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We repair the weatherboards, sashes and fascias of Drumcondra’s Edwardian and Californian bungalow homes above Corio Bay. Most of the suburb is a heritage area, so we match the timber detail and sort out what needs a permit before we start.
Drumcondra is a small suburb of character homes between Geelong and North Geelong, most of it inside heritage areas.
Our 5 Drumcondra jobs have been close to the timber of these houses: about 36 lineal metres of rotted weatherboards replaced on a west wall with a new window sash, fascia corners rebuilt twice, cladding and window flashing, and new rollers on sliding doors. Three of them have been since late 2023.
The Drumcondra and Rippleside heritage area describes Edwardian and Californian bungalow homes in weatherboard and red or clinker brick, with ornamental detail mostly in timber and timber fencing. In the precinct, repainting and fences aren’t controlled, but other external changes generally need a heritage permit. A few individual houses, mostly on The Esplanade, do have paint or fence controls. Council’s new heritage design guidelines took effect in September 2026.
Recent applications in Drumcondra have been for rebuilds and additions in the heritage overlay, each needing a heritage permit. Additions like that need new timber that sits quietly beside the old. Half the homes are owned outright, and the median age is 50.
Running a shop or office on the Melbourne Road strip? That side of our work is on our commercial carpentry page.
Ordered by the work we have done in Drumcondra, then what period homes need.
Rotted boards replaced and matched to the profile.
Fascia corners and sections rebuilt.
Period detail and joinery in the heritage area.
Sashes made and fitted to old frames.
Steel and timber gates made, hung and latched.
Sliding doors re-rolled and old doors eased.
Timber picket fences that suit the street.
A call or a message, with the street so we can check the heritage map.
Paint and fences are usually permit-free; other outside changes generally need a permit.
Itemised and free, with like-for-like timber where the house calls for it.
The same crew start to finish, and the old fabric treated with respect.
Beyond our expectations, and it was great to work with people who could turn our ideas into something better than we imagined. Couldn’t recommend them highly enough.
Prompt, great communication and a terrific job. Have used JF Maintenance for lots of work over the years and would recommend.
Michael worked with our budget and we were so impressed by their diligence and workmanship. They did not cut corners but went the extra mile. So impressed we engaged them again at another property.
Drumcondra is named after Drumcondra, an inner suburb of Dublin. Lunan House was built of Barrabool sandstone for wool merchant James Strachan in 1849–50; it is on the Victorian Heritage Register and became Geelong Teachers’ College in 1950.
The 2021 census counted 571 residents, with a median age of 50 and a third of homes with four or more bedrooms. Period timber houses in a heritage area are why the work here is careful matching and repair.
North Geelong • Geelong West • East Geelong • Geelong
Drumcondra borders Rippleside, Geelong and North Geelong.
Tell us what you have noticed and we will come back with what a permit needs, if anything, and a free estimate.