HOMESTYLE Key things to consider before starting on an extension
DECIDED TO MAKE YOUR KITCHEN BIGGER, OR TAG ON AN EXTRA ROOM OR TWO? FAITH DUNNE RUNS THROUGH THE GROUND WORK YOU’VE made your house a practicalities covered so that the Michael Holmes, extensions co.uk, you should allow around home, and now want to tag on work can feasibly go ahead. should seamlessly merge into £1,000-2,000 per square metre. some extra space - but is it really So, if you do have a terrace the original part of the house. Depending on the number of that simple? property, meaning all the However, that doesn’t have to storeys, the cost of an extension
Extending offers great potential building materials will have to mean matching materials exactly. can range between £10,000£50,000, for transforming your home, be carried through the front door “Choosing a different period style says Jill McLintock, adding value and much-needed and house to wherever they’re can work very well, designed as if product manager at everest.co.uk. room for growing families, but needed, consider whether this the house has evolved over time,” there’s a number of - important things is actually going to be possible. suggests Holmes. you’ll need to think about If you don’t have a driveway, beforehand. consider whether there is enough
If you’re dreaming of an parking for yourself and potential extension, here are 10 things you builders. should consider before getting started... You might already have somewhere in mind, but is this definitely the best place for the extension? It might make sense to demolish a garage or shed to make room for the extension, or perhaps build on top?
“It’s usually more cost-effective to build over two storeys than one, because it spreads the cost of expensive elements, such as foundations and a roof,” says Holmes. The end product will look great but the day-to-day logistics in the meantime can be tricky.
“For a dust-free life, moving out and finding temporary accommodation can be one of the most hassle-free options, but that’s not always possible,” says Robert Wood, founder of SimplyExtend.co.uk.
“If you do decide to stay in the property, it is likely you will have to navigate life - for a short period of time - with dust, no kitchen, and occasional breaks to the power and water.”
At least take all the steps you can to make managing the upheaval easier: Invest in dust sheets, move other belongings to storage, and even take the family out for dinner more often so you can escape the mess.