Questions about building and renovating with Bright

Yes. Bright Building & Renovations holds Builder's Licence BLD 45463, issued by Consumer and Business Services (CBS) in South Australia, and our ABN is 42 695 584 706.

You can check any South Australian builder's licence, including ours, on the CBS 'Find a licence holder' register. It's a quick check worth doing for any builder you're considering, and we're happy for you to do it before we meet. Search for the licence number and confirm the name and status match what you've been given.

Yes. We're a licensed builder, and our work is insured and warranty-backed. You're welcome to ask about our insurance at any point before you sign a contract.

Domestic building work contracts in South Australia carry statutory warranties under section 32 of the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 — that the work will be done with proper workmanship, using good and proper materials, in line with the law, and with reasonable diligence.

We'll talk through what these warranties mean for your project when we go over your quote and contract.

In South Australia, a licensed builder must take out building indemnity insurance before starting domestic building work that needs development approval and is valued at $20,000 or more (the threshold rose from $12,000 on 10 November 2025). It protects you if the builder dies, disappears or becomes insolvent and can't finish the work or fix defects.

For domestic building work, whether your project needs it comes down to two things: whether the work needs development approval, and its value. We'll confirm where your project sits when we quote. Ask for a copy of the certificate of insurance before work starts, and check current requirements with Consumer and Business Services (CBS).

We work across metropolitan Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills and the Fleurieu Peninsula through to Victor Harbor, including Goolwa, Port Elliot and McLaren Vale.

That takes in a wide mix of homes, from character villas and post-war houses in the suburbs to properties in the Hills and coastal homes on the Fleurieu, and each setting brings its own site considerations. If your property is further out, get in touch anyway and we can discuss your project and location.

We offer home renovations, bathroom renovations (including ensuites), kitchen renovations (including butler's pantries), laundry renovations, home extensions, new homes including knockdown-rebuilds, and commercial building and fit-outs.

We don't build decks, verandahs, pergolas or other outdoor structures, and we don't provide design or drafting. Where a project needs drawings, we build from plans prepared by your designer, architect or draftsperson, who can often also prepare and lodge any development application on your behalf. If you're at the very start of a project, we're happy to explain which professionals you're likely to need before building work can begin.

You talk directly with a director. Bright's directors are Has and Darko. Darko has worked in building since he was 17 and brings 45 years of experience to the business. Darko is Director & Supervisor, so supervising work on site is part of his role.

From your first call through the site visit, quote and build, you can reach a director on their mobile: Has on 0400 028 777 or Darko on 0431 721 411. Dealing with the directors means your questions go straight to the people responsible for your project.

It starts with your enquiry, by phone or through our quote form. We'll then have a conversation about what you want to achieve, your property and any plans you already have.

Next is a site visit, so we can see the existing structure, access and conditions that affect the work. From there we agree on the scope, including what's in and what's out, and prepare your quote based on it. The clearer the scope and plans, the more accurately we can price the job, so share any drawings, selections or inspiration you have.

We can talk you through what's typically involved, but we don't prepare or lodge applications. Your designer or draftsperson usually prepares the drawings for an application and can often lodge it on your behalf. We then build to the approved plans and any conditions of approval.

Whether your project needs development approval (planning consent, building consent or both) depends on the work and the zone and overlays that apply to your property. You can check them in the SA Property and Planning Atlas (SAPPA) or on PlanSA. Internal, non-structural bathroom and kitchen renovations often don't need development approval, but structural changes can — check before you start.

It depends on the scope of work. Plenty of people live at home through a bathroom or kitchen renovation, but it takes planning. If you have only one bathroom, work out where you'll shower while it's out of action. For a kitchen, set up a temporary space for preparing food and washing up.

Larger renovations and extensions that affect the structure, services or several rooms at once can be much harder to live through, and dust, noise and restricted access are part of any build. We'll go through the sequence of work with you during planning so you can decide what suits your household.

It's common in older Adelaide homes and worth planning for early. If your home was built or renovated before 1990, it is likely to contain asbestos — for example in fibro wall or eave sheeting, older wet-area linings, vinyl floor tiles and their backing, or some roofing and fencing. Asbestos has been banned in Australia since 31 December 2003.

Suspect materials should be checked before any demolition, and where the law requires a licensed removalist (any friable asbestos, or more than 10 m² of non-friable asbestos), removal must be done by a SafeWork SA–licensed asbestos removalist. Mention any suspect materials at the site visit so checking and any required removal can be planned before work starts.

Yes. Adelaide has a wealth of stone villas, cottages and bungalows, and renovating them usually means fitting modern kitchens, bathrooms and living areas into an older layout while keeping the period features that give the home its character.

In a Historic Area or Character Area Overlay under the Planning and Design Code, demolition and changes visible from the street may need planning consent. Heritage-listed places may need further approval. Salt damp is also common in older Adelaide stone and brick homes, and the right treatment depends on the cause, so it's worth assessing before the scope is settled.

Yes. We build from plans prepared by your architect, building designer or draftsperson, and we can work alongside the kitchen company, cabinetmaker or interior designer you've already chosen.

Our role is to coordinate the building work and the licensed trades, such as plumbers and electricians, so each stage happens in the right order. Bringing your plans, specifications and selections to the site visit helps us understand the scope and quote accurately. If something in the drawings needs clarifying, we'll raise it with your designer before work starts.

Call a director directly: Has on 0400 028 777 or Darko on 0431 721 411. If that's not convenient, fill in our quote form with a few details about your property and the work you have in mind.

It helps to have your address, a rough idea of the scope and any drawings or photos ready. If you're still early in planning, that's fine too. A conversation is a good way to work out your next steps, including whether you'll need a designer or approvals before building work can start.