House extension

Expand The Living Space Of Your Home With A House Extension

If you are starting to outgrow your home, you might want to consider adding a house extension. Many people in this situation immediately think about buying a new home or moving to a new neighbourhood. This option has lots of challenges, especially if the children like their school. However, another idea means that you can stay in the home and suburb that you love by adding an extension to your current home. Below we look at some of the ideas for house extensions East Coast Bays homeowners can enjoy.

There are two main ways you can build a house extension. You could build upwards by adding another story, or build out into your garden making a bigger footprint for your home.

Adding Another Story For A House Extension

A common approach to building a house extension is by adding another storey to the house. If your land area is limited this is often the better option for you. Also, if you live in a hilly area then adding a second storey can give you extended views and vistas that can take advantage of the locality that you live in.

However, be warned. An additional storey obviously means additional weight on the house foundations or concrete slab. Therefore, a key question to ask a house extension builder is, can your home support the added mass of another level? For this, you must talk to an experienced house extension builder. Often this is a question that only an engineer can answer but a good builder will be able to refer you to a good quality structural engineer that they have worked with previously who can give a definitive answer for you.

Why People Build Up For Home Extensions

Building up is a great approach to adding more space to your home. In many suburban areas, sections have been sub-divided into two or more building plots. This clearly puts a restriction on the ground area available so upward is often the only viable option.

But what about height you might ask?

Well, in the Auckland Council Unitary Plan, they are advocating developers build higher developments than before. This is mainly for building new multi-level (up to six story) apartment blocks, but the Council is more open to considering allowing higher homes in some locations to leave more ground available for an additional dwelling on the same section. In short, Auckland Council wants denser housing which inevitably means taller houses.

Personal Choice With Another Story Home Extension

Adding another story to your home is going to give you a lot more space but more importantly, it is space to your specifications. You get to choose what bedrooms, bathrooms, or other rooms you want in that space. It is much easier to design your dream space from a blank canvas than to change an existing living area.

Added Value From A Home Extension

A broad rule of thumb is, more space means more value, so adding another storey will also increase the value of your home. In some suburbs you need to take advice from a local real estate agent about possible resale values of homes with extra living space, but in many areas, if you have additional, Council approved living space, your house will increase in value, often by more than the cost of the extension building project.

Building Out For East Coast Bays Home Extensions

If you don’t want to add another story, or if you have the land available, then you can add an extension to the side of your house.

For many people, an extension built out from the home is the better option. It doesn’t require any strengthening of the foundation pad, and is often a relatively straightforward building project. Extending the footprint of your home can add grandeur and elegance to your house as well as the extra space.

When people have an extension built, they often take the opportunity of upgrading other areas of the house, especially those close to the new addition. This can include upgrades to kitchens, or making living areas open-plan. This makes the new and the old tie together to create a fabulous looking new home.

In fact, this is one of the key ingredients to a successful home extension. You have probably seen extensions that look like a garage has been tacked onto the house. It looks poor and doesn’t add as much value to the house as it could. A well-integrated house extension, tastefully designed, and finished to merge with the existing house will not only look better, it will add more value, and you will be much happier with the outcome.

An extension can be built on most terrains but if the land has a steep slope, then building the home extension will be more difficult, and consequently, more expensive. However, a good quality builder will have the skills to work on difficult sections.

Choosing A House Extension Builder In The East Coast Bays

It is important to work with a good local house extension builder in East Coast Bays. If you are choosing to get more than one quote, it is important that you don’t simply go with the cheapest. You must ask all the potential building contractors to explain why they have priced as they have, as you need to be aware of any additional costs, known as variations, that may not have been allowed for in the pricing (such as tree root removal and asbestos testing and removal) so you know exactly what is and isn’t included. Otherwise, you may think you’re comparing apples with apples, when you’re actually comparing apples with pears, and could therefore be in for some unexpected costs later down the track once the project is already underway.

Also, ask to see their portfolio of other house extensions and ask for references too, so you know the builder is experienced enough for your project.

At Cain Built we are not only New Zealand Certified Builders Association accredited (NZCB) but have worked on many different types of house extensions in the East Coast Bays and surrounding areas, so we’re sure to be able to help you with yours. If you have an idea for expanding your home, please give us a call on 0800 224 628 or email us at enquiries@cainbuilt.co.nz and we will gladly have a chat with you about your project.