House extensions are growing in popularity as more and more home owners decide to extend their homes rather than sell and buy a bigger property. Extending your home rather than moving saves you money as you don’t have to pay solicitor fees, stamp duties, removal costs, deposits on new services or unsettle your family routine. Building an extension also gives you the opportunity to add extra elements to the room you are building an extension from e.g. a fireplace, a decorative element or brand new flooring.

If you decide to go this route, we offer various types of house extensions :

  • single storey  house extensions (the side or rear extension)
  • double storey house extensions
  • garage conversions and garage extensions
  • basement conversions
  • sunrooms and conservatories

Whether you are adding one small room or doubling the size of your house, we offer a comprehensive, professional service & competitive pricing for all types of house extensions.

Larger house extensions require approval under the Building Regulations. Smaller extensions (under 40m2) don’t require planning permission, providing you build within certain guidelines. These extensions can be done quickly and relatively inexpensively.  Once you can visualise what you want, sketch a few ideas. Then approach an architect and get some detailed drawings made. Talk to your architect or your friendly Better Built Homes builder, before you finalise your design. They may give you some tips on how you can save costs.

House Extensions – Where do you start?

The success of all house extensions depends on some careful planning and preparation.  It’s always hard to visualise how the extension will finally look when finished, but simply marking out a plot on your existing land and sketching a few ideas can help considerably. After you finalise your plans and get the final drawings, you may need to apply for planning permission.  If you are building a small extension, this step may not be required. For example, homeowners can build an extension at the rear of their premises up to 40sq m in size, provided the house has not previously been extended and the extension observes certain rules relating to height and open areas.

You also need to consider how your proposed house extension will affect your neighbours. Will it obscure their view? Reduce their natural light? Impact on the aesthetics of the neighbourhood? Remember that your neighbours will have the right to object to your planning permission, so make friends with them before you apply and be prepared to compromise.
Single or double storey house extensions (the side or rear extension)
If you have sufficient space in your back garden, a side or rear extension is the best option. One thing you need to keep in mind when considering this option is the light. House extensions that are nested between properties, or at the front or rear of your home, will be shadowed for certain periods of the day. You need to consider in which direction the sun rises and if you want your house extension to benefit from light in the mornings or early evenings. Building an extension on the North side of the house will require good insulation. Talk to us, we will be more than happy to give you some advice.
House Extensions – Garage Conversions
A standard single garage is approximately 150 sq ft. and that’s too small to fit a family room but that’s a lot of extra living space if you convert it as an integral part of your house. A garage can be successfully used to extend your kitchen and add a utility room, a dining room, a home office/study or kids playroom. The conversion of a garage, or part of a garage, into habitable space may require approval under the Building Regulations.  As the foundation to the existing garage is not likely to be traditional (it’s probably a shallow slab), a new foundation may be needed for the new wall, especially if you are building on top of the garage. Bricking up the garage door and adding a few windows may not be the only thing that is required. You also need to consider insulation, ventilation and damproofing.  We will be happy to advise.
House Extensions – Sunrooms and conservatories
A conservatory is a room that has glass roof and walls, typically attached to a house on only one side, used as a greenhouse or a sunroom. Conservatories work well in sunny areas, but can get really cold in winter, especially if they don’t get much exposure to the sun. To turn your conservatory into a comfortable living space, you may need to insulate it. Talk to us about prices and options.

Please see our gallery for recent Home Extensions.
Attic Conversions
Attic conversions are popular choice if you need a home office, an extra bedroom for a younger family member or an emergency guest bedroom. Attic conversions are popular because they are exempt from planning permission. In most cases you don’t even need architectural drawings. They also cost substantially less than ground floor extensions, they don’t take any valuable garden space and can be completed quickly, with less mess and disruption to your day-to-day activities. Not all attics are suitable for conversion.  The height, shape and condition of your roof are deciding factors. Talk to us and get some advice.
Please see our gallery for recent attic conversion projects