Extending your home up or out: The pros and cons

If you've got the room to extend your home upwards or outwards, you may be having some trouble deciding which option is the best one for you. Both have their advantages and it is much easier to make a choice once you know all about them.

Some people may have their plans disapproved by their local council, thus eliminating a tough decision; however, if you're legally able to build up and out you'll have to take cost, aesthetic and organisational factors into account in order to choose.

Adding another storey: The pros and cons of extending upwards

Building an additional storey on top of your existing home is a popular option, especially for those who don't really have the room to extend outwards. Some of the advantages include:

• Extending upwards means that you can save valuable garden space. This is especially important for anyone with future plans for outdoor work such as a patio area or pool. It's also a good idea if you own a dog that requires lots of outdoor space.
• An additional storey will allow more natural light in the house, whereas building outwards can often mean less natural light.
• Improved views are a great advantage. This will add significant value to your home, particularly if there are water views.
• A whole extra storey means a whole lot of extra space.

There are also some disadvantages to building upwards. These include:

• Extending upwards is generally a lot more expensive than extending outwards.
• You will need to organise a whole new roof. In addition to cost, this can also pose problems in bad weather, although most building contractors will offer rain protection.
• The council approval process for an additional storey is a lot more difficult due to neighbour privacy issues, shadowing of other homes and potential view-blocking.
• Structural issues with your existing storey could mean that your walls may not support a second storey. This is easily fixed by a professional, but obviously at an additional cost.
• Due to the removal of the roof, you may need to move out for some of the renovation process.

The advantages and disadvantages of extending outwards

If you have the space, building outwards is a convenient and affordable option. The pros include:

• Extending outwards is much cheaper than extending upwards. This is due to a range of factors such as there being no need to remove the roof and structural reinforcements are usually not necessary.
• There is less disruption involved and majority of the time you can continue living in your home as normal whilst renovations are being done.
• Due to the lower cost, you may have money left over to renovate your existing kitchen and bathroom as well.
• These types of plans are more easily approved by your local council as it generally won't affect your neighbours' privacy.

Some disadvantages are:

• You may lose natural light in the middle section of your home if you choose to build outwards.
• Garden space will be lost, which can affect any outdoor work, such as a pool, that you may have had planned.
• Depending on how much room you have, you may not be able to add as much as you could with a second storey.

If you still can't decide, ask several qualified building contractors for quotes and opinions.