Adding an extension to your house is obviously dependent on whether or not you have the available land adjacent to your property.

If it is available, an extension may be a more viable option compared to moving house, especially in areas where the difference in price of a house compared to the next size up is a daunting prospect.

House extensions can be hassle free: you may not be able to use your drive or garden for a few months. But you have the advantage that you don’t need to move, and therefore, you are not dependent on selling your property and finding a new one that suits your needs – both within a time limit.

With space at a premium, many of our clients look towards an extension to facilitate that larger open living kitchen family room, study, or hobby room. Whether you are looking for a complete extension company, or if you already have the necessary detailed plans drawn and passed by the local housing authority, and are looking for a qualified and fully guarantee building contractors to turn your dreams and plans into reality, French and Thorley can help.

Extension across back

An extension across back to enlarge living area for kitchen and open plan living with roof lights or lantern with bi fold doors across back. A flat roof or pitched roof we design the extension to be in keeping with the property.

Orangery extension

An orangery extension is a combination of a traditional extension and a conservatory. They are a fantastic choice for a single storey rear extension. They are typically built with a central glazed area to the roof but a solid area around it. Despite these extensions being quite unusual, they are growing in popularity due to the amount of extra space and natural light that is created. These types of extensions are ideal for those wishing to extend a kitchen area or add a little extra living space to the back of the property. An orangery extension is a contemporary way of extending your kitchen or dining area and can be used all year round.

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about extensions below.  Please feel free to contact us if you require any further information.

Please look at our example prices these are what we would typically charge. But all projects are tailor made to suit your needs with a full written estimates with schedules of works.

An extension will radically improve your home. It will create extra living space and bigger rooms, which will add value to your property and make it more desirable to potential buyers. You’ve probably heard it before – the wisest investment you can make is to your home. The reason you have heard this saying once or twice is because it’s true! Maybe your existing home no longer meets all of your changing needs; you have kids on the way, your kids are growing up and you can’t stand the constant bickering that comes with sharing a room, you may have been lucky enough to pay of your mortgage and are looking for a way to reinvest your money – whatever the reason an extension to the home you already own and love is a wise investment and great way of gaining extra space.

Some Extension require Planning Permission and all have to adhere to Building Regulations.

Planning permission is not required provided that:

1. The ground area covered by the extension and any other buildings within the boundary of the property, excluding the original house, is not more than half the total area of the property.

2. Any part of the extension is not higher than the highest part of the roof of the existing house.

3. The eaves of the extension are not higher than the eaves of the existing house.

4. Any part of the extension does not extend beyond any wall facing a road if it forms the principal or side elevation of the original house.

5. The eaves are no more than 3 metres in height if any part of the extension is within 2 metres of the property boundary.

6. The materials used in exterior work, except in the case of a conservatory, are of similar appearance to the existing house. (See section “conservatories” below)

7. An upper floor window on a side elevation within 15 metres of a boundary with another house is obscure glazed; and is non – opening unless the parts which can be opened are more than 1.7 metres above the floor of the room in which the window is installed.

8. A side extension does not exceed 4 metres in height or be wider than half the width of the original house.

9. In a single storey extension:

  • the extension does not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 4 metres for a detached house or 3 metres for any other type of house;
  • the height of the extension does not exceed 4 metres;
  • no part of the extension is within 3.5 metres of any property boundary with a road opposite the rear wall of the house.

10. In an extension with more than one storey:

  • the extension does not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 3 metres;
  • no part of the extension is within 7 metres of the property boundary opposite the rear wall of the house;
  • the roof pitch of the enlargement is as far as practicable the same as that of the original house.

11. If you live in a house within a conservation area, World Heritage Site, area of outstanding natural beauty or National Park-

  • no part of the exterior of the house is clad with stone, artificial stone, pebbledash, render, timber, plastic or tiles;
  • the extension is not more than 1 storey or 4 metres in height;
  • no part of the extension extends beyond a principal or side elevation of the original house.

If Planning does not apply to you we can obtain a “Certificate of lawful development “(COL) from the local council. We will advise you of this during our visit or look on local council website

Yes. If your Extension is a habitable accommodation it needs to be planned professionally to ensure that confirm building regulations. We offer the services of exceptionally skilled architects who will produce you plans to the highest standards and specification which will meet current legalisation and regulations

A party wall is the adjoining wall between two properties. A party wall agreement is an agreement between you and your neighbours, which protects both parties when the work is carried out on the party wall. You only require this if you live in semidetached or terrace property. We will discuss this during out visit.

The construction of your extension is carried out from the outside until we are ready to break through and. It is not necessary for you to move out of the house during construction.

A building project such as an Extension will have some impact on the daily routine of the household at some stage depending on the scale and type of the project involved. The way we plan out our work schedules is to keep disruption at a minimum where possible. We will also keep you regularly informed and give good notice of major work and impact to prepare the household.

Yes, at French and Thorley, we offer our products and services to our customers all year round.

Typical extension take 8 to 12 weeks

The only additional fee is payable for Building Control and we will list that separately on our estimate.

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