Renovations and extensions

Transformation through renovation.

Around 30% of homeowners are planning improvements to their home in the near future, this may come in the form of updating specific rooms, building extensions or full scale renovations. A large proportion of those improvements planned are medium scale projects such as new bathrooms or kitchens but there are many considering larger projects such as loft conversions to create more floorspace or practical storage areas.

Increasing in size is something most of us wish to achieve within our current homes and this may come from the aforementioned type of loft conversion to make the most of what may otherwise be wasted space or to branch out into the garden or driveway with a conservatory or extension. Extensions are often necessary to create the desired kitchen or dining space but to bring the outside in, conservatories are most popular as a second sitting room or chillaxing area.

There are many ways to make the most of your current home, start for example by evaluating the costs and benefits of building out into the garden as a single extension of a few metres could be enough to transform a cramped kitchen diner. It is not always necessary to build new either as many homeowners relegate their cars to the driveway or sell off unused gym equipment that occupies a cluttered garage in order to make better use of the space for the family. Extending living space into a garage will require no new foundations or roof and thus offers a very cost-effective solution.

Rather than a full extension, consider introducing a more cost effective walk-out balcony to increase floor space and create an alfresco dining and sitting area. Glass balustrading, especially frameless glass systems allow for uninterupted views whilst keeping out the wind, a great place to enjoy a glass of wine with friends and family on a warm summer evening.

Loft space is predominantly used, poorly, for storage. A converted loft can make a great playroom, office, bedroom or lounge area however not all lofts are suitable. A simple way to check this yourself would be get into the loft with a tape-measure and measure the height at the highest point- if you have around 2.5metres or more, the space should be suitable to convert into something more useable. A minimalistic spiral staircase can be used for access without impacting greatly on the area below for access. The area around the void can be made safe with a glass balustrade for a modern extension or a more rustic design of railing barrier for traditional settings.

So whatever the reason to expand and however small or large the project it is always prudent to seek the advice of professionals. Appointing an architect and a building contractor would be the first steps to making significant progress as this would cover the design and any associated tradesmen as required. For those with the inclination to do so, handling individual trades and project managing yourself can be rewarding if not somewhat stressful also but allows individual vision to develop more naturally.