More space. The same home.

Start with the way you want to live

Think about what your home is missing. Is the dining table in the way? Is the living room too dark? Would you like the kitchen to connect to the garden? Your answers guide the layout, depth and position of windows and doors.

Measure your furniture and everyday routes too. A few carefully planned square metres may be more useful than a larger, awkwardly connected room. The configurator uses external dimensions; usable internal space is smaller because of the walls.

What prefab means for your home

Much of a prefab build is prepared in advance under controlled conditions. This can make work on site more manageable. Your existing house, foundations and connections still require a tailored solution.

A prefab extension is not a separate box that fits everywhere in the same way. Floor, wall and roof connections need a detailed technical design. Drainage, rainwater and ventilation must also be included.

From shell to finished living space

Decide how much finishing you want included. A shell leaves you to organise some of the interior work. If you choose more finishing, specify plastering, painting, electrics and heating clearly.

• External dimensions, clear internal height and connection to the existing floor level.
• Cladding, frame colour and type of glazed doors.
• Rooflights, shading and rainwater drainage.
• Preparation for lighting, sockets and heating.
• Responsibility for the kitchen, flooring, garden reinstatement and connections.

Design first, then establish the details

Your configuration makes your wishes tangible. A survey and technical assessment then establish feasibility and cost. A complete quotation distinguishes agreed work, assumptions and items requiring further investigation.

Which depth suits the way you want to live?

Start with two layout options. In one, use the extension mainly for a dining table; in the other, relocate the kitchen or seating area. Draw both at the same scale, including the existing house. You may find a wider opening adds more than extra depth. Allow for radiators, cupboards and curtains. A room that looks empty on paper soon fills up in daily use.

The connection between old and new

A survey should address more than the desired width. What are the existing floor levels? Where are drains and services? What does the rear wall support, and where will the new supports go? Agree who protects the house while the wall is opened. At handover, ask for the completed details and maintenance instructions so you know how the extension was built.

Extending to stay or to sell

If you plan to stay for years, personal choices can carry more weight: a favourite kitchen layout, a quiet workspace or comfortable single-level living. If you may sell soon, find out whether the extension suits demand in your neighbourhood before investing. Our value page helps compare added area, building budget and a possible value effect separately.

Try two layouts before choosing more space

Try one layout with the dining table in the extension and another with the seating area by the garden. Mark the route from the hall to outside in both. Compare storage and daylight in the original room as well as floor area. If a shallower extension accommodates everything, you retain more garden and can put the budget difference towards finishes.