Extension help and tips?

eem151

My husband and i are planning on doing an extension this summer, i was wondering if anyone who had done an extension had any tips or advise, that they had learnt along the way that which they wish they knew at the begining?
Thanks in advance x x x :T

phill99

'Future proof' your extension. Don't think the lifestyle / facilities you have or need now will be the same in 10 years time.

For instance, if you think you will need 4 electrical sockets now, then put in 10. The cost now is almost negligible compared with cost of putting extra sockets in later. Plus put in phone sockets / broadband connections even if you don't think you will need them. Again, very low cost now comapred to later.

Think about heating. Does your noiler have the capacity to add on a couple of rads or will it need upgrading?

If it's a single storey extension, think about putting in foundations that are sufficient to take a first floor extension at a later date, so that you have flexibility if you need it in the future.

kabayiri

eem151 wrote: »

My husband and i are planning on doing an extension this summer, i was wondering if anyone who had done an extension had any tips or advise, that they had learnt along the way that which they wish they knew at the begining?
Thanks in advance x x x :T

We have been planning a decent sized extension, and wanted to start this 18 months ago, but for various reasons it got put on ice until now.

We got quotes then from recommended local building firms, and we have had quotes now.

The difference between then and now is that we have had the drawings drawn up of what we want, and have spent a lot of time defining all the detail.

The builders seem happier discussing what we want when they can see information in detail, and the initial quotes seem to be much better. I got the impression before that they had to buffer all sorts of unknowns into the cost.

Just our view of course!

eem151

phill99 wrote: »

'Future proof' your extension. Don't think the lifestyle / facilities you have or need now will be the same in 10 years time.

For instance, if you think you will need 4 electrical sockets now, then put in 10. The cost now is almost negligible compared with cost of putting extra sockets in later. Plus put in phone sockets / broadband connections even if you don't think you will need them. Again, very low cost now comapred to later.

Think about heating. Does your noiler have the capacity to add on a couple of rads or will it need upgrading?

If it's a single storey extension, think about putting in foundations that are sufficient to take a first floor extension at a later date, so that you have flexibility if you need it in the future.

its going to be two extension, my husband is an electrian so the sockets and that wont be a problem. Thats a good point about the heating system, its a oil combi boiler which was in when we moved in 5 years ago.

thanks for replying x

eem151

kabayiri wrote: »

We have been planning a decent sized extension, and wanted to start this 18 months ago, but for various reasons it got put on ice until now.

We got quotes then from recommended local building firms, and we have had quotes now.

The difference between then and now is that we have had the drawings drawn up of what we want, and have spent a lot of time defining all the detail.

The builders seem happier discussing what we want when they can see information in detail, and the initial quotes seem to be much better. I got the impression before that they had to buffer all sorts of unknowns into the cost.

Just our view of course!

We have spent such a long time having the plans drawn up (final copy is nearly done), i think im most worried about when the builder gets involved we wont have a clear idea of what its all going to cost, and will run over budget, im hoping the builder can give us a clear idea. thanks x

Tucker

There's lots to think about.

If you pay ground rent, you will need permission from them before you start.

Building regs will be needed, so check your builder will deal with this and if the fee is included in the price.

If your hubby is in the trade, have you concidered organising it yourself using individual tradesman to do each bit?? You will save a fortune. Mine came in at almost half the cost I was quoted, although I did do a few bits myself and gained a few grey hairs!

eem151

Tucker wrote: »

There's lots to think about.

If you pay ground rent, you will need permission from them before you start.

Building regs will be needed, so check your builder will deal with this and if the fee is included in the price.

If your hubby is in the trade, have you concidered organising it yourself using individual tradesman to do each bit?? You will save a fortune. Mine came in at almost half the cost I was quoted, although I did do a few bits myself and gained a few grey hairs!

we are planning on doing this, he has lots of friends in various different trades so this will save us the most money. im normally the organised one in the marriage who sorts most stuff out, so it all seems like a massive task to me, and ive no knowledge of it all, think im gonna have to sit back and let him get on with it. Im not so good at not being in control lol x :rotfl:

1jim

sorry for butting in on the thread...just noticed a house down the road has had planning permission granted for an extension- just like we would like really so am starting to think that we might get this done.
Plans- did the builder draw them up or did you get someone else to do this.....I was thinking of bing cheeky and downloading the plans from the planning dept and using them as a basis for ours
does having an extension put you into a higher council tax band or will they do that when the bands are next reviewed?