Planning a home extension is incredibly exciting. Whether you plan to add an extra bedroom to your home or you want to make your kitchen bigger, home extensions are a great way to add some extra living space to your property without the costs and hassle of moving house. However, it’s important to keep in mind that your home extension may disrupt your home life or usual routine – and therefore it’s crucial that you’re completely prepared.
Preparing your home and knowing what to expect when having a home extension is key; the more you prepare and plan for the work, the smoother the project will go. Before the tradesmen turn up at your door to start the work, it’s important you take the time to get your home ready and put any necessary plans in place to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Below, we share our top tips for preparing your home for an extension.
Have a good clear out
Before any building work commences, you need to clear out the rooms that are going to be worked on. Not only will this ensure that the builders can get to work right away without having to move anything around, but it means you can put everything safely out of the way too. Home extensions produce a lot of dust and therefore we recommend removing everything from the room, including the furniture, plants and any pictures hanging on the walls.
If you’re short of space or don’t know where to put everything, hiring a temporary self storage unit can be extremely helpful, giving you somewhere safe and secure to store your items while work is carried out.
Preparing for a home extension is also the perfect opportunity to have a good clear out and get rid of anything you no longer need or want in your home. For example, if you’re extending your kitchen, now is the perfect time to finally sort through your cupboards full of old pots and pans or old tins you’ll never get round to eating. Remember to donate items to charity where possible!
Get ready for dust
There’s simply no avoiding the fact that home extensions produce a whole lot of dust – so the best thing you can do is prepare for it. Plaster dust is a fine powder that travels great distances and coats everything in a sticky film. While dust may not seem like a huge issue, it really can get everywhere, and the last thing you want is your furniture or possessions damaged in the renovation process.
There are lots of ways you can prepare your home for the dust. Make sure you cover all electrical items with plastic wrap or bags that are well sealed to ensure they’re not damaged by the dust in any way. You should also seal any doorways where the work is being carried out with plastic wrap to contain the dust and stop it from spreading through your home. In fact, we recommend being prepared to live in a house that is covered in plastic for a while!
Set up stations
If your kitchen is being extended, there’s a good chance it will be out of action for a while. Living with no kitchen can be difficult so again, you need to make sure you’re well prepared. Some people prefer to move out entirely while work is being done on their home, whereas others don’t mind staying. It’s entirely up to you what you choose to do – but if you do stay, make sure you’ve got everything you need.
If it’s your kitchen that is going to be out of bounds, take the time to set up a small station with a few necessities in a different room. Having a kettle to hand will ensure you can have your morning coffee and keeping a microwave handy will make it easy to heat up meals when your kitchen is unusable. Similarly, if your bathroom is having work done, you may want to arrange to use a friend’s, family member’s or neighbour’s shower when needed. Having these small plans in place will make living through a home extension much easier.
Prepare for disruptions
Having work carried out on your home can be disruptive. From the dust to the loud banging, it can be difficult to stick to your normal routine, especially if you work from home or have your children home during the day. It’s a good idea to put some alternative plans in place. For example, it may be difficult to work at home with the loud noises of the renovation and building works, and therefore you may want to find somewhere else to work while work is carried out on your home.
It’s also important to make sure you have a plan in place for your children and pets. With builders coming in and out of your home all day, it’s important that your children and pets have a safe space where they can relax out of the way of the builders and work. Baby or pet gates are a great investment and will help to keep your little ones well out of the way!
Work with a company you can trust
Above all else, it’s crucial that you work with a company you can trust. A reputable and reliable company will clearly explain to you how you can best prepare for your home extension and will be more than happy to share their tips and tricks for making sure your home is prepared and protected. They will also be able to answer, address and reassure any concerns or questions you may have.
Working with a reliable company will ensure the work is carried out professionally and the correct safety measures and preparations are in place, including planning permission. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to finding a reliable company, we recommend asking around for recommendations – there’s a good chance that a friend or family neighbour has a decent recommendation. It’s also a good idea to go online and read some reviews; if you come across a company that has lots of negative reviews, it’s probably best to take your business elsewhere.
James Dunn Roofing Ltd: Home Extension Services in Oxford
At James Dunn Roofing Ltd, we have over 35 years of experience with house extensions, from loft conversions to new sections for your home. We’re proud to offer a one-stop extension solution; our experienced and fully qualified team ensures every detail is taken care of for you, from insulation to water, electrical systems and more. We’ll always go above and beyond to ensure your home extension meets your individual requirements and bring your visions and ideas to life.
Our project managers will ensure your extension runs smoothly from start to finish, and we’ll also take care of the decorating work once the extension is finished too – so you can sit back and relax while your home is transformed.
To learn more about us, including our roofing and renovation services, visit our website today. Whether you’re in need of a roof repair or a brand new bathroom, we’ve got you covered!