The cost of adding a room to your home will depends on the size of your living spaces.
A ground-floor extension or a second storey can greatly affect your property’s value. Recent case studies prove that a carefully designed second storey addition that can boosted to 15-20% of property value.
Cost maybe expensive but house renovations give you more than just extra space. A well-planned house addition can revolutionise your daily life. Your home becomes more energy efficient and more liveable. The final cost depends on several things like construction materials and how long council approvals take.
Want to explore ways to expand your home? Let’s look at everything you should know about adding space – from your first steps to finishing touches.
Top Things to Consider when Planning a Home Expansion
Assessing your current home layout
A full picture of your current home layout is a vital first step before you start any renovation project. This assessment will help you spot areas that need improvement and spaces you could use better.
Identifying unused spaces
The first step is to explore areas that most homes don’t use well. The space under stairs often sits empty, but custom solutions can make this area work harder. Dark corners in rooms can become valuable storage spaces with full-height, built-in cupboards.
Look beyond what’s obvious and think about vertical spaces, especially when you have gaps of 60 centimetres or more above wardrobes. Spare bedrooms with decent closets are great spots to add strategic shelving for extra storage.
Rooms that serve multiple purposes are another way to maximise your space. To name just one example, a chest of drawers at the foot of your bed, close to wardrobes, quickly creates a practical dressing area. Built-in benches work double duty by offering both seating and storage.
Problem Areas That Need Change
A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of your home layout should come before any changes. This method helps you identify:
- Rooms that don’t work well due to poor condition, wrong placement, or size issues
- Areas needing repairs or structural work
- Spaces that could get better sunlight or airflow
- Ways to boost existing spaces through storage or room combinations
Large rooms that don’t see much use might offer chances for new layouts. Your kitchen might need more space while your dining room sits empty – you could take some dining area to make the kitchen bigger.
Take a close look at trouble spots like kitchens with limited counter space, hard-to-reach utility rooms, or dining areas where chairs can’t move freely. The way rooms connect matters too, since poor flow leads to cluttered spaces and daily hassles.
Your future needs matter as much as current ones. Kids’ spaces might need to change as they grow – a playroom could become a study area or games room later. It’s also worth checking if simple tasks like bringing groceries from your car to kitchen work smoothly.
A careful look at both unused spaces and problem areas will help you see your home’s real potential. This detailed review means your renovation will fix real issues instead of making surface-level changes.
Popular Home Extension Types
Your home’s living space can expand in many ways through extensions. Different types of extensions add their own special value and purpose to your property.
Kitchen Extensions
Many homeowners choose kitchen extensions to create open-plan dining areas. A well-planned kitchen extension lets you add modern appliances and better storage options. Large windows or bi-fold doors help blend your indoor and outdoor spaces naturally. This makes the kitchen a perfect centre for modern family life. Most rear extensions need the back wall removed before building into the garden space.
Extra Bedroom Addition
New bedrooms can boost your property’s value quite a bit. Adding just one room might increase your house value price by 15%. You can build bedrooms on the ground floor or add them to a new first floor. A new bedroom works best with its own bathroom. This setup really helps as kids grow into teenagers.
Home Office Space
Remote work has made home office extensions very popular. The best home office designs bring in plenty of natural light and use ergonomic layouts. Built-in shelves and smart storage keep things organised. Good wiring provides a reliable internet connection. Your office should sit in a quiet spot to help you work better.
Living Room Expansion
Living room extensions let you create open spaces and add value to your home. These spaces work great as entertainment areas or indoor-outdoor rooms. Side return extensions, though just 1.5 metres wide, can change the room completely. Roof lanterns or glass sliding doors bring in lots of natural light. The best living room extensions create a natural flow through your home. An island bench can serve as both a cooking space and a place to gather.
Managing Your Renovation Project
Home renovation projects succeed with careful planning and professional expertise. A well-laid-out approach will give your house extension the quality you want while staying within budget.
