We’ll go over some of the considerations you should keep in mind when considering adding an additional floor to your home. You can choose between single-story and double-story bungalows.
Bungalows are a highly sought-after item, particularly when it comes to their remodelling possibilities. However, despite the fact that most bungalows are unattractive and lacking in architectural quality, most planners are open to working with those who want to breathe new life into an old home. Adding to this is the fact that bungalows are typically built on large lots with wide proportions, presenting renovators with several opportunities to maximise their investment.
The addition of a second storey to a tired and out-of-date cottage is an excellent way to breathe new life into it.
Is the Bungalow an appropriate choice for you?
To evaluate whether or not it is financially possible to convert your bungalow into a two-story home, you must first assess whether or not the project is practical. You may do this by doing the following:
Determine whether or not the existing footprint will be conducive to a successful project, as well as the depth and shape of the existing foundations, as well as if any of the existing internal walls are loadbearing, are all important considerations when assessing the structural stability of your bungalow.
Consider the Foundations for a moment.
Check through your records to see if there are any original building designs associated with the property, assuming you have your floorplans on hand. Among the features they are most likely to display are the following:
A number of significant issues include the depth and kind of foundations used, as well as the drainage system and which internal walls are supported by the foundations.
When your design team begins working on the recommended design, they will be able to use all of this knowledge to their advantage in their daily work. The records of the local building department might also be consulted as an alternative source of information.
You may choose to seek the assistance of a structural engineer if you have been unsuccessful in any of these endeavours. They should be able to give you with information on the current ground conditions if you ask them nicely. Most likely, they will also recommend that you dig a few of trial holes to assess the depth of the foundations and the type of foundations that are presently in place before moving on with the project. The following are the procedures to be followed:
Excavation of holes approximately one metre deep and wide enough to expose the structure’s foundations, collection of a soil sample at the bottom of each pit and submission of the sample for testing at an accredited soil testing laboratory in the United Kingdom, and dissemination of results to your structural engineer are all steps in the foundation excavation process.
An alternate option is to hire a geotechnical expert who will work in collaboration with your structural engineer to complete the necessary work on your property.
The information acquired from this survey, on the other hand, will be used by your structural engineer to offer you with the best possible advice on the best course of action to follow, depending on whether the present foundations are capable of sustaining an additional level of construction or not.
Bungalows were constructed before
The process of adding a second floor to a double-story house. A tired-looking bungalow has been transformed into a two-story family home with wood siding and oak trim as a consequence of a significant remodelling project that began in 2007.
Choose a Timber Frame for the construction of your home.
When it comes to adding an additional story, a wood frame is a wise choice since the weight carried by a timber frame is far less than the weight carried by a blockwork construction (masonry). As a consequence, there should be no need to reinforce or underpin the existing foundations, which would result in significant time and cost savings.
A reasonable figure for the cost of a timber-framed conversion project in the south east of England is around £1,800/m2, depending on the fit-out criteria that are employed.
If you decide on a wood frame building method, you may begin the full design process as soon as you are satisfied with the existing level of your project’s planning and development. Take into consideration what kinds of materials you’d want to use when working on the specifics of the design. You will receive invaluable support in this subject, and it is vital that you adhere to the limits of the planning process as much as possible. Depending on your local authorities, it is conceivable that you will be needed to provide samples as a condition of gaining clearance.
Using a prefabricated wood frame rather than an on-site stick made approach is more efficient since the work can be separated and assigned to specialists, resulting in more efficiency. In the event that you want to go this route, you should consider using your planning application drawings to acquire a high-level budget estimate from wood frame supply and installation organisations.
Beginning as early as possible in your project’s planning for the construction stage is recommended: select a single contractor and then devote your attention to the other components of your project so that you can build a thorough scope of work. If you’re building your own home, think about what extra trade goods you’ll need to bring in, such as a new kitchen or bathroom if you’re doing it yourself.
Was there anything more you should have taken into considerations?
A bat survey may be necessary as a part of the planning process, and it is probable that you may be obliged to undertake one. Specification of your wood frame provider as a required supplier should be included in the construction contract for the house. This has a lot of advantages, one of which is the ability to better manage costs. If you are looking for a bungalow builder you can check https://pristinebuild.co.uk/ .Your builder is also being asked to take some responsibility for the coordination and administration of that supplier, which is a positive development for both parties.
There will be a need for scaffolding; thus, talk with your frame builder about the specifics of what will be necessary, making sure that it is compatible with other aspects of the project, and keep your scaffolding company up to date on any developments.
Consider if you would be able to resell any of the materials from the original bungalow structure. It is also possible to use easy-joist systems in place of typical wood joists, which is something to think about. They are easier to install and are ideal for first-fix plumbing and electrical work because they allow wires and pipes to be routed virtually anywhere without the need to notch, cut, drill, or trim joists. They are also less expensive than other types of joists and are available in a variety of sizes. In addition, they are less costly than alternative solutions.
