Door Widening and Accessible Entry Modifications VIC 2026 - Cost Guide

AS 1428.1 Accessible Design Requirements in Victoria

Australian Standard AS 1428.1, Design for Access and Mobility, sets the technical requirements for accessible design in Australian buildings and is the reference standard for home modification work intended to improve accessibility for people with disability. The standard specifies minimum clear door opening widths of 820 millimetres for standard accessible doors and 850 millimetres for the primary accessible entry point of a dwelling, maximum gradient requirements of 1:14 for accessible ramps with rest platforms at maximum 9-metre intervals, minimum landing dimensions at the top and bottom of any ramp, maximum threshold height of 5 millimetres for accessible entries, door hardware requirements that favour lever handles over round knobs, and minimum clear floor space requirements adjacent to door openings for wheelchair manoeuvring. These specifications provide a consistent technical basis for accessible home modification work in Victoria and are referenced by NDIS plan managers, occupational therapists preparing modification recommendations, and building surveyors assessing permit applications for accessible modification works. Standards Australia publishes the full text of AS 1428.1 and related accessibility standards. For homeowners installing security screens on widened door openings, the security screen clear opening width after the screen is fitted must not reduce the accessible clear opening below the AS 1428.1 minimum of 820 millimetres.

The NCC Section D provisions for accessible design apply primarily to new Class 1 (single residential) building construction and to Class 2 to Class 9 buildings (multi-residential and commercial), rather than to modifications of existing housing. This means that while a new house built in Victoria must comply with the NCC's accessible design provisions in Part D, an existing house that is being modified for accessibility does not automatically need to be brought into full NCC Section D compliance, only to meet the minimum requirements of the specific modification works approved by the building permit. In practice, this distinction means that a door widening project to 820 millimetres clear in an existing Victorian terrace does not also require the rest of the house to be brought into NCC accessible design compliance, but the modified door itself must meet the accessible design performance standard. Builders and building surveyors who work regularly in the accessible modification sector understand this distinction and apply it correctly, while those without specialist experience in this area sometimes over-scope modifications by applying new-build requirements to existing building modification works.

Occupational therapist involvement in accessible home modification projects in Victoria is the professional pathway that connects the homeowner's specific mobility and functional needs to the technical specification of the modification works. An OT who has assessed the homeowner's functional capacity and mobility aids can specify the exact door width, ramp gradient, landing size, and hardware type that the individual's needs require, rather than defaulting to the AS 1428.1 minimums that may be either more than necessary or insufficient for a specific individual's situation. For NDIS-funded modifications, the OT report is typically a mandatory component of the funding application, and the builder's quote must reflect the specification in the OT report to be approved by the NDIS plan manager. For self-funded modifications, engaging an OT for an accessibility assessment before commissioning any modification work helps ensure that the modifications are genuinely targeted to the homeowner's specific functional needs rather than being a generic set of accessible design features that may not address the actual barriers in the specific property. For properties where the accessible entry renovation is happening alongside a new kitchen benchtop installation, the benchtop templating should be completed before the doorway is widened to ensure ceiling and wall dimensions are accurately captured.

Door Widening: Stud Frame vs Masonry in Victoria

Door widening in a timber-framed wall, which is the standard construction for internal partitions and most external walls in Melbourne's post-1960s housing stock, is the most straightforward door widening scenario in Victoria. The process involves removing the existing door frame and any structural lintel above the opening, cutting the adjacent studs to create additional width, installing a new structural lintel (header) of adequate size to carry the load above the widened opening, reframing the king studs and jack studs at the new opening width, and installing a new door frame sized for the wider opening. The total disruption to wall finishes is typically 200 to 400 millimetres on each side of the opening, and the plasterboard patching, cornice repair, and painting required to restore the wall surfaces to a finished condition adds to the total project cost beyond the structural carpentry component alone. A standard door widening from 720 millimetres to 820 millimetres clear opening width in a timber-framed internal wall in Melbourne costs $800 to $2,000 including structural carpentry, lintel supply, and plasterboard making good, but excluding painting. A widened door opening in a room that is also receiving a wardrobe installation should confirm that the wardrobe carcass depth does not encroach on the clear manoeuvring space required alongside the widened doorway under AS 1428.1.

