Expert Advice George Clarke On Extensions

Comments

1. Love the show George we are thinking of doing an extension next year so its great watching the show for ideas great show!!

   Posted by orchid1 on 06/08/2009 21:11:12

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2. Hi George,HELP!seriously need some advice. We,family of 4(8 & 4yr old),live in an area called Fulwood in Preston, Lancashire,in a traditional bay windowed semi detached 3 bedroom house,2 good sized bedrooms,1 tiny box room.We have submitted plans to our local planning office for a two storey side extention. Create an additional ensuite bedroom and extend the kitchen/ground floor. The plans were refused due to "Street Scene". We then appealed against the decision to Bristol and was again refused for the same reason. We live on a corner plot and have plenty of land at the rear and side of our property, and we are completely baffled as to the reason for refusal. A number of side and rear extensions have recently been granted on our road - even the house which is side on to our back garden has just had a double side and double rear extension!! The council have informed us that we would be allowed a single storey on the side and even a double storey extension to the rear. This is where I am struggling. I cannot vision how a double rear ext. would work ie what happens to the exising double bedroom at the rear of the property now? How would we keep light in the room? I really need some suggestions as to what to do for the best, and how it would all fit together. We have looked into a loft conversion, but have been told we don't have enough height. We would need to lower the ceilings of all the upstairs rooms. Arggh. Brick wall and banging head spring to mind. Ha. Can you help us? Please!

   Posted by Sue Singleton on 13/07/2009 16:26:26

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3. Hi George. We would like to put underfloor heating in. I have been researching this and it seems that water underfloor heating is better than electric, is this correct? I have also asked for quotes but they range from £6000.00-£8000.00. Can you recommend a company I could try. Love your show.

   Posted by jo on 05/07/2009 14:09:47

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4. Hi George, Love the show, my wife and I never miss an episode. We have a modern 4 bed det property near Swansea in S. Wales. We are looking to remodel and extend and have obtained permission for a single story extension with balcony. As it is right now the property doesn't make the most of the rather excellent views of Swansea Bay to the south. We want to do someithing contemporary with lots of light and space, but we're desperately in need of ideas. I know it would make for an interesting project. I don't normally have the brazen chutzpah to send a speculative email but if I don't ask I'll never know!

   Posted by Rhodri W on 27/04/2009 16:49:39

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5. I have a three bedroom home in Aylesbury, I find the house very bitty I need an extra bedroom, I need a bigger lounge and really don't know where to start, would you be interested in doing what you do to my home. I have had some drawings done but I dont feel that anyone understands what I want.I love the show and could do with someone who has your vision Kind regards Barbara Day

   Posted by Barbara Day on 06/12/2008 17:16:45

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6. Well done channel 4 for giving us a programme showing us how to make already spacious houses even bigger! With all due respect, although the conversions you do are impressive, it isn't exactly rocket science given your budget and the locations you work in. With young professionals such as teachers being faced with the fact that their jobs will only allow them to buy small, poorly located houses yet another smug, 'look what I can do' architectural programme is not exactly in keeping with the mood of the masses, is it? As a teacher and daughter of an architect I am not lacking in ideas or innovation (my dad Derek Hill was the real architect behind the Toast Rack) but as with the afore mentioned building, budget and design don't always go hand in hand and on my kind of budget it's impossible to achieve my dream. I currently live in a 3 bedroom ex council property which is tiny to say the least and face trying to build a garden building and renovate 2 rooms with just £10,000. I know a show like yours wouldn't touch a house like mine..a real challenge..with a bargepole! So here's a credit crunch challenge. Tackle a house to help those who struggle on a budget instead of providing yet another pipe dream! After all, the Toast rack was supposed to be constructed from glass and steel with a greenhouse in the roof but we all have to make do and mend. Here's hoping, Steph Hill

   Posted by Steph Hill on 04/12/2008 15:50:44

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7. Dear George, i am totally addicted to your show, and thank you for making it. I am living in Ireland, we have a very small house, converted cottage with extension, this house makes no sense, i just fell in love with the place 30 years ago, in that time i have carried out several projects, still battling! i have reared 5 children here, serious lack of bedrooms, all 3 various broom cupboard size, all but one have now flown the coop and strangely i am obsessed with building a very contemporary extension. i would like to build an extension, coming out of the roof at an angle and supported by steel struts,all glass on one side, to avail of wonderful views, with a barn like roof on it, it might sound totally crazy but makes perfect sense in my head, have you carried out any extensions built in this way? it is the only way to extend without digging and diverting everything again. i would like the extension to contain, a proper bedroom/study for myself and a bedroom/studio for my very tlented artist daughter, also a shower room as the house has only one downstairs bathroom. i would like to build the extension, using "passive" guidelines, as in up to 22 inches of insulation. this could be a step too far but i thought an e-mail to you might not go astray. would really appreciate any insight from you. kindest regards kate

