Extending or renovating your home? What should you consider?

What should you consider when extending or renovating your home? Please note that this list is not exhaustive as each home extension and renovation projects requirements may be bespoke.

01

Structural Elements

If you are proposing to remove internal walls, it is prudent to first confirm whether they are load bearing. Existing walls may be supporting masonry work, floor joists, rafters, stairs etc. Steels are often required to compensate for the removal of structural elements. It can be conducive to liaise with a structural engineer from the outset.

02

Wall Insulation

Many older properties have either minimal or no cavity wall insulation. This allows heat to percolate through the walls creating a very cold atmosphere as heat struggles to be retained within the building envelope. Upgrading the thermal efficiency and performance of a property via installing internal insulated plasterboards, external insulated render systems etc. will aid in combatting this issue. You may also want to inspect the floor and roof insulation.

03

Manholes & Drainage

If you are looking to extend your property and there is an existing manhole within the vicinity of the proposed footprint, it will need to be relocated. Sufficient distance must also be maintained between sewer pipes and new foundations. If the sewer pipe is public (connects to neighbours etc.) an approval will need to be issued by the relevant water utility company. Elements which could impact this process include depth of inspection chambers, defects in existing pipes, position of existing pipes in tandem with position of new walls etc. It can be advantageous to undertake a CCTV drainage survey prior to starting the design process.

04

Right of Light & Privacy

A home extension should not compromise its neighbours right of light which could be impacted by the overall massing of the development. Neighbours privacy should not be affected. This can be considered via the position of windows, sizes, distance from internal finished floor levels and whether the glazing will be clear or obscured.

05

North Point

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Once the sun path has been established, the position of glazing can be strategically placed to maximise on natural light.

06

Planning Permission

Will the work you are proposing to undertake require planning permission? If planning permission is required, it is prudent to consider whether your property is in a conservation area, is it a listed building, is it situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty etc? Each element may influence how you approach the design process. Smaller developments may satisfy permitted development stipulations thus not requiring planning permission however, it must be ensured that all stipulations are met completely.