Looking to buy a bungalow to extend.

Doozergirl

aneary wrote: »

Make sure you check for recent extensions rules do change, also look for bunglows with a high pitch then dormers fit in an look nicer rather the box on the top the house.

I've lived through two loft coversions plus total refub downstairs (one with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom the second had four bedrooms 3 bathrooms and a dressing room) oh and my dad did it so we had the whole washing up bowl and microwave for a kitchen for a bit, be prepared for mess and dust and lots of it a dyson will not cope!!

Good point about the Dyson. Better to buy a cheap hoover and be prepared to kill it.

I'll never live in a major renovation project again.

00ec25

don't assume a bungalow will have been built with foundations strong enough to support an entire new storey

chappers

EachPenny wrote: »

The main issue with loft conversions is the kind of structure supporting the roof. You may need to have the roof removed entirely and everything above ground floor ceiling level rebuilt. You'll only know the scale of the work needed once you've been able to look in the loft.

Also quite often more so with a bungalow, the last conversion we did on a bungalow required a huge big cranked steel A frame set on its own foundations.
Floors are usually more problematic as often there are no structural supporting walls inside.
It might be closer to the ground but loft conversions in bungalows are usually more problematic

lincroft1710

You will usually pay more for a bungalow, than for a similar size 2 or 3 storey dwelling. You could end up buying somewhere, spending a fortune on extensions and end up with somewhere that has cost you the same or little less than a similar size, purpose built 2 storey dwelling.

Don't underestimate the stress and mess a major extension programme will cause.

aneary

Doozergirl wrote: »

Good point about the Dyson. Better to buy a cheap hoover and be prepared to kill it.

I'll never live in a major renovation project again.

Wickes do a great henry like hoover that is £40 it's great only had an issue when a bit of plaster board got stuck.

Red-Squirrel_2

lincroft1710 wrote: »

You will usually pay more for a bungalow, than for a similar size 2 or 3 storey dwelling. You could end up buying somewhere, spending a fortune on extensions and end up with somewhere that has cost you the same or little less than a similar size, purpose built 2 storey dwelling.

Don't underestimate the stress and mess a major extension programme will cause.

Was going to say the same, there is often a premium on the cost of bungalows compared to same size houses, so why would you pay more and restrict your options when what you want in the long term is a two storey house?

Just get the house and skip the pointless bit!

davilown

Having just bought a 2 bed bungalow in my 'dream' location and spent 12 18 hour days renovating it (with 2 other people), living in such a project can be problematic. just having no heating with wet plaster is not good for the chest.
I'm looking to extend this one up and out (fingers crossed) and will start by the attic conversion. Thankfully I had it checked by a surveyor and its ready to go with minimal disruption

aneary

I have too many stories to tell about conversions my favourite has to be when dad pulled furry wallpaper off the wall and half the plaster came off, now he hates plastering at the best of times let alone when he knows he will be pulling the wall down in less than 6 months.

gettingtheresometime

Can I just ask why you're looking for a bungalow but prepared to have all the hassle of converting it into a two story house?

chappers

aneary wrote: »

Wickes do a great henry like hoover that is £40 it's great only had an issue when a bit of plaster board got stuck.

Can't beat a Henry for site work mine is probably 15 years old run it without the bag, still going strong had a couple of new filters though