Why Extending your property?

Are you hesitating to move because you love your house and where it is, but you just need some extra square footage, then a house extension can transform the space into a stunning kitchen room or open plan living room?

Whether you intend to extend up, out or to the side, there are some key things to know before your project begins.

So What Should You Consider Before Building an Extension?

Any Shared Walls

If building your extension involves digging or building foundations within 3m of the boundary, party wall or party wall structure, or digging foundations within 6m of a boundary, the work will require you to comply with the Party Wall Act.

The next important point will be to respond to the question:

Do I Need Planning Permission When Building an Extension?

Not necessarily. In many cases you will be able to build an extension under Permitted Development (PD). These rights allow certain works to be carried out to your home providing you meet the criteria.

Under Permitted Development, the following rules apply:

You can extend a detached property by 8m to the rear if it’s a single-storey extension, or by 3m if it’s double
A single-storey extension can’t be higher than 4m on the ridge and the eaves, and ridge heights of any extension can’t be higher than the existing property
Two-storey extensions must not be closer than 7m to the rear boundary
Side extensions can only be single storey with a maximum height of 4m and a width no more than half of the original building
Any new extension must be built in the same or similar material to the existing dwelling
Extensions must not go forward of the building line of the original dwelling
In designated areas (such as conservation areas, etc), side extensions require planning permission and all rear extensions must be single storey
An extension must not result in more than half the garden being covered

What is a Lawful Development Certificate and Do I Need One?

Even without the need for planning permission, it’s worth applying for a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) from your local authority to confirm that the work was lawful and met Permitted development requirements and didn’t need planning permission.

Building Regulations for Building an Extension

Whether you require planning consent or not, you will need to make sure you comply with Building Regulations. To comply you will have to submit the building drawings at least 5 days before the starting of the building works.

The building inspector visits your site at different stages and inspects the work as it progresses.

How to Design an Extension

You can opt to employ a design and build company that is recognised to be the most efficient way, or you can find an architect to help with the design of the project.

The few tips for the design will be to

Work on the Concept Design
Make Detailed drawings- is very important to have as many details as possible
You must Have the budget set

Should You Move Out While Extending?

This will be a decision to make whether you’ll be able to cope with the disruption or not.

A large extension project with remodelling of the property will be stressful

Extending Your Central Heating

Before you start work you should reassess your heating requirements and check if your existing system is large enough to cope with the extra rooms you intend adding. If your boiler does not have the capacity it might be more economic to add a second system rather than replacing the boiler.

You may well pay less in the long term by opting for a separate electrical system rather than having to fork out a large lump sum for a new boiler. Many people opt for electric underfloor heating or electric radiators.

Extending Your Electrics

If you are adding a kitchen to your house you are likely to have to add a circuit that goes directly from the distribution board. For any other work, unless it is very extensive, it is usually possible to extend the existing ring circuit.

Ring circuits are restricted to 100m² but any number of sockets can be provided on this system.

An extension will give you the opportunity to add to your existing power points. Many people in this position take the opportunity to replace single socket outlets with double ones and install outside lighting.

As a Design and Build Construction Company we will be with you from the concept design all the way through including the build itself until the completion of the Building certificate.

We operate in Fulham and surrounding areas.

For more information you can find us following the website: www.2vprojects.co.uk

Or you can email us: vladimir@2vprojects.co.uk tel: 07578930828