Should you extend or convert?
Have you decided that the time is right to create some new living space for your Cobham home? As a building company in Cobham – not to mention expert kitchen and bathroom fitters – we excel in home improvement and development services. This includes two of the most popular solutions for increasing square footage: loft conversions and property extensions.
As a building company in Cobham, we offer advice and guidance based on 40 years of industry experience. But the final decision will depend on your property type and size, design aspirations, lifestyle requirements and personal circumstances.
You can rest assured, our team has extended many homes in and around Cobham, and converted just as many lofts. Our portfolio of work covers single- and double-storey extensions (including wraparound) as well as all types of loft conversion.
We use our expertise to help identify which option works best for you. As a general starting point, we have looked below at what you need to consider when choosing between property extensions and loft conversions.
To talk over either option in more detail with one of our builders, call us on 01372 626 216. We happily welcome queries about any of the services we provide as a building and landscaping company, or as kitchen and bathroom fitters.
Property Extensions Vs. Loft Conversions
Should I extend my house?
One of the biggest benefits of choosing an extension over a loft conversion is the greater flexibility it offers. When taking on an extension, our builders start from scratch. This means your design will be free of pre-built limitations such as awkward angles, sloping roofs and limited space. As a result, you will enjoy a much wider range of design options.
Of course, you also won’t have complete freedom when drawing up your extension. House extensions, be they in Cobham or any other location, must comply with limitations dictating how much space they can occupy. These limits vary depending on the square footage of the original house, the size of the wider premises and its proximity to neighbouring properties.
As with many loft conversions, extensions of one storey usually meet permitted development criteria. If your design falls within these limits, you won’t need planning permission. Conversely, most additions with two storeys do need approval from the local authority.
Property extensions completed with impeccable workmanship can increase your Cobham home’s market value by as much as 20%. As builders and kitchen and bathroom fitters, we finish rooms of any kind to exacting standards. Our landscaping company can also reimagine your altered garden space too.
Should I convert my loft?
Whereas extensions create new space from the ground up, loft conversions transform an existing structure. While this does mean working within pre-set limits, it also means there’s no need for excavation, groundworks or foundation installation. There’s less labour involved from start to finish. This means converting your loft is quicker, less disruptive and cheaper than building an extension.
Like single-storey property extensions, most conversions qualify as a permitted development. Without the need to apply for planning permission, your project becomes even more streamlined. However, you should note that if your conversion in Cobham involves raising the roof, lowering the ceilings or any other structural changes, you will almost certainly need prior approval before our builders can start.
Loft conversions also create new habitable space without eating into the garden. This is a huge benefit if your garden is already small as it is, or you simply want to preserve a larger one that you use to its full extent.
You can rely on our building and landscaping company, as well as our kitchen and bathroom fitters, to turn any idea or concept into a stunning reality.
Building company in Cobham
Call 01372 626 216 to speak with our building and landscaping company about property extensions and loft conversions in the Cobham area.