Extensions
Similar to a loft conversion, building an extension to your existing house can be a relatively cheap and efficient way of gaining space, as compared with moving to a larger property. One particularly quick, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly option where extensions are concerned, is timber framing.
Apart from the obvious advantage of space gain, and that of increasing the value of your home, building an extension so as to create an extra room or expand an existing one can also add character to the house, making it more attractive overall. An extension can be an annex to the main house but also very much a space in its own right, with its own distinctive character. You may wish to make the area high-ceilinged, for example, with Velux roof windows to shine in light from above, giving the feeling of space and a larger room.
Extensions are not only built out from the rear of the house, into the back garden. The front of the house may be extended, and porch areas created or expanded. Owners of semi-detached houses may consider extending the building sideways. [This next part in a call out box, with an image of the house?] For example, we recently constructed a two-metre, double-storey extension to a semi-detached house. To keep the extension from looking simply like a box sticking out of the side of the house, we gave it a sloping as opposed to a flat roof, then re-roofed the whole lot to give the impression of a single, unified building.
As with other major structural work undertaken in the home, extensions need to conform to UK building regulations. We will look after this side of things for any of our jobs that it applies to.
Timescale and Cost
An extension can take anywhere between 4 weeks and 4 months to complete. Whether it is to be a single- or double-storey extension will clearly be a factor here.
While the work is going on, disruption to the rest of the house should be minimal, as almost everything takes place behind, in front of, or adjacent to the property. Except for when it comes to the stage of knocking through and/or adding doors to connect the extension to the main house, any mess remains outside. We are clean workers who endeavour to keep mess and disruption to a minimum.
The cost of an extension can be anything from £5,000 upwards, the average being £20,000 - £30,000.
“I am so pleased we used SFB carpentry. Salvatore arrived early every morning, worked cleanly and professionally, stuck to the time and costs estimate and swept up all sawdust outside before finishing. I highly recommend him.”
