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What’s the best home extension for me?

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extensions

So, you’ve decided that you are ready to embark on a “renovating your home” project and building an extension is the plan. The next big decision iso to choose they type of extension. Of course, the biggest factor in this decision is the budget. No doubt about that. You may have the budget for a large, double-storey extension but decide that a single storey extension will do just fine.  

We thought we’d give you a quick and easy guide to what types of extensions are out there for you to consider for your London home.  

  • Single Storey Extension  

As the name suggests single storey extensions are ground floor extensions out of the existing floor plan of the house. These can be at the front of the house, on the side or at the rear of the house. Single storey rear extensions are the most popular ones as they open up the house and connect it with the garden. People who decide to go with this type usually have a garden in the rear part of their houses and they can afford to lose a little bit of it for the sake of extending their home by few meters. By adding bi fold or sliding doors, you can create an open space linking your outside space with the internal. 

The design can vary from flat roof to a pitched tiled roof. Even though pitched roof often looks better and lasts longer, you need to consider access to heights where maintenance is needed. 

  • Double Storey Extension 

A double-storey extension is an extension out on the ground floor as well as above, on top of the single storey extension. Get the picture?  

This type of extension is ideal for growing families where you might need more or larger bedrooms and probably additional bathrooms. Many of the homes in the West London area are inadequate for practical living in the modern world, with large homes being serviced by a single bathroom. Whilst this sort of extension allows homeowners to increase their living space, double storey extensions are harder to get through planning simply because of the impact they may have on neighbours and the surrounding area.  

Property type and overall design are the key facts that attention must be paid to. The extension must not cause any serious loss of sunlight to rooms and gardens of adjoining properties. Another important requirement is that the design of the new part of the house must match the existing property and fit into character of the neighbourhood that means – match the materials used, roof form and same type of windows and doors. It also cannot dominate the property. 

  • Garage Extensions 

Who uses their garage for their cars? It’s very rare, especially in London, for people to actually park their cars in their garage. For one, many garages are not large enough for the large family cars most families have, but also, why waste that space on your car, when you can use it for a gym or a games room or even an office? 

The great thing about converting your garage is that you can avoid losing coveted garden space that a rear extension would. The main question comes whether the garage is attached or detached from the house. Both can be turned into the living space, although detached garages might need a planning permission.  

  • Orangery 

An orangery is a cross between a conservatory and a traditional single storey extension. Made with brick-built pillars, orangeries are usually designed to feature a raised glass roof structure that can flood the space inside with natural light. Orangeries are versatile and can be used as a kitchen, dining room, living room, play room, music room or office. And they are cheaper than single-storey extensions. 

In most cases, an orangery can be added without planning permission because it is classed as a ‘permitted development’ but specific conditions must be met to abide by this law. 

Available in a wide range of traditional and contemporary styles, orangeries are usually bespoke and designed to suit your existing property. This allows you to select the size, shape and roof style which will best complement your home’s interior and exterior appearance. 

Building an extension to your home requires time, patience, research and a decent budget. We recommend you begin the process by: 

  1. Appointing an architect that is aware of local planning rules – Find out how to choose the right architect here. Or why not download our FREE Guide to The Top London Residential Architects 2019. 
  2. Talking to your local council about what they will allow  
  3. Creating a detailed project management checklist so you are on top of all the little details that need to be thought through. Download your FREE Project Management Checklist now and make your home extension project smooth and seamless.  

 

SDA Build London have been working in the West London area for several years and are well-versed with the do’s and don’ts in the area with regards to what the councils will allow and what they won’t. We suggest you give us a call [Symbol] if you have any doubts or need to discuss whether your extension ideas… will get through planning. We can be contacted on 0208 191 7595 or email us at enquiries@sdabuildlondon.co.uk to discuss how we can help.  

How much will a home extension in London cost?

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extension cost calculator

That’s like asking how long is a piece of string? Still, we understand that it’s important to know even an approximate cost before deciding whether you are financially able to undertake a home extension project.  

We did some digging around and found this handy Extension Cost Calculator on the Homebuilding and Renovation website. All you need to do is enter some details about your property.  

BIG DISCLAIMER! The costing you receive from this cost calculator is only an approximate indicator. It is by no means set in stone and has the potential to increase or decrease based on your specific requirements. Its only purpose is to give you a general idea.  

 

If you’d like some more detailed guidance and costs on your home extension project, give us a call on 02081917595. Or better still, book a FREE consultation with us and we’ll visit your property, discuss your ideas and share some of our recommendations with no obligation. 

