Thinking About A Home Extension? Read This First!
Friday, December 18, 2015
Sometimes, the home can feel like it’s bursting at the seams!
Especially if you’ve got little ones running around your feet. When your family
is growing, you need a home that grows with you. We all need our personal space,
and the family needs room to expand. The obvious option is to move into a larger
house, upsize to a bigger space. But, what if there’s an alternative? What about
building an extension to your existing home? It’s worth considering, but there
are plenty of things to bear in mind.
Why are you extending?
Before you start, you need to ask yourself why you’re extending.
There are two main reasons why people take on a project like this. Number one,
to add value to the property. Number two, to create extra space for the family.
If you’re hoping to add value, make sure you do your sums correctly. In some
cases, you can build an extension, without adding any value to the house. If
you’re simply looking for extra space, then make a list of priorities for your
new extension.
What type of extension?
You have a choice of common extensions here. One of the most popular is the attic
conversion. It’s one of the easiest and cheapest to convert, but you’ll have to
check if your attic is structurally sound. You could also consider a basement or
garage conversion. The final option is to extend out into the garden. A
conservatory is a popular option, or you can build an entire new room onto the
house.
Planning permission
If you’re not altering the aesthetics or structure of the
building, you don’t always need permission. That means some garage, basement,
and attic conversions are exempt from planning permission. Having said that,
it’s always worth checking with the local council. There may be other
regulations and restrictions involved. If you’re building outwards into the
garden, you will almost certainly need planning permission.
Design and architecture
Unfortunately, you can’t just jump straight into the building
process. You’ll need professional plans and drawings for the builders to work
from. Consult a local architect, and they will create scale drawings for you.
You can even use their advice to include some eco-friendly home elements. Trust me, it’s a price worth
paying to make sure the build runs smoothly!
The process
The building process itself varies according the type of
conversion or extension. However, it’s safe to say that your life will be
disrupted for a few months! If you’re extending into the garden, you’ll have to
think about excavator hire and skip services to remove debris. You’ll also
have to consider the length of the process, and how you’ll work around the
builders.
The budget
I couldn’t write this post without considering the budget! An
extension or conversion certainly isn’t cheap, but it is possible to keep your
costs down. Create a strict budget, and stick to it [especially if you intend to
add real value to the house]. Negotiate for every piece of material and labour
hire, and you could save yourself some real money.
It’s a big project, but you’ll add a whole new dimension to your
property. Good luck!
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