The greatest advantage of owning your own property is that you have the flexibility to structurally enhance it however you want. Thus, there has been an increase in the popularity of home extensions as homeowners look to increase the space available to them while transforming their property to their dream residence. Nevertheless, embarking on home extensions is not something that can be taken lightly. There are a number of things to consider to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch. Below are a couple of the key considerations to bear in mind before constructing a home extension.

Consider your current foundation

If you are looking to add a second storey to your property, you need to first determine whether your foundation will be able to withstand the additional weight. This is especially important if you have an older home, as chance are the foundation will have weakened over time. Thus, it would be prudent to have a site inspection conducted to determine the viability of the foundation.

It should be noted that a declining foundation does not mean that you cannot have your new extension. It simply means that additional measures would have to be taken to fortify it so that your structure is on a sturdy base.  A common technique used for this purpose is underpinning. Moreover, the contractors will also take preventative measure to ensure that your foundation does not become prematurely compromised once the extension has been erected.

Consider the materials for your extension

Granted, a home extension can be a pricey project. However, this does not give you leeway to cut on costs by using cheaper materials. The first thing to be aware of is that cheaper materials may seem affordable for the short term but they will deteriorate faster, making them a wasted investment in the long-term. Instead, you should consider the building materials that were used for your primary structure and use them so that they extension can blend in with the entire structure.

On the other hand, if you are set on using different materials, then you may want to consider green materials. Green building is great, especially for home extensions, as it ensures that the energy efficiency of your home is not compromised. Moreover, green building supplies are eco-friendly, which will ensure that your home extension is not increasing your carbon footprint. Some of the green building supplies you could consider include bamboo, reclaimed wood and more.

For more information, contact companies like Vickers Home Improvements.

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