Building Projects
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Things to Consider When Planning a Home Extension
Extending your home is a big undertaking, but you can make the entire process smoother and easier if you take the right approach. The first step is to figure out how you want to extend your home. Do you want to add a conservatory? Or maybe you want to add a new storey with rooms? You can even choose to add a completely new building to your property, but in this case, an extension is not the correct term. Before you get to the actual construction, you will have to plan the project. Make a sketch of your extension and take measurements so that you know how much space you…
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Is Planning Permission Needed?
Planning permission is often a topic avoided and is probably the biggest hurdle homeowners face when taking on home improvements. It is mainly needed when you want to build something new, make a significant change to a building (like adding a conservatory) or change the use of the premises. A good rule to go by is if you think something will affect your neighbours or the environment, seek advice from the planning authority through your local council. With the use of open plan living becoming the norm, many people are looking to convert their floorplans to a more open style. Before taking a sledgehammer to your walls, it is always…
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Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?
When deciding to convert your loft into a new room, you need to check if planning permission is required. Your architect or builder should be able to assist with this, however here are some of the conditions that mean planning permission is not required The total area of the additional space won’t exceed 40m2 for terraced houses or 50m2 for detached or semi-detached houses. If your home has already been extended, make sure you do not exceed these total as they relate to the whole house, not just the loft conversion. The extension does not go higher than the highest part of the roof Materials are similar in appearance to…
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Garage Conversion, What You Need to Know
Home owners often consider a garage conversion when looking for a way to add living space and increase property value, but aren’t sure where to start. Four of the most commonly asked questions about a garage conversion are: 1. Will I need planning permissions? This is largely dependent on whether or not you seek to increase the external area of the garage. If not, the conversion will typically be covered under ‘permitted development rights’ (PDR). 2. Where do I start? Once it is clear that the work is allowed under PDR or planning permissions are acquired, then it would be best to consult a building surveyor, architect or structural engineer…
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Finding a reliable carpenter for your new build project
Building a new property of high quality means finding a reputable tradesman to carry out the work involved. One of the largest parts of building a new property is the carpentry involved. A good carpenter requires excellent precision in their work and finding one that is suitable for your new build project is essential. It can be a daunting task finding a tradesman that produces good quality work and a reasonable price. Start doing your research early on, making sure you read reviews from their previous customers and take a look at the quality of their previous work too. A good quality reliable carpenter should be happy to meet up…
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What to do with a Listed Building
Listed buildings come with their own set of rules and regulations. This might make them sound difficult to work with and to some extent, this is true – you have less creative freedom with a listed building. However, you generally also have something much more interesting and beautiful to work with in the first place so it is in your interests to keep it that way. A listed building needs to be treated with great care. If you are getting work done to it, hire a building contractor who is skilled in working with period properties and listed buildings. They may also be able to offer you some advice on…
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Fitting in with Surrounding Architecture
Architects will often strive to ensure their designs will complement existing buildings and will blend in with the landscape. This is important for an aesthetically-pleasing design that everyone will be happy with and that will look good within the surrounding area. It’s something that should be seriously considered with any architectural or construction project. Sometimes, there may even be building regulations dictating the way properties should look. This is often the case in places like historic villages, where buildings have all been constructed in a certain way. This will dictate things like the colour of the buildings (they may all need to be whitewashed/ made from a certain colour of…
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Putting your Own Mark on a Property
When you buy a building to live or work in, chances are you’re going to want to put your own mark on it. You will have your own preferences in terms of layout, decor, colour schemes and decoration, which you will want to be reflected in your property. If you are in the process of buying a property, or you already own one that you’d like to improve, here are some of the most important things to think about: Is your property listed? If it is, you might not be allowed to make certain alterations. These are usually structural, but in some areas, there will be certain rules covering other…
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A Guide to Building your Own Home
Many people choose to buy a new home that is ready to simply move into. That doesn’t necessarily mean it will be designed to your tastes, though. New builds have lots of variation that won’t appeal to everyone – anything from the roof to the carpets could have already been put in, and might not match your expectations. If you have strong preferences and really want to give your home your own mark, why not build your own? Here are some of the main questions you should consider: Do I have the finances? You will probably need to spend a long time working this out in detail, as you don’t…