Door widening in a brick or masonry wall, which is common in Melbourne's Victorian-era terrace houses, interwar brick veneer homes, and double-brick construction of the 1940s to 1960s, is a significantly more complex and expensive scope because removing brick masonry from a load-bearing wall requires temporary support of the load above the opening, cutting and removing brick in a confined opening without disturbing the adjacent masonry, and installing a structural lintel or reinforced concrete beam of adequate capacity to carry the masonry load that was previously carried by the bricks being removed. For load-bearing brick walls, a structural engineer's assessment and stamped drawings are required as part of the building permit application, and the lintel must be designed to carry the specific load above the proposed opening width. The combination of structural engineering fees ($500 to $1,200), building permit fees ($400 to $800), and the skilled masonry, steel fixing, and concrete work involved makes masonry door widening the most expensive accessible modification scope in Victoria, typically $2,000 to $5,000 for a single doorway depending on the wall thickness, the load above, and the access conditions at the property. Homeowners planning a custom kitchen benchtop renovation at the same time as a door widening project can often coordinate both scopes with the same licensed builder, reducing total project duration.

The clear opening width achieved after door widening must account for the thickness of any new door frame, the door leaf itself when open, and any door stop or architrave that protrudes into the opening. The AS 1428.1 requirement is for 820 millimetres clear opening width, which is the width of the unobstructed passage with the door open to 90 degrees, not the structural opening width between the framing studs or masonry faces. A 820-millimetre clear opening requires a structural opening of approximately 870 to 920 millimetres between the inner faces of the door frame, depending on the frame profile being used. Builders who quote for door widening to "820 millimetre opening" without specifying whether this is the structural opening or the clear opening between door stops may produce a finished result that is narrower than the required clear access width, requiring further work after installation. Confirming in the quote documentation that the 820-millimetre dimension specified is the clear opening width with the door open to 90 degrees is a straightforward specification clarification that eliminates this common ambiguity.

Ramp Installation: Modular vs Permanent in Victoria

Entry ramps for Victorian homes address the height difference between the external ground level and the internal floor level, which in Melbourne's established housing stock ranges from a single 100-millimetre step at a recent construction through to a full flight of external stairs at a Victorian-era terrace that is elevated above the street. The AS 1428.1 maximum gradient for an accessible ramp is 1:14 (approximately 4 degrees), which means that a 200-millimetre rise requires a minimum ramp length of 2800 millimetres, a 400-millimetre rise requires 5600 millimetres minimum ramp length, and a 600-millimetre rise requires 8400 millimetres minimum ramp length with at least one intermediate rest platform. These minimum length requirements drive the physical footprint of the ramp at the entry, and for properties with limited front garden space or deep entry stairs, achieving a compliant 1:14 gradient ramp may require significant front garden reconfiguration or an alternative solution such as a platform lift where ramp length is genuinely infeasible. Homes where a skylight installation is being carried out at the same time as ramp installation should confirm that scaffold or access equipment for the roof work does not obstruct the ramp construction zone at the entry. For kitchen renovations in the same home, a concrete benchtop installation should be sequenced after the door widening and any structural work is complete to avoid heavy slab handling through a partially deconstructed doorway.

Modular aluminium ramp systems from Australian suppliers including Ausramp, Enable Access, and Access Design Solutions are the most practical solution for Victorian homes requiring a temporary or semi-permanent ramp that can be removed if the occupant's needs change, if the property is sold, or if an NDIS plan is modified in the future. Modular ramps use interlocking aluminium deck sections with anti-slip surfaces, folding or fixed handrails to AS 1428.1 requirements, and adjustable legs that accommodate uneven ground without requiring concrete footings. A standard modular ramp for a 200-millimetre rise costs $1,200 to $2,000 supply and install, and the cost scales proportionally with the rise height and the number of modules required. NDIS home modification funding typically covers modular ramp installation as a reasonable and necessary modification for eligible participants, and the modular ramp's portability allows it to be removed and reinstalled if the participant moves to a new property, which is a practical advantage over a permanent concrete ramp that must remain with the property.

