When a homeowner wants to make a structural change to a property it is not just a matter of going ahead and doing it, there will be a number of challenges to consider in advance. The structural changes could be completed for a number of reasons including safety, extension or home improvements, however, the enthusiasm to have this completed at pace must be controlled. Here are some of the things to consider when completing this type of project.
Safety
Safety is paramount when undertaking these types of activities which includes not only the materials and items being used but the working area and structural considerations. For any project that involves, changing the structure, you must have Catnic lintels in any doorways or archways to keep everything safe. Good quality Catnic lintels are relatively easy to come by but you’ll need to make sure that they are manufactured with the right materials, for example, heavy duty lintels can be a great choice. When people are working around these areas then be sure to make sure everyone around is aware of the work being completed and there are appropriate safety measures put in place to prevent any accidents.
Planning Permission
A homeowner may think that because they own the home, it is within their remit to just go ahead and make the changes to it without seeking approval. This may be ok in some instances (depending on the property and the changes taking place) but on a lot of occasions planning permission will be required to do this. It is important that this homework is completed well in advance of completing the work as if you start the work and it is rejected, you could be hit with a hefty fine or asked to revert it back to the original concept.
Property Price
You will find that most of the enhancements made to a property will have a positive effect on the overall valuation.
This is clearly a positive for the homeowner and puts it in good position for when they are looking to sell it. This may not always be the case though and it could have the negative effect. An example of this is if you are knocking down a wall and potentially combining a room. As much as this be better suited for you and more to your taste, it may not fit in with any potential buyers perception.
Environmental Impact
If making changes to structure have a think about what this will do in terms of energy efficiency. Clearly this is far higher up peoples agenda nowadays and making a change that could negatively affect this may not be a good idea.
Noise and Trash
Depending on the activity being completed, this could be extremely noisy and messy. Be sure to let any immediate neighbours know what you are doing out of politeness and ensure all trash as a result is disposed of in an efficient and legal way.
Summary
These points will hopefully show you that coming up with an idea to make a structural change to then executing it is not a project that should be done without thoughtful planning and consideration of all these points.