Marble Construction

Domestic extensions are a great way of increasing your  living space. As home owners  spend the majority of their time in communal areas like the kitchen, dining room or living rooms rear extensions are very popular.

Many people  add an extension to their home to improve the value of their property and their quality of life without moving. Extra living space  reduces the chaos and stress of not having enough personal space.

Some people may choose to use an extension to create an office space where they can work from the comfort of their own home. There are many different uses for extra space within a house extension and we can tailor our services to meet your needs.

A great extension is  based on a great design. We work with you to create a fantastic open area tailored for your home.

The design options are endless and extensions can have flat roofs, vaulted roof or a pitch roof to give both practicality and aesthetic appeal.

Is It Practical?

Before starting an extension you need to decide whether it is practical. Why do you want an extension? Some of the main reasons to consider are:

• Extra space.
• Improved Saleability, according to  architect Paul Archer in the Guardian: “If an extension is well designed, yes, every time – it will always add more to the value of the house than what it cost, usually at least double what the extension cost.”
• Future Planning, you never know when you will need extra space for new arrivals to the household like children, grand parents, friends or even pets!
• rental income, a lodger’s rent can bring in extra money and could even pay off the cost of the extension.

Extension wise, your choices may be limited by your house. This may be if your house occupies most of it’s plot or if it has been extended before. A loft conversion is often the cheapest option, but it is not always possible. You will also need to make sure that your loft is high enough.

A typical two storey extension is usually about 20% cheaper to build (per square metre) than a single storey extension. This is because the cost of the foundations and roof is approximately halved as the extension is being spread between two floors.

Will you get your money back?

For the majority of home-owners a new extension is about improving lifestyle rather than making a profit. However as extensions are large financial investments it’s helpful to be aware of which extensions can make you money and which extensions can’t.

The key to a successful extension is one that is expertly designed and built. Marble Construction offers you just that as all of our extension are built to the highest standard possible which can greatly improve your home’s value.

So which type of extension can add the most value?  the answer is completely different for each house but we always advise customers during our free survey.

Is it neighbourly?

Communication with your neighbours is the key to approving any extension work. Most of the time simple communication can sort out any minor disagreements well in advance of the extension which can prove to be much cheaper than arguing via solicitors later on.

When thinking of your extension you need to decide on whether the extension will have an impact on any of your neighbours. Although the extension itself may not cause any inconvenience the noise, mess and increased traffic can. Although Marble Construction cause as little inconvenience as possible, it always helps to involve the neighbours in your plans from the start.

Before your application can be approved by the council, they will invite your neighbours to submit any objections to the proposed work. Even One  objection can be disastrous to your extension. Consider how you would feel if your neighbours were proposing to go about a similar extension.

Will it blend in?

It can be important to find out what kind of extension is permitted in your local area. Simply taking a wander round and making notes of the size and styles of other extension is enough to get an idea of what can and cannot be done. Usually there are four basic cases for an extension: A single or two storey building with either a pitched or flat roof.

Any proposals will need to comply with your Local Development Plan which can be viewed either at your local planning department or online. We can suggest suitable styles and sizes for your extension but ultimately the choice is up to you.

It is also possible to build an extension without needing to get planning consent. For this to apply your extension has to fall within a certain style and size which we will inform you of during the survey.

Can you afford it?

Unlike with other construction companies we at Marble Construction offer a free quote and mark up to anyone thinking about having an extension. Our quote gives an approximation on the cost of your extension. If you decide to go with us then we will send you a more complete package which gives you a more in-depth figure for your extension.

One of the major inequalities in this country is that of VAT. Having just recently been increased to 20% the cost of an extension will be increased. However sometimes you may find that you are VAT exempt. if your home is a listed buildings VAT is reduced to 0% if the house has been left empty for 10 years. You can also expect a drop in VAT to 5% if the house has been left empty for over 3 years, which happens to be the same rate for flat conversions. If the extension is to aid with a disability or to aid self employed work you may also be exempt.

Although we cannot lower the VAT we can provide you with cost efficient products in your extension. You would be surprised at how easy it can be to lower the price of your extension by replacing products with cheaper alternatives.