Costs & Guides

Do you want to know how much it costs to build a single storey extension?
In this pricing guide, we go over all of the costs of an extension, including labourer fees and material costs.
Check out below for further information.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Single Storey Extension?

We’ll go over the various costs of constructing a single-storey extension, as well as the duration, labour and additional costs, and the various styles. So, if you’re looking for a single-story expansion, you’ll get all the information you need right here.

The average cost of materials for a single-storey extension will vary depending on a number of factors, including the size of the extension. When it comes to house extensions, the size of the extension is the single most important factor that impacts the cost.

The more money you have to spend, the longer the extension is. The cost per m2 will be slightly cheaper if the inside of the addition is straightforward, with no internal walls. Nonetheless, keep the following in mind. You’ll have to pay more money if your extension takes up more room.

After the size of the extension, the finish quality comes in second. Choosing high-end options can result in a total cost that is more than double that of simple solutions.

The size of your extension will be determined by the type of extension you choose.

A wrap-around kitchen expansion adds the greatest space and costs the most in terms of fixtures and equipment.

Your pricing will also be impacted by your region; living in London, for example, will greatly raise your project costs.

If you do not have off-road parking at your house or site, you will be required to pay a parking permit for your contractors for the duration of their stay.

Depending on the type of work you’ve done, a variety of tradespeople may be necessary for your job. Each trade has its own set of expertise and pricing methods, such as builders, plumbers, electricians, heating engineers, painters, and decorators.

It’s important remembering that small vs. major contractors will charge significantly different pricing. Because they do not have big overheads to recoup with their pricing, smaller enterprises will cost you less than larger national companies.

So, how much does a single storey extension cost?

The cost of an addition is usually between £1,000 and £1,500 per m2. As a result, the difference in cost between a 25-square-meter and a 30-square-meter extension will be at least £5,000.

Most homeowners turn their back and side extensions into kitchens, which comes with its own set of costs, as most new kitchen suites cost between £3,000 and £5,000. In contrast, an extended living room will almost definitely merely require new furniture.

Bathrooms are typically included in extensions, with new bathroom installations costing anywhere between £1,000 and £10,000.

A minor renovation might cost as little as £15,000. This would very certainly be a little, single-storey side addition.

A huge wrap-around addition with plenty of glass on the roof and walls could be used to create a larger single-storey extension. The entire cost might be up to £100,000.

On average, a single-storey extension costs £35,000. Because this is the most common use for a single-story extension, it would provide you with a large rear or side addition as well as the cost of a kitchen.

Single Storey Extension Costs

Extension	Cost
Single storey	£1,000 – £1,500 per m2
Kitchen single storey	£3,000 – £5,000
New bathroom single storey	£1,000 – £10,000
Large single storey	£100,000
Single storey	£35,000

What are the Supply Costs of a Single Storey Extension?

We’ll break down the various supply expenses for a single-storey extension, as well as the many types of supplies you would require.

As a result, we’ll talk about how much it costs to supply a new bathroom and a new kitchen, so you can figure out how much the materials will cost based on what you want your single storey to be.

When calculating the cost of an extension, there are several factors to consider. You can save a lot of money here if you want basic wood floors and minimal wall paints; however, more high-end and in-style options, such as bespoke flooring and fitted joinery, will cost more.

The type and overall appearance of the extension is likely to be the first thing on your thoughts as you begin the extension process. The cost of various types of extensions varies greatly.

Timber extensions are one of the most popular because to their durability and light weight, which makes them incredibly cost-effective in the long run. It costs between £1,400 to £2,400 per m2 on average.

Glazing per m2 costs around £3,000. High-end glass additions have a more current, modern appearance.

Prefabricated extensions are produced offsite and placed with cranes at a cost of around £2,000 per m2. A traditional conservatory is a less expensive choice for an extension.

It’s built of a mix of glass and bricks and costs around £15,000.

Bathroom

You can decide to convert your single storey into a new bathroom suite for your property. A bath will cost between £80 and £500, a toilet between £50 and £500, a sink between £50 and £300 depending on the sort of sink you choose, and a tap between £50 and £100.

A shower will cost between £60 and £1,000 depending on the sort of shower you desire, and a display enclosure will cost between £100 and £550.

Doors

Internal doors cost between £50 and £200. External doors range in price from £300 to £500, while patio doors range from £300 to £1,000.

Flooring

The cost of flooring is determined by the size of your floor and the type of flooring you select. Vinyl flooring costs between £7 and £20 per m2. Wood costs between £17 and £70 per m2.

