A Guide To House Extensions
Love the area you live in? But your home isn’t quite up to scratch? Extending could be a better option than relocating. With a home extension, you can add the space you need without leaving the neighbourhood you love. Plus, if it's done right by the right people, your property value could go up too.
We might make it sound easy sometimes, but it’s our bread and butter! So, in this guide we'll show you your options and walk you through everything you need to know, from planning to budgeting, to getting it built legally.
Big fish, little fish, cardboard box
Home extensions can come in all manner of shapes and sizes, so picking the right one for your home just takes a little bit of looking around. Here are some popular choices you might want to check out...
Ground Floor Extension
Ground floor extensions are great if you want to open up the social areas of your home, like that big instagram-able kitchen or that inside-outside living space. If you have a garden, they can also give you the chance to connect your home more with the outdoors, by adding things like glazed sliding or folding doors. Ground floor extensions are also handy if you or anyone in your family has trouble moving around, making it easier to get around while giving a new lease of life inside.
First Floor Extension
When we say first floor extensions, we mean you already have a ground floor section or extension to your home and you’re adding another floor on top of it and gaining space or another room at first floor. Think bedrooms, home offices, or bathrooms. First floor extensions can be really helpful if you have kids and need more space in their bedroom, an extra room, playroom or a quiet spot to work.
Front Extension
Providing you have the room, extending the front of your house can be a great option if you didn’t want to lose any valuable garden space. You can use the extension to add rooms, re-jig rooms or even just add a new porch. Remember though, planners often reference something called the “principal elevation” (this is basically the side of the house that you can see from the road) and any work that is forward of the “principal elevation” will be subject to a full planning application. Just something to bare in mind!
Side Extension
Side extensions are perfect for making use of that awkward narrow space or drive next to your house. It can make your house look much larger, more impressive and if done right, can balance the appearance depending on where your front door is. They can give you things like an integral garage, study, kitchen or dining area (to name a few) and if you go two storey you can benefit from another bedroom and bathroom too. The best part is, quite often, you might not need special permission to do it providing you stick to the rules.
Semi-detached Extension
If you live in a semi-detached house, you still have many options for extending without bothering your neighbor too much. You might even get permission more easily.
Terraced Extension
Extending a terraced house can seem a bit daunting, but it’s no drama. You just have to be mindful of your neighbours' privacy and rights to light. Due to the close proximities, we’d advise you start any conversations with your neighbours early on in the process as you might need things like “party wall agreements” in place (don’t worry, they’re a lot less scary than they sound - trust us!).
Rear Extension
Our most popular enquiry. Lots of people like extending the back of their house. You can make your kitchen bigger, add a utility, a new bedroom, or even a games room. It’s often a great opportunity to use lots of glass to connect your house to your garden and let in more sunlight.
We think we’ve covered most of them there, but don’t forget you can combine several types to suit your needs (and dreams!) like two storey extensions, wrap around extensions and more.
How much money can I save on my extension by “DIY’ing”?
Doing a home extension yourself can save you a lot of money if you have the right skills, a bit of know-how and healthy dose of determination. However, be aware of the risks: making mistakes, especially with structural elements, can be very costly to fix and might negate any savings you’ve made. Unless you're skilled in these areas, it's best to avoid “DIY’ing” roofing, plumbing, electrics and major demolition.
A few quick tips to keep your extension costs down
We’ve whittled our knowledge down to these few tips, to help you save money and stick to your budget on your home extension:
Simplify your project pricing: Get an accurate measured survey and drawing package to make pricing easier. It’s difficult to price from vague drawings, so having a good drawing package to give to your builder is a great start to getting accurate pricing!
Evaluate builder’s quotes carefully: Make sure you thoroughly assess any quotes from contractors and don’t be afraid to ask for further break-downs.
Check suppliers and specialists: Shop around for your suppliers and specialists, so that you can find a balance of quality and fair pricing.
Research different materials: Look into similar or alternative materials, you could save a lot of money here.
Plan for temporary living: Moving out during the build might be more cost-effective in the long run, as it can sometimes speed up construction.
Consider how you’re going to manage the project: If you’re planning a big project. Hiring a project manager might save you money by avoiding costly mistakes.
What is the house extension process?
Each house extension is different, but you'll likely follow the same steps as others. This process can seem overwhelming, but using a company like Dodo, can simplify it for you and guide you from start to finish.
Most projects need to go through these stages before construction begins:
Measuring your property
Design work
Getting planning permission
Getting structural input
Issuing a party wall notice
Asking builders for quotes
Getting building regulations approval
Choosing a builder
Do I need to use Dodo for a house extension?
You don't have to use an architect’s practice by law. However, we can offer valuable skills in space planning, home design, construction and build-ability problem solving. We’ll make sure you get your money’s worth! Some of the key advantages of using a professional, are:
Better design options - often finding space that you didn’t know you had.
Increased home value - we know where it counts and can advise you on the best design approach for your home.
Expert advice - once we’re onboard, you’ll have access to our expert advice and we can often liaise with third parties for you.
Higher chances of planning approval - we know the planning system like the back of our hand and we can make sure you have the best chance of approval with proper drawings, documents and negotiations.
What drawings will I need for my house extension?
Once you start your project, you'll probably encounter many types of drawings. But, here are the main ones we recommend:
Existing floor plans and elevations (what is looks like now)
Proposed floor plans and elevations (what you want it to look like)
Proposed section (as if you’ve cut a slice of your building - this helps show how it will be put together)
Structural drawings (including beam calculations if needed)
Electrical and plumbing drawings (setting out where sockets, lights, switches, sinks, taps and toilets will be)
House extension regulations
Regulations are a significant part of the process and the main regulations to focus on are:
Planning permission - If you’re not sure whether you’ll need it, make sure to read our planning guide.
Building regulations - These govern pretty much all building work and certify that your project is legal.
Party wall matters - This is usually in the form of a notice/agreement between you and your neighbour, if you are project is close to the boundary or includes work to a party wall.