House Extensions
House Extensions Across the North East
Andy’s Building and Bricklaying Services carries out house extensions across Tyne and Wear, County Durham and south east Northumberland, working from a base in Blaydon-on-Tyne. Over 25 years of hands on building experience, a written quote before anything starts, and the regulations dealt with rather than dodged.
Call 07854 366464Get a Free QuoteWhat house extensions involves
An extension is the one job where planning and building control both come into play. Many single storey rear extensions still fall inside permitted development, but the limits on depth, height and eaves are specific and they tighten on a semi detached or terraced property. Building regulations approval is needed either way.
House Extensions
Our house extensions include
- Single storey rear and side extensions: foundations, brickwork, roof structure and a weathertight shell ready for first fix
- Two storey extensions: structural design coordinated with your engineer, then built and tied into the existing house
- Wrap around extensions: combining a side return and a rear extension into one usable space
- Foundations and groundworks: trench fill or strip foundations sized for the ground actually found on site
- Steel and structural openings: RSJ installation where the extension opens into the existing rooms
- Roofing and rainwater: flat or pitched roof structure, coverings, fascias and drainage
- Building control liaison: we work to the approved drawings and meet the inspector at each stage
- Making good: brick matching, pointing and external finishes so the new work reads as part of the house
Regulations
Planning and building control for house extensions
The North East is not one authority. Our working area covers 7 building control bodies: Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, Northumberland County Council, South Tyneside Council, Sunderland City Council. Each has its own guidance, its own fee scale and its own inspectors, and which one applies is set by the address rather than by the postal town, which is why people in places like Washington, Houghton-le-Spring and Birtley are so often pointed at the wrong council.
An extension is the one job where planning and building control both come into play. Many single storey rear extensions still fall inside permitted development, but the limits on depth, height and eaves are specific and they tighten on a semi detached or terraced property. Building regulations approval is needed either way. We establish which authority applies and what it will require before a design is finalised, rather than after it has been drawn twice.
Where the ground is part of the question, and across the old Durham and Northumberland coalfield it very often is, a coal mining risk assessment may be needed alongside the application. We flag that at quoting stage so it is a known cost rather than a surprise once the trench is open.
Recent work
Our Approach
How we work
Site visit first
We come out, look at the property and ask the awkward questions before quoting. A price given without a visit is a guess dressed up as a quote.
A written quote
The quote arrives in writing with the scope set out, so you can see what is included rather than trusting a number said out loud.
Regulations handled
An extension is the one job where planning and building control both come into play. Many single storey rear extensions still fall inside permitted development, but the limits on depth, height and eaves are specific and they tighten on a semi detached or terraced property. Building regulations approval is needed either way.
Kept informed
Expect to know what is happening each week. Clear communication is what most of our work across the North East comes from, because people pass it on.
Frequently Asked Questions
House Extensions: your questions
Do you handle the building control inspections?
Yes. We work to the approved plans, book the stage inspections and meet the inspector on site at foundations, damp proof course, drainage and completion.
Will the new brickwork match the existing house?
We match as closely as the available brick allows and take samples before ordering. On older property an exact match is often impossible, so the usual approach is to choose the closest available brick and use a mortar mix and joint profile that lets the two read together.
How long does a single storey extension take to build?
A straightforward single storey rear extension usually runs to somewhere between eight and twelve weeks on site once groundworks start, depending on size, ground conditions, the roof type and how quickly decisions on finishes come back.
Do you offer a guarantee on extension work?
Yes. Workmanship is guaranteed for an agreed period which we confirm in writing before work starts, alongside the manufacturer warranties on the materials used.
Do you take care of the drainage and any manholes?
Yes. Where an extension crosses or sits near a public sewer we deal with the build over agreement, and existing drainage is diverted or rebuilt as the approved drawings require.
Do I need planning permission for a house extension?
Not always. A large number of single storey rear extensions fall within permitted development, but the allowances depend on whether the house is detached, semi detached or terraced, how far it projects, the eaves and ridge heights and whether anything has already been added. Building regulations approval is a separate requirement and applies either way.
How much does an extension cost?
It depends on size, ground conditions, roof type, the amount of structural steel and the finish level. We quote in writing after visiting the property so the figure is based on the actual job rather than a rate per square metre.
Can we stay in the house while the extension is built?
In most cases yes. There is normally a short disruptive period when the opening between old and new is formed, and we agree that week with you in advance so you can plan around it.
Which councils do you work under for house extensions?
We work across seven building control authorities: Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, Northumberland County Council, South Tyneside Council, Sunderland City Council. Each publishes its own guidance and fee scale, and the one that applies is decided by the address rather than the postal town.
Which areas do you cover for house extensions?
We cover 32 towns and villages across Tyne and Wear, County Durham and south east Northumberland, from our base in Blaydon-on-Tyne. Every one of them has its own page setting out the local planning and ground picture.
House Extensions in your area
Every town below has its own page covering the local authority, the ground and the housing stock.
Our other building services
We are a general building firm, so most projects touch more than one of these.
Thinking about house extensions?
Get in touch and we will come and look. Every quote for house extensions across Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland is written down, based on the actual property, and carries no obligation.
Call 07854 366464Request a Quote