Reconstruction, or the other thing?
Five ways that separate the routes. Everything here is decided before design starts - which is why it is worth reading now.
Compared with
What it is
Reconstruction
The frame stays. Everything around it is new.
Rebuild
Down to the ground, then a new house on the same plot.
How long it takes
Reconstruction
15–18 months of construction.
Rebuild
18–22 months of construction.
What decides it
Reconstruction
Whether the existing structure can carry it.
Rebuild
Whether the plot supports the house you want.
What needs approving
Reconstruction
Full submission, against what is being retained.
Rebuild
Full submission, lodged before construction begins.
What you end up with
Reconstruction
A new house with a familiar structure.
Rebuild
A brand new house, with nothing inherited.
Reconstruction, delivered
FAQsThe things people ask before they commit.
It comes down to how much of the house changes. If the works change more than half of the existing house, it is a reconstruction; anything less is an A&A.
Yes, and it is assessed against what is being retained rather than against a clear site. That makes the submission more particular than a rebuild's, not less, because the retained structure has to be shown to do what the drawings say it does.
Our real estate development background allows us to apply buildability reviews, structural coordination, and cost planning early in the design stage. By resolving technical details upfront, we reduce the likelihood of costly surprises and unnecessary variation orders during construction.
Ask us before you engage anyone. At the first consultation we look at the house and tell you which route suits it — rebuild, reconstruction or A&A — and why. Once you engage us, the detailed work begins: what the existing frame can carry, what it would take to strengthen it, and a design that follows that answer.
Tell us about your land.
- Reply time
- Within a few working days
- Or reach us directly
- hello@kapadesign.co·WhatsApp


