Can I Build a House Extension Myself?

Having a house extension has several benefits, such as being able to save the time and the money you need to invest in making a deposit for a new home or in paying movers to transfer your belongings. House extensions can also increase the value of your property if done properly.

That being said, the question remains on whether you would be able to build a house extension by yourself.

The answer depends

If you are willing to dedicate your time and effort to build the extension of your house, and if you have the proper tools that you can use to do so, then yes, you can do it yourself. Otherwise, perhaps you should leverage the services of professionals to help you make the best house extension possible. Nonetheless, if you are already committed to building your house extension yourself, then below are some of the steps that you need to follow diligently.

Set a Budget

The first step that you need to do in building a house extension yourself is to allocate an appropriate budget. Keep in mind that a side return extension costs start from £35000, and the total cost that you have to shell out later on will still be dependent on the size of the space, as well as its overall design. While it is often quite tempting to go for the lowest prices, you also need to ensure that the quality of your house extension is not compromised, which is why you also need to factor this in. Alongside this, you also need to incorporate groundwork costs.

Design

In parallel with setting a budget for your DIY house extension, you also need to decide on the size of your extension, as well as its size. In this case, you need to consider the space that you can work with, as well as how it will be integrated into the overall character of your existing structure. You should also think about how you want your space to flow or the layout that you need to follow. You should also take note of how you will be able to leverage natural light to flow through the extended space.

Permits

Since you will be building your house extension on your own, you also need to take care of the necessary permits before you can start with the development. The reason behind this is that your extension may not fall under the permitted development rights, for which no application is required. Thus, make sure to verify with your local authority beforehand. Just keep in mind that whether you are encompassed in the permitted development rights or not, you still need to follow necessary building regulations.

You need to consider various factors to ensure that you are going the right way when it comes to building a house extension. Rest assured that you can build it yourself as long as you can commit your time and effort in doing so. If not, there are always professionals ready to help you build the house extension that will add value to your property later on.