Many homeowners choose to extend upwards rather than outwards, due to restrictions in land space. Adding a new level to your home is a typically less expensive method of increasing your living space than buying and moving into a new house. A new addition is completely your creation - creating an upper level extension can be thought of as your opportunity to design a new home without the expense of actually buying one!
When planning your story addition project, some aspects to consider include:
With regards to the existing level:
Council requirements:
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The “Height in Relation to Boundary” rules administered by your local council are in place to help avoid buildings on one site (i.e. your home) physically dominating those on other sites (your neighbours). The basic regulation here is that the taller your proposed addition, the further it must be from your property boundary, however the technical aspects of this will vary depending on your specific property and land space.
Structural implications:
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Work will be required on the foundation, beams and braces of the existing level in order to provide extra support (as they are load bearing) for the new addition.
Interior implications:
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New interior linings, paint and insulation are examples of alterations you may need to make to your first floor upon completion of the works outlined above.
With regards to the upper level extension:
Positioning:
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In planning your addition, consider the positioning of your proposed upper level and how you can best utilize the sun and northerly aspect. This is particularly important if you are thinking about installing solar heating to go with your new level.
Electrical wiring:
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A new floor means an extra load on your electrical system. Re-wiring may be required if this does not offer sufficient support.
Noise-proofing:
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In addition to warmth and moisture considerations, you may want to think about sound control. Noise proof solutions are available if so desired; these are designed to provide either room-to-room or floor-to-ceiling noise control for you family.
For further advice, please do not hesitate to contact us. We'll be happy to assist with any queries you may have.
