Wraparound Extension
What to contemplate when building a wraparound extension at the rear and side of your home.
Why choose one?
A wraparound extension combines both a side return and rear extension to make an L-shaped space. With the proper design, it may result in an exceedingly bigger, brighter way with a far better connection to the garden. This type of extension utilises the side return, often wasted space, further as building out the rear. One in every one of the advantages is you gain much extra space without eating up an excessive amount of your garden.
The L-shaped space allows for flexible designs, whether you wish a bigger more open-plan kitchen-dining-living area or to make extra rooms like a playroom that doubles as a guest bedroom for grandparents, cloakroom and utility. It’s also a chance to bring more light into the centre of your home and improve the link with outside space. This could be achieved with strategically placed skylights and floor to ceiling glazing overlooking the garden which will be completely peeled back in summer, bringing the skin in.
What form of properties is suitable?
This type of extension is often seen on Victorian houses that have alleyway space to the side of the property. This dead space allows you to increase to both the side and to the rear. Similarly, it is often some way to update a mid-20th century house. A problem to contemplate is that the property may lose existing side access as a part of the new build.
“Ideally, you wish a minimum of three metres of side space to own a meaningful impact – typically, the width of a pleasant, wide driveway. That’s to not say you can’t go smaller” said architect Chris Fry, associate director of professional Vision.
Natalie Skeete, director of Forest Architecture, added: “It all depends on the positioning. Sometimes, there is often quite a lot of space to the side of the house but not in other cases. Every project is different. all of them have their own constraints.”
Planning permission
Planning rules are relaxed so smaller extensions don’t need consent see you later as certain conditions are met. But all wraparounds must be submitted to your local planning authority for approval and might face refusal. Planners will want to test your extension doesn’t block your neighbour’s sunlight, for instance.
Some planning authorities even have a policy that doesn’t allow wraparounds, like New Forest District Council. “The council features a design guide with drawings of what it’ll and won’t allow and wraparound is contrary to policy,” said Natalie.
Planning applications can take eight weeks for a call to be made, so factor this into your schedule. Remember once you’ve got consent, it lasts for 3 years and might boost the worth of your home whether or not you opt to sell without building
Party Wall Act
The wall Act is another issue to think about. It protects you and your neighbours – failure to follow the right procedures may result in a hefty bill. By law, you need to give neighbours notice before starting work near the boundary with their property. Notifiable work includes excavations within three or six metres of a neighbouring property, reckoning on the depth of foundations planned. this may include most wraparounds.
Find a decent architect
The best thanks to improving your chances of success are to rent an architect to style your project. an area architect is at home with planning policy and therefore the wall act, so can facilitate your avoid common mistakes that cause planning refusal. Plus, they will quickly come up with alternatives.
Unlike builders, architects are highly trained to design professionals who apply creativeness to projects. An architect can suggest new and imaginative ways of creating space work beautifully, adding extra light and functionality. They offer that added wow factor. An architect may be ready to recommend the main contractor or oversee more complex projects. The worth an honest architect adds should over offset their fee.
And a structural engineer
Building a wraparound involves the demolition of the initial rear and side return walls. While there are many alternative design options, all require steel supports within the style of beams or posts to carry the house up. You may have to hire a structural engineer to produce the calculations and engineering plans.
“The structural engineer will calculate earlier the dimensions of steel required. The calculations won’t necessarily be needed for planning permission, but they’ll certainly be needed for Building Regulations,” said Chris. “But it’s advisable to induce the calculations done at the look stage because you don’t want to style something so find there’s no engineering solution for what has been drawn. The term for this is often ‘skyhook’ as in hanging from the sky!”
Architect Mark Benzie, the owner of 3C Design, said: “Wraparound extensions is technically challenging but can deliver lots of space, especially on a decent site.”
Material options
A key design issue is whether or not you would like your wraparound to blend or contrast with the first house. Cladding options for external walls include timber, brick, render, glass and metal, like zinc.
Planning may determine the choice of materials. There could also be conditions requiring your new extension matches the first house, as an example in a very conservation area. Recycled bricks and roof tiles can help achieve a cohesive look.
However, some local planning departments favour the precise opposite. They sort of a clear divide between the old and new, so you’ll be able to see the history of the building. “Rear extensions only impact on the rear of a property but with a wraparound, you have got to be mindful of the looks from the front – and the way it’s from the road,” said Mark.
“Most councils and planners are happy for something more contemporary goodbye as it’s subservient to the most house. There again, some just like the opposite – for the extension to blend in.”
Wraparounds also offer the chance to differentiate between the rear and side extensions. as an example, the rear area can be timber or zinc panels and therefore the side return brick and glass.
What’s the budget?
The total cost of the works will rely upon factors, including the size and complexity of your project still as a contractor and placement. Use our handy extension calculator as a guide. Check if your current homeowners’ insurance covers building work. If it doesn’t, then it’ll be necessary to require out additional extension cover.
