Do you want to expand your living space at a fraction of the cost of moving home? Is your family outgrowing the space you already have? Or perhaps you’d like to make a smart investment that significantly increases the value of your property? If any of these sound like you, then a contemporary, premium-quality side extension for your home could be the answer. Welcome to AS Construction & Structural Engineering – the home of intelligent, efficient, and innovative structural engineering services. With our help, you could achieve a side extension that will elevate your home and infinitely improve your lifestyle. Our highly qualified and experienced structural engineers work alongside developers, architects, interior designers, contractors, and other construction professionals to create and deliver results that will exceed your expectations.
But what if you haven’t decided yet? Our extensive knowledge and innovative approach to home expansion and improvements mean that we are perfectly placed to provide trusted advice and top-quality recommendations. So, if you’re not sure if a side extension is for you – here’s everything you need to know, including the many benefits of a side extension for your home…
First things first, what is a side extension?
A side extension utilises unused space alongside a property such as a passageway, alley, or garden area. Side extensions are like rear extensions and are primarily used to add extra rooms, expand living areas or alter the layout of the property without impacting the overall garden space. Side extensions provide extra space without cutting into lawns, flower beds or patio areas.
What types of side extensions are there?
Here at AS Construction & Structural Engineering, we will work with you and alongside developers, architects, interior designers, contractors, and other construction professionals to create several types of side extensions. The types of side extensions that we provide include…
Single-Storey Side Extensions
Single-storey side extensions, or side return extensions typically consist of one floor. This type of extension is great for increasing your kitchen or dining space, adding a downstairs bathroom, a utility room, a playroom and much more! For more single-storey side extension ideas, speak to us today!
Two-Storey Side Extensions
If you’d like to achieve more space downstairs and upstairs, then a two-storey side extension is the option for you. Offering double the living space when compared to a single-storey extension, you can expand existing rooms or add new ones. Two-storey extensions are often used to increase kitchen or dining spaces downstairs, while upstairs extra bedrooms, studies, playrooms, and additional bathrooms are popular. For more two-storey side extension ideas, speak to us today!
What is involved in building a side extension?
A side extension can add up to 15% to the value of your home with the average being 12%. Depending on how your extra space is to be utilised, you can see significant monetary benefits. For example, adding an extra bedroom could add around £20,000 to the value of your home, whilst utility rooms, downstairs toilets and larger kitchens are all attractive to prospective buyers. All in all, a side extension is a smart investment to make
Cheaper & Easier
As they are smaller than other types of extensions, such as rear extensions, side extensions are typically cheaper and take less time to construct. A single-storey side extension could cost between £5,000 to £14,000, whilst a two-storey extension could come in at around £30,000 to £45,000. These prices are still cheaper than rear extensions which typically have starting prices of around £45,000.
Sustainable Solutions
We are always looking for ways to minimise our carbon footprint when executing the day-to-day tasks of running a business. What’s more, we endeavour to help our clients reduce their carbon footprint by providing innovative engineering solutions and introducing new construction technologies to their projects. We are also consistently mindful of not compromising on the original design brief.
Do I need planning permission for my side extension?
As side extensions fall under permitted development, you can build a side extension without applying for full planning permission. Under permitted development, you can install a side extension that is no more than 4m high and is less than half the width of the original building. It will also need to be less than 2m from the boundary, with eaves height not exceeding 3m. If you’re not sure if you need planning permission for your side extension, get in touch with us today for trusted advice.
Things to Consider For Your Side Extension…
When planning your side extension, there are several things to consider…
- How will the side extension impact the layout of your home?
- How will the side extension affect your outdoor space?
- How will you access your outdoor space?
- What type of roofing will you need?
- What type of lighting will you have?
- What type of flooring will be required?
- What sort of drainage and waste systems will you need?
- How will the room be used?
For specialist advice, we recommend
getting in touch with our expert structural engineers. We’re happy to help and provide trusted advice and recommendations every step of the way!
Here at AS Construction & Structural Engineering, our team is passionate about sustainable and efficient engineering. Our hands-on and personable approach to working means that every project is completed with care and due diligence, ensuring the needs of our clients are always met. Our extensive experience in producing structural engineering designs ensures that you will receive the most economical, efficient and innovative design solutions.
ü General planning.
ü Design and access statements.
ü Planning policy research and advice.
ü Preparation of Building Regulations applications.
ü Detailed drawings to a measured scale.
ü Groundworks and foundations.
ü Flush floor and ceiling finishes.
ü Uninterrupted running walls.
ü Minimal steel structures for support.
ü And much, much more.
We provide a complete service that will take you from quotation to completion with premium quality results. Please don’t hesitate to contact us today for more information!