   Posted by kate on 23/11/2008 21:31:38

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8. Hi George - we love the show - so different and your attitude is refreshing. We are looking at a total re hash of our 1920's house in Trentham, Stoke on Trent. Currenly 3 bed, with down stair bath room and attached garage. We want to do something daring and different. Previousley owned by an older couple who lived here for 35 years it is very tired and requires updating to suit modern living and function. We have a 150' long, double width garden that we want to bring into the house and make the most of. The current layout does not allow this. We know we need to change the way the house flows, feels and works for us but need an 'eye' for the un-thought of potential. We have only been in this house for 8 months and bought it because it has the potential to offer us all we need for the next 30 / 40 years with appropriate work. My partner has a 13 year old disabled son who needs his own space, I have a very active 3 year old and my partner is a cake designer who requires a space that is light and practical for her work and we both love entertaining and cooking. The kitchen has to be a key focus and an intergrated family space linked to living areas. The house has lot's of 1920's detail ie colourful leaded glazing to the front & minton tiled floor in the hall way. All tired but could be lovely if re-furbished. It's in a great location and we want to stay here forever. We are interested in eco solutions to energy use and conservation so long as it is practical and has a real impact / benefit to our way of living. I assure you that it would be worth considering as an episode next year. Big job, but worth it...

   Posted by Carl B on 20/11/2008 11:56:54

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9. Love the show. George you are truely gifted with your vision, any chance you'd pop over to Northern Ireland? Since the arrival of our 4yr old Twins (boy & Girl) we are in need more space and have had plans drawn up ready for work to proceed next year, but we would gladly hand over all our savings to see what you could create. Keep up the great work!

   Posted by Tom Scullion on 20/11/2008 11:09:37

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10. Great show team! It's about time the there was a program showing how to improve your living space to live in and not just to make money! My wife and I want to improve our south London house, make more use of the space available and perhaps add footage so that it will take us through the next 20 odd years, to accomodate our very young family (3 kids under 5). The trouble is we don't know where to start! I saw on tonights programme that you are looking for material for the next series and we would very much like to be concidered. Please would you let us know how to apply? Kind regards, Nigel Bolton

    Posted by Nigel Bolton on 19/11/2008 22:41:30

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11. George you are fantastic. Your ideas are out of this world. We would love to be part of your program and to have our dream of a lovley home come true. We have had plans drawn up but I think if you saw them you would completly change them as You would see things in a different light. Christine Gnanayutham

    Posted by Christine Gnanayutham on 19/11/2008 22:20:07

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12. Fantastic show look forward to the amazing transformations. Just had the plans for a huge extension for a kitchen/diner extra bedroom/ensuite been granted but although we've had some quotes from the builders, we're very scared about actually doing it . Please could we be considered for your show for next year. Thanks

    Posted by Alex on 19/11/2008 22:02:38

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13. Love the show and website, we are planning an extension next year and looking for plans to be drawn. We have visited some houses with extensions, but being 1930's semis like ours they are all like rabbit warrens with lots of rooms and doors. We have plenty of living space downstairs with a tiny kitchen (no storage). 2 double bedrooms and a problematically small box room upstairs (nice size bathroom tho.) We do not want to move because of the school and lovely woods opposite our house hence the extension idea. BUT where do we start? we need a larger 3rd bedroom, and bigger kitchen (ideally a downstairs toilet) with a downstairs area that works, do we convert the loft and redesign downstairs or build a double extension sideways? Would love to be part of your shown next year or receive advise on where to start planning something that isn't a 1930's extended rabbit warren.

    Posted by Michelle Doughty on 19/11/2008 21:20:58

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14. We have a 4 bed det house and want to completely change layout downstairs but not sure what to do - have had planning permission for single storey ext but really need some advice. Would love to take part on your show or if you could just look at plans and advise that would be gr8. We live in Radcliffe, Manchester. Thx

    Posted by Mrs Downes on 19/11/2008 21:19:16

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15. Also loved the show and live in N Ireland. Need to extend tiny ex executive property and haven't got a clue how to go tackle this.

    Posted by joanie on 19/11/2008 21:14:05

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16. Firstly, love youre show! We are having a huge extension hopefully next year and would love to be part of your show. We live in bolton and are having a few niggles wsith planning as we are in a conservation village. Would love to hear from yo

    Posted by gill begg on 12/11/2008 22:09:12

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