Look at the images above. On the left (Before): A typical UK rear garden — uneven ground, soft landscaping, no usable structure, no value. On the right (After): A clean, modern 40 sqm single-storey extension with full-height glazing, engineered structure, and a finished ground floor that has transformed the property. This transformation did not require […]
Q: How much extra will my foundation cost if I have a full-grown tree near my new studio-size extension? A: Only £4,000 anywhere in the UK. And you will never dig deeper than 2.5m. This question comes up in almost every enquiry for a 40m² studio-size extension. Homeowners are often told foundation costs will “double” […]
Most homeowners believe foundations for a rear extension, side extension, or 40 sqm permitted development build must cost £20,000–£35,000. This is the biggest myth in domestic construction. The truth is simple: A foundation is a one-day operation when managed correctly. By using a task/milestone workflow, prefabricated components, and the correct Building Control sequence, a full […]
When people talk about soil bearing capacity, it often sounds complicated, full of charts, codes, and laboratory testing. But in real-world construction—especially small to medium-scale residential and commercial projects—engineers rely on practical experience, site behaviour, and conservative assumptions. That’s where the 5 ton/m² (≈100 kN/m²) rule comes from. It’s not random. It’s not optimistic. It’s […]
