Practical Ideas for Home Extensions

“Extending your home is a great way to add extra space and value to your property, but what should you choose and what can the space be used for?”

Extending your home can seem like a daunting task, from choosing where you want the extension to choosing the materials, style, design, layout and utilisation of space. There are many things to consider, from how the extension will receive light to how the extra living space is used and how it fits in with the properties existing structure.

One of the first things you may ask yourself is, “what material do I choose?”, most people extending their homes will make a choice based on price. Traditionally, UPVC has always been the cheapest way of extending a home, however, UPVC does not offer the same visual benefits as genuine hardwoods like oak, timber and softwoods like pine. Many people do not realise that hardwood can be very competitive on price, and offers much better value for moey given appearance, maintenance costs and more.

Hardwoods add a premium feel and look to a property, which is one of the main reasons why wooden extensions like conservatories and orangeries have grown in popularity, especially since it adds considerable value on to a property over UPVC. Hardwood traditionally appeared like a bad choice due to wood being a higher maintenance product over plastic versions, however, today’s modern hardwood structures have been treated and coated in such a way that their lifespans can compete easily with UPVC.

So what may you consider for an extension? maybe an Orangery? maybe a Conservatory?. Orangeries tend to allow more light in and offer beautiful architectural features, whereas conservatories offer more roof options. Either choice will increase your living space. Some people choose to extend their living rooms into an Orangery or Conservatory structure, some extend their kitchens and or lounges into these structures.