Describe the space you are missing
An extra bedroom, a larger living room and a dedicated home office solve different problems. Tell us who will use the new space, when they will use it and which existing rooms are not working well.
Before settling on more floor area, compare an extension with reconfiguring the footprint you have. Our home renovation planning guide helps you set priorities, while renovate, extend or rebuild gives you a decision sheet for the larger choice.
Make the connection part of the design
The join between an extension and the existing house deserves as much attention as the new room. Consider floor levels, roof junctions, weather protection, circulation and the route between old and new spaces.
Look at daylight and privacy in the rooms that remain. A new living area may be a good size but still leave an awkward passage or a darker room behind it. Mark these concerns on your existing plan so they are part of the design conversation.
Bring the property information together
- Existing floor plans and any available consent documents.
- Photographs of the proposed connection and the outside of the house.
- A list of rooms or features you want to keep.
- Access details, steps, slopes and space for materials.
- Your priorities, budget and preferred timing.
Identify information you do not yet have. Your designer and project team can then establish what needs investigation before the scope becomes detailed.
Agree the responsibilities early
Clarify who will develop the design, coordinate any specialist input and manage the consent process. Ask what information the construction quote will be based on and which decisions need to be made before work is priced.
Our extension budget guide separates new construction from work to the existing house. Include temporary protection and household arrangements in that discussion, especially if you hope to remain at home.
Plan for the home around the work
Record how people will enter the occupied part of the house and which rooms may become unavailable as the connection is made. Discuss services, security and storage before choosing an occupancy plan.
Explore our building and renovation work, then send us your initial extension brief. We can talk through the extra space you want and the steps needed to turn it into a coherent part of your Wellington home.