Because this is frequently done in small panels, the cost of wood might quickly rise. Carpets range from £4 to £40 per m2 depending on the kind, whereas tiles range from £10 to £60 per m2.

Heating

If no heating is built, extensions might be cold, therefore this is a crucial consideration if you want to improve your overall home. A basic radiator will set you back between £60 and £150.

Electric radiators are more expensive, costing between £150 and £300.

You might choose for underfloor heating, which would cost between £100 and £150 per m2, and a boiler will cost between £500 and £3,000, depending on the type and location of the boiler.

Kitchen

To add a kitchen to your single-storey extension, you’ll need units that cost between £3,000 and £5,000, a work top that costs between £200 and £2,000, and a fridge and freezer that costs between £400 and £1,200.

A gas hob will set you back between £100 and £500, while a ceramic hob will set you back between £150 and £300. Depending on whether you want a single or double oven, an oven will cost between £400 and £1,200.

A dishwasher will set you back between £400 and £1,000.

Windows

The cost of windows varies based on the type you want, with Velux windows costing between £325 and £550 depending on the size you want. The larger the window, the more it will cost you to purchase.

However, uPVC windows range in price from £250 to £900. If you want a larger window, UPVC windows become very expensive; nevertheless, for the ordinary size, they are usually very affordable!

The expenses of the supplies you’ll need for your single-storey extension are broken out in the table below.

Material	Cost
Windows	£250 – £900
Doors	£50 – £1,000
Flooring	£4 – £70 per m2
Radiator	£60 – £300
Boiler	£500 – £3,000
Bathroom	£3,200 – £5,000
Kitchen	£1,000 – £3,000

What are the Additional Costs of a Single Storey Extension?

Additional charges may arise when installing a single storey extension, which can increase your overall price. We’ll go over the various additional expenses here.

Skylight Windows Installation Cost

The main benefit of having skylights in your home is that they allow plenty of natural light in. These windows have the potential to let solar heat into your home.

It has been proven that exposure to natural light improves your attitude and performance at work and in other endeavours. Heating your home with sunlight throughout the winter months can also help you save money on heating costs.

Skylight windows can let a lot of natural light and fresh air into a space. This can aid with cross ventilation in stuffy settings. It can also help you save money on air conditioning or fans during the summer months by refreshing the air and cooling your living space.

There are many different types of skylight windows to pick from, so there is something to suit any budget. Installing a skylight might cost anywhere from £500 and £2000. This pricing includes the cost of supplies, labour, and garbage pickup.

When it comes to installing skylights, it’s normally best to hire a professional company to handle the job for you because it’s a difficult undertaking. The job usually requires a two-person crew, including a skylight installation specialist and labouring aid.

A skylight installer should be paid between £150 and £250 per day, whereas a labourer should be paid between £100 and £125 per day. This means the total cost of labour for this type of job will be between £250 and £375 a day.

The only things that can affect labour costs are whether more work is needed or whether the location is difficult to reach. In addition, homeowners in the London area may expect to pay about £50-£80 more per day in labour costs than those in the North or elsewhere in the UK.

If you have two people working on it, installing a new skylight in your home could take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours. Expect a balcony to take one to two days to complete.

Stud Wall Installation

You can add additional room to your home by installing a partition wall or getting an extension.

If you don’t want to add any extra space to your home, a partition wall is a great alternative to an expansion. An extension is significantly more expensive and time-consuming to construct than a stud wall.

The materials needed to build a stud wall are easily accessible. As a result, unlike an extension that would require a range of components, you won’t have trouble acquiring the right supplies.

Because this job might be time-consuming, it’s usually best to hire an expert to complete it. On average, a stud wall installation should cost between £800 and £900. If additional labour is required, the cost may be much greater.

Installing a stud wall is a time-consuming task that typically requires at least two contractors. A professional company would charge you around £700-£1000 on average to build a stud wall.

If any more work is required, you should expect to spend more on the labour portion of the task. If you’re putting in a radiator and a stud wall at the same time, you should expect to pay between £1,000 and £1,200.

Installing one stud wall on its own could take anywhere from one to two days, depending on the size of the stud wall and the difficulty of the job.

You may expect the stud wall installation to take 2-4 days in total if you’re undertaking extra work like adding a radiator or installing light fittings. It will take you roughly 2-3 days to finish putting up two stud walls.

Painting a Room

Painting a small 10 m2 area would cost roughly £180 to £190, a 15 m2 area would cost £260 to £270, and a larger 30 m2 wall area would cost around £520 to £530.

