More space. A home that flows.

Define how the extra space will work with the existing house before deciding its footprint.

Plan your project ↓

Rendering Soffits & fascias Groundworks Bathrooms Kitchens Bedrooms Extensions Loft conversions

Make informed decisions
before work begins.

A practical starting point for homeowners in Essex and London.

01 / Explore

Your main decisions

A rear or side extension can create a larger living area, but daylight and circulation in the original rooms also matter.

Open-plan changes need a coordinated structural design. The size of an opening alone does not establish what support is needed.

Glazing, roof form and shading affect comfort. Consider summer heat, privacy and furniture positions as well as the view.

02 / Prepare

Before you request a quote

Write a room-by-room brief and separate essentials from optional features.
Have structure, drainage, access and existing services assessed early.
Confirm the planning route and building-control process before committing to a start date.

03 / Compare

What your quote should cover

Which drawings and specification the price is based on.
Foundations, structure, roof, glazing and insulation scope.
Service upgrades, kitchen or bathroom allowances and external making good.
Professional fees, approvals, exclusions, variations and stage payments.

Get advice on an existing quote ↗

Common mistakes to avoid

Comparing prices based on different drawings or allowances.
Using the whole budget without provision for unknowns.
Forgetting temporary living arrangements and weather protection.

Budget for the whole project

Separate the building work from products you supply yourself. Ask which items are fixed prices and which are allowances. Include access, disposal, making good and applicable fees when comparing offers.

Keep a project-specific contingency for unknowns. Agree changes in writing, including the price and any programme impact, before they are carried out.

Keep decisions together

Save the agreed drawings, specification, product choices, written quotation and change approvals in one place. Nominate a main contact and agree how progress will be reported.

A typical project sequence

01Brief, survey and design

02Approvals, specification and agreed quotation

03Groundworks, structure and weather-tight shell

04Services, finishes, inspections and completion

Completion & handover

Agree a snagging record, handover information and the relevant completion documentation. Planning permission and building-regulations approval are separate matters; do not assume that permitted development removes building-control requirements.

Walk through the work together, list outstanding items and agree who will resolve them and when. Keep relevant care instructions, certificates and written warranty terms.

Planning Portal: extension approval ↗

General homeowner guidance for England, checked October 2026. The correct specification and approvals depend on the property and work proposed; confirm these with the appropriate designer, installer or local authority.

Let’s talk about your project

Turn your ideas into a clear brief.

Share your plans, location and the questions you want answered.

Email Jamie ↗Sign up for advice ↗