Alfresco enclosure cost in Melbourne: prices, styles and what to plan

An enclosed alfresco is one of the best-value ways to add a room to a Melbourne home: you keep the light and the garden view, and you can sit out there in July as well as January. It is also one of the hardest jobs to price from the outside, because no two alfrescos are the same size, shape or condition. This guide sets out the typical Melbourne ranges, what moves the price, and how to compare quotes line by line.

Typical alfresco enclosure prices in Melbourne

The figures below come from published Melbourne price guides in 2026. They are a starting point, not a quote: every alfresco is measured and priced on site.

A bay is the opening between two posts. Most alfrescos have three to five, so counting the posts on the open sides gives you a quick first estimate.

What changes the price

• Whether the roof is already there. Glazing the open sides of an existing roofed alfresco is the lower end of the range. Adding a new roof, or replacing one that can't carry the frames, moves the job towards the price of a full outdoor room.
• Number and size of bays. Glass is priced by area, so wide and tall openings cost more than narrow ones.
• Opening or fixed glass. Sliding and stacking panels need tracks, rollers and locks, so they cost more than fixed glass.
• Glass type. Laminated safety glass is standard for a glass roof. Toned or Low-E glass adds cost but keeps a north- or west-facing room cooler in summer.
• Frame finish. Powder-coated aluminium comes in many colours; matching your existing windows makes the enclosure look like part of the house.
• Site conditions. Uneven paving, tight access, a second storey above, or new drainage all take extra time.

Choosing a style

Sliding panels are the simplest opening option: two or three panels on a track, with one side opening at a time. Stacking panels slide past each other and park at one end, so you can open almost the whole wall on a warm day. Fixed glass is the most economical and suits the side that takes the prevailing wind. Many Melbourne enclosures combine all three. For more layouts, see our alfresco enclosure ideas for Melbourne homes.

Ways to keep the cost down

1. Use the roof you have. If the existing roof and posts are sound, building around them saves the biggest single cost.
2. Mix fixed and opening glass. Put opening panels where you walk through and fixed glass elsewhere.
3. Standard sizes where you can. Panels that suit the existing post spacing avoid extra framing.
4. Do it in one go. Enclosing all the open sides at once usually costs less than adding a side later.

Permits

Enclosing a covered area can change how it is classified, so check with your council or a building surveyor before work starts. If a building permit is needed, it typically adds about $575 to $2,000 and some time to the start date. We can point you in the right direction when we quote.

How to compare alfresco enclosure quotes

Two quotes for "an alfresco enclosure" can describe very different jobs. Before comparing totals, check that each quote lists:

1. The glass type and thickness for the walls and the roof.
2. Which panels open, which are fixed, and the door or track system.
3. The frame colour and finish.
4. Any roof, gutter or drainage work.
5. Removal of anything old and making good afterwards.
6. Permit costs, if they apply, and the warranty.

How we price an alfresco enclosure

We measure on site, quote in writing, and price the job before we start. The quote lists every panel, the glass, the frames and any roof or drainage work, so you know exactly what you're paying for. See a real job built step by step in our work, or send us a few photos for a quote on your alfresco.

The short version

Expect roughly $2,500 to $6,000 per bay to glaze an existing roofed alfresco, $7,500 to $30,000 for a typical three- to five-bay enclosure, and $35,000 to $60,000 for a full outdoor room built from scratch, plus a permit if one is needed. Using the roof you have and mixing fixed with opening glass are the biggest savings.