Local trades in Bankstown

Bankstown at a glance

Fibro, asbestos and the post-war cottage

Much of Bankstown was built out in the post-war decades, when fibro (asbestos cement sheet) and brick veneer were the quickest ways to house a growing population. Many of those cottages still stand, often with later brick or fibro additions at the back.

• Assume fibro walls, eaves, wet-area linings and old floor tiles in a home built before 1990 may contain asbestos until tested.
• In NSW, a licensed removalist is required for more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos and for any friable asbestos.
• Bathroom and kitchen renovations, recladding and demolition all disturb these materials, so the test comes first. See house demolition and the asbestos removal cost guide.
• Fibro fences and sheds from the same era may also contain asbestos, so include them when you describe the job.

Rebuilds, duplexes and clay soils

Many Bankstown blocks have been redeveloped as duplexes, granny flats or knock-down rebuilds. Before you decide, compare renovating against starting again in our knock-down rebuild vs renovate guide.

• Clay soils across much of the area shrink in dry spells and swell when wet, which can crack older brickwork. Diagonal cracks above doors and windows deserve an engineer's look before you renovate; see underpinning.
• Granny flats and duplexes may be possible as complying development on suitable lots, but flood mapping, easements and lot size can rule that out.
• Driveways and paths on reactive clay crack if the base and joints are poor. Ask about base depth, reinforcement and control joints for concrete driveways.
• Large trees close to the house can dry the clay and worsen movement in summer.

Working near a changing town centre

Bankstown's centre is changing quickly, with new apartment towers and the station closed since September 2024 for conversion to Sydney Metro. Roadworks, replacement buses and building sites can slow deliveries around the centre.

• For work in a strata tower, get owners corporation approval and the building's lift and loading dock rules before you book trades.
• Defects in a newer apartment may be covered by statutory warranties or the NSW strata building bond scheme, so check before paying for repairs yourself.

Carpentry is a frequent local request. A carpenter can handle doors, framing and timber repairs; see the carpenter hourly rates guide.

Council's named conservation areas are in Ashbury and Hurlstone Park rather than Bankstown, but individual items such as the Bankstown Reservoir on Beresford Avenue are on the State Heritage Register, so check the heritage map anyway.

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