There may come a point in a homeowner’s life when they consider a change in environment but are unsure whether to invest in renovating their home or moving somewhere entirely new. Through our work with house extensions in London, we have found that the answer is not always so black and white. For some, it makes sense to move everything to a new property, while for others, refreshing an existing space could be more than enough. Moving house to find a larger kitchen is a complicated process when compared to installing a kitchen extension in London.

Although we specialise in home renovations, we can appreciate the desire to start afresh in a new property or new neighbourhood. You can choose a larger house that has even more potential for development in the future, move to an entirely new, exciting environment, or escape the things you didn’t like so much i.e. nightmare neighbours (a situation that is completely out of your hands).

However, it is generally far more costly to move properties than to carry out works to an existing structure. A home extension can range anywhere from £25k to £60k, which is near enough the price of stamp duty alone. There are so many home renovations you could invest in, especially if your main concern is space.

Ground floor alterations

Knocking back walls

There are simple ways in which a homeowner could reinvent their ground floor. Firstly, freeing up the space by knocking back internal walls, even load-bearing ones that take up precious floor area. This is done by installing steel beams into the ceiling to ensure the rest of the structure is supported. The final result is an open floorplan which adds tons of value to the property and makes the house much more sellable due to the versatility of the space. It also allows natural light to course through the entire floor area.

Extend

A ground floor extension is really worth considering as it will also add a lot of value to your property, with your initial investment likely to be returned. You are able to create a larger kitchen or family room with the extra space, which may fulfil the change you were looking for. Add a utility room to hide away all your bulky appliances and messy tasks so that your house stay clean and tidy throughout the week. Pairing an extension with an open plan creates a highly social space that is great for families or entertaining guests.

WC

A traditional London terrace does not include a toilet in the ground floor layout. Adding an extra WC here is highly convenient for both you and your visitors. Generally, when it comes to reconfiguring, we can tuck a small WC under a staircase to prevent obstruction in an open plan space. There is also the option of placing a large WC into the middle of the ground floor, which is perfect if you’re not fussed about keeping an open space. All the incoming natural light would be dedicated to the shared social spaces such as the living, dining, and kitchen areas, while the WC would be fine with artificial lighting. However, this is all dependent on the existing layout of your home.

Loft

If the ground floor is not the problem, consider some of these changes you can make to your loft. They will surely transform your home or, if you decide to move in the future, add tremendous value.

Ridge height

Did you know you can increase the ridge height of your property? This makes your home taller overall, with its main purpose being to allow a homeowner to convert that under-utilised loft space above, into extra rooms. If the loft is large enough already but just needs the extra head height, this is the perfect solution. Fit in a master bedroom and an ensuite bathroom to create a wonderfully peaceful chill out zone.

Rear dormer

Installing a rear dormer, whether it’s a single box or L-shaped (extend above an outrigger), will add even more valuable space. Depending on the size of your proposal, you can fit a master bedroom, ensuite, walk-in wardrobe, and even a spare bedroom. This extra floor of liveable space is fantastic for accommodating a rapidly growing household and transforming the interior as well as the exterior.

Large windows

Lastly, along with the features mentioned above, installing large windows would truly uplift a space. The changes to your loft would free up so much more roof area for you to fit large Velux windows/balcony, a Juliet balcony (French doors), or a flat roof light. These are all roof windows that bring luxury as well as huge amounts of natural light, especially as they would be on the tallest point of your home. You can open the window up to ventilate the once-stuffy loft space, and enjoy the outdoor space without having to go down to the garden!

Thinking of adding a home extension or refurbishing your home interior? Why not give our friendly team of professionals a call on 02070432378 or shoot us an email at hello@hometales.co.uk. If you would prefer, we have two types of telephone consultation available to you. We have our standard consultation which is free of charge, and a Consultation+. Click here to view our live diary, pick your preferred type of consultation, and book in your call.