Extensions

Shaping your property to your needs.

Every homeowner wants to maximise the space they have, and opting for an extension allows them to do just that. The extra space created can be utilised by the homeowner in any number of ways; from a new space for entertaining, to a design that allows a seamless transition between house and garden – an extension can really bring a new lease of life to any property.

House extensions

A house extension is the creation of extra space by building and connecting a new structure to your existing property. There are as many reasons to consider an extension to your house as there are types of extension to decide between. Perhaps you’ve fallen in love with your home but your family is threatening to outgrow it, or perhaps you’re looking for more room to entertain friends, or maybe you’ve taken up a new hobby that needs its own dedicated space.

Equally, you might be thinking from a more business-minded perspective, and are looking to maximise the return on your initial investment into your house. Maybe you’ve got some dead space above, below, or around your house that you think could be put to better use. Or perhaps you’re just looking to transform your old space into something new and vibrant.

Whatever the reasons, there are a huge number of extension styles to choose from, to suit every taste and budget. Whether you’re looking for a simple, low-cost project turning a disused loft into another bedroom, or you want to radically alter your space by removing load-bearing walls and adding in a multi-storey extension, there’s an extension option to meet nearly every need.

Below, we’ve put together a guide to some of the most popular types of extensions. Drawing on our many years of experience as construction specialists working in the London and Surrey area, here are what we think are some of the best ways to extend your space.

Simple Loft Conversion

Despite being large, open spaces in their own right, lofts are often treated by homeowners as nothing more than a convenient place to hide away Christmas trees, suitcases, and other rarely-used items.

However, converting your loft into a bedroom or study can be an excellent way to add space and value to a house without investing too much time, effort, or money into an expansion project. Loft conversions don’t usually require planning permission, don’t involve significant structural work, and can add significant value to a property.

If you’re looking for something more extensive and have the space, you could also consider including an en-suite shower room in your loft conversion.

Garage Conversion

Like with a loft conversion, a garage conversion reworks the space already available to you, rather than requiring you to build an entirely new structure. We don’t recommend garage conversions if parking is at a premium where you live, as space to store a car can be a huge attraction to new buyers. But if there’s plenty of room and you don’t need the garage for more practical purposes, then a garage can easily be converted into an extra living area.

Provided the garage is attached or integral to the house, you can also consider knocking through into the main building to create a more seamless extension to your space. If the garage is in poor condition, you could also demolish the existing structure and use the free space to build a new extension.

Side Return Extension

A lot of terraced houses built in the Victorian period feature an L-shaped ground floor, with the kitchen usually in the thinner, rear part of the house, with an outside alley running alongside. A side return makes use of this alley space by filling it in with a single storey extension to create a large kitchen extension or a combined kitchen/dining space.

This is a great way to bring much-needed light and room to what can often be quite a cramped part of your house. Re-modelling the kitchen at the same time can be the perfect opportunity to bring in interesting features like islands and breakfast bars, while the new space can be built to incorporate sliding doors, skylights, and panels of glazing that help bridge the gap between house and garden.

This type of project involves building a new room from scratch, and can also mean removing load-bearing walls and making other significant alterations to the structure of your property. As such, you can expect the house extension cost to be higher, as well as planning to require approval. However, the benefits from both an investment and quality of life perspective should more than balance out this initial investment.

A Double Storey Extension

Finally, if you have the budget and space, you could consider making more radical alterations to your home by adding a double storey extension.

These projects can take nearly limitless forms, from modern, innovative additions to the rear of an otherwise traditional house, to more subtle extension projects like a combined side return and loft extension to balance the increased number of bedrooms with a larger living area.

As long as you have the room, the resources, and the approval of your local authority, the only limitation on the form your extension takes is your imagination.

Choosing a Construction Company

Regardless of the scope of your proposed project, it’s important to choose a reliable and experienced company to carry out the work. At Ash House Investment Ltd. we have significant experience working on extensions and conversions of all sizes and costs across the London and Surrey area.

We’re a fully insured, guaranteed local family business. We’ll work closely with you, liaising with suppliers and architects on your behalf, to help make your extension dream a reality. For more information or to discuss your project in more detail, call us today on 0208 395 6498, or email us at info@ashbuild.co.uk.