If this is the first time planning a house extension from scratch, then you need a couple of tips on how to make it a successful one.

House extension is a move that helps preserve the quality of your home by adding in more square footage. It’s a great way to rejuvenate and add a bit of longevity instead of moving out.

But planning for a house extension isn’t as easy as what it initially sounds. That’s why we’ve pieced together an article with the 6 tips you need to make it a success.

Without further ado, let’s start.

1.  Make Sure It Complies With Local Building Regulations

If this is your first time extending your house, then you need to make sure that it complies with your local and even state building regulations. For example, you might want to erect another floor, but you need to make sure that you can.

Luckily, finding this information is very easy as all you need to do is Google your local Building Regulations and make sure if you can get approval.

To get an approval, you will most likely need to make sure you have these as a minimum:

• Fire safety
• Ventilation
• Energy efficiency
• Structural integrity

These are considered as the bare minimum throughout the United Kingdom, but these regulations can also vary from state to state.

2.  How Big Should the Extension Be?

This is yet another important thing you need to take into consideration. Namely, you won’t be extending your house every single year and will most likely leave it like that for decades to come.

So, an important question to ask is “How big or small should the extension job be?”.

But bigger isn’t always better when it comes to such a project. You might be thinking about adding extra square footage to the overall size of your property, but this isn’t always the best course of action.

What you need to do is think about the design itself and make sure that you’re getting worth for your money. To help out with that, make sure to follow through with the next tip which is…

3.  Hire the Right People

This is a vital one that cannot be overlooked. When doing a house extension, there are tons of people you can hire to help or fully take over the project. From designers, architects, contractors, builders, and even companies that provide all that into a single service, there are many.

But you should focus more on quality rather than paying less. This is something that impacts your life very much, so you shouldn’t hassle over money.

Getting the job done in a fast and quality matter will make all the difference in the future. Home extensions, loft conversions, and home refurbishment jobs aren’t mean to be light on your pocket.

If you’re interested in hiring the right people for the job, then make sure to visit KPD Construction.

4.  Sewage Is Important

Whenever thinking about the extension itself, you should think long and hard about proper sewage. Chances are, this part of your home will serve some role. It might be a guest house, an extra room, a kitchen, a bathroom, etc.

But what all of these have in common is one thing – they all need quality sewage. For the sewage system to be operational, you will need water.

That’s why you should make sure that there’s running water before you even start the project. If there isn’t a sewer available within 3 meters of the main valves from the newly extended part, then you will need to build one.

To build one, you will need to dig out a large manhole that will act as one. Building a sewage system is very hard, very tricky, and very expensive, so make sure you’ve got this one over the line before you fully commit.

5.  Where Will You Extend?

Do plan on extending a new floor above an existing one or do you plan on erecting above the garage? Regardless of where it is equally important that the existing structure can fully support the weight of the extension.

Single-storey and garage extensions aren’t best for this task as they’ve proven time after time again that they’re far too weak. But technological advancements have somewhat made this costly error a possibility.

To extend over a single-story, you will need to strengthen the existing floor first. There are many ways to do this of which the most logical and popular one is to reinforce with a steel frame. A very cost-effective method is to completely demolish and start over from scratch by embedding the steel frame into the concrete foundations.

Regardless of which, you don’t want to be building above where there is no room to hold the thing in one piece.

6.  Where Will You Live?

This is a question that always gets asked at some point during the planning phase. Namely, have you thought about where will you live while the extension job takes place?

Do understand that even if the extension doesn’t directly impact you, you will experience quite a lot of noise, dust, debris, and all kinds of other things.

Living in the same house where an extension takes place is quite an unpleasant thing. Also, this job leaves your property vulnerable to external threats such as burglars and weather conditions.

What you should do is look for a temporary rental where life can continue as normal while the extension is completed. You should also take care of your things and keep them safe someplace.

Conclusion

There are lots of things to take into consideration while a home extension takes place. We think these 6 are some of the most important ones that should be carefully thought out before starting the job.

With countless other tips available out there, pay close attention to the job as the sooner it gets done the sooner life will resume as normal. But this time, your home will look somewhat different.