House Extensions in Kent

House Extensions, Kitchen Extensions, Bungalow Extensions

We can create a single or two storey rear or side extension to your home, giving you the additional living space you require without the expense and hassle of finding and moving to another house. Our company is a local general contractor that can help you:

• create an extension plan and apply for a building permission,
• carry out side, front and rear home extensions from the initial phase of planning to the very last step of the project.

Our house extension architects are specialists in developing both traditional and modern property plans.

Enlarging the kitchen and creating a single storey extension in order to set up a dining room has always been a popular reason for having an extension among our clients, but with a 2 storey extension you can now look to create additional bedrooms at the same time. This can also significantly increase the value of your home if you do outgrow the space and decide to sell.

We can handle all aspects of both small and large house extensions, from design and plan to project management of the constructing process – providing you with an extension that fulfils all your requirements and gives you an extra living space.

We are house extension builders operating in South East London and Kent, offering an extensive range of comprehensive house extension design and build services, including:

• kitchen extensions, dining room extensions
• front, rear and side house extensions
• traditional and modern house extensions
• bungalow extensions
• commercial property extensions
• loft extensions
• dormer extensions, chalet extensions, semi detached house extensions
• bathroom extensions

Increase the size of your kitchen by incorporating a new home extension that will significantly improve the comfort of living and create plenty of room for the entire family. Consider contacting us to arrange your site visit by one of our skilled tradesmen. We will be happy to discuss your options, recommend the type of a kitchen extension that you can benefit from most, and finally, make arrangements for a planning and designing your new kitchen.

House Extensions in the UK: Essential Things You Must Need To Know

Do you live in a locality where you’ve got good neighbours and friends along with everything nearby? Are you looking to have a bigger house to accommodate your growing family? If your answer is a resounding “yes” to any or both of these, opting for house extensions would undeniably be your best bet.

Moving into a bigger home, even in the same area where you presently live, could certainly be an option but that would likely bring a significant financial responsibility your way. Home extensions are not only a highly cost-effective alternative to buying a new house but they offer a plethora of other benefits as well – from letting you tailor the design according to the exact needs of your family to skyrocketing your property value due to the custom work done.

Another great thing about building house extensions is you get complete freedom in terms of choosing the type of home extension ideas based on your budget, requirements, and time constraints. In short, this would allow you to spread the work over long weekends and holidays in accordance with the funds you have available.

To help you make the most out of your house extensions, we’ve divided this post into two sections – twenty-three best home extension ideas and an FAQ section to answer all your questions about home extensions UK.

So, let’s get started.

Top 23 Home Extension Ideas

You can easily create a relaxing and beautiful new space to transform the way you live with the help of right home extension ideas and their proper execution done by a top-tier building company. Here, we’ve jotted down twenty-three of the most stunning house extensions ideas that should help you get inspired.

• Loft Conversion

While we often use the attic or loft in our homes as a storage space for unused items, you can easily turn it into a wonderful living space while adding value to the house. Based on the available area, it’s possible to add 1 or 2 bedrooms along with a shower room.

• Front Extension

If the front door of your house opens up one of your living rooms, adding a porch is one of those small home extensions that would not only transform the look of your property but provide you with additional indoor storage space and a place to shelter from the rain as well.

• Over Garage Extension

Building on top of your garage is more cost-effective than a ground floor extension as long as the existing foundations can bear the additional load. This type of extension lets you increase the upstairs living space without taking up the garden space. Based on the available area, you can add a decent-sized bedroom along with a shower room.

• Conversion of the Internal Space of Your Garage

Upgrading your garage’s internal space is another very cost-effective idea if you hardly use it. Based on your requirements and structural specifications of your garage, you can convert it to a decent habitable place or a nice home office to enjoy added functionality and value.

• Side Return Extension

This is one of the single storey house extensions that leave a great impact on the feel and look of your house despite being relatively small home extensions. By working with the available alleyway space at the side of your property, you can add a decent utility room or home office to the house.

• Rear Extension

If executing a side return extension isn’t a feasible option for your property, a rear extension would be the best idea to extend your house’s size while adding an open plan living space. If you love to entertain your guests, this idea would help you achieve that effortlessly while adding a touch of class to the house.