Now you know what it is, what are the benefits of a side extension for your home?
We’ve seen our clients enjoy the benefits of their side extensions first-hand and it should come as no surprise that side extensions are some of the most popular home improvements out there. Here are the benefits that you can enjoy when you choose a side extension for your home…
- Clever Use of Space
If you want to expand your living space but don’t want to give up space in your garden, then a side extension is the answer. Side extensions are a fantastic way to give purpose to the unused, free space at the side of your home without compromising the external space that you do use. Transform passageways or alleys with the addition of a side extension and get the most out of the space your home occupies.
- Connect Indoor/Outdoor Living
Connecting indoor and outdoor living is a popular design trend and one that is perfectly achievable with a side extension. You can open up your kitchen or dining areas with innovative design solutions such as bifolding doors or windows, French doors and more. This means that your side extension will blur the lines between home and garden, boosting your lifestyle as well as the size of your home.
- Tailored To You
Here at AS Construction & Structural Engineering, we take pride in offering intelligent, efficient, and innovative services. With our help, you could achieve a bespoke side extension that will elevate your home and infinitely improve your lifestyle. So whatever your tastes and style and however you need your side extension to function for you, your family and your home, we can tailor it all to your needs.
- Increase Your Home’s Value
A side extension can add up to 15% to the value of your home with the average being 12%. Depending on how your extra space is to be utilised, you can see significant monetary benefits. For example, adding an extra bedroom could add around £20,000 to the value of your home, whilst utility rooms, downstairs toilets and larger kitchens are all attractive to prospective buyers. All in all, a side extension is a smart investment to make.
- Cheaper & Easier
As they are smaller than other types of extensions, such as rear extensions, side extensions are typically cheaper and take less time to construct. A single-storey side extension could cost between £5,000 to £14,000, whilst a two-storey extension could come in at around £30,000 to £45,000. These prices are still cheaper than rear extensions which typically have starting prices of around £45,000.
- Sustainable Solutions
We are always looking for ways to minimise our carbon footprint when executing the day-to-day tasks of running a business. What’s more, we endeavour to help our clients reduce their carbon footprint by providing innovative engineering solutions and introducing new construction technologies to their projects. We are also consistently mindful of not compromising on the original design brief.
Check out our Gallery too where you will find a selection of photos for our completed and ongoing projects, which showcase our designs being brought to life!
What are you waiting for?
How does it work?
- Understand Your Requirements
From your initial correspondence with us via email and/or phone, we take the time to discuss and understand your project, and your requirements, and find out if there are any site or design limitations we should be aware of.
- Quotation
We submit a formal Fee Proposal based on the information received or discussed with you over email/phone, or if you have simply requested a quote via our quote form. We ensure our Fee Proposal clearly outlines the expected scope of work so that you are well informed and can easily make a decision on whether you wish to proceed with our services.
- Carry Out a Site Visit
Once you have accepted our Fee Proposal and formally instructed us on your project, we will arrange a suitable time to visit the site and carry out an initial visual inspection. The site visit allows us to discuss in person, your requirements in further detail as well as familiarise ourselves with the existing structure and the immediate surroundings. It also helps you to put a face to a name.
- Design & Survey Documents
Once an initial site visit is completed, for our structural design services we produce three structural design documents, all of which are required to be submitted to Building Control for you to gain approval for your proposed works. The structural design documents are as follows:
- Structural Calculation
- Structural Drawings
- Structural Specification Notes
Surveying Services
For our surveying services, depending on the type of work you instruct us for, we produce written structural survey reports and prepare party wall awards. The former is issued to you if you are looking for an appraisal of the existing structural condition of a property for the intention of future construction works to be carried out, or if you are looking to purchase or sell property. Party wall awards are issued to the building owner and the adjoining neighbour(s) before planned construction works are due to take place.
Architectural & Planning Services
For our architectural and planning services we prepare planning drawings which conform to your local authority planning framework and guidelines. Alongside the planning drawings, we also prepare and submit the relevant planning application on your behalf to your local authority to gain approval. Once approval is granted, and if instructed to do so, we then proceed with the production of the structural design documents and the building regulations drawings, which are all required for Building Control submission and approval.
Why work with us?
Complete Project Management
We provide great designs which satisfy our client’s requirements, and our exceptional project completion rate is a testament to the constant business we receive from new and existing clients.
Range of Services
We offer services nationally across the UK and our portfolio includes residential, commercial, industrial, health and education projects in both the private and public sectors.
Fully Qualified
We are fully qualified and are registered with the Institution of Structural Engineers, the world’s leading and governing professional body for qualifications and standards in structural engineering.If you’d like to take the step and arrange your side extension, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!
