Factors When Building an Extension for an Eco-Friendly House

The demand for eco-friendly homes has grown exponentially in recent years. According to the National Association of Home Builders, around 60% of homes contractors built in 2020 were green.

However, while interest in sustainable homes has grown significantly, green homeowners still face a learning curve and encounter some challenges. They often question whether they have to make certain sacrifices when it comes to living in their home in order to promote sustainability.

One thing that some people believe is that they can’t make extensions to their home if they are living an eco-friendly lifestyle. They are worried that the carbon footprint of these extensions is not justifiable.

However, there are a number of steps that you can take to ensure your new additions are constructed sustainably. In fact, many people do renovations to increase the value of their eco-friendly homes. You should know what you can do to trim the carbon footprint of the construction process, so you don’t have to skimp on having a new addition to your eco-friendly home.

Tips to Do an Extension on Your Eco-Friendly Home

Building an eco-friendly house is not always a walk in the park. Sometimes, you think you have everything in the plan, only to realize later on that you might need to add an extra room for your workshop or home office area. Building an extension can add more room to your house and also boost its value.

There are a lot of ways to handle this process in an eco-friendly manner, as Eco-Friendly Princess discussed. You will want to do your due diligence.

Most homeowners think that building an extension for their home is a simple task that may not need a specialist. However, this is wrong, and even though it can be a smaller project, hiring a specialist will ensure that everything goes smoothly and according to plan. You will find that it is worth investing in the process properly if you want to do an addition to an eco-friendly house, because you have more variables to consider. In this guide, we will discuss some of the factors to consider when building an extension for your eco-friendly property.

Make Sure Eco-Friendly Resources Will Be Used

One of the most important factors to take into consideration when working on any eco-friendly project is the materials that will be used. You need to make sure that the materials used will leave as little of a carbon footprint as possible. You will need to talk to your contractor to make sure they understand your goals and know which sustainable materials will be used.

Plan Your Budget

The amount of money available plays a significant role when it comes to any construction project, including doing renovations for eco-friendly homes. So, before you set out to look for masons or a construction company, make sure you have your budget set in advance. It is always wise to consult a quantity surveyor to get rough estimates of what will be required and how much the materials needed may cost.

A rule of thumb, do not to go for what you cannot afford. If the project is not that urgent, you can hold on until you have enough cash available.

Get a Planning Permission

Different states have different rules when it comes to construction, even for eco-friendly homes. In some towns or states, you may not be required to get planning permission if your project isn’t that big. However, to be on the safer side, make sure you consult with a construction consultant. You can always get more information on what is needed before you break ground. They always know what the rules are and can also help you in getting all of the required permissions.

Your planning permissions may take a while before they are ready. However, keep in mind that poorly created documents will get rejected by the authorities, and it may cost you more to create new ones.

Consult an Architect

Building an extension should complement if not improve your property’s aesthetics. You don’t want to set up something that will feel off or look out of place. Consulting an architect can help curb some design challenges you could be encountering.

Hiring an architect can be quite expensive. However, there are a few hacks that can help you save some money. You can choose to hire a freelance architect who might charge you an hourly rate. Sometimes, these rates could be cheaper compared to some architects who request for a certain percentage of the project’s total value.

Bottom Line

The cost or budget of building an extension for an eco-friendly home may vary depending on various factors. Things like materials, labor, size of the extension, and consultancy fees will be huge factors when streamlining your budget. It could potentially be more expensive initially when you are making sure the extensions are eco-friendly, but you will likely save more money on energy costs down the road. However, don’t ignore the need to hire a construction consultant before you start anything. They will help you get all the documents in order while also guiding you through all of the steps you need to follow.