Extending your home is a major investment and fixing mistakes can be costly, so it is critical to ask the right questions to get the project right first time. Here are six of the most common home extension mistakes you should be careful avoid.
Missing the bigger picture
The idea of a home extension of any kind is to create additional space in your existing home, whether that is as a rear extension, side return, or an attic or basement conversion. In the excitement to gain this extra space, however, it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture of how this new room will fit into the layout of your home.
Will this additional space have a specific purpose, such as a home office, and extra bedroom, or an annex? Will it be connected seamlessly with the rest of the property, or would it be better to keep it separate for a quieter feel? Who will be the primary users of the space? Will you be changing the purpose of other rooms in the home with this new space available? These are all questions that you should consider during the planning stages of any construction project, and questions which our experienced team can help you answer.
Focusing too much on adding value
Adding additional useable floorspace to your property, however it will be utilised, should add value to your home. However, any extension is a major construction project that can take months to complete, cause significant disruption, and how much it may add to the value of your home is as much dependent on the housing market as anything else.
In the most lucrative parts of London where space is at a premium, extensions could add up to £2,000 per square foot, but the focus should be on your own enjoyment and utilisation of the new space, with the value added to house prices considered more of a bonus when you do eventually decide to sell.
Not thinking about natural light
Any extension should make use of natural light, whether that is with a light tube or sun tunnel in a new basement conversion, or with a section of glass roof on a side return. However, it should be a question of best utilising natural light rather than always maximising it as well as choosing the right materials to reflect the heat in the summer and keep it contained in the colder months.
In basements, finding inventive ways to get natural light to shine below ground will be a focus, but with a side return or rear extension, it is how you use the natural light that really matters. Too much natural light could make your new extension too hot and too bright during the summer, but too little and the room will feel dark and dull. Getting the amount of natural light just right may require the help of an experienced architect, a number of which we can recommend.
Not getting planning approval
Some extensions will be allowed under permitted development rules, whereas others will require planning permission from the council. Before you start construction on your dream extension, it is critical to know what you are allowed to build with and without planning permission, and what regulations you need to comply with along the way.
Making a planning application may feel like red tape that is slowing you down, but it is better to get the approvals in place before you start instead of facing a possible backlash from the council once you have completed your project, which could involve fines or even being forced to tear down what you have built!
Planning applications should always be made with the guidance of a professional, a task in which Good London Builders can help.
Forgetting your neighbours
Depending on the project, you may need the agreement of your neighbours for your extension with a party wall agreement. However, no matter the size and scope of the project, it is always worthwhile to have open and friendly discussions with your neighbours about what you plan to do and to try and make any disruption as minimal as possible.
Not appropriately vetting your builders
As in every industry, there are builders that offer a fantastic service and can construct beautiful extensions, and there are those that will fall short. To get the extension you want, choosing the right contractors for the task is critical. At Good London Builders, we introduce clients to a number of potential contractors for their project so that they have the chance to talk to them in person and find the right match.
