Author: Peter

Building an extension on your home

If you find that you are struggling for space in your home then you may consider building an extension. Firstly you need to decide where you want the extension and whether you want to have it one or two story. A two story extension will need deeper foundations and so it is not always possible to build on top of an existing garage for example. Even if you don’t want to have a double extension at the moment, it is often worth building the foundations deep enough so you have the option too later on down the line should you wish to.

The first step to getting an extension built in to get an architect to draw up some plans of the extension. You will then be able to submit this for planning permission to the local council. Some architects will do this part for you but you will still need to pay the planning application fee.

You may want to wait until you get planning permission approved before you start getting quotes off builders as if you have to change the plans then you may have to get the project requoted. It is never a good idea to start building works without the prior consent from the local council.

Having an extension can not only add that all important extra room that you need but it can also add value to your property. Did you know, even having planning permission in place for an extension can add value on to your home should you come to sell it.

When choosing your builder or building company, it is important to choose the right one. You need to do plenty of research and try and find reviews to see what they are like. Ideally you want to use someone that has been recommended to you as this will mean you are likely not to have any issues.

It is also a good idea to have someone to project manage the whole process as they will be able to coordinate between suppliers and trades people. You may wish to do this yourself or you may wish to hire a project manage to take the stress out of the situation and manage it all for you. They will also have experience which can help if problems arise or if you need advice on the building work that is being completed on your extension.

Different types of roof construction

There are many different roof structures to choose from when designing a building some are easier and cheaper to construct than others. In days gone by there was a standard roof construction that was used but now there are many choices.

The pitch of the roof is particularly important and varies from country-to-country dependent upon the weather and rainfall in that country for instance in the UK where we experience a lot of rain the roof needs to have a certain pitch to enable the rainwater to flow away adequately whereas in Mediterranean countries with little rainfall the pitch of the roof does not need to be as steep. Trussed roofs are designed with an appropriate pitch but although a common roof structure does not give much internal loft space.

Flat roofs have traditionally been used for extensions mainly because they are cheaper and easier to install however the life of a traditional felted flat roof is only about ten to fifteen years so it will need regularly replacing.

A relatively new roof design that is proving popular in modern builds is the curved roof. These are constructed from metal such as copper and are mainly used to give a striking appearance to a property.

Roofing issues in an older property

If you own or are thinking of buying an older property the roof is possibly the most important part of the house to keep in good repair. If the roof is left to deteriorate the resulting repairs can be extremely costly. The things to look out for are broken tiles on the roof or on the ground around the property, damaged or missing flashing from under the tiles and from the inside damp and mould on surfaces or even seeing daylight through parts of the roof.

Many older houses do not have felt under the roof tiles so any broken tiles will allow rainwater to enter the loft space. A good tip is to use a pair of binoculars to examine the roof from the ground. It may be necessary to ask a neighbour whether you could view the roof from their garden so that you can get a clear view. Ridge and hip tiles are very often damaged during high winds as the cement that held them in place deteriorates. It is usually obvious if these tiles are missing.

The underside of the roof can be seen from the loft however if loft insulation is in place this may have to be pulled back to get a better view. Beams and rafters should be inspected to check that there is no evidence of rot and woodworm an unfortunately common issue in older properties so that remedial work can be carried out.

Can my roof really make me money?

The majority of homeowners would jump at the chance to reduce their energy bills if they could as after mortgage or rental costs, energy costs are the next biggest outlay for everyone. The good news is that energy bills can be reduced if homeowners invest in installing solar panels or solar tiles on the roofs of their properties.

Many people feel strongly about saving energy and using renewable energy sources therefore solar panels have become a more common sight on roofs across the length and breadth of the UK. The money that can be saved during the year is significant and some smart export guarantee schemes not only allow you to use the electricity you produce but pay you an amount for the electricity that you put back into the grid.

The only option up until recently was to have solar panels attached to the roof of the house using a bolt and rail system, but new technology has enabled solar panels to be incorporated into roof tiles making them less obvious to passers-by.

Although the cost of solar roof tiles is more expensive than the cost of traditional style solar panels, the price is reducing as the technology becomes more commonplace and the savings they generate mean that the payback time is about six years on average.

What are my options when renewing a flat roof?

For many homeowners, the task of replacing a flat roof on a garage is likely if the property is more than a few years old. Flat roofs are renown for leaking in and if not addressed problems and damage escalate requiring even more remedial work to be carried out. The options open to people needing to replace a flat roof used to be limited and felt roofing was really the only choice but in recent years as a wider variety of roofing materials have become available the options are more varied.

Re-felting is still an option and is seen as a good, relatively cheap, solution to the problem of a leaking roof. The downside to using this material is that it is affected by the elements and so does deteriorate over time meaning that it will probably need replacing in about ten years.

 A roofing material that many people are turning to is rubber roofing. Sheets of a rubberised material are glued to the stripped roof of the garage and edged appropriately to ensure it is watertight. Although more expensive the life of this type of roof is upwards of twenty-five years so for many people it will only need to be done once. Unlike felt it is not affected by the elements so should not deteriorate in the same way.