Do you need an extra bedroom and bathroom for your elderly parents or growing kids? Want to change your lifestyle or want to increase the resale value of your property? The answer is home extensions. A newly extended house will give you ample benefits, space and opportunity to improve your lifestyle.
However, before you start designing, planning and renovating your home, read this guide to know the things you should consider before doing home extensions.
Things To Consider Before Home Extensions
Before starting your home extension, you should take the time to point out the crucial reasons why you are going for a home extension and what you want to add. Here is a list of things that you need to consider before the extension.
Finding The Right Designer
Before finding the contractor or builder, first, you need to find the right designer for your home extension. By doing web research or taking reviews from friends and family, you can find the best person who can turn your imagination into reality. A structural engineer will help you to complete the plan while abiding by the building regulations.
Take Permission For Planning
You can add up to an 8-meter single storey in your home without applying for local authority permission in some areas. However, if you are thinking of covering fifty percent or more of your backyard or garden, then you will need permission before building the structure. Apart from this, you also need to consider building regulations for providing a full plan or a building notice.
Consider Council Fees In The Final Cost
The process of home extension is a little hard. You need to take the different permits, permissions, and approvals before building your extension. Along with permits and permission fees, you need to pay the council fees in the form of taxes.
If It’s A Heritage Home, You Need Special Permission
Many homeowners have heritage homes that require a special planning permit for an extension. These regulations also extend the painting, demolitions, and construction of fences around the dwellings.
Plan Access Points While Doing Extensions
At the time of extensions, there will be a rush of heavy vehicles, machinery, and workers. Thus, your home should have an access point to avoid heavy traffic. You should take prior permission to provide a fresh access point of an alternate road.
Keeping Disturbance Level Under Control
Your neighbors are the ones who will suffer when you are extending your home. So, you need to ensure that the site is safe and the disturbance level is under control. For instance, when you are constructing a deck, you can discuss with your neighbors and take their opinions to avoid disturbance levels.
Choose A Time Frame For Your Home Extensions
The extension process goes through 4 stages such as planning, pre-construction, construction and post-construction. It can take up to 12 months from beginning to end and sometimes it depends on the town planning done by the council. It could add another 6 to 12 months.
Hence, choose a time frame where you can plan all the 4 stages of home extensions.
Always Remember To Seek Expert’s Guidance
If you are extending your single-storey home by adding a new floor, then you must hire professional home extension builders. Because there are various types of pitfalls such as weak or irresponsible workmanship, infrequent work, etc., that may come during extension. Experts can help you in completing your dream project and overcoming these pitfalls.
Factors Affecting The Cost Of Home Extension
The best way for a cost-effective expansion is converting your garage into your living or bedroom. A builder can work efficiently with the existing structure and can convert that space by giving valuable addition to your home.
Before starting with the value addition, let’s first look at the factors which can affect the final cost of extension.
- The size of your house
- Adding another floor
- Selecting the quality of material and its type
- The electronic items, fittings, and furniture
- Cost of permits
- Other things which you and your builder should consider include:
- Whether any excavation is required
- How much demolition work is needed?
- Site truck access point and parking
How Much Does A Home Extension Cost?
The extension cost depends on the type of extension you want. As there are different types of extension projects such as converting your basement to a guest room, adding a new room above the garage, or building a retreat space in your backyard, it is mandatory to have an idea about what type of extension you want in your home before approaching a contractor or builder for this task.
After taking the decision, you can ask them for further information. In some extensions,cost depends on the type of material and design. The price also includes expenses like building permits, taxes, insurances, and more. Also, check the quotation whether all payments are mentioned properly or there are any hidden costs.
Bonus Tips For Your Home Extension Project
- Before starting the project, make sure you have enough finances to cover any overstretching.
- Keep some amount aside in case of some emergency.
- When you are creating a budget, add the amount of permit.
- Set aside some money for the furniture, fixtures and decorative items.
- Before making the final payment, ensure that your expectation is being fulfilled.
The Bottom Line
Hope this guide helps you to understand some of the many considerations that must be taken into account before extending the home.
Author Bio
I, Erika Rhein, am a professional writer, and blogger by profession. I write on various niches, however, I prioritize writing on home improvement and lifestyle. I always strive to provide users with useful and informative articles in a readable format. I aim to make a difference through my writing.
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