Extending a bungalow

PatB

Hi all,

I am new to MSE but could do with some initial thoughts about a bungalow we are planning to buy. We are hoping to buy a bungalow on a a fairly decent sized plot, but need to extend it to accommodate some rooms on another storey.

Does anyone have any Xperia ce in adding another storey to a bungalow?
Would a full second storey be possible or would a former be a better option?
If anyone has been through this process and I'd love to hear if it worked and how much it cost.

Thanks

Pat

Fuzzyness

if you want to add another storey you'll need to apply for planning permission. whether you will get it will depend on a number of things. what is the prevailing character of the street the bungalow is in? are they all bungalows or is it a mix of bungalows and two storey houses?

Flugelhorn

A friend turned a 3 bed 1 bath bungalow to a 5 bed 3 bath 2 reception house some years ago - seemed major issue was whether the foundations were up to it - lots of hole digging went on. Very disruptive when was being done

G_M

The foundations for a bungalow will have been designed for a single storey. The extra weight of a 2nd storey is likely to require new deeper foundations.

An alternative is converting the attic into a room which adds less weight, but you'd still need to have a structural engineer check the foundations and make calculations.

Planning consent will dependon the area. Have other neighbouring bungalows had extensions, conversions etc?

PatB

Hi all

Thank you for these initial thoughts. The bungalow is on a street with virtually all detached homes and is on its own plot with very little in its proximity.

I had never thought about the foundations and I am guessing they are not deep enough. Do I need o get a structural engineer in first before an architect?

Also we have spoke. To planning office who have been positive about our initial thoughts, so wondered what kind of a cost this could be?

Any help welcome

Fuzzyness

when you say detached do you mean they are two storeys in height? if so, that would be helpful in that adding a storey to your property would be in keeping with what is already there in the street. clearly what it looks like will be key so get some plans drawn up and go and have a pre-app meeting with the planning department.

agrinnall

Apart from whether you'll be allowed to do it, the big question is going to be how will the cost of buying and extending the bungalow compare with just buying a bigger house in the first place? I suspect that you may find the latter is a better use of your money unless there are other factors to sway your decision (e.g. there's a lot more land with the bungalow than you'd get elsewhere).

Davesnave

PatB wrote: »

Hi all
I had never thought about the foundations and I am guessing they are not deep enough. Do I need o get a structural engineer in first before an architect?

Also we have spoke. To planning office who have been positive about our initial thoughts, so wondered what kind of a cost this could be?

Any help welcome

You first need some very large holes, which you or someone else will have to dig, in order to expose the foundations, wherever the engineer suggests. Only then will he/she be able to say if your foundations are adequate.

Further, the construction of the roof will govern whether you can build in the loft area or whether a whole new roof and extensions to the walls will be required. If you go for the cheaper option of converting the loft, howerver, you will lose a lot of space at the eaves so the cost per m2 of usable space might be quite high.

Structural steels might also be required within the building, as many bungalows have non-structural inside walls, even if they are made of blocks or brick.

Sorry to sound so negative, but as agrinall says, the cost might well outweigh the advantages, unless the plot itself is particularly good.

We looked into extending upwards with our bungalow, but it made no economic sense, so despite obtaining planning, we screwed-up the design (which was hideous!) and did something else that looked much better.

PatB

Thank you for all of this advice. It's really helpful. The plot itself is lovely and in a highly desirable location.

Davesnaves - can I ask what it was you decided to do with your bungalow. We are open to ideas?

D00gie72

I've just recently extended our bungalow. We extended out rather than up as that's what suited us. With regard to when to get structural engineers in - they will work from a set of drawings of what you want to achieve - so you will need architects drawings first. Also as others have said someone will need to investigate the foundations - which obviously you're not going to be able to do until this bungalow is yours. It may be an idea to speak to an architect now - to get some thoughts about what may or may not be possible on whatever budget you have. Sounds like you have already been in touch with the local planners so they will also give you an idea of what may or may not be allowed. Ultimately though you're not going to be able to make a full plan until after you own the property just go in with a vision of what may be achievable. Depending on how extensive a re-model you are considering it may be cheaper to knock down what's there and start from scratch. Only you will know what your budget is and how that may be best used.


One thing to consider with extending is ensuring you still get some natural light into the centre of the ground floor. Bungalows are notorious for have dark spots that natural daylight can't reach - especially if you extend.

Davesnave

PatB wrote: »

Davesnaves - can I ask what it was you decided to do with your bungalow. We are open to ideas?

We altered the interior, using the space more efficiently, and converted the integral garage and workshop.

We only wanted to go upwards to turn a good view into a fantastic one, but it would have come at too high a price.

As D00gie says, bungalow extensions need care, or the interior becomes dark. We have friends who overcame this with sun tubes, but now they want to downsize, their place isn't selling. I think there might be a connection.