&noscript=1"" />

House extension 25 things to know before you start house extension

House extension 25 things to know before you start house extension

Are you planning any type of house extension in your property? Do you want to add something new? It is a fact that you may need to do something more to transform your house into a dream home. Why feeling reluctant? For this purpose, you need some extra space, and you may add extensions according to your needs and requirement.

Are you planning any type of house extension in your property? Do you want to add something new? It is a fact that you may need to do something more to transform your house into a dream home. Why feeling reluctant? For this purpose, you need some extra space, and you may add extensions according to your needs and requirement.

You may extend your home up, out, and on the side. Still, for this purpose, you should have complete information and estimates about legality, budget, material transportation, and masonry service. In this article, I shall provide some insights into adding an extension to your living lace and essential things you need to for this purpose. These suggestions may be helpful for your extension project if you follow these guidelines in a real sense.

The extension should add value

If you add something new to your living place, you should assess its value economically. It should add something new and give it a fantastic touch. It should enhance the amount higher than the costs. You should evaluate your home; assess the functionality of our addition, and what it will offer you after finishing touches. You should understand house market rates and plan accordingly.

Follow the building regulations

Whenever you want to add something, you need to build it under permitted development rights and get the approval so that there are no complications afterwards. There are some minimum requirements for building additions:

  • The integrity of overall space
  • Fire safety considerations
  • Saving energy
  • Damp-proof structure
  • Proper ventilation
  • The overall safety of your building

If you are opting for a repair, it may be excluded from building regulations with some exceptions about window replacements, repairing the wiring, and underpinning. Apart from these exceptions, all additions, including changing sheds and adding some conservatories, will need approvals. If you want n alteration, it should be in harmony with these regulations.

Here are some simple additions that require approval from regulatory authorities:

  • House additions
  • Loft conversions
  • Addition and alteration in the interior structure including repairing a wall that is bearing load
  • Remodelling f baths, showers. And WCs. All the changes that require new drainage state and pluming.
  • Installing heating devices
  • Installation of new window openings

There are different guidelines for planning permission you may browse online for the purpose.

Size of extension

You should not always think about square meters when you are planning an expansion. You should assess the extent of the extension you are adding. An extension should be in touch with your overall structure. The more significant extension does not make sense. If you want more space, there are alternative ways to do so without adding a more prominent structure.

You may create an innovative design for an addition and make the existing space excellent.

Material for extension

You should source out a matching document that enhances the overall effects of your building. If you create a mismatch, it will devalue your whole housing.

Hire the expert designer for hose extension

When you are redesigning your structure, you may hire different services. It may include

  • Architects and technicians
  • Interior or exterior designers
  • Building companies

You may seek a suggestion from your friend, fellow worker, or a neighbour. You may search on the internet about different services.

Think about design efficiency

You need to focus on the model of a new home extension. In this process, you may eliminate the things they may decrease the value of your home and consider airtightness that is specified by regulations. If your house has poor insulation, you may not go for a thermally efficient extensional. It will make it cheaper. You should look for extensions that improve the efficiency of overall living space while you hire builders.

House extension on a sewer line

Whenever you are planning a new expansion on or near the sewer area, you should get permission from the water board for the purpose.

The local water board may advise you about design that follows the regulations. It may create complications afterwards.

You are not going to lose your investment. You should see whether you need a new maintenance hole or existing ones should be relocated.

Going above

If you are going upwards with new extensions, you must assess whether the existing structure may stand up to the load, and it may support a new garage. There are other options for this purpose. If your old building is not up to scratch, you may demolish and rebuild. It may be cost-effective and may not create a hassle for you.

Planning in house extensions

You may add an extension to your kitchen; it should be in harmony with the overall unit. You should expect about cookers and other goods. You should think of electric ventilation and plumbing. If you have a double story building and want a new bathroom or another extension.

Boiler and house extension

You should think if your boiler can cope with the new expansion. It is evident that anew extension may create added demand for the current hot water system. Is it cable of dealing with load? I suggest that you must think about the efficiency of the water system. Assess boiler output, radiator size, and cylinder size. You must take reheat time into account.

