Residential Extension: Important Elements to Consider Before Construction

If you require more residential space, you should consider building an extension on our current property. This option is significantly cheaper than purchasing a new home and moving your family. Moreover, you will avoid the inconvenience of reorganising your entire life around the new property. On the other hand, the process of building a house extension is not simple. Therefore, you should engage a contractor to help you plan and set up the structure for long-term and reliable performance. In addition, consider these crucial factors that will affect your new extension before commencing the project.

Practical Considerations

There are numerous practical aspects that you will have to consider before you can commission the start of the extension construction. Evaluate your requirements and determine whether there is sufficient space in your property to create a reasonable extension to cater for your needs.

You should also consider the economical aspect of the potential structure. Ideally, the extension should add value to your home such that you will get profit on the investment if you decide to resell.

In addition, you should think about your living arrangements for the duration of the project because this will affect the efficiency of the process.

Design Integration

When you start designing your extension, you should remember that the new structure should be an integral part of the already established home. In simple terms, the extension should not look like an afterthought. It should blend in as flawlessly as possible, and the transition should look natural. Generally, the materials used in both structures should match and have a sense of continuity.

In addition, select the attachment point for the extension carefully to ensure that the flow of movement in the house is not compromised. If you would like to add a new storey to your building, you will need extensive professional assistance. This is expensive and difficult in terms of structural design, so you should rely on experienced engineers.

Building Regulations

There are diverse building regulations imposed on residential extensions by the national Building Code and even your local council. It is important to follow all the legal requirements to avoid the penalties attached to violations. In general, homeowners are required to get planning and building permits before any work commences. This will authorise you to start your project.

It is also important to inform your neighbours of your plans. If the extension work will affect them, they can object your project, causing a lot of problems.

Finally, engage licensed contractors to ensure that they conform to pertinent regulations.

If you're thinking of adding an extension to your home, contact a contractor like A.P.T. Design Drafting & Construction Pty Ltd.