Skill Builder Guides & reviews for building and construction
Owning a property is something that many of us spend our lives dreaming about. Being able to find the right house on the market right through to receiving the keys in your hand, is a truly exciting process and one that can’t be matched.
For the most part, people buy a property that fits their needs entirely. At the same time, there will be others who buy houses with the intention to renovate them, increasing the value of the property and tailoring it to the tastes of the homeowner themselves.
While most homeowners might feel reluctant to make any changes to their property, there will be others looking forward to renovating their home, including the likes of adding an extension. A project of this magnitude takes a lot of planning and consideration, as well as a great deal of patience; it won’t be completed overnight, no matter how much you wish!
Suppose you are in the position where you want to add an extension to your property. Whatever the reason that has led you to this point, you have found yourself in the right place at the right time. Detailed below, you will find a list of things that you should remember before you start. Read on for more!
- Remaining Compliant With Building Regulations
This is one of the important factors you will need to consider when building an extension; the last thing you want is to land in any sort of trouble when building your extension. To avoid getting into any kind of legal trouble, you should make an effort to establish what the relevant building regulations are and how you remain compliant with them.
From here, you will be able to effectively plan your extension, ensuring any height or width limits are not exceeded. What’s more, you will need to apply for planning permission from local governing bodies when intending to erect an extension; ensure you do this sooner rather than later to ensure your project is not delayed.
Furthermore, you will need to ensure you remain compliant with any ecological regulations too. Protected species are often found on land throughout the country, and you must do what you can to ensure as minimal disruption to their habitats as possible. Conducting a habitat regulations assessment through an expert ecologist like Ecology Surveys will ensure any creatures living on your plot are cared for in the right way.
Once you have received permission, you are free to start the process, which takes us to the following section.
- Hiring Skilled and Trained Tradespeople
Naturally, you will feel protective over your project and will want to oversee as much of the process as possible. While that is the case, it is also recommended to know when you need to take a step back and allow a professional to take over.
Nothing stops you from completing smaller tasks and lending a helping hand throughout the project, but using the services of someone who handles this type of thing on a daily basis is recommended. Having someone who is skilled complete the project will minimise the chances of anything going wrong, which could prove costly in the long run.
Finding the right tradespeople for the task can often appear a significant and time-consuming job in itself. Using local forums, reviews, and word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and loved ones will make this process a lot easier. Narrowing down the options can be a challenge but is undoubtedly worth it in the long run.
- Pressure On Existing Systems Within Your Property
If you are anything like us, this is something that slipped your mind, but upon reminder, you notice how this could prove an obstacle in the future should you not consider it now. No matter the size of the extension you are adding to your property, there is going to be added pressure on things like your hot water and heating systems.
Before going forth with your extension, it is best to consider whether these systems will be able to handle this added pressure or whether you will need to add anything extra into your plans to accommodate this change.
As mentioned previously, it might be worth enlisting the services of an experienced and trained professional to assess this type of thing. The last thing you want is to complete your extension, only to find it is not adequately heated!
- Complementing The Surrounding Area
This is a challenging part of adding an extension to your property and is something we feel confident many homeowners have come across at some time or another. When building an extension on your property, it is worth considering how it will look compared against your property, as well as any others in the vicinity.
While we feel confident your neighbours would have no qualms with you adding an extension to your property, there is the added risk that it stands out like a sore thumb and becomes somewhat of an eyesore for those looking at it.
Considering the design elements relating to your project is the best way to handle something like this. Attempt to match the design of the extension to that of your existing property while also incorporating elements of the surrounding area into it as well.
While some people reading this and beyond would undoubtedly want to either complement or contrast the design of their existing home, this is an aspect of the extension process that should be thought about in-depth. Proceed with your project once you are truly happy with the decision, and do not compromise if you are not satisfied; you can make changes before starting, but this is much more difficult once the project is finished!
While we recognise this is only a handful of the factors you should consider when you want to add an extension to your property, we feel confident it would have proved useful to you and others. Whether you intend to build an extension in the coming months or further in the future, we wish you every success!
