Single storey extension costs

[3sacharm]

Nervously awaiting a quote for a single storey extension approx 5m x 3m......
I'm hoping it will be no more than £30k..... flat roof, couple of skylights, French doors (not bifold) - not sure if this is realistic...

What has anyone else paid recently/had quoted in 2022?

@Rutland2022

Thanks! Most cost indicators online for 2022 suggested around £1700 per m2 so waaaay off then 😂

Yes I think supply and demand pushed it right up, but I think the bubble will burst. When the recession comes the prices will come down again I expect. So if you can wait it might get more affordable. Although timber prices are so high at the moment and supplies limited so that needs to improve first.

We toyed with a self build and then decided that the market was against us. So
instead we are renovating (slowly!).

@Rutland2022 I was just talking with my MIL about bringing the works forward (we are roughly planning April next year). Would we be better off holding out to next year then?

@Dinneronmybfpillow

I'm thinking the same....but may do the garage/kitchen/utility works and hold off on the extension bit

Worst case I did get a conservatory price of £25k for the same footprint as the extension so may do that to keep cost down instead

It’s really hard to say tbh, but borrowing is going to cost more and incomes will be squeezed so it’s probably going to impact.

Our builder says he expects things to be less busy in a recession, but equally if house prices take a hit then people may stay put and extend it could go the other way.

I think if you have the money and the builder I’d go ahead now if you need the work doing. But if it’s more of a want than a need then I might sit tight and see if it is cheaper.

The heady combo of Covid, Brexit, Ukraine and Economic crash is making a rather perfect storm of uncertainty!

Prices won't come down - some materials might but labour has gone up a lot too.
Whatever quote you get , add 50% and double the time. Then if things come closer to your or and on time or will be a (rare) nice surprise.
I would have guesstimated £75k to include the finishes, but kitchens can range from a few to tens of thousands. Refitting a bathroom is £5-10k as I've just done two (one moving plumbing, one not).

We've basically just had done what you've described, same size extension extending out to the back of the house. It was finished a few weeks ago. Didn't change anything internally, it was added space for a playroom/family room as it was cheaper than moving! We had an initial quote last October at just under £20k but had to get it requoted before work started in April so it was about £22k. Didn't include doors, plumbing, electrics, flooring, joinery - that was all extra. Came in at just under £28k, although we got bifold doors at £3.5k, so your french doors would be cheaper. We are in West Yorkshire.

Do people really think costs will stay as high as they are? Or go up?

Surely people will stop doing work (or at least as much) if the recession hits? Borrowing is going to be much harder. People remortgaging won’t be able to release the same kind of equity.

@Littlepixie85

That's a good price! Ours is exactly the same - basically a family room - won't need internal doors as it just extends off current room. Electrics I can get a family friend to do who has offered to do for cost of material. Plumbing wise just one radiator.

I do know it would be more if it for quoted now, maybe £25k. Definitely shop around! We didn't end up getting a radiator in the end as our existing one is large and close to the extension (besides, at this rate we won't be having the heating on much anyway as won't be able to afford it!). We also did the garden landscaping ourselves as it was a bit of a mess after the building work was done. I can say that I love it, and am so glad we got it done!

@3sacharm you will have to agree with your building inspector as to what they will accept but usually when you don't have enough floor, you have to compensate elsewhere so more loft insulation, or wall insulation or over insulate any other area you are building or improvements to the heating system or controls
Basically you will need to demonstrate you can make the equivalent energy saving you would make if you could insulate the floor elsewhere. Building inspectors can be very helpful for this especially private ones (they usually cost about the same as local authority ones but I find they generally are more helpful in working out how to achieve stuff rather than just tell you you need to do more)
Be careful as a lot of guidance on the web at the moment is out of date as the regulations have just got more stringent for energy efficiency for both new builds and any home improvements/conversions/extensions.

There are a lot of threads on here about conservatory's and being virtually unusable,e for most of the year....be very wary if going down that route

I think as the recession starts biting, and by next year the supply chains are better and demand lessons prices will moderate considerably.

I’m midlands. Currently having single storey extension with skylight (2 steels) and it’s cost just under £50k to plaster finish. It’s a bit bigger than yours at approx 25m2.

@Timwith2noses

That's encouraging! I could do £50k including some of the internal work like the utility/wc

If it's not urgent OP, I'd wait. A recession is now pretty much guaranteed & I'd feel confident saying that quotes for the same work in 12 months time will be 20% less, maybe more.

@FurierTransform

I'm not averse to waiting for the extension bit - I do think prices may fall - the builder himself when I asked what his wait list was like said he'd started to see a lot of people cancelling or delaying projects as the are getting nervous about costs and recession etc so the demand part which has been driving prices Up should fall and hopefully some cost with it

I'd like the WC done though before I start toilet training the twins! 😂

Our downstairs loo will be done after the extension (knocking off the end of a galley kitchen to do a squared off extension, so can't make the loo until stud wall and extension in place).
Similarly refusing to do toilet training with twins until I have a downstairs loo. I'm still suffering with a potty in the lounge for DD as I can't get her upstairs if BFing the wee ones 🤢

So quote is in.....

£60k....for the single storey extension plus garage conversion plus forming downstairs WC and utility

Just got to see about remortgage costs now 😬

Which area of the country are you in? Plenty of people in the North West are building for £2k per square metre excl.VAT.

Make sure to factor in contingency when you get finance, OP.

Extra costs always crop up.

Hope you get a fab extension and all that you want.

So...from experience of myself and friends. How detailed is the quote? Is it against a detailed schedule of requirements and fittings referenced to plans and building regulation plans? If not you will struggle to contain costs.

For example. A builder will quote for strip foundations down a metre. Is there an agreed price if they have to go deeper, which frequently occurs and if so the costs are huge with digging out, disposing of soil and filling with concrete. We had an agreed amount in the quote for each additional depth...think is was 10 cm etc

Also ensure in your contract there is provision for a 20% holdback until 14 days after final issue and receipt of the building control certificate and customer satisfaction which gives you some snagging time