A Householder’s Guide To Extending Or Altering Your Home
Section 1 - The First Step
The reason for extending or altering your home is usually to provide more space or to make the most of the room you already have.
The most common method of enlarging your home is to provide an extension at ground or first storey levels or to form a room in the roof space.
The most usual internal alteration is to form a through lounge. Other common alterations involve the removal of a chimney breast, the conversion of a garage to a room, replacement glazing or the formation of a ground floor WC.
When deciding upon the building work you wish to undertake consider first:
- Do I really need it?
- What are the alternatives?
- What can I afford to spend?
- Do I need permission?
- What effect will it have on my neighbours?
Having made your decision ask family, friends, colleagues, etc. if they had similar work carried out. Obtain from them the name of the person or company who prepared the plans and the builder who carried out the work. In addition find out whether or not they had any complaints or problems.
Invite not less than three builders to give you a free rough estimate mentioning that you obtained their names through recommendations and ask them to state how long their estimate will be valid.
Contact the names recommended to you for drawing the plans and obtain an estimate for preparing working drawings and obtaining relevant approvals.
If you are contemplating a loft conversion contact at least three specialist firms (ensure they will prepare plans and structural calculations) and obtain a free quotation.
Do not sign anything until you have considered all three quotations.
Having decided you need more room consideration should be given to the time taken for the work to be carried out.
Loft conversions tend to be completed within two months of the work starting whereas extensions can take substantially longer to complete depending upon their complexity.