200k For an Extension, No Thanks!

It all kicked off when Dave asked, "Where are we going to put our super king bed?” once we refurbish our bedroom. This conversation happened on New Year's Day 2025, and I immediately thought, "We need to go for the extension!" With two little ones at home, we initially planned to have them share a bedroom for about five years, and we were thinking of doing the extension in 7-10 years. But plans have changed, and we're diving in now!

Dave and I have totally different visions for this extension. Dave, wants to transform our existing crown roof into a gorgeous suite for us. I dream of taking the roof off and adding two extra stories, turning our home into a stunning three-story monster. The first floor will almost a be a replica of the ground floor and the 2nd story will be a lovely attic room, with an ensuite.

We've heard verbal quotes: converting what we have might cost around £50,000-£70,000, while my dream extension could be £150,000-£200,000.

Having been on site, I've witnessed countless companies make expensive blunders by opting for cheaper solutions/options, thinking they were saving money. Ultimately, it doubled their expenses because they didn't just go for it from the beginning! While I appreciate these verbal quotes, I just can't get on board with them. At the moment, I can't fathom how removing a roof and adding two stories could come anywhere close to £150,000.

I'm thrilled to share that I've embarked on some initial calculations for all the exciting options ahead! While the prices I've estimated are still a work in progress, here's what I've got so far:

• 2 Storey loft conversion suite - £21,000. Could this be our dream project? Others have done extensions in much smaller spaces, so why not us?

• 3 Storey timber frame monster - £46,000. Timber frames are known for their speed! But is it the ultimate choice? Navigating Vapor Control Layers (VCL) and fire regulations is crucial, and the building might move once complete. Is speed really our best bet?

• 3 Storey blockwork monster - £56,000. Blockwork is my comfort zone! The cost of the blocks for the two stories with three gables are about £6000. However, the labor quotes we've received are beyond our budget.

The above costs are not including any steels, which of course could be very expensive to buy and possibly hiring cranes to install. £56,000 to add two stories onto my home, instead of £200,000 is a very big difference. I never see anyone else putting two stories on with extensions?

Converting our existing space might actually take more time than starting fresh. Making structural changes in confined spaces is time-consuming, and I'm absolutely convinced that going for the grand extension is the way to go!

Exploring all these builds is full of exciting possibilities! The adventure of deciding which one to choose will be truly fascinating! I love the fact I have over a year to plan this, I am sure I will change my mind many times, but I know we will make the right decision.

I've promised to document this entire journey. I'll be completely honest throughout the process, and I'll make sure to note when I'm wrong too!

I'm launching the business as a consultancy, but my ultimate goal is to tackle large projects again. I could never confidently do an extension for someone else if I hadn't done one myself first. By doing my own extension, I'll gain the confidence and experience needed to take on more. I've worked on hundreds of new builds, but extensions are a new adventure. Let's see how this goes!

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