Permanent concrete or timber ramps are specified for Victorian properties where the modification is intended to be long-term and the visual integration of the ramp with the property's entrance design is a priority. A permanent ramp is designed, built, and finished as part of the property's landscape and entry architecture rather than as a temporary appliance, and the quality of the design and finish can significantly affect the property's kerb appeal and heritage character. For Melbourne's inner-suburb period homes where the heritage character of the entry is a planning consideration, a carefully designed permanent ramp in materials that complement the existing front path, garden walls, and entry steps is far more sympathetically resolved than a modular aluminium ramp that reads as an obvious modification. Heritage-appropriate accessible entry ramps for Melbourne's Victorian and Edwardian terraces are a specialist scope that combines structural engineering, masonry work, and landscape design, and the cost of $2,000 to $5,000 for a permanent ramp reflects this combined expertise. For ramp projects in Heritage Overlay areas, confirming with the local council whether the ramp installation requires planning approval before any design is finalised is the appropriate first step, particularly for ramps at the street frontage that affect the character of the property as seen from the public domain. For Melbourne homes where the accessible renovation also includes a new quartz benchtop in the kitchen, the stone delivery and installation must be planned around the doorway reconstruction timeline to avoid scheduling conflicts.

Threshold and Step Removal in Victoria

Thresholds and steps at doorways are among the most common barriers to accessibility in Melbourne's existing housing stock, and they range from the standard 20-millimetre timber door threshold at a modern entry door through to the 150-millimetre raised porch step at a 1950s brick veneer home. The AS 1428.1 maximum threshold height for an accessible entry is 5 millimetres, and any threshold above this height creates a barrier for wheelchair users, people using walking frames, and older adults with reduced step clearance from fall risk. Reducing a standard 20-millimetre threshold to the accessible maximum involves modifying the door frame and floor covering at the opening, either by rebating the frame to reduce the exposed threshold height or by installing a tapered threshold transition strip that reduces the effective step height to within the accessible limit. For modest threshold heights of 20 to 40 millimetres, the threshold modification is a carpentry scope that costs $200 to $500 and does not require a building permit. For higher thresholds that require structural modification of the entry floor or frame, the cost increases and a building permit may be required depending on the extent of the structural work involved. Threshold modifications in a hallway that leads to a kitchen where new tiling is being installed should confirm the finished floor height of the new tiled surface before the threshold transition strip is cut and fitted, to ensure the transition height meets the accessible maximum.

Step removal at a Melbourne home entry typically involves demolishing the existing concrete or brick step, modifying the ground level and floor level at the doorway to eliminate the height difference, and resurfacing the entry area with a level or gently sloped transition. For a single 100 to 150-millimetre step at a brick veneer entry, this work involves breaking up the step, backfilling to level, and re-surfacing in a compatible material at a cost of $500 to $1,500. For properties where the step height is greater than 150 millimetres or where the step is part of a structural masonry porch or entry structure, the demolition and reconstruction scope is more complex, involving a structural assessment and potentially a building permit for the structural modifications. Melbourne's period terrace houses with elevated entries, where the floor level is 400 to 800 millimetres above the street footpath, present the most complex step removal scenarios because eliminating the entry height difference requires either a long ramp, a platform lift, or significant structural modification of the entry structure, and each of these options requires specialist assessment and design before a cost estimate can be provided. For homeowners choosing a sintered porcelain or stainless steel benchtop in the accessible kitchen, these materials are available in heights and projections that suit both standard and accessibility-compliant bench configurations.

Lever Handles and Accessible Hardware

Replacing round doorknobs with lever-style door handles is one of the simplest and most cost-effective accessible modifications available for Victorian homes and is appropriate for virtually every property regardless of its heritage status or structural configuration. Round doorknobs require a gripping and twisting action that is difficult or impossible for people with arthritis, hand tremors, reduced grip strength, or upper limb disability, while lever handles can be operated with a closed fist, a wrist, or even an elbow, making them significantly more accessible for a broad range of functional limitations. The cost of lever handle replacement in Victoria in 2026 is $80 to $200 per door depending on the handle quality specified, with the hardware itself ranging from $30 to $120 for residential-grade lever handles from brands including Gainsborough, Whitco, and Lockwood, and the installation taking approximately 30 minutes per door for an experienced carpenter or locksmith. For a home with ten internal doors, the total cost of lever handle replacement throughout is $800 to $2,000, representing excellent value for the accessibility improvement delivered relative to the investment required. For kitchen renovations that include kitchen cabinet refacing alongside lever handle upgrades, specifying the handle style and finish consistently across both the cabinet doors and the room entry doors creates a cohesive accessible design that also reads as a resolved interior outcome.