The entire cost of painting a 60 m2 surface area would be between £1,000 and £1,020. Depending on the size, a single coat of paint might cost anywhere from £65 to £265.

You’ll need between £105 and £505 to paint two walls. Painting three walls costs between £170 and £770, while painting four walls costs between £185 and £1010.

Cost considerations include the type of walls and paint used. Some paint materials are more expensive than others, and depending on the properties of the wall, different treatments may be required. The longer the project takes, the more money it costs, especially in terms of labour.

The cost of labour, including supply prices, ranges from £14 to £18 per hour. In this section, we’ll look at how labour expenses differ depending on where you live.

In London, a painter may charge between £40 and £48 per hour. Outside of London, most painters do not charge as much, but much of the southeast of England is quite pricey.

In Newcastle, the hourly cost is expected to be between £10 and £15 per hour.

The time it takes to paint a 10 m2 wall space depends on a number of circumstances, but all things being equal, it should take one working day or less.

Painting a 15 m2 surface will take one to two days. A 30 m2 area should take three days to paint, whereas a 60 m2 area should take six days.

Location

The cost varies based on your location, as previously stated. Manchester, for example, has an average cost that is around 10% to 12% lower than the national average.

Similarly, single-story extension prices in Liverpool are much lower than the national norm, and hiring rates are over 20% lower than the national average.

In contrast, the southeast has higher rates than the rest of the UK. London’s cost of living is about 12-17 percent more than the UK average.

Searching for “builders near me” will offer you an estimate of what you might pay in your area, as previously said.

Duration

Because tradespeople might charge per day, the longer it takes to build and finish your single-story expansion, the higher your costs will be.

As a result, the longer it takes to construct your extension, the higher the cost.

Tradesmen Costs of Building a Single Storey Extension

The labour costs you intend to spend may be higher than expected due to who you’ll need to hire.

A single-story addition is never erected by a single person; it necessitates the involvement of several tradespeople to ensure the project is done correctly, as it involves electrical and plumbing work.

We’ll go over the various tradesmen expenses of constructing a single-story expansion without any materials or other expenditures so you can decide if it’s worth it to save a few pounds by doing it yourself.

To begin, a builder’s hourly rate is normally between £20 and £35; however, the builder will most likely offer you with an overall cost to show you how much you are paying them.

Depending on the difficulty of the operation, a tiler will often charge between £20 and £40.

A plumber typically charges between £35 and £45 per hour, and they will repair any water-related components, such as the sink. As a result, a plumber will come in and re-install all of your home’s waterworks to match the location of your new kitchen.

A plasterer will charge between £30 and £50 depending on the size of the project, and if the walls are in good condition or the task will be tough for the plasterer, they will most likely charge more.

A decorator is a DIY alternative because most people prefer decorating their homes themselves, but expect to pay £20 – £50 if you need the task done quickly.

A joiner will often charge between £35 and £45 per hour, depending on the amount of work you want. A roofer will cost between £30 and £40.

This will be determined by the type of single-story extension roof you desire, as certain roofs are more difficult to build than others.

How Long Does It Take to Build a Single Storey Extension?

It can take time to build a single-storey extension to your home. We’ll go over how long it takes to build a single-storey extension in this section.

One week before construction begins, contact your neighbours and ask for their patience while the project is happening. Make sure the site is accessible and that any areas where children or dogs will be present during the process are gated off.

Make a storage space for the items that is close to the work area and secure.

Week 2: Foundations and Groundwork The builders are currently excavating the foundations. Arrange for a Building Control inspection of the foundation depth, breadth, and reinforcements.

Services, pipelines, electrical, and drainage will all be installed. Concrete will then be poured into the foundations.

Trenches and drains will be dug, and bricklayers will begin constructing the wall up to the damp course in weeks 3–4. The concrete for the floor is then poured and allowed to set.

Bricks are laid, wall ties are installed as needed, cavity wall insulation is installed, and door frames are installed in weeks 5 and 6.

Week 7: The roof frame will be built, and roof windows or domes will be installed if necessary.

Week 8: Secure roofing battens and install roofing felt. Roof vents are installed if necessary. Roof tiles, as well as cement ridges, hips, and valley tiles, will be installed by the contractors. Then, over the weekend, apply the floor screed and let it cure.

Weeks 9-10: The external walls will be rendered if necessary, and windows and doors will be put in their frames. Gutters and rainwater pipes have been erected. Electrical and plumbing wiring have been installed.

