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Home Extension Don’ts

Observing the don’ts of building an extension won’t just prevent an entire lot of hassle, time, and effort, it can prevent thousands of pounds, and make your home more valuable, too.

So, whether you’re planning a one-story extension, building a two-story extension, considering a basement or garage conversion, or designing a loft extension, use these don’ts to urge your extension right the primary time all while saving the maximum amount of money as possible.

 1.DON’T: MICRO-MANAGE YOUR BUILDER

The building industry has its own unique ways of working, and a few elements aren’t as customer-focused as you would possibly be wont to. Builders, particularly towards the tip of a project, might go missing for the odd afternoon to satisfy potential new clients, or occasionally they could take a week’s holiday.

 2.DON’T: USE UNUSUAL MATERIALS

Asking builders to forego their a few years of experience to form something totally bespoke, or to use materials that are alien to them, isn’t the trail to a smooth project. You’re introducing unknowns into your scheme – which may lead to unpredictable cost and scheduling outcomes. Go along with what the builder knows – in most cases, they are doing know best.

3.DON’T: MISS DELIVERY DEADLINES

Increasing numbers of home extenders are buying their own materials – especially big-ticket items like kitchens and windows. Confirm you order the materials early and acquire them delivered to the location much time. Determine the delivery deadlines along with your builder – you don’t want to be the reason behind costly delays.

4.DON’T: NEGLECT INCOME

Almost any problem on-site during an extension project is often solved with money – and if you haven’t got it handy, you can’t get anything done. Be honest with yourself about your finances, and confirm you recognize where the cash is coming from for every invoice.

5. DON’T: BE UNCLEAR ABOUT WHO’S DOING WHAT

If you are taking responsibility for individual elements of the project, be clear along with your builder where the boundaries lie. You may want to require a number of the ultimate fittings, fit the flooring, or do your own decorating, but it’s not always straightforward where one job starts and another ends. You would possibly be befitting your own doors – but who will fit the door linings? If you’re doing the ground finishing, who is to blame for ensuring the ground is level?

6.DON’T: LET CHILDREN AND ALSO THE LOT MIX

Having tools, heavy materials and plenty of activity in your house are dangerous, particularly for young children. Keep your site tidy and make sure that tools get locked away nightly by the tradespeople. Consider moving children removed from the house during the foremost disruptive elements of the project.

 7.DON’T: LET THE POSITIONING GET UNTIDY

Extensions create plenty of rubble and waste. Ensure your builders are in a very regular routine of rubble management and, if they’re not, have it off yourself. It keeps the dust right down to a minimum and it saves a giant job right at the tip of the project. It’ll also make sure you can get ‘back to normal’ as quickly as possible once the duty is over.

8.DON’T: BE WITHOUT DUST BARRIERS

To avoid getting dust in places where it’s impossible to urge it out, move all of your furniture into storage during the project. If you can’t do this, then be strict about wrapping the furniture properly in dust sheets. Use dust barriers over doors (such as Dust Guard). Additionally, having a wet/dry vacuum around may be a good idea if you don’t want to ruin your expensive Dyson.

9.DON’T: FORGET TO INDUCE THE PROPER INSURANCE

Despite your best efforts, all kinds of things can fail with an extension project. The proper renovation insurance will help to place your mind relaxed. Notify you’re existing home insurance provider of your plans before you begin and, if necessary, make sure you buy specialist extension insurance to hide the structural elements – additionally to unexpected mishaps like materials going missing, or accidents happening to people on-site.

10.DON’T: START WORK ON THE INCORRECT  TIME OF THE YEAR

If you’re flexible about once you can start your extension then ideally you ought to attempt to start in March or April when there’s little chance of the bottom being too frozen to dig, or the air being too cold for brickwork. Because the extension project begins to form the house feel more receptive to the weather, it’s far better to experience unplanned alfresco dining in summer than in winter. To not mention, the dearth of heating for some weeks is more palatable in July than in January.

11.DON’T: BE LURED BY A BUILDER WHO GIVES A LOW ESTIMATE

Low estimates are usually too good to be true. You would possibly be lured to just accept an all-time low price but bear in mind that individual builder might.

a) not know what they’re doing or a way to price employment properly,

b) be a cowboy builder who will do a poor quality job, and do, or

c) be a builder who constantly finds extra add-on costs to raise the value in an exceedingly way that’s poorly controlled.

To be safe, always get three quotes and know the signs of a cowboy builder to create sure you avoid them.

Photo by Hamid Samanian on Unsplash

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