 You wont find many people who say self building is easy but you will find many people who will say go for it and it's worth it!
For Self Build..... - You will have the layout you want - You are in control - It can be around 40% cheaper then buying a property of a similar size - You will know everything about the building - It will be a great learning experience Against Self Build..... - It is very hard work - Costly mistakes can be easily made - Lots of paperwork to get through and understand - You may have to do a lot of the labouring yourself
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 You've decided you would like an extension and where it will be but what do you do next?
To get the ball rolling you don't need to know exact meaurements or postions or materials your extension will be built out of. Discuss the extension with a builder who can be your one and only point of call. Ensure the builder can provide architecural drawings, designs and ideas based on your brief and of course, build the extension too. Ensure your builder can advise on whether planning permission is required and if your ideas are feasible and can suggest alternatives if not.  Image taken from www.edenwood-building-services.co.uk A small extension to your living area or kitchen can make more difference to your usable space than you may expect. Build out into the garden by just a few feet and knock out the existing external wall to create added space. You may even want to add in a fire place and flue or large glass opening windows. A single or double storey extension could be the alternative to moving to gain the extra space your family requires but with no hassle and exspense of moving. A single storey extension can have foundations suitable for a double storey extension and then built on and up at a later date. Wrap around extensions can be built to create extra space to one or more rooms on the ground floor, the kitchen, dining or living room - or all if the external space is available. Roof windows can be added also to add maximum light to the existing parts of the house and the new.  With party season in full swing you find yourself inviting people over for drinks and nibbles but in the winter you can't really rely on the garden for extra space. You find everyone crambed in the kitchen and close to the food and drinks!
Why not make 2017 the year you add space and value to your home. Whether you would like more space to entertain or just more space in general a good room to extend, if you have the available outside space, is the kitchen. Turn your kitchen into a spacious kitchen diner with large opening sliding glass doors opening into the garden for the warmer evenings. Make valuable space for a large table and many chairs for all your guests and more.  If you are wanting to add space to your home an good solution is to convert your loft.
Where the pitch and head height don't allow for a full conversion to create a useable extra bedroom or study for example the loft can be carefully transformed into useable storage space to free up valuable space in the rest of the house. A head height of a minimum 2.2m is usable, dormers can be installed to increase the usable floor area and allow light into the new room. You will need to strengthen the joists to take the weight of people and furniture and you will also need to think where and how you will get a staircase to climb up to the new loft room. If the ceiling height in the room below is high you may be able to lower the ceiling height to give the loft conversion more head room. The most expensive way to convert your loft is to completely redeisgn, remove and rebuild the roof structure and will require planning permission.  Is your kitchen really small or set out incorrectly? There's no need to move, extend, add value and add space.
Adding a conservatory or orangery onto your kitchen can provide valuable space for furniture or a table and chairs to make your kitchen a kitchen diner - if you like your kitchen and it funtions perfectly well this could be the answer to adding extra space, no need to refit the kitchen just add extra useable space. If your kitchen is so small that a refit and extension is needed you need to work out if you have room to extend out. Adding a large bay window could add valauble light and a little extra space if there isn't suffieicent room to extend into. Where space is available a large extension with large byfolding glass doors into the garden could create the best room in the house, with room for an extended kitchen, table and chairs and even a sofa.  You've decided you want an extension and you want it now but have you thought about it and planned it correctly. The better planned the whole process the smoother it will be.
- It has to get worse before it gets better - The build will involve mess and dust, digging and materials outside and walls being removed, made good and dust inside. Have you considered where any furntiure in the way will go whilst the build is taking place. If you are taking a kitchen out have you considered how you will cook for the days you have no appliances. If you are taking a bathroom out have you considred where you will shower and bath and how long there may not be a plumbed wc available for. If you have children is it worth them moving in with family or friends for the most desruption few days of the build or it is possible to take a holiday and leave the builders to it. - Budget - Has the build from the very start to the very end been priced and budgeted for. Remember to include for skips and muck removal, do you have a contingency for those unforseen essentials, have you costed the finishing and decorating and decoration to the adjoining part of the house. Check exactly what your builder has included for and importantly what they haven't included for. Can you save money by providing the building materials yourself and setting up an account with a local builders merchant who will agree to price match. Does your build expectation match your build budget. - Purpose - You may have decided you have room to extend but have you decided what that new space will be, an extension to the kitchen, an extra bedroom, a study, a snug. Don't just build a space without considering it's use, imagine you and your family using the room, how much natural light will it need, how many electrical points, any access from outside. - Architects, Planning, Neighbours - Consider if your extension will require planning permission, will it impact on your neighbours in any way, call round to discuss it with them before you do anything, you need them on your side. Do you share a party wall, will you be obstructing their right to light, will you need to enter their property during the build. Will your extenion require and Architect to design and draw plans. - Who will build it - Do you know any builders, will you go out to tender to at least three builders and compare their prices, have neighbours had any building work done recently and would they recommend their builder to you. If you don't have any contacts ensure you ask your potential builder for references and follow them up. Don't be affraid to knock on doors of people who have had building work carrried out and ask about their builder. - Plan - Plan as much as possible and ensure all possibilities have been thought about, prevent the problems before they happen. Plan the programm for the build, plan the budget and plan the impact on your day to day life for the duration.  Loft conversion (roof extension)
A loft conversion for your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, provided certain limits and conditions are met. Important note: The permitted development allowances described here apply to houses, not flats, maisonettes or other buildings. You should check with your Local Planning Authority whether permitted development rights apply – they may have been removed by what are known as Article 4 directions. Other consents may be required if your house is listed or in a designated area. Wales: This guidance relates to the planning regime for England. Policy in Wales may differ. Contact your local planning authority for further information. Details and more info taken from: https://interactive.planningportal.co.uk/mini-guide/loft-conversion/0  Not all elements of building work require Planning Permission.
Works to doors and windows can be some of those, www.planningportal.co.uk says: "You do not usually need to apply for planning permission for:
New roof lights or skylights will not normally require an application for planning permission providing:
Also, if you are a leaseholder, you may first need to get permission from your landlord or management company". Reference take from: https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/14/doors_and_windows  Details and image taken from www.dailymail.co.uk Could a two bed house which can be built for only £50,000 be the answer to the housing crisis?
No need to save thousands for your deposit, the money you save may actually build your whole home. Use prefabricated, low cost modules to design the layout of the house with 66 square feet of usable space. These modules can be used as home, offices, shops, schools or even hotels on larger scale. Timber is used for the building of the fully furnished modules, they are eco friendly and can additional features such as solar panels included in their design. The Modulhus by Barton Willmore and EcoMotive are just one example of a way forward to enable people to afford their own homes. |
Whether you are thinking about undertaking a Self Build Project, a Home Renovation or Home Extension, yourHomeBuild provides you with expert advice and guidance. |
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