Building a budget-friendly extension is distinctly possible — providing you plan properly and are savvy about where you spend your money. What’s more, a low build cost doesn’t mean that you have to (or indeed should) sacrifice quality or style. There are plenty of clever yet easy ways to ensure you won’t go off track budget-wise. Whether it’s shopping around for the best building materials for your extension, getting in the know about the kinds of fees to expect or creating a design that is more cost-effective to build, there are ways to add space to your home without breaking the bank.
DO YOU REALLY NEED TO EXTEND?
The first thing to ask yourself when thinking about building a budget-friendly extension is if an extension is actually what you need. Could a more cost-effective solution to get the space you need be simply changing the layout of your home? Or could you look into repurposing any existing spaces that might currently be underused? A seldom-used garage, for example, could be cheaper to convert and give you valuable extra living or utility space for a fraction of the cost of a brand-new extension. Likewise, loft conversions can be a cheaper option than a ground-floor or basement extension when it comes to expanding your space.
SIZE MATTERS
Before you start planning your extension, work out whether the cost of building it and
