THE IMPORTANCE OF HOME EXTENSION DESIGN

Extending your home can be a great way to add value to your property and provide you with much needed extra space. If your family has grown or you start working from home, adding an extension can make a massive difference to the way you live. Before you start thinking about extension design, you need to do some research.

Firstly, is an extension a better option than moving to a new house?

Depending on the type of extension you want, the cost of moving may not be that different. If you are happy and settled in the area you live, moving may not be an option, so it is time to look at extending.

The Importance of Home Extension Design

You may be aware that your home needs more space, but do you know what for?

In the design process, you can start to think about areas of the home most used and what tasks need the extra space.

Starting the design process with everyone who lives in the home makes sure the whole household gets involved with the project.

If you can, it is a great idea to start with the ideas and needs of the household before you involve a designer, architect or builder. Try and sketch out a plan for the space and where you want furniture and fittings.

A well planned and thoughtful design is what is required for accurate costs. If you have a tight budget, this is particularly important.

As part of the design process, you need to check the surrounding area of the planned build to help identify any potential problems.

Planning an Extension Design

Once you have an idea of the kind of area you want to extend into, there are some important points you need to check.

The best place to start is where you expect the boundary walls of the extension to be built. Will these walls be near your neighbours?

All newly built extensions need to comply with building regulations, and for new foundations, you may need to give notice under the Party Wall Act.

Consider how the team doing the building work will have access to the site. Do you have side access to the property and how wide is it for equipment?

You will need to investigate if the current services for the property can be extended, such as the heating and electrics.

Other aspects to check while planning the design are if there are any trees to cut down or any underground pipework to work around.

If you are extending out to your back garden, consider whether you want to install bifold doors.

Aluminium bifold doors are built with energy-efficient thermal glass to keep your property cool in summer and warm in winter.

To ensure a smooth transition from inside to outside bifold doors can be built with a low threshold.

Single Storey Extension Design

The most common type of extension design is a single-storey extension to the rear of a property into the back garden.

Within permitted development, you can extend your property by 8m to the rear without the need for planning permission. However, you need to make sure that not more than half your garden is covered.

If your property is listed or in a conservation area, you will need to check with your local planning authority before starting any work.

To make the most of your extension, and if you have the budget available, it is a good idea to work with an architect. This will enable you to obtain detailed drawings of the extension design for planning and building.

A local architect will have knowledge of the area and planning department so they will be able to recommend the best approach for your extension. They will also help keep your spending on track by carefully planning the build.

When planning the design for a single-storey extension, it is important to plan what natural light will be lost or created.

The last thing you want to do is create a new space that is dark and gloomy.
It is normal for single-storey extensions to have a flat roof to protect the sightlines of upper windows and neighbours.

A Skypod roof lantern can be fitted to any flat roof to add a sense of space and flood the room with light.

Extension Design Features

At Direct Roofing Systems, we have everything you need for installing bifold doors and Skypod roof lanterns.

Bifold doors and roof lanterns can be some of the most important features of an extension, so please get in touch to find out more about our range.