When it comes to extending the home, there are many things that you can do but many people choose to go for a wrap around extension. If you are planning to extend your home then it can help to understand what a wrap around extension is and what it can offer you.
What are Wrap Around Extensions?
Essentially, a wrap around extension is located on your property’s ground floor and wraps around the building. Therefore, it takes an L-Shape that extends from the back of the property and around its side. This will give you an extension that transforms the look of your property while giving you more space.
They are a common choice for those who live in period properties as the side return consists of space that is wasted. The most amazing thing about a wrap around extension is how it can add as much as 15 to 60m2 of additional space to a property.
What Can a Wrap Around Extension Add To Your Home?
The reality is that a wrap around extension will enable you to reconfigure your home. This means that you can add a new kitchen that offers additional functionality or you can choose to add a new playroom. You can also divide the space into multiple spaces giving you even more functionality. Therefore, they can be used to create the following spaces:
Planning to extend your property? Here’s what extension can do.
- New kitchen
- Open-plan living-dining
- New Bedroom
- Utility room
- Bathroom
- Children’s playroom
- Study room or office space
- Open-plan dining area
- Informal lounge
There are many things to consider when designing a home wrap around extension. First of all, begin thinking about it as an empty shell and how you plan to maximise that space. You’ll need to plan the space smartly and take advantage of the space without forfeiting comfort or the look.
There are many different things that you can do too, to make your wrap around extension look different. You can choose to blend it into the design of your home or add zinc cladding to create contrast. You can opt for roof lights to add more light or add in large sliding doors to take advantage of your outside space. The possibilities are endless.
How Long Does It Take to Build an Extension?
The actual building process for a home wrap around extension can take around 3 to 4 months. This will also account for the fitting of fixtures and fittings as well as kitchens.
However, the actual process is longer because it can take around another 6 months when you factor in planning permission as well as other permissions such as the Party Wall Act.
Wrap Around Extension Cost
Of course, providing an absolute cost is difficult as each home and each person has a different set of requirements. However, it is still possible to provide the average cost of content for a home and this means that you can expect to pay around £1,750 to £2,750 per square metre.
Again, the overall build cost of your wrap around extension will be determined by several variables such as the complexity of the design, the structural work required and the level of material finishes, fittings and fixtures. If you’re planning to install a new extension, you should hire a professional builder to help with the construction and installation of the new extension.
However, there are other costs that you will need to consider such as the planning application fee and the building control application fee as well the fees of architects, structural engineers and party wall surveyors. The cost of architect fees can differ depending on the company that you choose but you can expect to pay a leading construction company around 8-12% of the build cost for the entire process from conception to completion.
Do I Need An Planning Permission for an Extension?
Whether or not you need planning permission will depend on the size of your existing home, and the planned size of your property extension.
If your extension is small in comparison to the home, you may be able to build without explicit permission under permitted development (PD). Make sure to check the most up to date rules before proceeding with a build, just in case any of the eligibility criteria for PD have changed.
How To Find and Choose a Good Reliable Builder?
Building a home wrap around extension requires experience and expertise, so you need a reliable construction building company. Therefore, it pays to ask questions about their experience of building wrap around extensions and how they carry out the process. It’s also worth asking if they will handle the entire process or whether you will need to speak with architects yourself. Of course, it can help to research by talking with past clients and even looking at past works that they have completed. If everything feels right and they are happy to answer all of your questions and provide evidence, they are likely to be the right fit.