Renovating
Spreading Out: Where to Extend or Gain Space in Your House
Should you add another storey, extend or excavate? Explore all the options if you need more room to move
If you are thinking about extending your home, I assume you need more space. First, consider all the ways your house could be adapted to achieve your desires; there may be restrictions according to the type of house you have. If it’s a heritage home, for example, there could be limitations on building works or materials, especially to the facade facing the street. The position of your house on the site – front, middle or rear – can also significantly impact how you might be able to extend, and the site’s topography is a further consideration. A level site can be more accommodating to an extension than one with a steep slope.
Going up
Building a second-storey extension to achieve extra space is a valid option, and this also limits the creep into your rear yard space. If in the suburbs, however, be aware that a second storey can have an impact on your neighbours.
Local council regulations can limit the size, height and orientation of windows and decks to limit views into your neighbours’ yards. These options can be overcome with careful design and respectful consideration of your neighbours.
Getting on with neighbours during a reno
Building a second-storey extension to achieve extra space is a valid option, and this also limits the creep into your rear yard space. If in the suburbs, however, be aware that a second storey can have an impact on your neighbours.
Local council regulations can limit the size, height and orientation of windows and decks to limit views into your neighbours’ yards. These options can be overcome with careful design and respectful consideration of your neighbours.
Getting on with neighbours during a reno
Into the roof
Extending into the roof space to create an attic room is not so common in Australia. However, if you have expansive roof space, this could be a practical option to consider. Dormer-style windows can be added to provided extra head space and bring more light into the room as well.
Excavating a basement or extending into the roof are examples of converting useful space within the existing footprint of the house. The benefit being you can still use all of the remaining outdoor space on your lot for outside entertaining, kids’ play areas or for a great vegetable patch or garden.
Extending into the roof space to create an attic room is not so common in Australia. However, if you have expansive roof space, this could be a practical option to consider. Dormer-style windows can be added to provided extra head space and bring more light into the room as well.
Excavating a basement or extending into the roof are examples of converting useful space within the existing footprint of the house. The benefit being you can still use all of the remaining outdoor space on your lot for outside entertaining, kids’ play areas or for a great vegetable patch or garden.
Going down
Have you ever thought about claiming the space under your house? This is not a cheap exercise, but if you are tight on external space or are restricted to where you can extend, you could consider excavating to build a basement. Basements can be used as places for myriad activities, including home theatres, gyms or as a wine cellar, as depicted here.
Wonderful wine cellars
Have you ever thought about claiming the space under your house? This is not a cheap exercise, but if you are tight on external space or are restricted to where you can extend, you could consider excavating to build a basement. Basements can be used as places for myriad activities, including home theatres, gyms or as a wine cellar, as depicted here.
Wonderful wine cellars
To the side
Another overlooked space can be found between the side of your home and the boundary. It often ends up being a bin zone, bike storage or just overgrown with weeds. Reclaiming the side space and incorporating this into the design of your home can make a massive difference, especially on more compact inner-urban lots where space is at a premium.
Here we see a side extension with extensive glazing, which expands the sense of space internally but also draws the eye outside to allow a view of a compact, green leafy garden.
Another overlooked space can be found between the side of your home and the boundary. It often ends up being a bin zone, bike storage or just overgrown with weeds. Reclaiming the side space and incorporating this into the design of your home can make a massive difference, especially on more compact inner-urban lots where space is at a premium.
Here we see a side extension with extensive glazing, which expands the sense of space internally but also draws the eye outside to allow a view of a compact, green leafy garden.
At the rear
Tucked behind a heritage home in the leafy suburb of Kew, Victoria, is this understated but non-traditional extension excavated into a backyard slope. A rear extension is the most common orientation to expand the space of your home. Building to the rear usually has the least impact on the immediate neighbours, and as such there are fewer rules with which you need to comply.
If your home happens to be in a heritage-controlled area, a single-storey rear extension has the least visual impact from the street. This would generally get you a big tick when being assessed by your local council’s heritage architect.
Tucked behind a heritage home in the leafy suburb of Kew, Victoria, is this understated but non-traditional extension excavated into a backyard slope. A rear extension is the most common orientation to expand the space of your home. Building to the rear usually has the least impact on the immediate neighbours, and as such there are fewer rules with which you need to comply.
If your home happens to be in a heritage-controlled area, a single-storey rear extension has the least visual impact from the street. This would generally get you a big tick when being assessed by your local council’s heritage architect.
Going in-between
In some situations, a small lightwell in a terrace house might be considered a ‘nothing space’ that can instead be put to good use. By infilling the light well, you could completely transform a very small area and have a major impact on the flow and light into your home.
In this example in a London terrace house, a lovely dining room extension was added after the owners had the old light well removed and installed a glass roof over the area. This has the added benefit of providing an abundance of illumination to interior rooms. This extension could be equally applicable to many traditional terrace houses in Australia.
Light up dark areas your house
In some situations, a small lightwell in a terrace house might be considered a ‘nothing space’ that can instead be put to good use. By infilling the light well, you could completely transform a very small area and have a major impact on the flow and light into your home.
In this example in a London terrace house, a lovely dining room extension was added after the owners had the old light well removed and installed a glass roof over the area. This has the added benefit of providing an abundance of illumination to interior rooms. This extension could be equally applicable to many traditional terrace houses in Australia.
Light up dark areas your house
Closing over a deck
There are various reasons why you may consider an extension to your home. In this instance, the extension came about by building over the deck space, enclosing it to create a year-round space that captures a magic sea view and protects the home from southerly busters.
Designing a coastal home
There are various reasons why you may consider an extension to your home. In this instance, the extension came about by building over the deck space, enclosing it to create a year-round space that captures a magic sea view and protects the home from southerly busters.
Designing a coastal home
Going underneath
Do you have any spaces in your house that aren’t used much? Some may be easily converted to that extra room you need. This little Arts and Crafts home was located on a ‘half block’ and needed space to store the car off the street. The site was sloping, and with a little excavation under the house a garage could be constructed in the sub-floor. This was a great solution as it preserved the garden for the owners to enjoy and was a neat fix to the car-storage dilemma.
If you are considering an extension, seek advise from a qualified architect. They will be able advise which orientation is practical from a regulatory and aesthetic viewpoint as well as which option is the most cost efficient.
TELL US
Do you have a non-traditional extension? Tell us about it in the comments section.
MORE
Plan a Clever Extension That Blissfully Blends Old and New
Open Sesame: 8 Rear Extensions That Bring the Outside in
Houzz Tour: Terrace Reaches New Heights With Second-Storey Extension
Do you have any spaces in your house that aren’t used much? Some may be easily converted to that extra room you need. This little Arts and Crafts home was located on a ‘half block’ and needed space to store the car off the street. The site was sloping, and with a little excavation under the house a garage could be constructed in the sub-floor. This was a great solution as it preserved the garden for the owners to enjoy and was a neat fix to the car-storage dilemma.
If you are considering an extension, seek advise from a qualified architect. They will be able advise which orientation is practical from a regulatory and aesthetic viewpoint as well as which option is the most cost efficient.
TELL US
Do you have a non-traditional extension? Tell us about it in the comments section.
MORE
Plan a Clever Extension That Blissfully Blends Old and New
Open Sesame: 8 Rear Extensions That Bring the Outside in
Houzz Tour: Terrace Reaches New Heights With Second-Storey Extension
Also, are your neighbours’ windows facing your site and where is their backyard? The rules and regulations around protecting your neighbours’ privacy will limit where and how you can develop on your site. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, consider these clever designs before making a final decision – many have been built into non-conventional spaces.