Cloud slow down progress

You may opt for living on-site when extension work is in progress. You will have to live with dust and a mess. It may slow down your efficiency as well as building work while you are there. To avoid this disruption, you must think about relocation for a specified period. You may rent a temporary residence, short term rental, or a hotel with your family. You may opt to stay with your friends as the wok is going on.

Access restrictions

If your living place is terraced, it may influence your design that it has limitations. You may not choose a specific design or construction method. You may consult with your neighbour to remove the fence panel and use their space for short term storage. You may use alternative methods to design your living place.

Harmonizing old with new

You should understand the look of additional enhancement alongside the original structure. It will undoubtedly affect the overall look. As it is not a determined rule. You should consider whether you want it component or contrast with the original property.

Offsite construction

You should always opt for building offsite. It may include cross-laminated timber, oak frame, insulated panels, and timer frame is better for housing extensions. The major part of construction should happen in an offsite location such as a factory. In this way, you can deliver the component to the site for assembling and erection.

Managing the project

You should fully understand that you may be the best manger for your house extension. You may adequately utilize your resources. You better know the space, building, and requirements. Nobody may manage it better than you. Building an extension requires an increased degree of patience, organization, problem-solving, and decision making expertise. If you cannot handle it on your own, you may hire a professional and expert project manager. It is a must for proper renovation.

House extensions in your area

You need to pay the community extent on levy before you start with a new extension. You should consider this fact and evaluate if you can pay the tax. It is applicable if you are building an extension over the area of 100 square meters. In most of the case, there is a self-builder relief. You need not create the property on your own, but you have to live in the house for three years after the competition.

Party wall act

You can build-up to the boundary wall, and your neighbour cannot stop you from doing so. You can go for it even you have to access their property. You can add an extension up to your neighbours' land and property. It is established the party wall act that protects the interests of each party. If your house requires digging within three meters of the boundary, you need to comply with party wall act requirements. But be sure if you are in Scotland you don't need to follow the party wall act. You may consult with your local council for further requirements.

Site insurance matters a lot

You must choose a reputed and a rated insurance provider to ensure the site. It is a need if you are carryout a housing extension. You must ensure the existing space along with new additions until the completion of the project.

It may be a case that your builder has insurance; you could check his documents. In most cases, likably covers will require proof of fault if you file a claim. In this way, a legal issue may be created. It may not include a natural event such as fire, flood, and other types of damages.

If you are relocating during the building process, you need to choose site insurance for unoccupied buildings. It will require a minimum of six-month policy. You need to contact your insurance provider for the process. And tell him before you start.

Conservation areas

In the conservation area, you have restricted development permission. There are local rules for the purpose, but it is the base that you prevent the area's characteristics. You should contact a local conservation officer for the use.

Privacy

You must consider privacy issues when you are opting for glazing the area. You should protect yours and others, privacy. You should find your boundary wall and build in such a manner to protect your policy. It may be done without splitting the view.

Protect the trees

There is a tree preservation order, even if you don't require any permission for a house extension. You may not also prune a tree that is protected by TPO. There is legislation to protect the trees. It is considered a criminal act if you after a tree.

Budget

You need to have contingency plans to avoid unexpected costs. You need to start the work on extension with this fact in mind and make a plan for extra spending if required.

VAT claim

You may have to pay 20% VAT on most of the house extension materials and labour costs. If you use a contractor to accomplish the task, if you use local services that are not registered for VAT, you may not need to pay, but material vat is compulsory at standard rates. Some extension projects are offered relief. It may be a listed building, the conversion of an existing dwelling to change the number of units. It has a reduced rate of 5%. And you are renovating a building that was vacant for the last two years at least.

Notifying to building control

Before starting with an extension, you need to inform the building plan to building control. The notice will allow you to start work immediately. If you don't do so, you will not get any relief.

Light ingress management

You surely want to bring more light to your home with an extension, but if it is not appropriately managed, it may create problems like a solar gain. When you are designing the designing feature into an extension, you need to consider the solar gain. You may use screen fabrics to reduce glare and diffused light.

Glazing matters a lot

There is a limitation for glazing up to 25% of the extension area. It may be a problem for small extensions. You may do the glazing in several ways. You should follow the regulatory requirements for the purpose.

These are different things that you need to consider before planning an extension. It may avoid complications in the long run.