• Wraparound Extension

You can also combine the above two ideas to create one of the common Victorian house extensions – a wraparound extension. If you’ve got an L-shaped property or it has an alleyway leading to your home’s back, you can easily maximise space by executing this type of extension. It’s important to note that building a wraparound extension doesn’t come under permitted development and hence, you must talk to your local authority first before proceeding ahead.

• Basement Extension

This is one of the most expensive ideas for house extensions and should be tried only when you don’t have any other option left to increase the space of your house. By digging down, you can significantly increase the size of your house and add home entertainment space, utility room, arts and crafts area, games room, among others.

• Garden Room Extension

One of the trendiest house extensions, a garden room lets you incorporate the outdoors while hugely increasing the liveable space of your house. Usually, it appears as a semi-glazed room with a wooden or tiled floor along with large vertical glass panes to promote the vaulted ceiling. It can cater to a multitude of space requirements – from cinema room and home office to kid’s playroom and home gym.

• Conservatory Extension / Orangery Extension

Any of these home extension ideas would serve you well if you’re looking for a cost-effective option to add extra living space to your house. Mostly built with full glass roofs, these home extensions are generally allowed by permitted development rules and tend to complement the house by having design features similar to it. 

• Double Garage Conversion

A double garage conversion essentially gives you more flexibility by letting you create a well-sized kitchen, a bigger living room with an en suite bedroom, or a perfect annex for entertainment and relaxation. According to your needs, you can also leave a single parking space by putting up a proper fire-rated and insulated partition.

• Cellar Conversion

Converting your existing cellar is one of the smart and cheap home extensions to increase the space in your house. Based on your intended use, you might need to consider different cellar waterproofing options along with proper heating and ventilation to turn it into a habitable space.

• Double Storey Rear Extension

This is one of those house extensions that not only help you distribute the available space efficiently but also makes your house look more aesthetically pleasing as well. These kinds of semi-detached house extensions help you gain quite a bit of additional space to be used according to your needs – from a larger kitchen to an extra bedroom.

• Double Storey Extension

A double storey or two storey extension is a more cost-effective option than a single storey extension and lets you create additional space both downstairs and upstairs. You can create a wonderful living space downstairs while utilizing the upstairs for an additional bedroom or two. Remember that permitted development rules are only applicable to rear double storey extensions and hence, you’d need to seek permission if you plan to extend elsewhere.

• Bungalow Extension

Bungalows provide us with all the rooms on one level and usually come with a good-sized plot and garden. Whether you plan to join two separate buildings together or extend a bungalow, using a glazed walkway would be a great cost-effective option to improve the look and the performance of the property.

• Kitchen Extension

If you want to increase the space of the ground floor of your house, a kitchen extension would be one of the most effective home extension ideas. By making some simple changes in the layout, you can allow an ample amount of natural light to reach the extended area. You can also create a space for lounging if you have an appetite for that.

• Addition of an Annex

Adding an annex would be particularly useful if you have teens, young adults, or elderly parents who prefer independent living. In most cases, an annex remains associated with the main house and offers a fully-featured mini-property having a bedroom, a bathroom, a living room, and a kitchen area.

• Glass Extension

If you’ve got a big budget and are looking to make an unparalleled design statement, opting for a glass extension (also known as a glazed extension) would probably be the best bet. While glass house extensions are inherently more complex tasks than regular extensions, you can make it less complicated by incorporating conventional structures like a steel frame coupled with folding-sliding or sliding glazed doors and floor-to-ceiling glazing.

• Addition of a Bathroom

By adding a new bathroom, you would not only be able to make your life easier but increase the value of your home significantly as well. Try to use classic styles and neutral shades while allowing a good amount of natural light to stream in. If you cannot add a whole new bathroom, adding a shower room to the existing ones would be one of the effective yet cheap home extensions.

• Deck Extension

If you’ve got a structurally sound deck in your house, you can think of extending it to increase the outdoor living space. However, make sure that the existing deck structure is secure and stable enough to support the larger surface and increased weight of the new deck. Also, maintain a balance between the deck area and your lawn and be sure the extension doesn’t overtake the garden or overshadow the lawn.

