Over the last 18 months, people have spent more time at home than they probably ever thought they would. And for some, their house has started feeling very small!
The selling and buying process can feel very overwhelming, especially with the uncertainty at the moment. A home extension is a great option for people needing more space, but wanting to remain at their current home.
We find when most people hear home extension, they think large-scale. Maybe adding an additional level or knocking out the whole back of the house. But extensions can be whatever scale that suits your needs to give a little or a lot of additional space. It might be a new bathroom, or expanding to create some open plan living, or creating the indoor/outdoor dining feel.
What are some options when it comes to home extensions?
If you have space to extend at ground level, you will definitely have a lot of options when it comes to what you can achieve. However, if you are limited with ground level space, going up and adding a second storey is a great option. There are lots of benefits to a second storey, including maintaining your backyard and any outdoor space.
However, it is worth mentioning that adding a level is rarely the cheapest extension option. It includes addition engineering, roofing, flooring, walls and more. But this shouldn’t deter you, it’s something to consider when you start thinking about your extension options.
So where to start when you’re planning a home extension?
The first step when planning your extension is to make contact with a builder to get a good idea of what is possible for your renovation, a builder will also be able to give you a rough estimate of costs. This is really important because you want to make sure you aren’t over capitalising on your vision before moving on to the next steps.
Something we always recommend is making a list of ‘must-haves’ for your finished extension. This way a builder, architect or draftsman can determine if these things can fit into the planned extension footprint.
Once you have an idea that your planned extension is achievable, an architect or draftsman can then help with the technical plans, and permits required for the extension. You can read more about permit requirements on our previous blog post.
When your plans and permits are in place and it comes to choosing a builder, you should absolutely check they are a licensed builder able to undertake the extent of your works and that they are members of the Master Builders and Housing Industry Association.
How long will it take?
Now isn’t this the million dollar question?! It is so dependent on your individual circumstances. If you’re only adding a small space on the same level, it could be a matter of weeks. But something more significant with additional structures and multiple trades to coordinate, is going to take longer. And that’s not throwing in a worldwide pandemic in there to work around!
Next steps
If you’re reading this and thinking about how to approach your own extension project, please get in touch. We’d love to talk through your ideas, what’s possible, and help make your dream home a reality!