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The prospect of a property extension is exciting, but homeowners sometimes must be aware of much that goes into it. Between all the regulations involved and ensuring it's possible to build on the land, you'll have your work cut out.
When all the hard work is done, though, you'll be left with a totally new living area that will give your home a fresh new vibe. To ensure the process runs smoothly, we've written this article with our 6 most useful home expansion tips.
Research the Type of Build You Want
Home extensions come in all shapes and sizes; you must decide what type best fits your property. What excites you the most? There are endless possibilities, whether a standalone garage, a carport on the side, or a barn in the backyard.
Price will be one thing on your mind when considering building types. Before you do anything, you should establish your budget to know how much you must spend. Every build will have a different price tag, so it's essential to do your research. Let's look at the cost of a barn, for example. These are priced between $3,000 and $30,000 on average, but you might pay less for a small carport.
Position Wisely
One of the significant benefits of a home extension is having more space, but if it's not positioned carefully, it can do more harm than good. You want to avoid a situation where it obstructs the layout of your garden. What if it takes up too much space, leaving you with little room for future projects or more minor additions?
Before you go, pick up any tools, sit down, and look closer at the plans. It would be good to get the opinion of an architect; they're specialists with these types of projects and will be able to assist.
Fees for General Contractors
A property expansion will likely require a few general contractors to execute the project. It's essential to shop around for this stage of the job. If you jump on the first offer, you might risk being overcharged.
Generally, contractors' fees sit between 10% and 20% of the final price of the entire build. However, this can be much more if you add the costs for construction managers, architects, engineers, etc. Of course, if you're planning a small extension, it will cost less than a larger one, as it requires fewer resources and less workforce.
Determine Whether You Need Planning Permission
Certain extension projects require planning permission before work can begin. Each local government has a unique set of rules for this, so you'll want to investigate further to ensure you stay within the regulations.
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Not all extensions will need permission to build. However, even if you don't think you need one, don't risk getting started with anything just yet. Go to the designated office in your area to double-check, or you might get stuck on an expensive mistake.
Talk to Your Neighbors
You'd be surprised at the number of homeowners who forget to consult their neighbors when building an extension. It might be your property, but once it starts infringing on somebody else, you could face some problems. By infringing, we mean additions like balconies or windows that may peek into their gardens and invade their privacy.
Another thing to be careful with is the size of the extension. If it ends up being too tall, it could block the sunlight that usually shines in their garden. You'd have a big issue if they said goodbye to their Sunday morning sunbathing.
Don’t Forget About Drainage
Drainage is one of the last things that comes to mind when building an extension on your home, but it's essential.
You need to take yourself many risks if you don't install a prop to avoid an exposing system from the outset. When it rains and there is no proper drainage system, it can lead to flooding around the building. Over time, this can weaken the foundations, causing cracks or even worse. Another problem you could face is the area around the extension getting waterlogged, which could damage your landscaping.
Ensure You Take These Factors Into Account Before Starting Construction on Your Land
Please consider these critical details before beginning work on your home extension. A big project shouldn't be taken lightly; a great deal of work is involved. However, if you approach the process slowly, step by step, carefully, the final result of the build will be all worth it.