Cost of adding a new floor to a bungalow?

BML

We currently live in a bungalow and I'm considering adding a floor. We did this many years ago and I can't even remember what it cost then so it couldn't have been to painful. Planning permission would not be a problem as several people in the area have already done similar alterations.
I would like to consider what sort of cost this would entail in Oxfordshire before we go any further but the builders I've contacted don't even bother to reply so they must be very busy?

Badger50

Raising the walls or a loft conversion?

k3lvc

BML wrote: »

but the builders I've contacted don't even bother to reply so they must be very busy?

Or they understand the futility of the request on a cost vs benefit basis


Seems a strange thing to have done before and not understood the costs - are you in the habit of buying bungalows when you really want/need a house ?

quantumlobster

It strikes me that adding a floor would cause an amount of disruption to daily life far surpassing that caused by moving house, and probably a similar amount of stress.

Of course, the OP might be very invested (emotionally etc.) in the garden or location. It's hard to overstate the understandable bond a keen gardener can develop with their garden.

Davesnave

It depends on what you mean by 'adding another floor' and the nature of the beast you own, so no one can give you even a ball-park figure on the info provided.

Not all bungalows are created equal, so when we looked at putting an upstairs on ours, we soon realised that in terms of sq ft per £1k spent, it would be lousy value. The architect tried, but it still looked like a dog's breakfast too, so we binned the plans and extended elsewhere.

Yes, builders of any merit are busy. Making vague enquiries often leads nowhere and it's frustrating, but personal recommendation is the way to go. Bang on doors if you see something recently done that you like. That's what we did....then the guy got a £2m contract and we had to go elsewhere! :rotfl:

Davesnave

quantumlobster wrote: »

. It's hard to overstate the understandable bond a keen gardener can develop with their garden.

Even worse when there are fields, all with the right aspect, no public access, free water and a great village community as well.

Upping sticks impulsively may create more disadvantages to overcome just one.

pinkshoes

BML wrote: »

We currently live in a bungalow and I'm considering adding a floor. We did this many years ago and I can't even remember what it cost then so it couldn't have been to painful. Planning permission would not be a problem as several people in the area have already done similar alterations.
I would like to consider what sort of cost this would entail in Oxfordshire before we go any further but the builders I've contacted don't even bother to reply so they must be very busy?

Getting a (decent) builder in Oxfordshire is a bit like getting blood out of a stone.

I know a very good one but his waiting list is VERY long.

As your project is quite a big one then you should get SOME interest, but do check theymhave done a similar project before and have references for it. My neighbour found out the hard way!! The builder she used is now bankrupt!

G_M

The biggest isue will be the foundations.

Are they, or are they not, deep/substantial enough to bear the weight of the extra floor? Most foundations are designed to support the house that is built upon them - not to support double the weight!

You'll need to
a) excavate next to the foundations to expose them, and hen
b) get a Structural Engineer to inspect and report

Nobbie1967

G_M wrote: »

The biggest isue will be the foundations.

Are they, or are they not, deep/substantial enough to bear the weight of the extra floor? Most foundations are designed to support the house that is built upon them - not to support double the weight!

You'll need to
a) excavate next to the foundations to expose them, and hen
b) get a Structural Engineer to inspect and report

A friend of mine planned to add a first floor to a bungalow and had some trial holes gug around the foundations, but in the end they had to demolish and build a house from scratch due to other issues that arose. That was after they had a portable home craned into the back garden at great expense.

rach_k

If several others have already done it locally, it can't be too outlandish an idea. OP, could you speak to somebody who's done it on a house similar to yours? Even if you don't know them, I think most people would be happy enough to pass on details of a builder they were happy with. If you get lucky, you might find somebody who is happy to show you everything, tell you how much it cost etc.

Doozergirl

G_M wrote: »

The biggest isue will be the foundations.

Are they, or are they not, deep/substantial enough to bear the weight of the extra floor? Most foundations are designed to support the house that is built upon them - not to support double the weight!

You'll need to
a) excavate next to the foundations to expose them, and hen
b) get a Structural Engineer to inspect and report

That's not strictly true for the average modern house. The foundation design isn't different for a one storey or two storey house. Foundations for houses are designed to hit solid ground to provide a solid base that does not move.

The OP still needs to do everything you say though, because the foundations may be insufficient to meet current regulations - for either of a one or two storey house. That is the issue.