Handle height is a consideration specified in AS 1428.1, which requires door handles to be positioned between 900 and 1100 millimetres above the finished floor level for compliance with the accessible design standard. Standard Victorian and Edwardian-era door furniture is often positioned at 900 to 950 millimetres above floor level, which is at the lower end of the accessible range, while post-war door furniture is typically at 1000 to 1050 millimetres, which falls comfortably within the standard. For properties where existing handles are below 900 millimetres, adjusting the handle height as part of the replacement is straightforward on timber doors where the latch mortise can be relocated, but more complex on heritage panelled doors where the lock rail position determines the handle height and modification of the lock rail would compromise the door's heritage character. For heritage properties where the handle height cannot be adjusted without damaging heritage fabric, documenting the existing condition and noting the heritage constraint in the NDIS modification records provides the appropriate context for why the accessible standard could not be fully achieved at that specific door. A solid surface benchtop such as Corian or Hi-Macs is often specified in accessible kitchens because it can be fabricated to any height and projection, and the material can be routed to create integral raised edges that assist with orientation and grip for users with low vision.

Automated Door Openers in Victoria

Automated swing door operators for residential entry doors provide hands-free or push-button entry and exit access that is appropriate for people with upper limb disability, severe arthritis, or conditions that prevent safe gripping and pulling of a standard door handle. Commercial-grade swing door operators from brands including Dorma, Kone, and ASSA Abloy are the most commonly installed systems in Victorian residential accessibility modification projects, using an electromechanical arm connected to the door that controls the door opening and closing speed through an integrated soft-close function. The activation options for residential automated door openers include push-button activation (a large push plate mounted near the door that requires only minimal pressure), remote control keyfob activation (useful for people who cannot easily access a push plate), and proximity sensor activation (automatic opening when an authorised person approaches, used in some high-dependency accessibility applications). The cost of supply and installation of an automated swing door operator in Victoria in 2026 is $2,000 to $5,000 depending on the door weight, the activation method, and the electrical connection requirements at the door position. Rooms where a soundproofing installation has included an acoustic door should confirm that the acoustic door seal system is compatible with the automated door opener mechanism, because some seal types create resistance that can strain lower-rated automated door operators.

The electrical connection for an automated door opener in Victoria must be carried out by a licensed electrician, because the operator is mains-voltage powered and the wiring must comply with the AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules and be inspected by a licensed electrician before energisation. Energy Safe Victoria governs the electrical licensing requirements for all mains-voltage electrical installation work in Victoria, including the control wiring for automated door operators. The electrical scope for an automated door opener typically involves a dedicated circuit from the switchboard to the door operator, a weatherproof power supply at the door position for an external entry door, and potentially a low-voltage control cable from the push plate or security intercom to the operator unit. Confirming that the builder who manages the accessible entry modification project coordinates the electrical scope with a licensed electrician who is familiar with door operator wiring is an important part of the project management requirement for these installations. For kitchens where the benchtop is also being resurfaced as part of the accessible renovation, the benchtop resurfacing and repairs guide for Victoria covers laminate overlay and solid surface refinishing that can update the bench surface to a height-compliant specification.

NDIS Home Modification Funding in Victoria

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds home modifications for eligible participants as part of their Capacity Building or Capital Support budgets, where the modification is recommended by an occupational therapist as reasonable and necessary for the participant to live independently in their home. Minor modifications costing under $1,500 may be approved through a streamlined process with an OT report and supplier quote, while major modifications above this threshold require a more detailed assessment process that may include a building survey, specialist OT assessment, and in some cases additional evidence from the participant's treating practitioners. The NDIS plan manager or Local Area Coordinator can advise the specific participant on the approval pathway applicable to their plan and their modification scope, because the NDIS processes and funding categories have specific requirements that vary with the participant's plan type and the nature of the modifications proposed. Builders who work regularly in the NDIS home modification sector in Victoria understand the quote format requirements, the documentation that the NDIS approval process requires, and the timeline for obtaining approval before beginning work, which is different from the standard quote and commence sequence of a typical residential renovation project. NDIS participants who are also undertaking benchtop resurfacing in the kitchen as part of an accessibility renovation can discuss with the NDIS plan manager whether the benchtop height modification component of the resurfacing is eligible as a concurrent home modification under the same plan approval.

