The cost of house extensions in South Africa

As a general rule, an 80 square metre ground floor house extension costs R560000 – R1200000 or approximately R7000/m2 to R15000/m2 depending on the type of construction and the quality of the finishings. A second-storey home extension will cost about 50% more than a ground-floor extension.

When you initially bought the home, you might not have taken a growing family into consideration or might not have had the financial capacity to build a larger house at the time.

Now, you might be facing a dilemma -The question is now should we move to a larger home or add on house extensions?

Moving can be quite expensive and you like your home. Then you might be considering a house extension. But how much does it cost?  Below we will discuss the following topics that will help you make an informed decision:

Contact local pros if you want to know how much your house extension might cost. We can connect you with the best builders in your area!

Why should you consider house extensions?

Why consider a house extension when you could sell your house and move to a larger home? Here are four good reasons to consider adding an extension to your house:

Remember that moving involves expenses and a great deal of effort. First, you have to put your home on the market and look for a suitable new home. If your house is smaller than you would like, a larger home is going to cost more. If you consider the cost of moving, bank charges and other costs, then a house extension will most probably be more affordable.

How much does a house extension cost?

You won’t know the exact cost of extending a house until you’ve drafted plans and know how large the extension is going to be and what will be included. As a general rule, a 30 square metre ground floor extension costs between R210000 and R450000, which works out to approximately R7000/m2 to R15000/m2. This can add 2 bedrooms and a bathroom to your house.

When a second floor was planned for initially the extension might be even cheaper than anticipated due to the fact that there will be no need for new foundations etc. This can result in a saving of up to 30% over a ground-floor extension

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Other house extension costs to consider

Basic home extension costs normally account for building, roofing, cladding, interior cladding, insulation, windows and doors, but there can be other expenses to consider, such as:

Home extensions are essentially waterproof shells. They won’t be ready to move in when finished, as they won’t include furnishings, blinds or curtains, lighting fixtures or other items. If a bathroom or kitchen is needed, the cost of plumbing and bathroom or kitchen fittings has to be factored into the cost. How much will a bathroom or kitchen cost?

Bathroom renovations include ripping out the old bathroom. If you’re adding a home extension, bathroom builders won’t have to tear out old fittings, but you will face other expenses. For example, the plumber will have to install pipes and sewerage. An electrician will have to install new wiring, lighting and outlets. Because of these expenses, a new bathroom may cost about the same as a typical bathroom renovation

Like the bathroom, the cost won’t include tearing out an old kitchen but will include new plumbing and electricity. You won’t know how much a new kitchen will cost until you get quotes from kitchen installers, plumbers and electricians, but the cost will probably be about the same or a bit higher than a Kitchen renovation.

A bathroom or kitchen tends to be more expensive than most other home extensions. If you feel your current kitchen is too small, you might want to consider what you can do to make your kitchen feel more spacious. Add larger windows or, if you don’t have an open plan kitchen, you could knock out a wall to make the kitchen feel larger.

You may need a bathroom in a house extension, but how large does it need to be? If you already have a larger bathroom, an ensuite bathroom may be all you need. It will cost a lot less than a large bathroom and may be the perfect addition to your house.

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How to save on home extension costs

Keep in mind that a house extension costs more than just the cost of building. If you want to avoid going over budget, you need to consider all the costs before you commit to an extension. Do all your costings first and don’t leave anything out, remembering to account for:

The size of home extensions is one of the biggest factors affecting cost. Consider whether you really need 80m2 or if a smaller extension could be more within your budget. A 30m2 extension can save between R330,000 and R750,000, depending on the quality of finishings, and that amount of money can pay for most if not all of the furnishings, curtains and other inclusions.

A cost-effective alternative to building home extensions is to convert a garage into a room. Bringing a garage up to the standard required for living space isn’t cheap, but with overall costs averaging R50000 to R150,000, you’ll save money compared to the usual home extension costs.

If you have a smaller property, a garage conversion also means you won’t have to lose any outdoor space. However, you may not be able to convert a garage unless you also have a second garage or carport, depending on the security where you live.

Getting quotes for home extensions

When you apply for quotes from local builders, study them extensively. Do they include the knocking out of walls or excavation work? If not, those will be additional expenses. Some home extension builders will include everything in their quotes. If a quote is higher than another, it may include these additional costs.

If in doubt, ask the builder what’s included in their quotes and what’s left out. A comprehensive quote should list everything. If it doesn’t, a builder may be trying to get your business by undercutting other builders. They will then add all these additional costs at a later stage, so make sure you know what’s included from the start.

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Are house extensions worth it?

A house extension isn’t cheap, but moving to a larger house can be even more expensive. The house will cost more and you will have other expenses to think about. These will likely include:

Add up all the costs and a house extension is usually less expensive than moving. It can also be easier since you don’t have to leave the home while the building is going on and you can go about your daily business. As a bonus, if you decide to sell, the house extension will add to the value of your home. Home extensions, make sense, both economically and for peace of mind.

No matter if you require a small or large house extension a Local Pros partner can have it built in no time at an affordable rate!