A Guide To House Extensions
There are many reasons to get a house extension, particularly in London’s wonderful urban environment and infamously hectic property market. Whether you’re looking for some extra space or bedroom for a growing family, a home office, games room, gym or simply to increase your property’s value, there are numerous advantages to maximising your house or property’s potential.
Contributing to more comfortable living or enhancing the natural light in your home, house extensions also allow homeowners, with the expertise and skills of an engineer, to customise and reimagine their space.
Often a cost-effective alternative to moving, particularly in London, house extensions allow homeowners to retain their beloved property and maintain their location.
Types of House Extensions
There are numerous types of house extensions, with some specifically applicable to certain property types, and offering numerous advantages.
Single Storey Properties
Rear Extension
A rear extension is one of the most common types of single-storey home extensions, adding additional space to the back of your home. Rear extensions are typically used for living areas and entertainment rooms, kitchens or dining rooms.
Side Extension
Similarly, a side extension adds additional space to the side of your home, and is often used for bedrooms, bathrooms or home office spaces.
Two-Storey Properties
Full Width Extensions
A full-width extension to two-storey properties refers to extending the entire width of the home, creating additional floors and extra living space.
Part Width Extensions
A part-width extension is a more minor extension which only alters part of the home’s width, typically used for bedrooms and bathrooms.
Loft Conversions
A loft conversion is also one of the most popular way to create additional rooms or expand your space. Typically used for rooms such as bedrooms, bathrooms or home offices, discover our full guide to loft conversions here.
Orangeries
Orangeries, such as glass-walled extensions or conservatories, provide plenty of natural light and connect the home to the outdoors. Orangeries are a popular option for dining areas and extra living rooms.
Planning Your House Extension
Before contacting a structural engineer to provide house extensions design, it’s important to assess your requirements and the goal of the project. Taking space requirements and budget into account, it’s important to understand which specific areas of the home need to be extended, in addition to considering the cost of materials and labour.
Architects and structural engineers can work with the input of homeowners to provide a functional and aesthetically-effective design to fulfil the needs of the project and comply with any local building regulations. The role of a structural engineer is to ensure structural feasibility of the project, and whether it can withstand the local climate and conditions.
Design Features
House extensions offer numerous opportunities for customisations and design considerations.
For enhanced natural light, house extensions can utilise large windows or skylights to harness natural light, creating a bright and airy space. House extensions can also maximise home energy efficiency, utilising energy-efficient materials and insulating to reduce your energy bills and carbon footprint.
Aesthetically, home extensions can incorporate stylish designs to enhance the overall appeal of properties.
Construction Process of House Extensions
- Demolition: To commence work on a house extension, some demolition of the existing structure may be necessary.
- Foundations: To support the weight and load of the extension, a solid foundation must be laid or repaired.
- Construction: The walls, roof and structural components will be constructed as per the specification by the structural engineer.
- Plumbing & Electrical: To make the enhanced living space functional, plumbing and electrical systems will be installed or extended.
- Cosmetics: The final step is to add interior and exterior touches, such as plastering, painting or landscaping.