Beyond NDIS, the Victorian Government's Home and Community Care Program for Younger People (HACC-PYP) and the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) for older Australians provide minor modification funding that covers smaller-scale accessible entry works including grab rail installation, lever handle replacement, and portable threshold ramps. The Victorian Government's My Aged Care service is the entry point for older Australians seeking modification funding under CHSP, and an aged care assessment through the Regional Assessment Service (RAS) is typically required before modification funding can be accessed. The Victorian Government website provides information on the accessible modification funding programmes available to eligible Victorians, and the relevant local council's aged and disability services team can advise on the specific programmes available in each area. For homeowners who are not NDIS participants and are not eligible for aged care programmes, self-funded accessible modification is the default pathway, and the cost guide in this article provides the pricing reference for planning a self-funded scope. Kitchen cabinet refacing is frequently combined with accessible entry modification to create a fully accessible kitchen renovation programme, with the refacing contractor and builder coordinating site access across the combined scope.

Heritage Properties and Accessible Entry Planning

Melbourne's significant stock of heritage residential properties presents specific challenges for accessible entry modification because the heritage values of these properties, which are protected by Heritage Overlay planning controls and in some cases by Victorian Heritage Register listing, include the character and appearance of the entry and facade that a ramp, step removal, or door widening may visibly affect. The general principle applied by Heritage Victoria and Melbourne's heritage councils is that accessible modifications should be designed to achieve the required accessibility outcome with the minimum impact on heritage significance, and that reversible modifications are preferred over permanent ones where both options provide adequate access performance. A portable or modular ramp that can be removed without leaving permanent marks is treated more favourably than a permanent concrete ramp that modifies the entry landscape for the long term, and a door widening that restores a previously modified opening to its original wider dimension may be viewed more favourably than a widening that further modifies the original configuration. Heritage properties in Melbourne's inner suburbs that require both cornice restoration and accessible entry modifications may be able to combine both Heritage Overlay or Heritage Victoria permit applications into a single submission, reducing the total planning assessment time.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) creates an obligation for public buildings and premises to remove barriers to access, but does not directly apply to private residential dwellings in the same way. For homeowners in heritage properties who cannot obtain planning approval for the accessible modifications their circumstances require, the Heritage Victoria disability access assessment process provides a pathway for considering the competing interests of heritage significance and disability access in a structured way, and Heritage Victoria has approved modifications in heritage buildings that would otherwise not meet heritage standards where disability access grounds were substantiated. The Consumer Affairs Victoria website provides guidance on the rights of Victorian residents engaging licensed builders for domestic building work including accessible modification projects, and VCAT hears building disputes including those related to accessible modification workmanship and specification compliance. For accessible bathroom renovations where new floor tiling is also required, the tile layout must accommodate the minimum 1500 x 1500-millimetre wheelchair turning circle specified in AS 1428.1 before the tiling quote is accepted.

Cost Factors Affecting Accessible Modification Price in Victoria

Wall construction type is the dominant structural cost variable for door widening projects, with masonry walls costing two to four times more to widen than equivalent timber-framed walls because of the need for temporary shoring, specialist masonry demolition, structural engineering, and a building permit that masonry work always requires. The height of any entry step or raised threshold determines the ramp length and cost, because the AS 1428.1 gradient requirement of 1:14 means that every additional 100 millimetres of rise requires an additional 1400 millimetres of ramp run, directly increasing the material and installation cost of a compliant ramp. The number of doors to be widened or fitted with lever hardware is the most straightforward scaling variable, because the cost per door is relatively consistent once the mobilisation cost of the trade visit is covered, and widening two or three doors in a single project is considerably more efficient per door than mobilising for each door separately. For renovation programmes that include barn door installation at an internal opening alongside an accessible entry modification, coordinating both carpenters allows them to share structural assessment responsibilities for adjacent wall positions and reduces the total site visits required.

