Aligned Building PTY LTD is a registered company directed by Michael Murphy, founded in 2011.

We specialise in high-quality, sustainable, custom homes, whether they be extensions/renovations or new projects. With a mission to build healthy, efficient, and comfortable buildings that will last, our process begins with involvement during pre-construction. We love a challenge and continuously strive to adopt a best practice approach to every project.

Aligned Building is a registered Domestic Builder with an Unlimited License (DB-U 63423), the highest level of domestic building license that can be obtained. We hold Public Liability, Contract Works, and Home Builders Warranty insurances.

Our director Michael is a Certified Passive House Tradesperson and founding member of the Sustainable Builders Alliance, an organization that promotes sustainability in the building industry.

Prior to Aligned Building, Michael Murphy operated as a sole trader for two years as Michael Murphy Building. He has worked as a carpenter and builder in the industry for 20 years.

Michael has completed business and personal development and coaching with Live Life Build, Builders Coach, The Game Changers, and The Entourage. He has managed and built over 300 projects, including complex architectural and high-performance homes.

Aligned Building boasts a team of long-standing employees, including our in-house carpenters and estimator. With a combined experience of 80 years in the construction industry, our well-trained staff manages project time, quality, and integrity with excellence.

We consistently have the same team of carpenters from start to finish on a project. This ensures there are no gaps during the construction process, and further maintains a high degree of quality on specified projects.

Aligned Building’s team of trusted trades includes plumbers, electricians, roofers, painters, and plasterers. To build high-quality homes, we leverage our relationships and connect clients with a plethora of suppliers and designers.

We have completed projects from kitchen/bathroom renovations, new single-story homes, to townhouse developments. Aligned Building has extensive experience with period homes renovations and extensions. We have worked with some of Melbourne’s leading architects and designers such as Alter Eco, Adapt Architecture, RD Architecture, Geometrica Design, and Atelier House Design Studio.

We do not complete volume builds or small-scale extensions/renovations.

We want to work for clients with shared values: who consider good quality, sustainable construction as a universal standard. Our clients understand this financial commitment includes a long-term payout of increased comfort, reduced running costs, longevity of the building, and enjoyment in your environmentally conscious home.

In doing so, Aligned Building prioritizes trust, flexibility, respect, and understanding of our clients’ needs throughout the construction process. Our valued relationships continue with clients well after handover.

One of the biggest value adds we provide is through early project involvement to educate, consult, and drive the essential outcomes you prioritise.

Did you know 90% of architectural designs do not get built?! To make informed decisions and reduce stress, we help ensure your project has the cost, construction, aesthetic, scope, data, and specification information yourself and your designer need.

Most of our projects (which are major renovations or new builds) take between nine and fourteen months.

Aligned Building usually has two to three projects running simultaneously, completing three to six projects a year. Depending on size and complexity, we stagger projects to dedicate necessary attention and resources.

We are often booked out six to twelve months and beyond. Given how we can help in myriad ways during the pre-construction process, our team appreciates connecting as early as possible.

Yes! We understand choosing a designer is based on taste, project, budget, and required outcomes. Our team at Aligned Building is happy to connect you with our network of experienced designers as needed.

Our director Michael Murphy personally oversees every build. Every project also has a dedicated site manager/foreman and team of carpenters to oversee each job in its entirety.

We utilize Buildern: an online, cloud-based portal to share estimates, files, specifications, schedules, invoices, site photos, and updates with clients. This keeps communication organized and up to date throughout the process.

In every build, there are a myriad of options, selections, and schedule items that will go into your home.

As each building designer quotes via different levels of information, we use the Buildern portal to accurately cost, organize, and communicate a full selection of information with our clients. This portal allows us to offer a complete picture of your selections, ensuring you understand what exactly is included in your build!

Yes! We appreciate a fortnightly site visit during the highly-involved phases of the build to catch up and work through items on our agenda. Site visits are an enjoyable and non-digital way to communicate processes throughout the build. Unscheduled site visits are not encouraged from a legal or safety point of view, as we must ensure the site is suitable for clients beforehand.

We often use these meetings to sync up with other trades such as cabinetmakers, electricians, painters, etc., where selections or onsite details are discussed and worked through. Regular, organised meetings are essential to a successful project and are one of the most enjoyable parts of building together!

One of the best things about custom building is enumerating your environmental priorities and specifications. While ensuring the project scope is locked in as much as possible, we understand opportunities present themselves during a build.

Aligned Building has a thorough quoting process with clients to ensure costs are accurate and potential variations/risks are covered within our contract or an agreed contingency. Our team is happy to make necessary changes and discuss subsequent cost analyses throughout the build as needed.

Our major projects are generally HIA fixed-price contracts. Lenders are familiar with this type of contract as one of the most common and standard in Australia.

There may be some PC (Prime Cost) or PS (Provisional Sum) items in the contract if necessary information is lacking for specifications. These items are charged at cost to the client plus builder's margin, with a copy of the receipt for goods provided to the client.

We are happy to provide you with an example contract or sample detailed quotation via email.

Aligned Building uses a Method B Project payment schedule with 10-14 progress payments based on project milestones. Instead of 5 larger payments in a ‘Method A’ progress schedule, ‘Method B’ consists of smaller and more regular payments throughout the build. This is common with custom projects to ensure regular cash flow and efficient progress

To lessen the risk of items increasing in price, we can lock in fixed pricing by paying deposits to trades and suppliers earlier. Aligned Building will provide a proposed project payment schedule for you to provide to your lender. Per legal requirements, all progress payments are listed in your building contract.

Aligned Building nor Michael Murphy have never been bankrupt or had financial issues with clients, including any disputes or resolutions with the VBA. We have also never been issued any notice for defective or incomplete work.

We understand and appreciate the sheer amount of time and financial commitment that goes into a project, and it’s standard to ask for references before engaging with us. Aligned Building’s past clients continue to provide references both written and over the phone, and we are happy to provide a list upon request.

Home Warranty Insurance in Victoria is called Domestic Building Insurance (DBI). This policy is taken out by the Builder and can provide cover to a homeowner (and any subsequent owner) in cases where contracted building work isn’t completed or the builder is unable to fix defects. This could be due to insolvency of the builder, or, in some states, because the builder has failed to respond to a rectification order issued by a court.

It is mandatory that the builder takes out a home warranty insurance policy before a building contract is signed by the owner and provides this policy to the clients and building surveyor. As the client, you do not need to do anything other than ensure the builder takes out this policy and provide evidence in a copy. Before a building permit is issued and work commences, the building surveyor checks the policy has been taken out.

Although our insurance covers the build until handover, you should discuss your home and contents policy with your home insurer, particularly if you are leaving anything of value onsite.

Yes, there are pre-construction costs you should be aware of if you are building. We have a downloadable guide to help plan your costs; let us know if you would like a copy.