Ramps and Accessibility Options

Whether you’re future-proofing for later life, accommodating a mobility aid, or supporting a loved one with access needs, Acrow can help integrate accessibility upgrades into your granny flat or extension from day one.

One of the most common upgrades is a ramp in place of stairs. Ramps can be added to the entry of any design—including compact granny flats—without compromising appearance. We follow the ACT’s Adaptable Housing Standard and relevant accessibility codes, including guidelines on gradient, landing size, handrails and materials. Our team can assess your site and work with you to create a compliant and practical solution.

Other Accessibility Features to Consider

Depending on your needs, we can help incorporate:

• Step-free thresholds at entry points

• Wider doorways and hallways for wheelchair or walker access

• Grab rails in the shower and beside the toilet

• Flush, hobless showers for easy access

• Lever door handles instead of knobs

• Non-slip flooring throughout wet areas

• Lowered light switches and raised power points

• Reinforced bathroom walls to allow for future rail installations

These items may be included in an accessibility assessment, or added on request as part of planning ahead for ageing-in-place or disability support

What Are ACT Accessibility Requirements?

In the ACT, accessible design is governed by the ACT Adaptable Housing Standard (based on the Livable Housing Design Guidelines), which outlines requirements for homes that are easier to access, navigate and adapt over time. If your build is subject to Class 1b or certain multi-dwelling approvals, additional accessibility standards may apply.

At Acrow, we’ll guide you through these requirements and help you understand what applies to your situation. Our team stays up to date with Canberra-specific legislation to ensure that every accessible feature we build meets both your needs and compliance standards.

Designing with Confidence

We recommend starting with a floorplan that works for your block and lifestyle, then tailoring it with upgrades that support your comfort and goals—now and into the future. If accessibility is a priority, our team is happy to prepare an initial quote and offer design guidance to make sure your space is functional, safe and welcoming from day one.

Standard Window and Door Inclusions

• Windows: Aluminium framed sliding windows with flyscreens and keyed locks, in your choice of colours from the Acrow Standard Range

• Glazing: Clear glass with options to upgrade to obscure, frosted, or tinted glass

• External Doors: Aluminium framed glass sliding doors to living areas, or hinged entry doors depending on the design

Our standard windows offer great function and natural light – and are all sized to make sure NatHers and BASIX are met for fast approvals — but adding highlight windows can dramatically enhance the beauty and liveability of your home.

Highlight Windows: Adding Light and Style

Highlight windows are smaller windows placed higher on the wall, above eye level. They allow more natural light to enter the space while maintaining privacy. Often positioned near the ceiling or above other features like sliding doors, highlight windows help brighten interiors, create interesting shadow lines, and bring in light from multiple angles throughout the day.

What Are Highlight Windows?

Highlight windows are horizontal or vertical windows typically set above head height. They’re often used to: 

• Capture extra daylight without compromising privacy

• Frame views of the sky or treetops rather than neighbouring properties

• Create a modern architectural look

• Improve cross-ventilation when operable highlight windows are used

They are a popular addition in living areas, bedrooms, and bathrooms, especially when combined with raked or cathedral ceilings to maximise the effect of space and light.

Why Add Highlight Windows?

Adding highlight windows has both practical and aesthetic benefits:

• Natural Light: Brightens up darker parts of the home that standard windows may not reach.

• Privacy: Maintains wall privacy while still opening up the space visually.

• Energy Efficiency: Reduces reliance on artificial lighting during the day, helping to lower energy costs.

• Architectural Detail: Adds a sophisticated, modern touch to the look and feel of any room.

Highlight windows are particularly effective when installed on north-facing walls, capturing maximum natural light in Australian homes.

Options for Highlight Windows

Depending on your home’s design and your preferences, highlight windows can be:

• Fixed (non-opening) for light only

• Louvre-style for ventilation and airflow

• Awning windows (hinged at the top) that can be opened even in wet weather

Our team can guide you through the options that best suit your floorplan and your goals for airflow, light, and style.

Challenges with Window Upgrades

While highlight windows add immense value and beauty, they do require some design considerations:

• Additional windows can affect the building’s overall energy performance rating under NatHERS/BASIX, particularly depending on size, orientation, and glazing type.

• Upgrades may require structural framing changes, which can impact build cost and timeframes.

• Approvals: Changes to window placements and sizes can sometimes require adjustments to approved floorplans or additional compliance checks, depending on your local council or certifier.

