loft conversion or ground extension?

schwam66

Just was curious which was the cheaper way to go, we are just finishing up purchase of a bungalow and want to either have a 3 meter extension(10 meter wide) or what has been also proposed is a loft conversion...obviously alot of thing would affect prices but which of the 2 would likely be the cheaper option? what does a loft conversion usually cost?

thanks in advance.

Doozergirl

A loft conversion would be cheaper than an extension of the same size.

No point even attempting to answer how much they cost. We know nothing about it.

Structural engineer first for a loft conversion to establish usable size.

schwam66

thanks doozer, what does a structural engineer charge for a site visit? am in stoke-on-trent area.

FreeBear

If budget would stretch to it, I'd go for 4m of extension which I believe is allowed under "Permitted Development" and have a pitched tiled roof. Then if you ever decide to go for a loft conversion, you'll have a much bigger space to play with.

Davesnave

The viability and cost of a loft conversion on a bungalow is governed to some extent by the size and construction of what you already have. Obviously, if the height isn't there, you'd have to create it.

I had an architect design me a loft conversion, but to be honest, my bungalow wasn't best-suited to it. I even had planning pass the design, but to my eyes it looked like a pig's ear and the amount of usable space wasn't great either.

In the end, I binned the whole thing and did something else.

System

In general terms a loft conversion will be cheaper to do - bit in my experience the two things are usually done for different reasons: loft conversion to add bedrooms/en suite and ground floor extensions to increase living area. I've only ever done much larger granny flat type extensions with bedrooms...
If you have the money, do the extension first and have the loft for future