Tag / extensions

Thinking about adding some extra space to your home? Our “Extension” category has all the information you need to plan and execute a successful home extension project. From ideas for design and layout to tips on budgeting and hiring contractors, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re looking to add an extra bedroom, a home office, or a larger kitchen, we can help you turn your vision into a reality. So don’t let a lack of space hold you back – start exploring our extension resources and take the first step towards creating the home of your dreams.

April 9, 2024 by Joel Butler

Three Reasons To Consider Loft Extensions

loft If you already have a loft where people are living, you might realize that this area is very small. You might not be comfortable with allowing your kids or family member to live in such a small room and you will want to extend the room out. This can be tricky because of the location of this particular area of the home and may require a very specific type of contractor. Once you have found one of these businesses, you should be able to have them complete the job in a minimal amount of time. Here are three reasons that you should consider getting a loft extension done, and then how to find the best company for this type of project.

What Are Loft Extensions?

A loft, also referred to as an attic, is an area above the house which is typically where there is room enough to move around. With a typical house, there is often just enough for a crawlspace area but larger houses will have so much more. You will be able to actually put bedrooms, and you can also add a bathroom if you need to. Even though the roof will slope, there is still plenty of room in the center of this area of the home where people can live comfortably. The way that you extend your loft is to actually take portions of the roof itself and extend the outward. You will have to have supporting structures changed so that the house itself does not collapse because it uses the trusses and beams in this portion of the house in order to remain stable.

Three Reasons To Do This

There are three specific reasons that you should consider doing this. First of all, you are trying to expand on the amount of room that you have in your house and you have essentially never used the loft area. You may realize that it’s not really large enough for people to have everything that they need in terms of space, and you will want to upgrade. Second, you might be selling your home in the next few months, and before you listed, you can have this loft extension done to improve its value. Not only that, the larger the area is upstairs, the more appealing it will be to a wide range of people that would like to make use of this upper portion of the home because of the extra square footage. Finally, you may want to do this because it will improve the overall appearance of your house. You may have a simple roof but by adding extensions upstairs, it can really add to the curb appeal. This would be most beneficial if you are trying to sell your home, and therefore would be a good investment to make.

After you have received all of the estimates from the people that are offering their services to do loft extensions, you will certainly find one that will help you with the project you have in mind. Always try to find someone that comes with good reviews, reviews that you will be able to find on the web and utilize one of these companies. You need to make sure that they are able to divide you with the help that you need at a price that you can afford. You should see examples of what they have done four other people on their website, and based upon what you see, and the prices that they charge, you should have no problem at all finding a contractor that will be willing to work with you on your schedule.

April 9, 2024 by Joel Butler

How To Find A Contractor To Do Affordable Kitchen Extensions

If your goal is to do a kitchen remodeling project, and you would like to get this done for an affordable price, it will take a little bit of effort on your part to find the right contractor. Kitchen extensions can be expensive, costing thousands of dollars, and you will want to spend your money wisely with a competent contractor that understands how to do kitchen extensions. You will want to look for a company that has a website that can showcase the different jobs that they have done to get a better idea of how they work. Once you have found several companies that look promising, you will need to get estimates from each one to determine who will be able to do the job for less.

How Do You Locate These Businesses?

It’s actually very easy to locate these companies that will be able to help you. They have the tools, expertise and more than likely a track record for doing these types of projects. Once they come out, they can talk to you about what it is that you would like to accomplish and then begin to prepare an estimate for you. These will come back in a couple of days, no more than a week, and then you can choose from the estimates that you received from these companies.

Price Vs Experience

You will have to make a decision when you are looking at the different estimates that you get back, determining whether or not to work with the least expensive company or one that is slightly more that has the best track record. It is often a better idea to work with a company that has examples that are very similar to what you are looking for, even if they are slightly more expensive. If they are the most expensive, then it’s just a matter of your budget. You do want to be happy with the work that is accomplished. You can then decide on the business to work with that will be able to construct this for you, helping you to feel more comfortable in your home and also increase its value.

How Long Will It Take Them To Complete The Job?

It is going to take them a few weeks, in most cases, to complete the job you are requesting. It just depends on the size and complexity of the kitchen extension that you are trying to achieve. You can look at different examples online of the companies that have examples of work they have done in the past only looking at images, and as they complete the project, you may want to make some modifications. However, if you stick with the plan, they will likely be able to get this done in a week or two which is probably what most of them will be able to accomplish. Just remember that any changes that you make may add to the overall cost, and how long it will take to finish the project, so try to have the idea in mind for exactly what you want before contacting these companies.

Affordable kitchen extension contractors are easy to find online. The Internet makes it easy to evaluate them as well. Some of them will have exceptional ratings on Yelp and Google, allowing you to see what they have done for other people and how happy they were with the projects that were completed. The combination of getting a good price with a company that is highly recommended by people that you have never met that have left testimonials online is the best combination to go with and will likely lead to a finished product that you will definitely enjoy.

April 9, 2024 by Joel Butler

Basement Extensions: The New Renovations

basement extension The mega-rich are known for having huge mansions and oversized properties. The new way the rich expand their homes is through huge basements that may go down two or three stories, big enough for multi-car garages and swimming pools.

However, basement extensions are just for the super-rich. An average suburban homeowner can put in a basement extension below their foundation. Even if there is water below your home, it is possible to put in a basement extension.

Putting in a decently-sized basement extension can be a much better option than buying a new home, especially in expensive metropolitan areas. For example, in London, most houses are very small and above-ground expansion is difficult due to building restrictions. A basement extension could make room for another bedroom and bathroom for guests, or a playroom for the kids.

Putting in a basement extension impresses the neighbors, too. Don’t be surprised if your basement extension inspires others to do the same. It could bring up the property values of your whole neighborhood.

A new basement extension will require some logistics. For example, if there’s water under your home, you’ll have to put in pumps to keep the water out. In fact, the best plan is to put in a pump, and then a backup pump in case that one fails. If your area is prone to serious storms or frequent power outages, you might consider a backup pump with a battery or other independent power source. That way, in a major storm with both flooding and a power outage, your basement will stay dry.

Of course, you do need to be considerate of your neighbors when putting in a basement extension, just like with any new construction. The equipment used to put in a basement extension is large, unsightly, and noisy. Make sure access to the construction area doesn’t pass over a neighbor’s lawn or walkway, as the heavy equipment can cause damage. And try to limit construction to the hours when your neighbors are at work, to avoid disturbing them.

Watch out for changing economic benefits to your new basement. There is talk of charging a “basement tax” in the borough of Westminster and other councils. This tax would pay for inspectors who come out to make sure that construction noise and deliveries don’t overly disturb the surrounding neighborhood, as well as making sure the new construction complies with relevant building codes. This could add thousands to final cost of your basement.

A basement extension is a good way to add value to your home in an area where ground-level construction is too expensive or banned by regulation. It’s surprisingly cost-effective if the new construction adds functional living space instead of extravagant extras like a swimming pool or extra garage. However, be aware of logistical issues like underground water, and try to keep your construction from overly disturbing your neighborhood. You aren’t alone in considering a basement extension – the new “basement tax” in some areas proves that it’s a growing industry.