highly valued in Reservoir's family market given the suburb's generous blocks
• •Split-level home renovations — Reservoir's 1970s split-level homes require specific renovation expertise — use a builder familiar with this construction style
• •Full home renovations — complete whole-house transformations

Why Use Melb Renovations in Reservoir?

• •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 Reservoir network understand Darebin City Council's permit requirements, the diverse construction styles across the suburb — weatherboard, brick veneer, double-brick and split-level — and what Reservoir's rapidly evolving buyer market expects from a quality renovation.

Reservoir 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 Reservoir 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