5 things to consider before building an extension

5 things to consider before building an extension

If you’re thinking about expanding your home, you must first think about what you want to achieve. Are you thinking about adding a bathroom or a bedroom? Or do you want to make the most of your living space? Whatever your main goal is, this post can help you to think about the things you need to before committing to building an extension on your home.

Time-frame

Depending on the scope of the project, the time-line for building an extension may vary. It’s crucial to think about how much time you’re willing to devote to extending your home in order to make sure it’s in line with your extension’s key goals. You’ll likely want to have your extension completed as soon as possible; working with someone like johndoulgeridis.com.au can help with this.

Budget

It’s critical to examine how much cash you have to spend when designing a home extension.

After you’ve established your budget, you can start planning and prioritising to make the most of your money. When you meet with your contractor you’ll have the opportunity to provide the designers with a wish list – and a needs list. Make sure you think this through while keeping your budget in mind.

Transparency is essential with any contractor with whom you choose to work. Make sure there are no hidden fees for you to be concerned about, and you keep your quotes and bills to keep track. Communication is crucial, especially when it comes to budgeting. You should always be well informed and have a clear line of communication.

Do you need planning permission?

If your extension complies with specific criteria, you may not need to apply for planning permission. Whether or not you need planning approval, it’s essential that your extension meets a number of regulations to ensure the building’s safety. Ensure the professionals that you use are able to provide you with all the information you need and, in addition, pay close attention to the design and structure of your home.

Added value

Adding an extension will usually raise the overall value of your home, making it a worthwhile investment.  If you’re going to expand your house to resell it, your approach and decisions will be different than if you’re not aiming to sell any time soon. The primary goal for individuals trying to resell will be to ensure that each modification and addition adds value to the home. If your home has any structural or cosmetic concerns, the best course of action for increasing property value is to remedy them. The design should be simple but appealing, with neutral colours throughout – think of it as a blank canvas, allowing potential buyers to inject their own personality and imagine themselves living there.

Bringing the old and the new together

Your extension shouldn’t feel like an add-on to your home; instead, it should connect to the original structure so that the two are one and the same. From the inside out, make sure your addition not only blends in, but also adds to the value of your home. The functionality as well as the flow of your home should be improved.

These tips should help when it comes to considering building an extension to your home. Do you have any plans for an extension? What are you thinking about? Please share some of your ideas in the comments below.

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Have you been dreaming of your dream home for a dream price? Here’s how to make it a reality

Have you been dreaming of your dream home for a dream price? Here’s how to make it a realitycredit

Because a home is the starting point of love, ambition and dreams, finding and living in the ideal home is critical to establishing a successful life. Building your dream home, on the other hand, isn’t a simple task. Construction of your dream home, or the construction of a house you want to rent out for a profit in the future, may be quite expensive, which is why so many people don’t even consider this as a viable alternative.

It’s considerably more convenient to look at all of the available properties. A fortress designed specifically for you and your requirements and ambitions, however, doesn’t imply that you must pay more than is absolutely necessary.

So here it is; a list of strategies for staying within your financial means without sacrificing your aspirations or earning capacity.

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Borrow a builder

When it comes to realising your dream home aspirations, hiring a custom home builder is your best bet because they’ll be able to keep expenses as low as possible while still providing the quality you need. They’ll have established ties with contractors, suppliers and perhaps even architects in the field. They’ll be able to advise you on the most cost-effective materials to utilise. They’ll be aware of situations in which they can employ an alternative and those in which no sacrifices should be made. They’ll have gained valuable money management knowledge and will be able to help you achieve your goals.

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Look at lots of lots

When it comes to building your ideal home, the greatest outlay will probably be the purchase of a suitable plot of land. Saying that, lots are often affordable. It’s undeveloped land, and no one is planning to develop it further. However, you can save money by purchasing a somewhat larger parcel of land that you could fit a couple of houses on and combining your efforts with a family member, friend or business partner to save money. This will make the land you purchase significantly more economical, as well as significantly more affordable. Just make sure you get along with the individual you’ll be sharing a house with in the near future.

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Pick a problem lot

Lots are graded and many of them are classified as unsuitable for construction, resulting in them selling for much, much less than they were originally worth. These are the properties that are located on hillsides, are narrow or are regarded as being in-fill properties. However, as we all know, life is about doing the best you can with the cards you’re dealt; it’s about compromise and being wise. Request an inspection of one of these unappealing lots by an experienced contractor and see what magic they think they can work to transform this unpromising location into your dream home.

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More about materials

If you know what you’re looking for in building supplies, you can save a lot of money on your purchases. Metal roofs may be more expensive to install, but they’re less expensive to buy and will last for a longer period of time. Glass is also relatively inexpensive, and it has a modern, contemporary appearance. So, choose from the many reasonably priced and aesthetically pleasing materials available.

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Look for junk in the trunk

Salvaged wooden flooring, reclaimed bricks, second-hand doors and rescued fire surrounds are all excellent options for adding character to your home without having to spend a significant amount in the process of doing so. After all, it will be the little things like these that will make your home more aesthetically beautiful. Now is the time to hit the reclamation yards, recycling centres and skips to see what kind of hidden gems you can unearth.

