Cost of an extension?

[sweetkitty]

We have had an absolute nightmare with this extension business very quick background, original extension was a large l-shaped architect told us it would be 50K. Got planning despite neighbours objections, building warrant, got a few quotes and all were 75K+ of course this is the minimum. We thought given the cost, the disruption, the neighbours we would move. Any 4 beds were about 60K more and for an extra boxroom, a garage, a tiny utility and smaller garden than we have now. Plus we are at the bottom of a cul de sac etc

Then we decided to do a smaller version of the extension, downstairs there is only one doorway being knocked through, a downstairs bedroom, a fair sized utility, sunroom off the back. Upstairs the tiny boxroom is being doubled in size and another bedroom added.

Total is 45 square metres.

First quote has come back at 57K I'm so shocked, we're not having fancy bathrooms added (have 3 already), new kitchen etc.

We have 30K in savings and will need to borrow the rest. Oh we're in central Scotland so relatively cheap area.

I'm so down about the whole thing, we only have 2 bedrooms and a really small boxroom. DD1&3 share a room, DD2 has the boxroom and DS is still in with us, the house is bursting at the seams despite my weekly declutters, we desperately need more space.

Yes, I know exactly how you feel, we have recently had to let go of the idea that we can extend, given we bought the house only on the condition we could extend it's so disappointing. There is a 'basic' cost for an extension which I always think is going to be around £30-£40k plus VAT (for a 2 storey extn).

Then you have to add in the extras such as new steel, plastering, electrics, heating, windows, internal doors etc so the additional costs mount up easily.

I think that in these difficult times VAT should be exempt on the labour element of builds..especially for owner builds (rather than developers). It would really help the construction industry and household such as ours who are desperate for more space but can't afford the current costs.

Most people use £1k per sqm for 'shell' and up to £1500 for finished costs so I don't think the costs are far off. You maybe able to get it cheaper by sourcing the trades directly but it's only an approach if you know how to go about a build.

startlife - that's disappointing :( I take it you can't afford to move.

Have emailed our new architect this morning and he still reckons we can get it built for £1000m2, we're not going for fancy finishes or anything it will just be basic rooms.

Our budget is 45K for basic build then 10K for contingency/decorating etc

If we go above this then we start to go back down the road of moving would be cheaper.

We have already spent 2K on architect/planning/building warrant fees for the first extension and another 2K on this one so down 4K already.