Building an extension is an incredibly exciting project. They can help you create extra space and value in your home without having to move to a new one. You can open up the layout of your home and link it to your garden seamlessly. But extensions are also big projects, and there are a few things that can go wrong during the build if you don’t plan for them. So, here’s a few tips to help your extension go smoothly.
Do – Have A Contingency Plan
Extensions aren’t just adding to the outside of your home – they open it up too. That means at some point we will have to take down an old external wall of your home, causing some disruption in the process. Depending on what room you’re extending this could mean minimal disturbance, or it could mean you don’t have access to your kitchen for a week. Plan ahead for the disruption this stage of the build will cause, and have a contingency plan in place to manage it. A good builder will try to make their impact as minimal as possible, but sadly this one isn’t avoidable!
Don’t – Forget The Boiler
An extension means a bigger house, which is probably what you were going for! But that also means more work for your boiler to keep everything warm, and your current boiler might not have the capacity for it. It’s one of the more common mistakes we see in extensions – someone has built the extension, and when it comes time to out the heating on the boiler can’t perform, so it packs up. The way to prevent this is to pre-empt it. When you’ve got your plans finalised, have a chat with a plumber to see if your boiler can cope with the extra space, or if it needs to be upgraded. And make sure you leave some room in the budget for that upgrade just in case!
Do – Minimise The Unknowns
When building contractors put together a quote for you, they’re pulling together dozens of other quotes for materials, and all of the mini jobs that will make up your project. Everything in the construction industry has a price, and the best way to know you’re dealing with a quality builder is by asking to see a detailed quote, and making sure that you’re clear in all of your specifications in the brief. This will minimise the number of unknowns and help you keep an eye on your budget.
Don’t – Skip Planning Permission For Speed
A lot of people wanting extensions will often ask us if they really need planning permission (especially if it’s a single storey extension), or if they can get away with building it Permitted Development. And while technically you can build a single storey extension under Permitted Development, it’s a lot more restrictive than getting planning permission, and it costs about the same. And as for speed – your choice won’t make a difference! Getting a lawful development certificate under Permitted Development will take the same amount of time as getting planning permission, so it’s really worth getting planning permission and giving yourself more flexibility.
Do – Future-Proof Your Design
As well as thinking of your current needs, you should also think about the future needs of your home. This means thinking about the configuration of the doors and windows to make sure you won’t need extra building work if your family grows in the future. It also means considering any smart-technology you might want to install, the number and location of plug sockets, and a dozen other small things that can make sure your home is fit for the future. Your builder should be able to help you with this during the planning phases.
Don’t – Buy Just On Price
You know the old adage, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is? That goes double for builders. We know that building work can be expensive, and so you might be tempted to go for the lowest price when shopping for a builder. But remember that a cheap builder might a) not know what they’re doing or how to price a job properly, b) be a cowboy builder who’ll do a poor quality job and cut corners, or c) be a builder who constantly finds extra add-on costs to bump up the price as the job goes on. To be safe, always get three quotes, and make sure you know the signs of a cowboy builder.
At DNA Brickwork & Builders we specialise in helping people extend their homes and enjoy all of that extra space it brings. If you would like to know more, just get in touch with the team today.
