Has anyone done an extension REDUCTION?

smollions

rosie383 wrote: »

I agree with Dave. When the foundations for our extension were being dug, we discovered that next door's foundation for their extension was literally 1 brick deep. Total bodge job.

Yeh I think we'd have to get the foundation checked... I have no idea how much work/cost that even is!

Davesnave

smollions wrote: »

Yeh I think we'd have to get the foundation checked... I have no idea how much work/cost that even is!

When I did it, I dug the holes, which cost nothing, except toil. They immediately filled with water, so don't do this in winter!

I found the foundations were adequate and I got planning, but I couldn't come up with a cost-effective and pleasant-looking upstairs extension to my bungalow, so I binned the lot and started again.

First ideas aren't always the best ones!

smollions

Davesnave wrote: »

When I did it, I dug the holes, which cost nothing, except toil. They immediately filled with water, so don't do this in winter!

I found the foundations were adequate and I got planning, but I couldn't come up with a cost-effective and pleasant-looking upstairs extension to my bungalow, so I binned the lot and started again.

First ideas aren't always the best ones!

Oh wow! How did you clear the water? haha. Is there a certain depth the foundations have to be for a two storey? I wouldn't trust myself to dig! I can hardly put together furniture!

SplanK

If you have yet to buy the place, then I understand the concept of 'doing work' to a house to make it yours, or to give you extra space, however to undertake such a task you are suggesting suggests that this *isn't* the house for you!


Why shrink an existing extension (which will be more or less bring down the existing extension and rebuild), then to extend again later.....seems like an awful waste of money when that money could be better spent on buying a house that's already right for your requirements now, and your future requirements (I expect you have an understanding of this given your desire to re-extend later....).

Davesnave

smollions wrote: »

Oh wow! How did you clear the water? haha. Is there a certain depth the foundations have to be for a two storey? I wouldn't trust myself to dig! I can hardly put together furniture!

You don't clear ground water, you just wait for the water table to drop.

Digging is simple, but knowing if your foundations are adequate for another storey isn't. This is why you employ an engineer who will look at the ground as well as the foundations. Some ground conditions need larger foundations than others.