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3 sustainable construction trends

3 sustainable construction trends

Sustainable building practices are becoming more important than ever before. With the heightened awareness of climate change and pollution, many more people are looking for more sustainable construction methods, whether for their own homes or public services like roads.

Thankfully, with the abundance of emerging technologies and a better understanding of what makes buildings greener, there are many promising trends in the world of sustainable construction. Here are some of the best emerging green building trends for 2021 and the new year.

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Using biodegradable, recycled, recyclable and renewable materials

This is perhaps one of the most important innovations for building design and construction that has been made in recent years. The entire premise of sustainable construction hinges on the idea of reducing the impact of building on the environment. This can mean using less harmful materials or more energy-efficient practices.

Ultimately, ensuring that as many materials as possible either come from a sustainable source or can be disposed of safely is one of the most effective ways of reducing the environmental toll of construction. Many people are now choosing to use natural paints, recycled steel, clay bricks and wood to create new buildings.

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Zero energy and zero water buildings

Many people are now trying to ensure that their buildings are as close to self-sufficient as possible. This might mean using energy production methods like solar panels, wind turbines, fuel cells and bio-fuels to provide electricity to buildings. These sustainable power sources are making buildings with net-zero energy consumption a reality.

Similarly, there’s a growing trend towards net-zero water usage in construction at present. Buildings that are built for this purpose use water consumption management systems to reduce wastage where possible. Additionally, buildings are now being created with strategies to capture rainwater, waterless toilets, grey-water recycling and on-site sewage treatment to reduce water usage. Find out the comparison between both here.

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Retrofitting outdated solutions

One trend in construction that doesn’t apply solely to new builds is the growing popularity of green retrofits in older homes. Many companies like Arup now offer services to help people create new and sustainable building designs. However, these building designs can also be used to retrofit older buildings where green construction techniques were not considered.

This is an exciting facet of sustainable construction, as for most people, the idea of building an entirely new property using green techniques is unattainable. However, since sustainable retrofits are growing in popularity, anyone can renovate their home using environmentally friendly practices and materials.

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Conclusion

In summary, these are three of the biggest trends in sustainable design and construction that started to emerge this year. With the constant pressure to develop greener practices and regular innovations regarding building materials, sustainable construction seems set to increase in popularity at the end of the year and into 2022 and beyond. There’s still a long way to go to reduce humanity’s impact on the planet. Still, the emergence of greener and more sustainable construction practices is an encouraging sign of adaptation to the changing climate and weather conditions.

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How sustainable modern homes are taking over the world

How sustainable modern homes are taking over the world

In the last 20 years, there’s been a push from government and public sectors for more sustainable options. It’s a trend that won’t go away, due to the current climate issues facing the planet, but also because more consumers are demanding sustainable options.

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More available than ever

It’s only recently that sustainable modern homes have become a possibility. American homes are often mass built, following the same construction techniques and floor plans.

Due to technological advancements and discoveries, as well as government initiatives to go green, new homes are now expected to be more sustainable than ever. The construction market has become innovative, leading to new materials, systems and furnishings that are better for the planet, as well as better drainage systems and low-emission and energy-efficient equipment.

Often, building sustainably is cheaper than traditional building, due to the new green construction products flooding the market and competing against each other. It started with lighting, changing from traditional bulbs to more energy-efficient LEDs. Now, everything from home appliances to insulation is available from companies with a sustainability focus.

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Sustainable construction saves long-term costs

Older buildings often lack modern construction technology, such as efficient thermal insulation, roofing innovations and advanced water filters.

Homes built with sustainable materials such as tilt-up wall construction help home-owners save money on energy and reduce the need for heating. Not only can sustainable building innovations save money on energy bills, but also use less natural resources.

Modern sustainability technology can also help you use less water. New builds sometimes incorporate efficient filtration systems and systems that require less water for flushing and other activities.

In Utah, Benloch Ranch offer a range of planned community homes that are built with sustainability in mind. They have protective policies surrounding wildlife preservation, conservation of plants and vegetation and efficient use of natural resources like water.

They not only believe in looking after the environment when constructing; they also know that new homes require unique designs to offer something bespoke to buyers. They understand that they need to coexist with the local ecosystem. This is evident in their storm water management systems, fire-breaks and focus on reduction of noise and light pollution.

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Improvement in life quality

Sustainable homes are also made with more natural, less toxic, materials. Older buildings can unintentionally emit invisible fumes and toxins that can wreak havoc on people’s bodies and overall health. That’s not the case with green construction.

As well as being designed with healthier materials that last longer, green homes are generally designed to allow natural sunlight through. Sunlight is crucial to quality of life as it supplies humans with vitamin D, which is essential for good health. Sustainable modern homes are also designed with the climate in mind, meaning less harmful waste and chemicals are involved in their construction. Plus, windows that let in natural light allow you to take in more natural views, helping boost your mood, morale and life quality.

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