Choosing the Right Professionals
The life-blood of any renovation lies in picking qualified home renovation professionals. Look for local contractors who specialise in house extensions and have proven experience with these projects. Get into their track record and pay attention to companies that focus on house extensions or garage conversions.
Getting multiple quotes is a basic first step. Ask for detailed estimates from at least three contractors. Compare these quotes and make sure each covers a similar scope and specifications. Note that the lowest bid may not always offer the best value.
You should verify the contractor’s credentials before making your final choice. A reliable firm must have proper insurance coverage and licences. Ask for insurance certificates and check their validity with the insurance provider.
Communication makes all the difference during renovation. Professional contractors keep clear communication channels open through regular meetings, face-to-face or through video calls. Set up written agreements that document key discussions, timelines, budgets, and specific roles to avoid confusion.
Project scheduling needs your full attention. Create a detailed timeline that shows when each contractor will be on-site and coordinate when materials arrive. Add buffer periods to handle possible delays without affecting the overall project flow.
Think over hiring a project manager for complex renovations. Builders or interior designers can take on project management roles. Their expertise helps avoid common mistakes and ensures proper coordination between different trades. Project managers take care of everything from organising tradespeople to maintaining quality standards during construction.
Good documentation helps throughout the process. Keep a complete file with your contract, supporting documents, change orders, plans, specifications, bills, invoices, and contractor correspondence. Make sure all agreements clearly spell out payment schedules, warranties, and how disputes get resolved.
Living Through the Renovation
Life during a house renovation needs careful planning and flexibility to keep things normal amid construction chaos. You must learn about creating functional temporary spaces and protect your existing home during this time.
Creating a Temporary Setup
Major renovations require alternative living arrangements. Portable ensuites are a practical solution for bathroom renovations. Kitchen renovations just need creative alternatives – a temporary kitchen with small appliances like microwaves, slow cookers, and portable coffee makers helps maintain daily routines.
Your home needs specific zones for essential activities. Clear boundaries between living spaces and work areas help preserve family routines during construction. A schedule for shared facilities will give a smooth operation of your household, especially when you have bathroom or kitchen renovations.
Shipping containers offer an innovative solution for big renovations affecting multiple rooms. These versatile units fitted with beds, showers, and toilets provide comfortable temporary accommodation while staying on-site. These containers also work great as secure storage for household items during construction.
Protecting Existing Spaces
Your home needs systematic protection measures during renovation. Heavy-duty tarp (minimum 8 millimetres thick) installed from ceiling to floor creates effective dust barriers. On top of that, it needs masking tape along all edges for proper sealing.
Floor protection is vital. After hoovering up thoroughly, Ram Board – a heavy-duty, breathable floor protection engineered specifically for construction projects works best. This material with Spill Guard™ technology defends against water, paint, and mud damage.
Air quality management deserves special attention. HEPA air purifiers remove up to 99.9% of harmful contaminants effectively. The ZipWall® system creates dust-free zones without ladders or surface damage.
Storage units or protected areas within your home work well for valuable items. Large and modern furniture pieces need protective materials like plastic sheets or moving blankets to prevent construction damage. Regular cleaning of high-traffic areas minimises dust accumulation in your living spaces effectively.
Conclusion
Home expansion projects need careful planning, substantial investment and patience. Well-executed extensions add value to your property and boost your daily living quality.
A full picture of your current layout helps identify the best expansion opportunities. Your choice between a kitchen extension, extra bedroom, home office or living room expansion serves different purposes. Each option adds unique value to your property.
The project’s success depends on qualified professionals and clear communication. Proper documentation, detailed timelines and protection of existing spaces lead to smooth execution. You need practical temporary living arrangements to keep your household routines during construction.
The renovation period might feel challenging. The long-term benefits of extra space, better functionality and increased property value make this trip worthwhile. Your well-planned home expansion project will revolutionise your living space for years to come.
Infographic provided by Downtown Apartment Collective, a top place to answer the question: which Chicago neighborhood should I live in
