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entrance to living room
CategoriesHome Extensions

Home Extension Design Tips – Why it Pays to Work with the Experts

By Bayside Extensions Team,

Are you considering to renovate and extend your home? Need more space for your growing family or for entertaining guests? Trying to find ways to make your living space more comfortable and functional to fit your lifestyle needs? You’ve probably been thinking about that home extension project for quite some time now but don’t know where to even begin. Here we pose some questions to consider and tips to get you started!

1. Which way to go – vertical or horizontal?

First up, know what you have, what you need and what you’d like to achieve. Do you need an additional bedroom or bathroom, a more spacious kitchen, an outdoor area for entertainment or an extra living space? How can you best achieve this considering the size, style and location of your current home? Depending on what is permitted, some possibilities include an upper storey addition, a single-storey side or rear extension, converting garage space or building a studio in your garden.

Before taking the plunge, consult an experienced builder to know what will work best for your home in the most cost-effective way.

2. When old meets new – how do you achieve that cohesive look?

When it comes to building extensions for your existing home, design cohesion is important. You want to achieve a sense of continuity between the old and the new, or your house will look tacky and disjointed. The challenge is how to work with the original character of your house and marry it with a more contemporary look.

Consult with your design and build team for materials, construction methods and architectural design that will complement your existing home. Talk to an interior designer to help you choose the right colour schemes, fixtures, fittings, and finishes for your newly added space that will perfectly blend with the rest of the house.

entrance to living room3. Creativity and functionality – how to balance with your personal style?

Creativity is not everyone’s cup of tea! If you’re like many who struggle with colour palettes, designs and layouts, best to leave this stuff to the experts. That’s not to say that you can’t transform your old home into something that defines your personal style. You’ll be surprised how professional designers can bring to life ideas that blend creativity and functionality with a touch of your own personality into your home extension designs.

4. Energy efficiency is ‘hot’ and sustainability is ‘cool’

New builds and extension projects in Victoria are required to meet compulsory energy performance ratings, construction codes and standards. Expert builders and designers will help ensure your new extension meets these requirements. Solar panels, rainwater tanks, double-glazed windows and insulation that are up to code are some of the ways you can consider incorporating in your home extension to reduce your carbon footprint.

Talk to the experts!

A home extension project is a complex, yet exciting and rewarding task! One simple mistake could be costly, so it pays to work with the experts.

At Bayside Extensions, our team of professionals can work with you from planning through to design and execution. Contact us today and let’s start talking

floor plan
CategoriesHome Extensions

Common Home Extension Planning Mistakes You Can Easily Avoid

By Bayside Extensions Team,

A home extension is an excellent solution if you want some extra room or space without having to move out and start over in a new house. It’s a project that will allow you to update your home to suit the changing needs of your family as well as add function and value to your home.

Planning home extensions is a complex task that requires a lot of work which is why there are many things to consider to ensure you turn your dream home into a reality. This is why avoiding mistakes, no matter how small they are, is crucial to successfully achieving your dream house extension.

The following are some common home extension planning mistakes you can easily avoid to help you plan and complete your project in the best and most efficient way possible.

floor plan

1. Deciding On Everything On Your Own

Working on a big project such as a home extension can be an exciting project for you and your family. There are a lot of decisions you need to make in order to ensure that everything goes to plan. While the final decisions are always up to the owner, having an expert to consult with will help you eliminate even bigger and much more complicated planning mistakes which can affect the entire project.

2. Last-Minute Changes to Design and Features

When planning for a home extension, it’s important to create a solid plan and stick to it until the end. Making sudden changes will result in more time being allotted on the project, hence, an increase in costs which may be a problem if you have a specific budget.

Since you’re already working with experts, take some time to discuss the things you want to achieve and avoid during the project. Have a clear and achievable goal based on the time and resources you have. Making sudden changes could make it more difficult for you to achieve the end result that you want.

3. Working With The Wrong People

Planning a home extension is a huge job that you do not want to handle on your own. One common mistake when planning for house extension is not choosing the right experts to help you. Here are a few things you should consider when getting a professional team:

  • Years of experience
  • Specialty
  • Scope of services covered

Do your research and hire a team who can work on all aspects of your home extension project.

Let Us Help You

The best way to avoid planning mistakes is work with experts. Our team of designer-builders can guide you from the design and planning to the construction stage of a home extension project with ease. Learn more about Bayside Extensions by checking out some of our projects or you may talk to us about your home extension plans.

deck and living room
CategoriesHome Renovation

The Real Reasons You Should Never ‘DIY’ Your Home Extension

By Bayside Extensions Team,

How many times have you been to a newly renovated house and you’ve admired the beautiful extension? The flooring was perfect, the choice of materials were classy and functional, and even the colour scheme was on point. I bet if you asked the homeowner who designed and built the extension, they’d tell you that it was a building and design professional!

There is no surprise there, because if you want a home extension done right, you need an expert to help you out. There is just too much at stake for you to try the DIY route.

Why a DIY Home Extension is Not the Best Idea

There is a quote that goes like this: If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do a job, wait until you hire an amateur. It pays to have an expert to work on your home extension project.

deck and living room

Here are some reasons that a DIY approach is best left to personal projects:

  • You can end up wasting time on DIY. Since you will be new to renovating, chances are you could make a mistake on the quantity or type of materials you will need or you might buy more than what you need or get the wrong thing altogether. Additionally, you may have to attempt certain jobs more than once, which is a huge time waster!
  • There will be a lot of leg work for you. Your home extension project needs to be legal, so you’ll need to organise relevant permits. To obtain permits, you’ll need to have someone draw up the plans, and you’ll need to ensure you’re covered by insurance as well. These are just a few things that an expert will manage for you that can amount to a lot of work for you if you DIY.
  • You may cause structural damage to your house. Especially if you have an older house, you may cause unintentional damage instead of simply beautifying or improving it with an extension. This is where a professional builder and designer’s eye and experience is very much needed.
  • You can get injured. If you are an amateur builder, you may not be aware of current work safety guidelines. These don’t just apply to operating power tools, they apply across any task undertaken on a building site, like tearing down walls or any demolition work. Avoid injuring yourself by hiring a professional.

