How to Save Money on Your House Extension
Updated: Jul 6
An extension is a significant investment, but a lower price should never mean a worse result. The best savings come from designing intelligently and making informed choices — not from cutting corners that cost more later. Here is how to make your budget go further. (For typical prices, see How Much Does a House Extension Cost in London?)
Design smart from the start
Value-engineer the design: a simpler structural solution and a sensible span can save thousands before a brick is laid.
Spend where it shows: put budget into glazing and the kitchen you use every day, and save on areas that matter less.
Avoid changes on site: decisions made after work starts are the most expensive kind. Resolve the design first.
Combine projects
If you are likely to convert the loft or refurbish other rooms in the next few years, doing it alongside the extension usually costs less than two separate projects — one set of scaffolding, one disruption, consistent finishes throughout the house.
Make considered material choices
You can save without the result looking cheap: roof lights instead of a fully glazed roof where appropriate, well-chosen mid-range finishes, and standard sizes rather than bespoke where it makes no visible difference. A designer can tell you where a saving is invisible and where it will show.
Get the process right
Delays cost money. A complete design, a proper tender to reputable builders, and clear contract administration keep the project on programme and reduce the risk of expensive surprises.
How Studio MASS helps you save
We design to your budget from day one and are honest about where money is well spent and where it is not. To discuss a cost-effective approach to your extension, book a free consultation: email info@studio-mass.com, call 0208 638 6727, or use the Talk to Us button above.
About the author
Robert McBride BSc(Hons) MFPWS is an architectural technologist and director of Studio MASS, a London practice specialising in residential extensions, conversions and new-build homes.
Comments