• Flat Roof Extension

Mostly found in single storey houses, flat roofs help your home achieve a wonderful modern and contemporary look yet in a cost-effective manner. These are especially useful when adding a bulky pitched roof would block or overshadow the existing windows. You can also add design elements like light wells and skylights to increase the visual impact.

• Cantilever Extension

If your house has contemporary architecture, opting for a cantilever extension would help you add space by offering an addition to one of your existing cramped rooms. These types of small home extensions would let you add at-home luxuries such as providing space for a window seat, installing a bathtub in a bathroom, etc.

• Terrace Extension

Terraced house extensions are ideal if you’re planning to transform the feel and look of your existing layout by extending the area and opening up the rooms. There’re many ways you can leverage this idea – from achieving a bigger kitchen by creating a side return extension to getting an extra bedroom, and more to suit your modern lifestyle.

FAQs – Answers to Your Questions Regarding House Extensions

Is Planning Permission Necessary To Obtain For Building House Extensions?

There are some types of house extensions that come under permitted development so if you plan to build one of those, you won’t require planning permission but you must obtain Building Regulations approval. Therefore, you should always check with your local authority to know whether or not it’s required before executing any home extensions ideas.

How Can I Add The Maximum Value To My Property Through Home Extensions?

One good way to ensure this is matching the extension to your existing house’s architectural style. It needs to seamlessly connect with your house to make the entire property more appealing.

How Much Value Can I Expect To Add By Building House Extensions?

It isn’t possible to predict an accurate figure as the values depend on the types of house extensions you want to build. You should talk to a reputable builder to get an exact evaluation.

How Much Do House Extensions Cost?

The cost of home extensions UK varies greatly based on your exact specifications, desired style, and the intended use of the extension. You can contact us to get an idea of how much you’d need to pay for the home extensions you’re planning to build.

Why Are House Extensions So Expensive?

House extensions are relatively bigger and complicated jobs than many other residential construction works. Apart from the costs of building the extension, there are expenses associated with fittings, finishing, windows, etc along with the costs of addressing building site constraints, if any, etc. that add up.

How Long Should It Take To Build Home Extensions?

Again, it depends on the size of the house extensions you’re planning to build, whether it is a single or double storey along with the time required for obtaining designs, planning permission (if any), etc. However, by hiring an experienced building contractor, you can ensure that everything goes according to plan and the work gets completed in a timely and efficient manner.

How to Shop For House Extensions?

You should obtain 3 to 5 quotes for any kind of house extension work. It would not only help you get a clear idea of the market rates but to find the most capable contractor for the job as well.

Do I Need To Essentially Hire An Architect Even For Small Home Extensions?

It isn’t mandatory to hire an architect, regardless of the size of your house extensions. While you can successfully undertake some major works, employing a architectural design consultant will almost always ensure a top-notch outcome without an architect.

Do I Need A Structural Engineer For Building House Extensions?

As these professionals specialize in assessing the durability and strength of structures, they play crucial roles in executing home extension ideas. Ideally, whenever you plan to do something that could change the structure of your property, you should engage a structural engineer for obtaining expert advice on the technical aspects.

I Don’t Know Anything About House Extensions, How Can I Proceed?

We’ve been doing home improvements and building house extensions for more than 30 years now. Contact our team of experts and we’ll take care of the entire process from beginning to end.

I Live in a Conservation area, Can I Build Home Extensions That Are Under Permitted Development?

In conservation areas, permitted development rules are restricted to prevent the loss of importance or interest of the area. So, you must talk to your local authority before planning on any home extension.

Will Home Extensions Change My Home Efficiency Rating?

If modern techniques and top-quality building materials are used to build your house extensions, it might actually increase the efficiency rating of your house.

Closing Thoughts

The UK is one of the few countries that boast a breathtaking stock of spectacular residential housing having massive potential for improvements. If you are in need of increased space, opting for house extensions would be the best option to leverage the potential of your present house while saving time, money, and effort.

If you are looking to build home extensions and need expert advice, feel free to contact Craymanor Ltd. We will be more than happy to help you build your dream abode perfectly tailored to meet your needs.