Custom Home Builders Surf Coast
Spicer Building is a Torquay-based custom home builder working across the Surf Coast, from Jan Juc and Bells Beach through to Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and the surrounding areas.
Building on the coast comes with a few extra considerations, from salt air and strong winds to bushfire requirements and local planning controls. We know the area, the conditions and what’s involved in building here, having worked across the Surf Coast for years.
Our work was recognised at the 2025 Regional Building Awards, and we’re rated 5.0 stars from 20 Google reviews.
Award Winning Custom Builder
Jason Spicer is on every site personally, working with a trusted network of local Geelong trades to deliver custom homes that suit the block, the client, and the budget. Winner of the 2025 Regional Building Awards (Best Custom Home, $800,000–$1M), Spicer Building has built a reputation across the region for design integrity and construction quality.
5.0-star rating from 20 Google reviews.
2025 Regional Building Awards Western
Winner Best Custom Home $800,000 – $1M
Why the Surf Coast Choose Spicer Building
- Local knowledge: we understand Surf Coast council requirements, soil conditions and planning overlays
- Hands-on project management: Jason Spicer is involved at every stage, not just at handover
- Architectural design expertise: We work with you to develop or refine drawings that reflect your vision
- Transparent process: no surprises, no hidden costs, no passing you off to a site supervisor you’ve never met
- Established trade network: across Geelong, Torquay and the Bellarine
- Award-winning results: our work speaks for itself
Building on the Surf Coast
Building along Victoria’s Surf Coast demands a sharp departure from standard inland construction. Between strict local planning overlays, aggressive maritime conditions, and microclimate shifts, crafting a high-performance home in Torquay, Anglesea, or along the Great Ocean Road requires specialized local expertise.
Coastal Material Specifications: Proximity to Southern Ocean salt spray requires high-grade, corrosion-resistant materials. We specify marine-grade 316 stainless steel fixings, non-corrosive flashings, and specialized protective coatings to withstand severe salt degradation and high wind loads without compromising long-term structural integrity.
Planning & Permit Mastery: Navigating the Surf Coast Shire planning scheme requires dedicated knowledge of complex site controls. We handle every detail of Environmental Significance Overlays (ESO), Coastal Hazard overlays, and strict Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) ratings to streamline council approvals across the region.
Passive Design for Surf Coast Exposure: Designing for the Surf Coast is about balancing dramatic views with extreme weather defense. Our designs maximize natural light and passive solar gain while shielding living spaces from prevailing winter south-westerlies, utilizing high-performance double glazing, thermal mass, and strategic shading.
Recent Surf Coast Projects
Our recent projects include custom homes that make the most of the coastal landscape, considering orientation, thoughtful material selection, and spaces designed for the way people actually live.
The Spicer Building Process
Spicer Building is a family-owned custom builder based nearby in Geelong, delivering high-end architectural homes, extensive renovations, and coastal extensions across Torquay, Jan Juc, Anglesea, and the wider Surf Coast region.
When you build on the coast, you deal directly with the owners—not site supervisors or offshore support teams. We pride ourselves on being approachable, transparent, and completely hands-on from initial concept to handover. Navigating coastal overlays, exposed sites, and high-performance material selections requires close collaboration; we work side-by-side with our clients, local architects, and trusted trades to ensure every detail stands up to Southern Ocean elements.
Whether it’s a modern seaside new build, a high-spec extension, or a sympathetic coastal restoration, we bring an uncompromised level of craft and service to the Surf Coast community. We take genuine pride in our relationships, our local reputation, and the finished result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) ratings dictate mandatory construction standards under Victorian planning law. Higher ratings (such as BAL-29 or BAL-40) require toughened glass, specialized bushfire-rated timber or non-combustible cladding, spark guard mesh on all openings, and sealed roof valleys. Integrating these specifications early prevents mid-build cost adjustments and keeps your timeline intact.
To prevent premature salt degradation and rust, coastal builds require ultra-durable cladding (like COLORBOND® Ultra or architectural concrete), marine-grade 316 stainless steel fixings, powder-coated double-glazed window frames, and composite decking. Avoiding standard mild steel and unsealed timber ensures low ongoing maintenance despite direct Southern Ocean salt spray.
An ESO protects local biodiversity, native vegetation corridors, and coastal ridgelines across the Surf Coast Shire. If your block falls under an ESO, your architectural plans must respect strict tree protection zones, native vegetation removal limits, site coverage maximums, and site-cut depth restrictions before receiving council approval.
Standard building permits take a few weeks, but projects requiring a full Town Planning permit (due to overlays like ESO, Bushfire Management Overlay, or Significant Landscape Overlays) typically take between 4 to 9 months. Working with a custom builder experienced in local council submittals ensures all documentation meets requirements on first submission.
Coastal exposure along the Surf Coast brings heavy winter south-westerlies and high wind loads. We utilize passive solar design principles: angling living zones to capture north-facing sunlight while placing structural barriers, sheltered alfrescos, and high-performance double glazing against prevailing weather vectors.
Yes. Sloping sites across towns like Lorne or Aireys Inlet are common and offer stunning ocean views, but they require specialized engineering. We utilize split-level floor plans, concrete bored piers, and minimal site-cut techniques to preserve the natural topography, reduce retaining wall costs, and capture optimal sightlines.
Talk to a Surf Coast Custom Builder
We’d love to hear about your project. Whether you have detailed plans or just an idea, we’re here to help you take the next step.
