Extension costs north west 2024

FreeBear

Lunielumps said:

Thanks all. 
It is a fairly simple box stuck on the side, with some steels to open up the rest of the house so nothing unusual. 

@FreeBear is the £74k unrealistic? i don't want to choose a build low balling to get the job but i also don't want to pay over the odds for no particular reason given its a pretty basic extension. 

You said a side extension and the RSJs to open up the back of the house - This is more than just a simple box. Depending on where the steels are going (and the size), your box could be a major engineering exercise. Without seeing drawings, it is impossible to give an informed opinion.

Fitted kitchen, plumbing, electrics will all push the cost up - If your £74K includes those extras, it is starting to look too cheap.

Which ever quote you decide to go for, don't forget to add another 25% on top to cover unforeseen problems. If you go cheap, might be better to budget 50% for the surprises.

boots_babe

Albermarle said:

boots_babe said:

You sound similar to us. Our extension will be 21 sqm, no rewire but need smaller old extension knocking down first. 2 steels, 2 skylights.

We are in the North West, Lancashire. 

After much chasing have finally had quotes in. They range from £60k, £80k, £115k to £130k, all figures are excluding VAT.

Bit baffled by the huge variance, but with 2 lower quotes and 2 higher it's not as though there is an obvious outlier.

So like you we are now quite confused as to the best option.

Builders seem to often quote high when they are very busy, rather than just saying they do not really want the job.

I realise that, but both of the higher builders have actually been chasing us for a decision, so they do seem to want the work.

Doozergirl

Albermarle said:

gzoom said:

Our very extensive and complex (35 tons of steels) refurb/build is coming in at just under £2500/sq meter as we head towards completion. That figure include a decent size/spec kitchen, £5k front door with 4.5 meter sections of glazing with alu frames, all new wiring, new boiler, fully tiled down stairs etc etc.

A variation in quotes is quite normal, we had a 50% difference between the cheapest quote to the most expensive, and 2 out of 6 builders who came to the house didn’t even bother to quote. 

Absolutely no need to overpay, but do make sure you go with a builder you can trust, is willing/comfortable referring you to previous customers for feedback etc. The really good builders also should be booking jobs into 2025 now, I would be very careful for of anyone who can start straight away. Demand has softened but good builders will always be busy.  

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6469163/our-home-renovation-project-opposite-of-mse-philosophy#latest

As this is a much bigger job than the OP is looking at, you are presumably benefitting from some economies of scale in your cost per square metre.

A lot of that project is refurbishment and conversion, which you'd expect to be cheaper per metre overall than new build.  I don't think it's a good comparison for many jobs. 

gzoom

Doozergirl said:

A lot of that project is refurbishment and conversion, which you'd expect to be cheaper per metre overall than new build.  I don't think it's a good comparison for many jobs. 

On paper yes, more a refurbishment....but the reality only 3 walls remains of the original house, the complexity of the steel frame was mind boggling, and we haven't really compromised on fit/finish.

I'm not sure how we it looks like we are going to come in at £2500/sq meter all in, but I'm not complaining