Weeks 11-12 – Make an opening in the existing structure by knocking through. Lintels and pad stones will be installed, and Building Control will inspect the lintel/pad stones. It will be plastered and plasterboarded.

This is the final week of work. Second-fix electrical and plumbing components such as switches, sockets, and light fixtures.

Painting and decorating once the plaster has dried and the wood, carpets, or tiles have been installed.

Types of Single Storey Extensions

There are so many single-story extension designs to choose from in today’s society that it might be difficult to narrow down your options.

In this post, we’ll go through the many types of single-story expansions, as well as their pros and cons.

Single Return Extension

A side return expansion utilises the space on the side of your house. Because it adds a lot of squares or rectangular living space, it’s frequently the most cost-effective single-story option.

This room is frequently used to add more cooking space or to convert to an open plan kitchen. When done correctly, side returns can add a lot more space than you might think!

Pros

• It can add a lot of room
• Good for adding a kitchen

Cons

• Basic design

Garage

One of the most cost-effective ways to expand your home is to convert your garage into more living space. Because the room’s framework is already in place, the cost of modifying it is small, and the money will be spent on room modifications rather than construction.

The most expensive things to consider are the removal of the garage door and the installation of new windows.

Pros

• Room upgrade
• The framework is already in place

Cons

• None

Wrap Around Extension

Because you have the most excess space to work with, wrap-around windows provide the most dramatic effect on a property. They’re perfect for building everything in the previous two categories, and there might even be enough area for an extra toilet or bathroom.

Ensure that central rooms are still saturated in natural light with any extension option to prevent having any dimly lit parts throughout the day. Skylights, light wells, wall-to-wall windows, and bi-folding doors should all be carefully considered when designing an expansion.

Pros

• Dramatic effect
• Add a lot of value

Cons

• Expensive

Conservatories

Conservatories are a popular choice among UK homes since they are composed of a flexible and cost-effective material. Aluminium is an innovative material. Although it is more expensive than uPVC, it is far more durable and appealing.

The shape and style of the conservatory are also important considerations. Gable-End, Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian, Lean-To, P-Shape, T-Shape, or Glass Extensions are the main options to consider.

However, when it comes to single-story additions, many individuals opt for orangeries. Because the constructions are generally composed of brick rather than glass, the living space may be enjoyed all year.

Pros

• Add value
• Lots of ways to design it

Cons

• Can’t use it all year round

How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Single Storey Extension?

The size of an expansion determines the cost of deconstructing it, with a few other factors playing a minor role. As you might expect, the cost of dismantling a little add is much less than employing a demolitions expert to demolish a two-story extension.

Calculating a general price per square metre is difficult due to the numerous complicating factors, however there are broad pricing ranges to keep in mind.

Demolition costs for extremely tiny properties could be as little as £5,000 if there are no complicating factors, or as much as £8,000 or more if there are.

For larger extensions, prices of up to £12,000 and above are not unusual.

A considerable portion of these costs will be spent on transporting the waste items away.

The materials used to dismantle a garage are typically more important than the size of the structure, assuming that most garages are of standard size (large enough to hold a single car).

Because the panels are easier to remove, concrete may be less expensive than brick. Labor, skip hire, and rubbish taxes, as well as breaking up and removing the concrete foundation, might cost between £500 and £2,500 to demolish a garage.

FAQs

Q: How deep do single-storey addition footings have to be?
A: The depth is regulated by the ground’s state, but you must dig to solid ground.

A single-story building’s strip foundations should be 450mm wide and at least 200mm deep.

Q: Do I need planning permission?
A: A single-storey rear expansion must not extend more than three metres (if it’s a semi-detached house) or four metres (if it’s a detached house) beyond the original house’s back wall (if a detached house).

If the extension is closer than seven metres to the back boundary, you’ll need planning permission.

Q: What is the added value of a single-story addition?
A: A simple single-storey extension will increase the value of your property by about 5-8 percent.

Q: Is a single-storey extension worth it?
A: A well-planned extension to your house can increase a modest dining room or provide more space for a home office, even if your budget is limited.

Extensions can also boost natural light, connect existing parts of the house, and improve the overall architecture, allowing a space to breathe more easily.

Q: Do you need an architecture for a single-storey extension?
A: Yes, professional architectural drawings are required for a comprehensive planning application.

Your architect should be able to assist you in preparing more detailed building standards drawings and directing a structural engineer.

Q: Can I get a single storey bungalow extension?
A: You can add a single storey extension to a bungalow in the same manner you can to any other dwelling.