If you’ve been planning to add space to your home, you’ve likely questioned whether to go one-storey or two-storey. Home extensions are a fantastic way to improve your home and give you the space you’ve been looking for, and can even be a great financial investment to strengthen the value of your property! However, they can also be complicated. Today we’ll be trying to help you make the decision process easier and showing why we think single storey extensions are the best way to go for the majority of homeowners!
Cost
Budget is a significant – and in many cases the most important – factor when looking to extend your home, and so it should always be comprehensively considered. There are many elements that play a role in how much an extension is going to cost, from materials needed to the time it will take to build.
On average, a two-storey extensions cost a whopping 50-70% more than single-storey extensions, making them a considerably larger investment that you may not be able to afford, or may not be worth.
Ease Of Installation
All extensions take time to build and install, which can be the most stressful part. During the installation process, your home becomes a building site that can affect other areas of your home as furniture and supplies need to be moved around to make sufficient space.
The longer that this process lasts, the longer you have to put up with the disruptions to everyday life, which can be difficult for many busy families. Whilst a double storey extension can take around 4-6 months to complete, single storey extensions can help you return to normal life much quicker.
Traditional single storey extensions are usually completed in 3 months or less, but our new innovative hup! extensions by Ultraframe can be completed onsite in just days!
Getting A Return On Your Investment
One reason why home extensions are a popular home improvement is because of the value that they can add to the property, making it a good investment in the long run too. Both single and double storey extensions will add to the value of your home, however there are some important factors to consider.
A single storey extension will always add value to the home as it provides additional space and allows the homeowner to create a more enjoyable living area. As a result, single storey home extensions almost always provide a great return on investment.
The same cannot always be said for double storey extensions however, as they may not add much value on top of what a single storey extension would for your home. Unless your property would benefit greatly from an additional bedroom, many families don’t value the spare space upstairs as they do with the open-plan space they can get from a single storey extension. With the significant additional costs of a double storey extension, this could mean you’re spending more but not getting the best return on your investment.
Additional space where it’s most important
As mentioned, the most valuable space to gain when extending is that in your living areas. Whether it’s giving you room to create a bigger and brighter kitchen, or allowing you to create a beautiful modern open-plan space, single storey extensions are by far the most impactful on creating a better home!
Single storey extensions can also take advantage of roof enhancements that can totally transform the new space, using skylights or glass sky lanterns to open it up and flood your home with beautiful natural lighting.
The Impact On Your Garden Area
One last thing to consider when choosing your extension type is to factor in your garden too. Depending on which direction your garden faces, the size, and the layout of it, a double storey extension could actually confine the feel of your garden and limit the amount of sunlight it gets.
The additional height of double storey extensions can quickly make your outdoor space feel smaller and darker, so if you enjoy spending time out there and would like to maintain this, consider carefully how a double storey extension could impact it. Single storey extensions on the other hand won’t block as much light or make the space feel as small visually, leaving you to enjoy your garden space as you always have!