Conclusion

It is understandable that there is a sense of accomplishment if you work on your own small project. However, you really need to consider the risks of trying a major DIY. Engaging a professional builder or contractor from the outset is always the safest way of approaching an extension project. You may also want to go through our home extension beginner’s guide here to be better informed.

Do you have a home extension project in mind? Let us know about it so we can properly advice you. Feel free to contact us today.

spacious living area
CategoriesHome Renovation

Budgeting for a Home Extension? Here are the Essentials

By Bayside Extensions Team,

After much consideration, you have finally decided to go ahead with a house extension. However, you are aware that this is not a small feat, especially if you are planning for a big portion of your house to be renovated at the same time.

This is why it is important to have a proper budget to begin with, if you want a beautifully done home extension.

spacious living area

Why Do You Need to Budget?

No matter how big your extension project, you will be spending money on it. You will want to ensure that every dollar is wisely spent, right? That is where a well thought out budget will help reel you back in to reality in case your mind starts to wander to grand extension expectations that are actually well beyond your wallet’s reach.

The first thing you need to do is to set a goal, so you’re clear on what you actually want with your home extension project. Which part of the house should the builder focus on? Why are you having your house extended in the first place? How much can you actually afford? Once you’ve answered these questions then you are ready to proceed with the budgeting itself.

Essentials to Include in Your Extension Budget

Budgeting for your house extension is one of the first steps you must take. Arguably, this is no easy task especially if you have no background in home renovation. The best approach is to consult with a professional design and build provider.

Consulting with a builder will give you an expert’s perspective on the project, and they can help you develop your ideas into a home that you’ll love. An expert can also provide a detailed proposal or quote so you will have a clearer idea about how much you will be spending.

But to help you get started, here are the essentials you need to include when you are planning your home extension project.

  • Think in terms of per square metre. If you want a quick way of budgeting it, measuring the area that the extension will cover will get you fairly close pricing estimate. Depending on your location and the actual cost of the materials, you will be able to use this information to get an estimate based on the dimensions of your build.
  • Heating and air conditioning. Since you will be extending your house, there will be more space to heat up or cool down so consider the cost of additional systems and installation.
  • Piping and gas. These are to be considered if you are extending or putting up a new kitchen or wet area.
  • Materials cost. From the nails to the floor tiles and paint, you need to have your materials estimated.
  • Plans and fees. Most reputable design and build providers will look after these for you, but you’ll still need to budget for any associated costs.
  • Labor cost. Of course, you will have to pay your builder or contractor.

Conclusion

As you can see, budgeting is an important part of your home extension plan. It pays to have a clear understanding of how much you need to spend and what you can comfortably afford.

If you want an expert’s input on how much your dream extension will cost, please contact us today.

 

house with patio and conservatory
CategoriesHome Extensions

5 Great Reasons to Extend Your Family Home

By Bayside Extensions Team,

There may be times when you feel you need a larger home, whether more rooms for your growing family or a much-needed space for recreation or work. If this is the case, you have two options: purchase a bigger house or enlarge your current home.

But which one is the better option?

Home Extension VS. Buying a New Home

You may think that buying a new house might be a better option than to renovate and extend your home. But there are plenty of reasons that homeowners choose to upgrade their existing home instead of moving into newer, larger houses.

For one, is it worth moving to a new place when your current home is in a good location, close to your children’s school or your workplace? If you love your neighbourhood, you don’t need to give up this convenience for a larger home when you can make your current house work for you with an extension.

Here are more reasons you should consider an extension for your family home.

house with patio and conservatory

Reasons to Extend your Home

1. It’s Cost-Effective.

A home extension can save you more money. Aside from the time wasted, you need to consider the additional expenses of moving house. The can include agent fees, advertising costs, and inspections. And don’t forget any government fees and taxes when you buy a new home!

2. It’s Tailored and Designed For You.

Home extensions are a fantastic way to create the space you need so you can use it the way you want to, giving you the power to design your home with the features you want.

It’s more likely that you will achieve your dream home by designing and renovating it than by relying on the chance that you will find exactly what you need on the property market.

3. It Adds Value To Your Property.

Not only will a home extension save you money, but it is also a great investment. Building a room or space that is effective to the house’s overall design raises the market worth of the property.

4. It Provides Space for Various Purposes.

Whether for family, work or leisure, having more space can improve the quality of your home life.

Expanding your home gives your growing family more personal space, which can be achieved with additional bedrooms or extra living space. You can also add working spaces, like offices and specialist workrooms, or create recreational areas such as a conservatory or an art studio.

5. It Improves Energy Efficiency.

Renovation isn’t just about changing the looks and feel of your home, but also a way to reduce the running expenses while increasing the quality of living.

When you extend your home, you can incorporate the use of modern technology to cut costs. For example, installing underfloor heating offers a more efficient method of warming a room than radiators.

There is so much that goes into projects like these, so it’s never recommended that you undertake renovations by yourself. Expert house designer-builders, like Bayside Extensions, can help walk you through the design process, management, permits, and more.

Here at Bayside Extensions, we assist with all aspects of the design, management, build and post-build maintenance. If you’re thinking of starting a home extension project, let us know how we can help by calling us at (03) 9596 0368 or filling up our enquiry form.

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