WHAT THE BUILDING CONTRACTOR SAYS

Ian Hart is a construction project manager and provides expert construction advice in his role as the foreman on RTE’s Room To Improve

ON A BUDGET OF €10,000

Consider opening up ground floor rooms to make larger living areas by taking out walls, joining kitchens into diners or that little-used ‘good’ room into a larger more useful living space. You won’t necessarily require an architect to draw plans, but a structural engineer will be required from the start to specify structural elements.

COST: The knocking through stage would cost in the region of €6,000, the balance of the budget could be used on finishes such as flooring, painting and so on.

WHY IT WOULD ADD VALUE: Open plan living is currently all the rage, making homes feel larger and more contemporary

ON A BUDGET OF €50,000

Do an attic conversion. It would be advisable to get architectural plans drawn up as attics can be quite complex, especially the design of the access which calls for a new staircase. You would also need to make sure that any conversion complies with current building regulations. An engineer would also be necessary to deal with structural elements. Also, some attic conversions are simply not possible with the pitches of some roofs.

COST: For this budget expect to get two bedrooms, one bathroom, dormer window and/or skylights, electrics, plumbing, plastering, painting etc, a staircase and making good of all finishes where the breakthrough into the attic occurs.

WHY IT WOULD ADD VALUE: It’s a great way of creating more liveable space within the existing footprint of your house

ON A BUDGET OF €100,000

Add a ground floor renovation with a 20-30 sqm single storey extension. Why would you have to get the complete ground floor renovated if you are building an extension? The extension shouldn’t be built in isolation to the rest of the home as it needs to work with the entire ground floor to make the best use of the light and space. There is little point in just adding square metres to your home if it doesn’t flow into the rest of the building. Done properly this can add huge value to your home