Perth renovation work is booming, and second-storey additions are leading the charge. Summit Renovations, a division of Summit Homes Group, has recorded a 129 per cent jump in second-storey addition enquiries over the past two years, according to The West Australian, driven by families choosing to extend their existing homes rather than buy into a pricier market.
The numbers behind the trend aren’t hard to understand. The 2021 ABS Census counted 335,000 Australian homes housing three or more generations under one roof, and a 2020 UNSW City Futures Research Centre study found one in five Australians already live in multigenerational properties. With Perth values continuing to climb and borrowing costs staying elevated, many families are making the maths work by adding a floor instead of selling.
Summit Renovations builds its second storeys off-site at a purpose-built modular factory in Canning Vale, then cranes the completed structure into place in a single day, residents can stay in the home throughout the build. The company has operated in Perth for more than 48 years and was named the 2025 HIA Professional Major Builder for Western Australia, its sixth consecutive year taking that award.
The demand spike sits inside a broader national renovation surge. Annual renovation spending across Australia is estimated at around $54 billion, with recent ABS and KPMG data showing spend up 6.5 per cent year-on-year. Renovations now account for more than 40 per cent of all residential construction activity. The “improve, don’t move” mindset has become the dominant response to tight housing supply and high entry costs.
For WA tradies, the pipeline looks solid. Second-storey additions pull in carpenters, concreters, plasterers, electricians, and plumbers, and Summit’s modular method also creates factory-based trade work at Canning Vale. Builders who can handle the structural and fit-out requirements of high-value extensions are well placed, the multigenerational living trend shows no sign of reversing. For those weighing a granny flat against a full second storey, our guide to granny flat build costs by state covers the numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Why are Perth families adding second storeys instead of moving?
Rising Perth property values and elevated borrowing costs make buying into a more expensive home financially difficult. Adding a second storey lets families accommodate multiple generations without entering a pricier market.
How does Summit Renovations build second storeys without disrupting the household?
Summit builds the second storey off-site at its modular factory in Canning Vale, then cranes the completed structure into place in a single day. Residents can stay in the home throughout the build.
How big is Australia’s renovation market?
Annual renovation spending across Australia is estimated at around $54 billion. ABS and KPMG data show spend up 6.5 per cent year-on-year, with renovations accounting for more than 40 per cent of all residential construction activity.
Sourced from The West Australian, UNSW City Futures Research Centre, Australian Bureau of Statistics, KPMG Australia, Housing Industry Association. Original article.
