Small bungalow - big extension = bad idea ?

[mojomummy]

seen a small-ish bungalow which has a lovely big back garden & therefore scope to extend my mouth is just watering with the prospect !

Realise we'd need planning permission etc, just interested to know if anyone here had experienced the joys of living somewhere whilst being extended. Whether it's really awful/ok/exciting. Whether to hire & caravan & live in that, where ther dust really does get too much ?

Also what tends to be the timeframe from planning permission etc ?

Thanks

planning permission - about 3 months usually - but you need to add in the time to get plans drawn up.

Talk to the planning office with sketches of your ideas - they will tell you if it would likely be given permission.

Dust - I guess it depends how much knocking through you are doing.

We are having an extension built now - so far it is mainly treading in mud from the digging out of the foundations.

I think it is much worse if you are trying to renovate - ie pulling down old plasters, walls etc (we are saving that for later - bot looking forward to it !)

that's helpful - thanks. Are you living in your house ? & what are you having extra space for ?

Did you get an architect to do the plans, do you have a project manager, is it a big job ?

OOOOooo I am very excited about this bungalow - got to convince DH though

Check your local council website as that should ahve a Plannign page with time targets for approval and the procedures. The more complicated your plans and their potential impact on neighbours , the more time it may take to receive approval. There may be a limit as regards extensions (think something like 15% of original building space usually ok as of right, subjetc to meeting buildings regs ) and beyond that may get more awkward. Conservation areas also are subject to more stringent regulations. Suggest you speak to the Planning Officer before you buy in case they would object on grounds of something obvious.

definitely check with planning office before buying it !

We designed our extension, then got an architectural technician to draw up the plans and submit them. The builder is project managing it I guess (although that phrase was never mentioned) - he has a team and subcontracts bit - eg the groundowrks. DH is going do to all the inside once the roof and windows are in (we are sorting the windows out).

As for space - we are all breathing in . We had to convert our dining room into a bathroom, because the old bathroom was being knocked down - but otherwise it is still the same house we have always had. We will move into the new bit, and then start knocking walls down in the original bit.

in answer to the extra space question - 3 bedroom house, tiny kitchen, downstairs bathroom, turning into 5 bed, study, 2 upstairs bathrooms, larger kitchen/dining room, utility room, and large lounge (eventually).

Reason - 3 kids and we can afford it (just) and don't want to move

throckenholt - that's exactly what I am after !!!
It sounds fab & must be very exciting it's going ahead. How long before it's completed ?

A cheeky question - what would the price guidelines be ? someone at work suggested £50k, I was imagining more ?

It sounds fab & must be very exciting it's going ahead.

well it's good to see some bricks being laid at last

How long before it's completed ?

how long is a bit of string ?! Builders have a contract to finish by the end of March (hope we don't have the bad winter that is forecast) - then it is down the DH - so could be years !

A cheeky question - what would the price guidelines be ? someone at work suggested £50k, I was imagining more ?

depends how big obviously - but I would say that doesn't sound enough. Ours is likely to be £120K - but that includes a double garage/workshop at about £20K.

SIL was quoted something like £70K recently in Wales for a 2 storey extension - not much more than a room upstairs and down (though that sounds a bit high).

Depends how complicated what you want is. Would you go for a room in the loft ? - apparently bungalows are often developed in that way.

well, there is a bedroom in the loft BUT has very steep evaes. DH is tall, so he's be hitting his head & I'd be having nightmares (very sensitive sleeper!)

I've got this idea of extending 12 ft out the back & up & then joining the roof's together. This would mean the are eaves at the front, but not at the back, well perhaps less steep ones.
There is a garage as well, so would intend buildlng this in & up (frightening myself here ).

Ideally like to add another floor, but as it's a bunglow, the foundations would need to be able to support this. It looks quite ugly from the outside & would be very cramped for us to live in there as it is...

talk to an architect or architectural technician - they are cheaper but technically just as good (I think). Check out whether your ideas are feasable, and they will also be able to give you an idea of costs.

My folks did this and found it really worth it in their case, but it was not w/o SERIOUS hassle. They had no kids at home anymore, so that made it easier, but the dust was everywhere, even with protective covers set up by the builders.

well my special dream is over as a cash buyer has come in

Understand the plan is somesort of developement.

Am very cross ! (& gutted)

sorry you missed out - but maybe it has given you ideas about what you might look for in the future - maybe an extension project ?

Good luck