How To Go About Building An Extension?
There are many reasons to consider building an extension, such as raising the value of your property or increasing the usable space - but an extension can be a large project. With your money, time, and home involved, you want to make sure you take the right precautions and do everything properly.
When you're building an extension, where to start can seem a mystery, but what are the steps you should be taking?
Contact A Professional
Building extension professionals with a wide range of experience, such as Extension Architecture, should be your first consideration. They can help you ensure every step of the process is properly handled – ultimately, this saves you time, money and stress. Contact one as soon as possible to begin the consultation process, through which they will learn what your needs and requirements are, before developing any plans.
Making Your Extension Plans
With a professional Architects in London onboard, you need to think about getting your plans drawn up. What are you going to use the extension for? Will it just be an extra room? Or do you want a kitchen,bathroom extension or even a loft conversion London? You need to consider this because certain things will require a specific layout, or for utilities to be moved and placed in a certain way – for example, consider the plumbing required for a kitchen/bathroom extension.
Understand Your Extension Costs
The cost of building an extension varies depending on a number of factors, including where you are in the UK, the complexity of the plans, and the nature of your property. As a rough guide, you can estimate between £1000 and £2000 per m2 – though of course, a building extension costs more the larger it is. Work out your costs ahead of time and ensure it’s within budget, but make sure you account for unforeseen issues like permits being required, materials becoming more expensive, or problems arising with your property that cause the build time to drag on.
Apply For Any Extension Permits In Advance
With your plans laid out and your budget established, you should have an understanding of whether or not you require any planning permission or other permits to build your extension. Generally, you won’t, but in some circumstances, such as listed properties or larger scale extensions, permission must be granted from a local authority. Guidelines vary depending on the nature of your proposed build, so this is where your specialist contractor can help. If it’s decided you do need to apply for any permits or permissions, do so as soon as possible to minimise project delays.
Inform Your Neighbours Regarding Your Extension
After this, you should be about ready for the beginning stages of the build to begin, but before it does make sure you give any nearby neighbours a friendly warning. Construction work can be loud and disruptive, and a considerate warning in advance can go a long way.
Steph Fanizza, Architectural Design & Team Manager
