Adding an extension to a house has never been more popular. Whether you plan on using your extension as a home office, a spacious dining room, a place to relax and unwind or something else entirely, extensions have multiple benefits, and it’s not surprising why homeowners love them.
But let’s be honest; it can also be a bit intimidating. You might have fantasised about your dream home extension before you even bought the property, but when the opportunity arises, how do you get started? The process of designing and building a new extension can be stressful and time-consuming, not to mention placing a tremendous strain on your bank account, so it’s not surprising that some people abandon the idea. Commit to it, though, and you may find it easier than you imagine with hup!.
The Process:
Planning
The first step is to find a company that can deliver your dream home extension. Most people think you need to start with an architect. But that’s not necessarily true. Although hup! can be built to architects’ plans, specialist hup! software allows you to experiment with designs and does all the structural calculations for you. This means that you don’t need an architect and can go straight to a builder, simplifying the planning process and reducing costs. ;
It’s easy to find a hup! builder, just fill in this form, and we’ll put you in touch with your local hup! builder. If you have a preferred builder we can work with them to design and build your extension too. Once you’ve chosen a company, the next stage is the consultation and planning. This largely involves sitting down with a specialist to discuss your needs. This will cover things like the size and style of your new extension, your preferred materials and the best type of roof. The hup! software will allow you to visualise several designs for your extension. Because hup! pricing is fixed for up to 3 months, and the prefabricated hup! kit has less labour content, you’ll also get a price that won’t change as the project progresses.
With the ideas and price finalised, a surveyor will visit the site to take measurements and assess the location. This process will usually take about two weeks to complete.
Preparation
Assuming all goes to plan and there are no issues with planning permission, your project can then begin in earnest. Clearing the project area of obstructions is your first priority, so remove any garden furniture, plants or other obstacles from the site. Tripping over an errant garden gnome is never fun, but it’s even less enjoyable when your arms are loaded with construction materials.
Next, the installation team will lay the foundations. The extent of these will depend on the size of your new extension and involves digging trenches, laying concrete and waiting for it to set. This can take around two weeks, and there will be a Building Inspection of the base before work can commence.
If you already have an extension or conservatory the old foundations may have to be removed first, however, with hup! there is a real advantage. Because the structure is lightweight it is designed to be used on existing bases, which can save you a lot of time and money.
Construction
With all the preparation completed, the all-important final step is the construction itself. It can be very exciting to see your dream home extension taking shape before your very eyes, and you’ll soon see your hard work paying off. Your installation team will assemble the walls and roof before fitting the windows and doors and then placing the roof on top. With hup!, the construction is super-fast, with a typical hup! home extension being constructed in less than a week.
You’ll need to keep your home secure during construction as could be will be many people coming and going during construction. Get to know the builders and ensure any valuables are locked away. This is another advantage of hup!. Because the kit is simple and fast to install, there will only be a small 2-3 men team on site for a few days, reducing any security risks during the build.
Once the structure is built and watertight your building team will move onto the first fix of electrics, then internal plasterboarding, plastering and installing any optional extras like underfloor heating. Here is another advantage of hup!, if you build with brick and block, the holes for windows and doors are measured once the walls are built. Causing delays for windows and doors when finishing a traditional build on time. With hup! windows and doors arriving just in time, they are fitted immediately after the walls and roofs. A typical hup! is constructed in less than 5 days, and watertight within 2 or 3. This means plastering and electrics can be started on day 3 or 4, speeding up the whole process.
All that’s left are the final inspections, tidying up the site and ensuring the structure is safe. As long as everything is in order, you’ll be left to enjoy your pristine new extension.
Mistakes To Avoid
Sounds relatively straightforward, doesn’t it? Building your dream home extension is less trouble than you might think, however, there are still a few routine mistakes that can be easily avoided. The following points might seem obvious, but it’s remarkable how often they come up.
- Check out your chosen builder: Ask for references and check online reviews
- Check if you need planning permission: Many home extensions are allowed under permitted development, but always check to avoid having to undo work later
- Ask your builder about Building Regulations: how will they ensure compliance and provide a certificate
- Get a clear price up front: Ensure this includes all windows, doors, basework and electrical fixe, plasterwork etc to avoid escalating costs
The Advantages of Choosing hup!
With hup! You don’t necessarily need an architect as the design process, structural calculations and building compliance information is in the software. This can save time and money during the planning phase.
Arguably, the biggest drawback is how long an extension takes to build. However, if you’re short on time or want to enjoy your dream home extension sooner, there is a revolutionary alternative; hup!
hup! is the easiest and the better way to build your dream home extension. It’s five times faster to build than traditional methods like bricks or mortar, and if you can simply keep your existing conservatory base, it will be even faster. hup! wall panels are also cut to size off-site to speed up the building process even more. As there is less cement involved on site, hup! can not only be built 5 times faster, but also under any weather conditions, with significantly less mess and no rain delays.
But don’t think that the rapid building time means you’ll be sacrificing quality. Choose hup! and you’ll get an extension that isn’t just five times faster to build, but also five times more energy efficient than an average UK home. The technology inside hup! is also BBA approved, giving you total peace of mind.
It’s remarkably versatile, too. The panels might be lightweight, but they’re 68% stronger than a brick wall and more than capable of supporting the roof of your choice. Multiple glazing and finishing options are available, and everything is made-to-measure. You can trust hup! to provide you with a grand and spacious extension for hosting dinner parties or a cosier, more intimate place for you to unwind in peace.
There are also tonnes of benefits to hup! when it comes to the planning phase of your dream home extension. There is no need to involve expensive architects or structural engineers, as homeowners have full design flexibility and control thanks to our specialist software. Additionally, hup! is pre-approved for Building Regulations to save headaches and time costly paperwork.
With all this in mind, it’s not surprising that hup! is the better way to build your dream home extension. But if that’s not enough, remember when we mentioned revolutionary technology of hup!? Usually, technology will come at the expense of the environment. But not with hup!. It’s 60% more carbon efficient than a brick wall, there is zero waste in production or on-site, as well as minimal water usage, especially compared to the huge 2 litres per brick with traditional building methods.
If this sounds good, why not get a few ideas for your new dream home extension by checking out our case studies and online gallery? You can also find your local hup! builder today and get started on a project right away.
