What’s The Cost Of a Flat-Pack Extension?

If you’re a homeowner, you’ll know that space is always at a premium. You might even be considering moving as a way to gain a little more room.

However, the costs of buying and selling are high; once stamp duty, legal fees, removals firms and other factors are added together, you could be looking at well over £10,000. For this reason, it’s often better to extend your property if possible. Depending on your plans it might not cost much more than moving.

It will push up the value of your home and can be a great new space to enjoy. You can source affordable local contractors from websites like Bark and Quotatis to keep costs down. And, if you’re working to a tight budget, flat-pack extensions can be a great cost-saving option.

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Factors Affecting Extension Costs

The cost of an extension, both traditional and prefabricated, can vary considerably depending on a huge range of factors. Size and style are, of course, two things that will have a large impact on the expense. However, it’s important to remember that an extension costs far more than the structure itself.

• Build Costs
  Building costs include structural development; digging, excavation and foundations, for example. You will also have to pay for down pipes, roofing and tiling, internal prefab extensions, glass extensions, central heating, doors and windows.
• Main House Alterations
  When you’re having an extension built, structural changes will also be required to your existing home. New support beams might be required, for example, when external walls are knocked through. There will also be work required where the two buildings join to ensure there’s a weather-tight and uncompromised seam.
• Miscellaneous Costs
  There are almost always unforeseen costs involved in any building project. These might include skip hire expenses if you’ve got a lot of rubbish to remove, or landscaping to repair damage done by workmen.
• Administrative Expenses
  If you have to make any changes to your mortgage or loans, there will almost certainly be an administrative fee involved. Meanwhile, architects and project managers will need paying. There will also be insurance costs to pay, as well as potential building control and search fees.
• Interior Decoration
  It’s quite easy to accept an extension quote whilst totally forgetting that it doesn’t include the cost of fitting out your new room. At a minimum, you’ll need new flooring, paint and furnishings. If, however, you’re putting in a new kitchen or bathroom, costs could be extensive. 

Overall, you should allow between £5,000 and £10,000 for planning and preparation costs when it comes to an extension.

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Average Extension Costs

On average, extensions cost between £1,260 and £1,680 per square metre for a room that’s completed to a plastered finish. So you can expect to pay between £25,200 and £33,600 for single storey project that’s around 20m². However, it’s essential to remember this is not the finished product, and you’ll still need to paint, add flooring and pay for lighting. In addition, if you’re getting help from structural engineers and planning officers, or paying architect fees, costs can be 10 – 15 percent higher.

Lower the Cost with a Flat Pack 

Flat pack extensions are becoming increasingly popular, not only because they’re simpler to install but due to the lower costs. In general, an extension that’s prefabricated off site will cost between 10 and 25 percent cheaper than the traditional on-site construction. It means that a project costing £25,000 can suddenly drop to under £20,000. This change often makes an extension far more affordable.

There are other benefits too. Other than foundations and laying utilities, a lot of the work can be done off-site, reducing the noise and impact on your everyday life. In addition, advanced technology means that prefabricated extensions can come with integrated sound proofing, insulation and temperature controls.

Other Extension Options 

There are a number of other options to consider if you’re trying to get an extension on a tight budget. Glass extensions can be a modern and stylish feature that makes quite a statement. Not to be confused with conservatories, exterior glass rooms come with all the mod cons and can be seamlessly integrated into your home. A 10.5m² glass extension, complete with three frame-less sliding doors, could cost around £17,000.

Alternatively, you might like to consider an orangery. Though orangeries might be perceived as extremely expensive, if you’re already thinking of paying for an extension, then an orangery could be affordable too. Averaging around £20,000, you could get a functional and usable room that makes the most of indoors and out.

Extensions aren’t cheap, and there’s a lot of cost factors involved in determining the final price. However, modern technology is making extending your home more affordable, and with flat-pack options increasingly available you could get your dream property without even moving.

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