Do I need a Party Wall Agreement for my House Extension in London?

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party wall agreement row houses

When embarking on a house extension project in London, where we mainly operate, we often get asked by our clients if they need a party wall agreement? Many don’t even know what a party wall is or what a party wall agreement is… just that it’s something they need.

So, we thought we’d start at the very beginning …

 

What is a Party Wall?

A party wall is the shared wall, usually between a terrace or semi-detached house, and divides the homes of two separate owners. It may also include garden walls built over a boundary and excavations close to a neighbour’s property (within three or six meters, depending on the depth of the new foundations). Party wall Awards or Agreements are most commonly needed for building projects that involve loft conversions, basement excavations, internal renovation and extensions.

 

What is a Party Wall Agreement?

The Party Wall Award or Agreement is a legal document that is drawn up by the two-party wall surveyors or by a single surveyor (if he/she is are acting on behalf of both the Building Owner and the Adjoining Owner or the neighbour). The aim of the Party Wall Award is to resolve any disputes between neighbours as a result of a building project of the one of the neighbours.

 

The Party Wall Award essentially consists of three parts:

  • The Award or Agreement that states how and when the building works are going to be carried out.

 

  • The Schedule of Conditions – This is an important part of the Award. It is a detailed record of the current condition of the adjoining property. This will include recording existing issues such as cracks, staining, holes, decay, discolouration, leaks and other defects, disrepair or deterioration along with accompanying photographs. The party wall surveyors will then undertake a re-inspectionof the building after building works have been completed to determine whether any damage has occurred as a result of the building work and whether any repairs need to be carried out.

 

  • Structural drawings of the proposed works.

 

The Award must also clearly state the names and address of the Building Owner or Owners and the Adjoining Owner/s names and addresses as listed in the land registry or Company House records in the case of a UK listed company along with details of the surveyor or surveyors.

 

What else should be included in the Award?

Working hours – e.g. 9:00am – 5:00pm

Proof of the builder/contractor’s public liability insurance

Any indemnities for the Adjoining Owner or neighbour

Clarification of any damage and the steps that will be required to rectify them

Access arrangements to the adjoining owner’s property

Adjoining Owner’s or neighbour’s surveyor’s fees

Costs to be paid by an Adjoining Owner or neighbour for contributing towards the cost of repair to a party structure.

Agreed compensation to paid to the Adjoining Owner or neighbour

Security arrangements

Noise considerations

 

Usually, the Award is initially written out in a draft format and made final once both parties have agreed on the details. There is a 14 day right to appeal if either owner feels something is amiss, however, this is usually rare, as most of the issues are likely to have been ironed out before the Award is finally drawn up and legally signed and witnessed by the appointed surveyor(s).

 

How long is a Party Wall Award valid?

A Party Wall Award is valid for 12 months from the date of its service. This would mean that the building owner must commence the proposed works within 12 months of the date of the Party Wall Award.

 

Do you need a party wall agreement?

If you share a wall with your neighbour i.e. your property is a semi-detached or a terraced property, you will need to draw up a party wall agreement with your neighbour. If your property is detached, you may still need a party wall agreement if your property is within three to six metres of your neighbour’s external wall. This is also dependent on the depth of your foundation. Party wall Awards are important to avoid from unnecessary disputes and conflict between neighbours.

 

What happens if a neighbour reports damage to his or her property because of my extension?

The first step is to appoint a party wall surveyor… You may have already done this if you appointed a party wall company to draw up your agreement.

 

Once the appointed party wall surveyor(s) have been notified there are three possible routes to go down, all at the choice of the neighbour.

 

  1. Perhaps the most amicable route is when the building owner and the adjoining owner discuss and agree on a course of action without engaging the appointed party wall surveyor(s). In this scenario you and your neighbour agree between yourselves on arrangements for the damage to be made good or for a financial compensation to be made.

 

  1. The appointed surveyor(s) identifies the scope of the repair works by cross-referencing the pre-works condition report and a written schedule of repair works is drawn up and agreed between them. Your neighbour agrees for your contractors to undertake the repair work scoped by the appointed surveyor(s). Your neighbour may also request that the appointed party wall surveyor(s) confirm that repairs have been carried out satisfactorily on completion.

 

  1. The third route is as point 2 however instead of carrying the repairs you agree to pay your neighbour a financial compensation based on determination made by the appointed surveyor(s). Your neighbour can then choose to appoint their own contractor to carry out the works at their convenience.