Building permits add $400 to $1,500 to the project cost depending on the scope and the council area, and the permit requirement is triggered by any structural modification of the building fabric including door widening in load-bearing walls, step removal that modifies the structural entry, and permanent ramp construction that requires footings. The permit process adds two to six weeks to the project timeline, which is a relevant consideration for modifications that are needed urgently for a hospital discharge or a rehabilitation period at home. In genuinely urgent cases, a licensed builder can apply for an emergency permit through the building surveyor that expedites the structural assessment process, and NDIS plan managers are familiar with the urgency pathway for modifications that are required immediately for a participant's safe discharge from a health facility. For modifications that do not require a building permit, such as portable ramps, lever handle replacement, and threshold strips, work can commence immediately after the quote is accepted and the materials are sourced, providing the fastest accessible modification pathway for urgent situations. Existing grout lines and surface transitions in accessible bathrooms and kitchens should be assessed as part of the modification programme - the tiling repairs and regrouting guide for Victoria covers threshold grout repair that can reduce trip hazards alongside the door modification scope.

Melbourne and Regional Victoria Pricing

Melbourne's accessible modification sector is served by general builders who include accessibility work in their residential scope, specialist accessibility modification companies that focus exclusively on NDIS and aged care modification projects, and carpentry and joinery businesses for the smaller hardware and threshold scope. The specialist accessibility modification companies in Melbourne have the most current knowledge of NDIS documentation requirements, AS 1428.1 compliance specification, and the specific modification approaches that are appropriate for different property types and disability contexts. The inner-suburb premium for accessible modification work in Melbourne reflects the masonry construction complexity of the period housing stock rather than simply an access premium, because many inner-suburb modification projects involve the brick and bluestone construction of period terrace houses rather than the timber-framed walls of outer-suburban homes. Regional Victoria is served by general builders for accessible modification work, with specialist accessibility companies from Melbourne occasionally engaged for complex NDIS-funded scopes in regional centres where local operator expertise may be limited. Accessible entry modifications in Melbourne's inner suburbs that accompany tiling repairs to pathway or threshold surfaces should sequence the accessible modification before the tiling work, because new tile and grout at a threshold position must be laid to the final threshold height to achieve a flush transition.

What to Look Out For When Engaging an Accessible Entry Contractor

The BPC registration requirement applies to accessible modification work valued at $10,000 or more in Victoria, and domestic building insurance must be carried by the registered contractor for works above $16,000. The most important pre-contract check is confirming that the builder has experience with the specific modification type at the specific property construction type, because a builder experienced with timber-framed suburban door widening may not have the masonry skills or the structural engineering relationship required for a brick wall widening in an inner-suburb period property. Requesting the builder to describe their approach to the structural modification in plain language, including how temporary shoring will be managed during lintel installation, confirms their familiarity with the specific structural challenge involved. For NDIS-funded projects, confirming that the builder is familiar with the NDIS quote format requirements and the documentation expectations of the plan manager before accepting their quote avoids the frustration of a well-intentioned quote that the NDIS funding process cannot use in its current form. WorkSafe Victoria governs the safe work practices applicable to structural building modification in Victoria, including the temporary support requirements for load-bearing wall openings. Homeowners combining accessible entry modification with a solid surface benchtop installation at accessible kitchen bench height should confirm with the occupational therapist that the bench height specification in the OT report accounts for the finished benchtop surface height rather than the carcass top rail height. For bedrooms receiving an accessible entry modification, a concurrent wardrobe installation to accessible specifications can be coordinated with the same builder so that both the doorway and the wardrobe storage are fully accessible within the one programme.

Getting Quotes for Accessible Entry Modifications in Victoria

An accessible entry modification brief should describe the specific access barrier being addressed, the mobility aid or functional limitation context (wheelchair, walking frame, poor grip strength), the construction type of any walls to be widened (timber stud or masonry), the entry height difference to be addressed by a ramp, the number and location of handles to be replaced, and whether an OT report or NDIS funding application is involved. For NDIS-funded projects, providing the OT's written recommendation and the NDIS plan manager's contact details with the brief allows the builder to confirm the quote format required and the documentation needed for the funding approval. Builders who confirm at the quotation stage whether a building permit is required, and who include the permit cost and timeline in their total project scope, provide a more complete and reliable quote than those who present the permit as a separate matter for the homeowner to manage independently. Post your accessible entry modification project on The Quote Yard to connect with licensed builders and accessibility specialists across Victoria who understand the AS 1428.1 requirements, the NDIS funding process, and the specific construction challenges of Victoria's diverse residential housing stock. For any door widening or accessible entry project that also includes cornice repair at the widened opening, sequencing the cornice work after the structural plasterboard patching ensures the plasterer can blend the cornice profile into the freshly skim-coated wall surface rather than working against a previously painted finish.