House extensions in Mid Sussex

Most of the extensions we build are on the back of a house, opening a dark kitchen into the garden. Some are side returns, some are two storey, and a few are wrap arounds that do both at once. The work is the same either way: get the ground and the structure right, and the rest of the job runs to plan.

What the work actually involves

An extension is four jobs in sequence, and the first two are the ones that decide whether the price holds.

Groundworks and foundations. We dig trial holes before we price where there is any doubt. Foundation depth is set by the ground and by what is near it, and a mature tree close to the works can mean going considerably deeper than the standard trench. Drains almost always need moving or building over, which needs agreement with the water authority.

Structure. Taking out a rear wall means putting in steel to carry what is above it. The beam is sized by a structural engineer, it bears onto padstones at each end, and the wall is needled and propped while it goes in. This is the part of the job worth watching a builder do.

Shell and envelope. Brickwork or render, roof, insulation and glazing. This is where the extension starts looking like a room.

First fix, second fix and finishes. Electrics, plumbing, plastering, flooring, decorating. Our own trades, so nobody is waiting on anybody.

Planning and Building Regulations

Plenty of single storey rear extensions fall under permitted development and need no planning application, though the limits are tighter on terraced and semi-detached houses, and permitted development rights are restricted or removed altogether in conservation areas and on listed buildings. Two storey extensions almost always need an application.

Building Regulations are separate and apply either way. So does the Party Wall Act if you are building on or near a shared boundary, which means serving notice on your neighbours before work starts. We handle the applications as part of the job.

Start with the right architect

The right architect is key to a successful extension, and the time to choose one is before anything is drawn. Come to us first. Over the years we have built alongside a handful of architects we trust, from the first sketch through to completion, and we will put you in touch with the one who suits your house and your budget.

It saves more than time. An architect who knows how we build draws something we can price accurately and build as drawn, without the redesign that happens when a scheme comes back over budget. If you already have an architect, we are just as happy to work from their drawings, and to comment on the design early, while changes are still cheap.

What our quote covers

Our price is itemised against the drawings and covers labour, materials, plant, waste and every trade needed to finish. Some things cannot be known until we open up, such as the state of a foundation or a drain run, and we point those out before we start rather than leaving them to surprise you. If something unforeseen does turn up, or you decide to add to the job, we price it and agree it with you before any extra work goes ahead.

Where we build them

Extensions across Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Cuckfield, Lindfield and the surrounding villages, and further afield across Sussex. If you have drawings already, send them over. If you have not got that far, we will come and look, tell you what is realistic, and introduce you to the right architect.