 

The SDA Build London team know that this is a complicated area. We work closely with reputed party wall professionals who will be able to advise you on the best way forward for your particular home extension project. Given that most of our projects are in Chelsea, Kensington, Battersea, Fulham and surrounding areas where the majority of homes are semi-detached or terraced, we understand the importance of Party Wall Agreements.

 

Give us a call on 0208 191 7595 or email us at enquiries@sdabuildlondon.co.uk to discuss how we can help.

 

 

All you need to know about House Extensions in London… in a nutshell!

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London has seen a surge in house extensions, basement conversions and loft conversions in the last five years. With soaring stamp duty costs and the high overall cost of moving, homeowners with growing families who need the extra space are increasingly choosing to increase the area in their existing properties rather than up sticks and move home.

Setting out on a house extension project requires, amongst other things a healthy amount of patience [Symbol]. There are several details to consider and decisions to make.

We suggest that you begin by creating a project management spreadsheet (we’ve created one for you) even if you have a dedicated project manager so that you are both on the same page with regards to costs, timelines, delivery schedules and communication with various suppliers.

The first step is to appoint an architect. Your architect is probably the most important person in your project. Make sure you appoint an architect that understands your needs and your vision and is able to marry the two with a plan and solution that your local council will approve.

SDA’S FREE GUIDE TO

The Top London Residential
Arhictects 2019

The SDA Build team have meticulously curated a list of talented architects serving the London and Greater London areas. All the architects on our list are RIBA certified and have vetted by Houzz.

I’m ready to download

Whether or not you need planning permission will depend on the scope of your plans. Do you want a single storey extension or a double storey extension? How far do you intend going out? What are the current rules with regards to planning in your local council? All these will determine whether you need to apply for planning permission or whether your works fall under permitted development guidelines. Your architect should know this.

This process usually takes about 8 weeks. You can either sit back and relax or start researching on the various other decisions you will have to make such as:

  • Rental property if you are moving out
  • Flooring and carpets
  • Heating
  • Windows
  • Internal Doors and door fittings
  • External Doors
  • Electrics and lighting
  • Tiles
  • Bathroom furniture and sanitaryware
  • Kitchen furniture and appliances
  • Blinds
  • Fitted furniture in bedrooms
  • Patio or decking
  • Paint colours
  • Home alarm & entertainment system

The list can go on depending on your house extension project, whether it’s a kitchen extension, a bedroom with an en-suite, a guest room, a playroom or games room, a home office or even a gym.

 

Types of extensions

Single Storey rear extension

If you have a good-sized garden at the back of the house, you could extend the back of the house out (subject to planning rules) and create a more intimate experience with your garden. Large sliding or bifold doors along with an open plan space, can give you an added sense of light and air and almost brings the outdoor, indoors.

Double Storey rear extension

If you feel you need more living space upstairs, perhaps larger bedrooms or an en-suite bathroom or a home office, you could build additional space on top of your single storey extension. In some of the properties we have worked on, we have created luxurious bedrooms with walk-in closets, fitted wardrobes, children’s studies and guest rooms… the possibilities are limitless.

Side extension

Several homes have space between the side of their homes and the fence. Why not think about extending the house into this space? For many home owners this is the perfect opportunity to open up the kitchen, create a home gym a guest room or a room for ageing parents or even a home office with perhaps a separate entrance.

Wrap around extension

As the name suggests, a wrap-around extension is a side and back extension around the existing home. You are effectively changing the layout of the house in totality, allowing you to re configure and re plan how you use the area. You could open up the downstairs completely (this is currently what’s on trend in London.), to give yourself an open plan kitchen-living space or create a games room or even a state of the art cinema room.

As a company that provides a complete design and build service, we have worked with a number of clients in the South East of the country to help them through the entire process of building their house extension, right from the start with architectural design and planning permission, through to the finished product.

If you are planning a house extension and need some guidance on how to go about it, give us a call on 0208 191 7595 or email us at enquiries@sdabuildlondon.co.uk to discuss your project.

To have a look at the kind of work we have done, why not download our free brochure? And if you need any help with managing your building project, our free project management checklist has been hugely popular.

And the UK’s most popular home improvements are…

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home improvement

If you could do just one project to renovate your home what would it be?

YouGov survey recently polled the most popular renovation among British homeowners. Can you guess what came out on top?

Find out here in this eye-opening article in Ideal Home.

If you’d like some guidance on your home improvement project, give us a call on 02081917595. Or better still, book a FREE consultation with us and we’ll visit your property, discuss your ideas and share some of our recommendations with no obligation.