The 5 Most Common Mistakes People Make When Building Their New Extension
The 5 Most Common Mistakes When Building an Extension
Building a new extension to your home can be a great way to get more out of your property. An extension could allow you to have an open plan dining and kitchen area while enlarging your living room. Or it might allow you to add a bedroom or en suite bathroom upstairs. Whatever your goal, it is important to avoid some of the common mistakes people make when building an extension.
1. Neglecting Proper Planning and Design
A hasty decision often leads to poor planning and expensive alterations. Many homeowners dive into an extension project without a clear vision or detailed design. It’s important to take the time to thoughtfully plan the layout, functionality, and aesthetics of the new space. Involving a professional designer or architect can help ensure that the extension meets your needs and complies with both planning and building control.
2. Skimping on Budgeting
Underestimating the costs associated with an extension is a frequent error. Its important to be realisitic about how much things will cost. When setting your budget, be sure to include not only the construction costs but also allowances for unforeseen expenses, planning permissions, and professional fees. Always plan for a contingency fund to cover unexpected issues that may arise during the building process.
It can be a good idea to contact a builder early to give you some indication of price. While architects are experts at designing, they do not always have up-to-date information about prices. If you are in our local area (Berkshire, Reading, Newbury, Oxford etc) reach out to us for a no obligation chat about your plans.
3. Ignoring Planning Permission Requirements
Planning permission can make or break your project. With the improvements to permitted development it is often possible to build a good sized extension without planning permission. However, if you are looking to build something more substantial, its worth getting a designer with experience getting projects through your local planning department. Before you do anything it can be worth looking at your local council’s website on planning to see what they offer:
Reading:
https://www.reading.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/
West Berkshire:
https://www.westberks.gov.uk/article/35561/Planning-Applications-and-Advice
South Oxfordshire:
https://www.southoxon.gov.uk/south-oxfordshire-district-council/planning-and-development/
This link also has more information on permitted development:
4. Trees and Foundations!
The relationship between trees and foundations is relatively complex. If you live in an area like Reading, Newbury, Berkshire etc you may find that your soil is mostly clay. Apart from being harder to dig, clay can absorb water and swell. Conversely, when its very dry clay can shrink. This can cause something called ground heave which can damage foundations and walls. In normal circumstances this is controlled with co-ordination between your builder and building control officer who will typically make your foundations deeper to combat the effects of ground heave.
Trees add to the problem by drawings water at their roots encouraging the shrinking of the clay soil in dry periods. On the other hand, if you cut down a tree, the surrounding soil can swell as more water enters the area.
There are various methods to determine whether a nearby tree is going to cause issues. The easiest is to download the NHBC Standards App (links below) which will take you through identifying the tree and tell you if the foundations will be impacted.
Some trees have almost no impact on foundations. Some trees can mean you will need to take specialist advice. Its better to look into this before you spend large amounts of money on a design and get builders quotes. Architects in our experience, do not typically check for trees. KJ Building will always arrange a meeting with our clients on site when we are asked for a quote. We will check for trees on that visit and inform you if we think there might be issues.
Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.nhbc.standardshub&hl=en_GB&pli=1
App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/nhbc-standards-hub/id6466400275
5. Choosing the Wrong Builder
Choosing the right builder is the most important decision when building an extension. They are going to be in your house for a few months at least and you need to be comfortable with them. Many homeowners opt for the cheapest quotes without considering the builders experience and reputation. It’s vital to research potential builders, check references, and ensure they have a solid understanding of your vision and the construction process. A trustworthy builder will help guide you through the process and ensure quality workmanship.
KJ Building are polite, courteous and experienced. You can be sure that we will look after your home and deliver on time and on budget.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can make your extension project a rewarding experience, creating a beautiful and functional addition to your home. Take the time to plan thoroughly, budget appropriately, and work with reliable professionals to achieve the best results.
