#extension
Practical guides and insights for UK homeowners managing their own builds.
Permitted Development for Extensions: What You Can Build Without Planning Permission
Permitted development extension rules for England: exact size limits, the 6m and 8m prior approval route, what voids your rights, and why to get an LDC.
When a Builder Job Goes Wrong: Disputes, Delays and Walk-offs
What to do when a builder dispute hits your extension: the five-step escalation ladder, honest ADR costs, small claims limits, and the habits that prevent it.
How to Compare Builder Quotes for an Extension (Line by Line)
Why extension quotes never match, and how to compare builder quotes properly: normalise scope, provisional sums, exclusions and VAT before trusting a total.
UK Building Measurements: Why a 4×2 Isn't 4 Inches by 2 (And Other Imperial vs Metric Traps)
A homeowner's decoder for UK building measurements. Why timber, pipes, bricks, and bags use mixed imperial and metric, what to actually order, and the US import traps that wreck extensions.
First Fix vs Second Fix: What You Need to Know Before Your Extension
First fix and second fix explained for UK extension homeowners: what each stage covers for electrics, plumbing, and carpentry, and the decisions you must lock in before cables are run.
Building Control Inspection Stages for Extensions
Every building control inspection stage for a UK extension, including what the BCO checks, when to book, what happens if you fail, fees, and why the completion certificate matters.