Constructionomics

In this article, we’d like to share 5 more important things to consider when planning your new house extension.

Haven’t seen our other 5 top tips yet? Check out part 1.

1). Budgeting

There are many aspects of budgeting to consider, but one of the most important is being realistic with your money. Some fixtures may be more expensive than you expect, some construction features may cost too much in labour or materials, or there may be unexpected costs.

Of course, without considerable design and build experience, it can be difficult to estimate just how much something is going to cost until you’ve had a chance to discuss it with the experts. That’s why the key is just to be mindful of the possibility, and create some alternative back-up options for your favourite ideas in case they turn out to be too expensive for your current budget.

2). Sockets and switches

Often, furniture placement in an existing room is at the mercy of nearby electrical sockets. If you want to place an appliance somewhere without a socket nearby, you either have to call an electrician, feed through an extension cord or simply choose somewhere else.

However, with a house extension, you have almost full control over where your sockets and switches will go, so it’s important to consider their locations carefully. The best way to do this is by planning out a rough idea of where your furniture and electrical items will go, and then ensuring that adequate sockets are nearby. For example, a television set or entertainment system would require a nearby socket, and if you use smartphones and tablets, a socket right beside a seating area can come in very handy.

Proper consideration for switch placement can also be useful. For example, if you’re creating a bedroom, you can place another main light switch next to your bed, enabling you to turn the lights on and off without walking over to the door.  They’re little things, but they all add up to make the final result better suited to your needs.

3). The outdoor elements

What’s going on outside is an often-overlooked aspect of a house extension, but it’s well worth taking into account when making key decisions. Some examples include:

Sound – Will a new bedroom be facing a busy road or other source of sound which would be a nuisance? Perhaps it might even be close to a driveway where cars pass through very early in the morning or late at night. Always try to assess all forms of potential sound pollution and how they may impact the new rooms in your extension.

Sunlight – Depending on the direction a window is facing, it may get lots of direct sunlight coming through, or none at all. That’s why it’s important to see where the sun will be in relation to the window throughout the day to ensure that it works to your preferences.

Privacy – If a bedroom or bathroom window within a new extension is directly facing a neighbour’s window, then it may cause privacy concerns.

Street lamps – Are there any street lamps near a planned location for a window which may cause light pollution at night?

4). External design

Alongside internal design, the outside façade of the extension is something which is important to consider as well. An extension will look like less of an extension if the brickwork, roof style and windows all match the existing building.

5). Storage

Whilst house extensions are generally used to add existing rooms, they’re also useful for adding additional storage space. Storage can be built into the new rooms, or there could even be a small room or closet which is dedicated for that purpose. This can have a big positive impact on your home overall. For example, it can de-clutter existing rooms, and if you use a storage shed, it could be downsized or even removed entirely to free up more space in your garden.