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House extensions come in various forms and sizes, and picking between them often comes down to your personal circumstances. Here’s a quick run-through of the different types of house extensions:

• Rear extensions are the most common form of house extensions. Here, you’ll extend your home into your garden, creating more interior living space across either one or two floors.

• Side extensions are often built on properties with side alleys, though this isn’t always the case. These extensions can add some much-needed width to narrower homes.

• Front extensions are less common since many properties don’t have much space at their front. Nevertheless, if you have the room, these can drastically expand your living space.

• Wrap-around extensions are a combination of side and rear extensions. These usually form an L-shape that wraps around your home, adding both length and width to the building.

Some of these extensions are more or less likely to work well with specific property types. For example, wrap-around extensions are a more common choice for detached and semi-detached house extensions, since they have the room needed for expansion. For a terraced house extension, rear extensions are the likeliest option, since you can’t expand on either side.

Any of these options can be one or two-storey extensions and could be the right fit for you and your property. The key is finding a house extension builder with experience in your preferred type of extension.

House extension costs can vary enormously, depending on the size, type, and complexity of the extension you want. Remember, you might need to hire a structural engineer and an architect alongside builders. That naturally increases costs.

That said, you should expect to pay between £2,000 and £3,000 per square metre for extensions. According to that range, a 30 square metre extension would cost between £60,000 and £90,000 – and costs can run much higher than that for larger extensions.

Before you start calling architects and house extension builders, use these figures as a guide to learn whether you can afford an extension – and if you can, how large that extension could be. You can pair these average costs with a construction cost calculator to figure out your future expenses.

Whether you need planning permission for a house extension depends on the type of house extension you’re building. If you build a house extension within permitted development rights, you won’t need to apply for planning permission.

Permitted development rights let homeowners make alterations to their property without planning permission, as long as they adhere to the conditions and limitations set out in those terms. This could mean laying a brick wall doesn't require planning permission, but extending your home does.

If you’re at all unsure about whether your planned extension falls under permitted development rights, speak to your local planning authority for clarity.

Pro tip: planning a loft conversion? Read our guide to learn whether you need planning permission for a loft conversion.

Loft conversions are a great way to expand your living space within your property’s existing structure. There are several types of loft conversions to consider, though – here’s a summary of the five most loft conversions:

• Roof light loft conversions are the cheapest and quickest way to convert your loft. You simply add skylight windows without changing the pitch or shape of your roof.

• Dormer loft conversions are box-like structures that project from a property’s existing roofline. These conversions provide more living space and greater headroom.

• Hip to gable loft conversions are suitable for properties with hipped roofs. The slanted side of the roof is converted into a vertical gable end, increasing internal space and headroom.

• L-shaped loft conversions are where two dormer conversions are built so that they join together and create an L-shape. This type of conversion provides substantial living space.

• Mansard loft conversions change the sloping side of your roof to an almost vertical side, which helps the conversion to blend seamlessly with your property’s existing architecture.

These loft conversions all have their strengths and weaknesses. You might prefer a roof light conversion if you’re looking for a small loft conversion. On the other hand, dormer loft conversions cost more, but will give you more space and style.

For a more in-depth look at what you can get, check out our guide on the different types of loft conversions.

The cost of loft conversion projects varies according to the type of loft conversion you go with, the size of the loft conversion, your location, and your loft conversion builder’s experience. With that said, loft conversions cost upwards of £20,000, on average.

Smaller roof light loft conversions are less expensive, while dormer and mansard loft conversions will set you back more. Consider, too, that you might need to hire an architect, structural engineer, and a host of tradespeople alongside your builders.

Before you start considering the cost of a loft conversion, you should first look into whether your loft is convertible. Due to the construction of many properties, it's sometimes not possible to press ahead with a loft conversion.

For a more in-depth look at what you can expect to pay, read our guide on how much a loft conversion costs today.

Many loft conversions fall under permitted development rights and will not require planning permission from your local authority – assuming you meet certain criteria. Some loft conversions will not be covered by permitted development rights, though.

Often, it comes down to the type of loft conversion that you’re planning. Roof light loft conversions hardly ever need planning permission, as you’re not altering the shape or pitch of the roof. Mansard and dormer loft conversions involve major changes to your property’s structure and are more likely to require planning permission.

For clarity, it’s best to always share your plans and check with your local authority whether you need planning permission for a loft conversion.

The time it takes to complete your loft conversion will depend on the size and type of loft conversion, and the efficiency of your chosen builder.

Roof light loft conversions are much simpler and likely to take no longer than 4 weeks. More substantial projects – like mansard and dormer loft conversions – will take longer. You can expect these larger works to take up to or beyond 3 months.

When hiring a loft conversion company, make sure you agree on a timeline for the project before committing to anyone. Yes, delays can render these timelines inaccurate, but it will give you a good idea of what to expect.

For a more in-depth look at how long these projects take, check out our guide on loft conversion project timelines.

Renovating can improve a property’s market value and saleability – but does that make it worth doing? Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer here.

You could renovate your property several ways – bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen renovations are all possibilities, and that’s just in the interior – and each renovation will affect the appeal of your property differently.

You should carefully consider the parts of your home that seem to need the most attention, as well as the potential return on investment for those changes according to current market conditions. High-quality renovations make your property more desirable, but overspending undercuts potential profits.

Finding a balance is key. For example, would the cost of kitchen fitting outweigh the potential increase in your property's value? If so, you need to ask yourself whether the practical improvements are worth the difference.

It’s also worth thinking about why you want to renovate. Is it because you’re trying to make more money? Or do you want the property to sell more quickly? By understanding your motivations, you’re better placed to decide whether renovating is the right call.

House renovation costs will vary depending on several factors, including the scope of the renovations, the materials used, and the labour required. If you want a high-spec kitchen with bells and whistles, you'll need to accept the associated kitchen renovation costs.

This goes for each area of the house that you're looking to renovate. Accordingly, property renovation costs can fall anywhere between a few and tens of thousands of pounds – or more.

Complete property renovations can cost more than £100,000. These projects typically include work on utilities (gas, electric, and plumbing), windows, flooring, interior walls, and so much else. This makes calculating an exact cost difficult, but you should expect to pay north of £50,000.

To get a more accurate idea of renovation costs, speak to several local builders and renovation companies about the scope of your project. Ask for detailed quotes that include planning, labour, and material costs. These will be estimates, but taking quotes from several house renovators will give you a decent idea of what you’ll need to spend.

For more in-depth information, read our guide on the cost of house renovations.

In the UK, builders are generally not allowed to carry out noisy work on Sundays or bank holidays. This includes mornings and afternoons, effectively restricting most construction activity on these days.

Local authorities typically define "noisy work" as anything likely to disturb nearby residents, and while the exact interpretation can vary slightly, most councils agree on these limitations.

Exceptions are rare but possible — for instance, if Sunday or a bank holiday is the only viable time for the work to be completed. In such cases, prior permission is usually required from the local authority.

Builders caught breaking these rules may receive a warning for a first offence, but repeated violations can lead to prosecution. If you're unsure about specific restrictions in your area, it's always best to check with your local council before any work begins.

Rules about when builders can start work change from one local authority to another. In general, though, builders can carry out noisy work between 8am and 6pm – with emergency work being the only exception.

To learn the exact times builders can start working in your area, you’ll need to check your local authority’s website, which will usually have the information you’re seeking. Given their experience in the space, your builders should already know the times they’re allowed to operate in.