The One Stop For Extending and Altering Property

Building Extensions - What to Consider

With rapidly spiraling house prices in Southport forcing more people to stick with their current property for the time being, a number of homeowners are choosing to extend their existing property in order to gain extra space without having to sell up.

The thought of moving costs -  renovating to your own taste and not to mention the upheaval of moving home is a daunting one that can run into tens of thousands , and it may not end up being as pleasurable as where already situated. Although the cost of building an extension can be significant, it is a sure-fire way to add permanent value to your home and will serve those looking to move away in a few years time just as well as those who are setting up for the long haul. It is important to realize that the funds outlaid initially will be wisely invested and returned on sale of the property.

As with any major project, there are a lot of factors that need to be carefully considered before any work on an extension can be undertaken. From initial designs to planning applications, supplies to labour costs, each stage of the process has the potential to cause disruptions to the project if it is not thought through before hand. We consider ourselves the experts in simplifying this process of adding an extension to your home, making the idea less daunting – supporting and advising you through the entire build. Ranging from a small porch or conservatory to a large extension - all jobs are within our limits.

Plans Drawn & Submitted

We cover every aspect of the build from the initial ideas to having plans drawn along with technical advice from our structural engineer. To submitting the plans on your behalf and dealing with any council planning red tape and bureaucracy . We take away the need to source independent separate services for your project.
With a combined 50 years in building and extending experience -  and  a  well experienced build crew and trades, we have all the necessary people to ensure your home extension is completed on time and on budget.  With the opportunity of regular organized meetings during the build for questions and recaps on any specification changes and general updates giving our clients peace of mind throughout the build.

Design and planning

It is important to keep in mind the 'look and feel' of your existing property when designing an extension. Try to match the most prominent features, such as the roof, with those of the existing building and use similar materials where possible to ensure a sense of continuity. It is also a good idea to make sure that any new doors and windows line up with existing fixtures which would be catered for at the highest standard from our “ Double Glazing sister company.”

Planning permission

For most people extending a property, a successful application for planning permission will be necessary before any work can be undertaken. Planning seeks to control the way that neighbourhoods, towns and cities are developed, focusing on the way that land is used, the appearance of buildings, landscaping considerations, road access and the impact that a development will have on the environment. You will definitely need planning permission if:

• The proposed home extension is higher than the highest part of your original roof
• Any part of the proposed extension is over four metres high and within two metres of your property boundaries
• The ground area covered by the proposed extension covers more than half of the total property area (excluding ground covered by the original building)
• The total volume of original property is increased by more than 115 cubic metres (volume is calculated using the external dimensions of the structure: length x breadth x height)
• The total volume of original property is increased by more than 10% (or 50 cubic metres, whichever is greatest) for terraced houses, or any property in a conservation area.