We always recommend discussing these options early in your design process to ensure any changes are achievable.

Building Your Perfect Home

At Acrow, we start with a floorplan that fits your block and the flow you want in your home — and then we build it around your personal tastes and lifestyle. We recommend starting with an initial quote based on our standard inclusions and then selecting upgrades from there. It’s the simplest and most affordable way to achieve a home that feels just right for you.

Standard Ceiling and Roof Inclusions

• Roof Profile: Gable roof profile as standard

• Roofing Material: Colorbond custom orb roof sheeting, with your choice of colours from the Acrow Standard Range

• Ceiling Height: 2400mm throughout

• Internal Linings: 10mm plasterboard to all internal walls and ceilings, and 10mm WR villaboard to ensuite, bathroom, and laundry ceilings

• Cornice: 90mm cove cornice to all flat ceilings

Our standard designs offer quality, practical finishes to suit most homeowners — but if you’re looking to create something a little more unique, ceiling upgrades can have a big impact.

Raising the Roof: Ceiling and Roof Profile Upgrades

You can upgrade your ceiling height from the standard 2400mm to 2700mm, or even up to 3000mm, to create a more spacious, light-filled interior. Roof profiles can also be upgraded to raked ceilings or hip and valley designs, depending on your preferred style and the flow you want to achieve in your home.

Cathedral Ceilings

Cathedral ceilings instantly elevate the look and feel of a home, creating a sense of space, light, and luxury. Adding ceiling height—whether through a raked, vaulted, or cathedral style—can make even modest rooms feel grand and open. It’s a popular upgrade for living areas or master bedrooms, helping to draw in natural light, improve airflow, and add architectural interest that enhances both comfort and resale appeal.

What is a Cathedral Ceiling?

A cathedral ceiling has two equal sloping sides that meet at a peak in the centre, following the roofline. This creates a striking sense of height and space, often allowing for the inclusion of highlight windows to bring in even more natural light. Cathedral ceilings work beautifully in open-plan areas where you want to create a statement and a feeling of luxury.

What is a Raked Ceiling?

A raked ceiling refers to any ceiling that slopes in one direction. It’s usually created by following the pitch of the roof, resulting in a higher side and a lower side within a room. Raked ceilings can add a contemporary look, give flexibility for higher windows, and create an airy, spacious feel without the full height and drama of a cathedral ceiling.

What is a Gable Roof Profile?

A gable roof is our standard roof profile, included in all base Granny Flat pricing. It’s a simple, classic roof shape where two pitched sections meet at a central ridge, creating a triangular profile at each end. It’s a popular choice for its straightforward construction, good drainage, and timeless look, and it complements both standard and upgraded ceiling options well.

What is a Hip and Valley Roof?

Rather than two sides making the roof, as in the gable-roof profile, it will be at least 4 sides making up the roof. In this way, a hip and valley roof features multiple slopes meeting at hips (outward angles) and valleys (inward angles). This more complex roof shape allows for greater flexibility in the overall design and can add architectural interest to the exterior. It’s often paired with internal ceiling upgrades like raked ceilings for an elegant, high-end finish.

What is Square Set vs Cornice?

As our standard inclusion, a cornice (a moulded strip) is used where the wall meets the ceiling, typically with a 90mm cove cornice finish.  A square set finish removes the cornice entirely, creating a clean, crisp 90-degree angle where the wall and ceiling meet. Square set finishes are often used with raked or cathedral ceilings to enhance a modern, minimalist style.

Challenges with Ceiling Upgrades

While upgraded ceilings add stunning character and liveability, there are a few considerations:

• Our standard floorplans and inclusions are carefully designed to meet fast approval and certification requirements, including energy efficiency (such as NatHERS ratings or BASIX certificates in NSW).

• Changes to rooflines, ceiling heights, or overall building height may impact setbacks and overshadowing, which can affect your Development Application (DA) or Complying Development Certificate (CDC) approval.

• Some upgrades may also require additional structural engineering, insulation adjustments, or adjustments to your energy efficiency report.

Our team will work with you to review any upgrade impacts and advise what’s possible under local council and planning rules.

Building Your Perfect Home

At Acrow, we start with a floorplan that fits your block and the flow you want in your home — and then we build it around your personal tastes and lifestyle. We recommend starting with an initial quote based on our standard inclusions and then selecting upgrades from there. It’s the simplest and most affordable way to achieve a home that feels just right for you.