What do you want your Extension for?
Planning a brand-new house extension can be incredibly exciting, but there is the danger of rushing into something like this without information that could stop any potential problems down the line. Careful planning in respect to what it is exactly that you are going to fill the room with might open up avenues of design you hadn’t previously thought of. Here are a few snippets of information that we have picked up over the years we have been building house extensions.
Straight away, the design of your house extension can vary depending on a few factors. If you are building a house extension to increase the value of your home then your personal preference for the build needs to take a step back. You want to look at current trends to see what people are using, what people want and what infrastructure you need to put in place so the house extension is future-proof. For example, if you are going to go for smart lighting systems then it might be worth thinking about an area for the equipment to route back to. If you are looking at underfloor heating then this needs to be planned before the main floor goes down. You can always retrofit these things, but it will cost you time and money that it wouldn’t of had you decided these things from the start.
If you are building your house extension because you are settled and do not want to move anymore then the layout of your extension needs to match up with what you want to use the room for. You may have a particular look you want to go for and might of even planned what furniture you are going to put into it. If this is the case then you need to make sure the size of the extension is big enough so you don’t have to compromise on your perfect room.
If you are building an extension because you are having children then the time frame will be a factor for you to think about so getting a huge extension that will take over a year to build may not be ideal right at this time.
Speaking of time
Regardless of size, any extension is going to be a big project. There is always going to be things along the way that will hold you up. Not necessarily problems, but maybe design changes at later stages that hold up further progression for a few days.
It’s a factor to think about if the project is time sensitive.
Amenities
This is another factor to think about before the work starts. If you are building a house extension to have washing machines, fridges, sinks or maybe a gas hob then all of these things need cables and pipes routed to them. Having a floor plan for the appliances will help the architect design the routes throughout the build so nothing has to be retro-fitted.
Style
This is a consideration for yourself and those around you. Chances are that if you want to build a castle style extension complete with drawbridge and moat then there is going to be some grumbling from your fellow neighbours. Style choices can definitely have personal touches but have it in the back of your mind that pushback from the community could be stronger if your extension is bright pink!
Go green
Last point on our quick list (Don’t worry, there will be more information to come)
Do the planet a favour and think about renewables. Solar panels, ground source heating and numerous other technologies are coming along in leaps and bounds. It is definitely worth looking into how you can go greener with your new build. Not only for the environment, but for savings over time. Initial investment can be a bit expensive, but if done correctly, you can be in a position where you have free electricity from our very own mother nature! Again, infrastructure for these things is best allowed for in the design process. This way you won’t be having to find space for equipment to sit if you decide to go down the renewable path at a later date.
These are a few of many points to have a think about before you start building your house extension. Keep an eye out for our future blogs so you can make sure you don’t miss a thing in the planning process.
