Bristol Architectural Services ..
Our Proven Skills

Bristol Architectural Services have experience in many areas:

• Loft conversions

• 2 storey home extensions

• Single storey home extensions

• Over-garage home extensions

• Garage conversion into living space

• New home build

Our services cover all aspects of your home extension design:

• Discussion to establish your aims and needs

• Explanation of the various design options most suitable for your requirements and your home

• Architectural design

• Structural engineering

• Submission of Planning Permission Applications

• Submission of Building Regulations Applications

• Approaching and selecting reputable and reliable builders

• On-going advice as the build progresses

You can see many examples of our building plans & architectural design services in the Recent Projects section of this web site.

Single storey home extensions – rear extensions

If you are considering a rear single storey extension, there are several choices available to you.

If the rear extension is approximately 3 metres deep, then a lean-to roof may be appropriate, regardless of the width of the extension. If the extension is for the kitchen only, for example, then a rear single storey extension may be all that is needed to make a dramatic change for the better to your home. However, since a lean-to roof allows for any width of rear extension, then this opens up the possibility of having the rear extension across the entire width of the back of your house.

If your rear home extension is likely to be deeper than 3 metres, then a lean-to roof may not be appropriate. This is because the new roof over the extension may be too high when it ‘joins’ onto the back of your house, which would require the windows at first floor to be reduced in depth…. Not a great idea !

Therefore, in rear home extensions where the depth of the extension is over 3 metres, a duo-pitched roof may be the best option. This, in plain English, is a roof that is similar to the roof over the main part of most houses… it consists of two (duo) roofs, that meet in the highest point in the middle.  Once a duo-pitched roof is used, the depth of the rear home extension can be any depth that you want…. With the approval of the local planners, of course ! However, a duo-pitched roof does not have the design flexibility of a lean-to roof. This is because the height of the roof increases as the width of the home extension increases… these are the type of options that we can discuss with the help of sketches and explain further !

We have many examples of single storey home extension designs in our Recent Projects section of this web site and many more examples in the Google map of projects section also.

Whichever option is best for your rear home extension, you can be confident that we can help explain and guide your through the options.

Single storey home extensions – side extensions

Similar to rear home extensions, single storey side extensions can have similar options available to you. Due to their location on the side of your house, the design becomes far more important from the local authorities point-of-view. Side extensions may look far better and blend in with the existing house if they follow the design of the main roof of the house…. more than likely to be a duo-pitched roof.

You still have the choice of the depth of the side extension, since the depth of the extension could be the same as the main house, meaning the roof would be very similar to the main house roof.

We have many examples of single storey home extension designs in our Recent Projects section of this web site and many more examples in the Google map of projects section also.

Single storey home extensions – front extensions

You may think that an extension to the front of your home would not be possible or indeed, desirable. However, these types of extensions follow very similar ‘rules’ to other extensions, although have obvious limitations in terms of size and design, due to their visibility and therefore importance to the planners. 

We have many examples of single storey home extension designs in our Recent Projects section of this web site and many more examples in the Google map of projects section also. 

Two storey home extensions – over-garage extensions

A two storey home extension over your existing attached garage is often a very effective way to add valuable first floor space to your home. Whether the garage is converted into habitable space as part of the building plans design, or whether the garage is retained, building above your existing garage remains a very popular and attractive way to add space and value, whilst achieving a huge benefit for a minimal budget. 

In terms of the roof design, this is likely to be similar to the roof over the main part of your home…. Providing a seamless blend and therefore a very attractive end result.

We have many examples of over-garage two storey home extension designs in our Recent Projects section of this web site and many more examples in the Google map of projects  section also. 

Two storey home extensions – side extensions

A two storey home extension to the side of your house offers huge benefits in terms of potential space being added to your home. Similar to the over-garage extension above, this option may indeed include the architectural design of a garage as part of the new building plans, although this is not usually the way forward chosen by clients. Instead, the space where a garage could sit can be used to fantastic effect as additional living space, extended kitchen/diner, utility room etc… lots of choices ! 

At first floor, depending on the width available to the side of the house, the new extension is often enough floor space to add two additional bedrooms, often with built-in storage space and even shared bathrooms/ensuite. 

We have many examples of two storey home extension designs in our Recent Projects section of this web site and many more examples in the Google map of projects section also.

Two storey home extensions – rear extensions

Sometimes space may be limited on the side of your home, therefore excluding a two storey home extension to the side as a possible choice. 

However, a two storey extension to the rear may be a great way of adding a similar amount of space to your home. Many factors come into play with these types of extensions, with careful thought having to go into the access to the rear extension. This is since the back of a house is usually occupied by bedrooms or a bathroom. However, with thought and expertise, many of these two storey rear extensions have been designed and built, providing a great addition to your home.

We have many examples of two storey home extension designs in our Recent Projects section of this web site and many more examples in the Google map of projects section also.

Loft conversions

A good deal of our time is spent providing building plans and architectural design of loft conversions. This option remains a very popular way to add space to your home. Loft conversions can transform a dark, dusty and unused roof space into a bright & spacious living area, resulting in a valuable addition to your home.

Each loft conversion design is very unique from the last, but several factors make a big difference between a GOOD loft conversion design and a GREAT loft conversion design. Careful placement of the stair for your loft conversion design is vital in providing the best use of space, both in the resulting loft room and the first floor landing. Headspace is important as well as the need to maximise the available space within the loft, to ensure you get the most out of the loft space available to you.

There are many choices with loft conversion designs. The design may include roof windows in both the front and rear roofs, or may involve the architectural and structural design of a rear dormer window. A rear dormer window/roof can provide full head height to the loft space, resulting in almost all of the roof space being used… effectively an entire new floor !

We have many examples of loft conversion designs in our Recent Projects section of this web site and many more examples in the Google map of projects section also.

Internal alterations

Not all of our architectural designs and building plans involve adding space with home extensions and loft conversions. Some of our clients require help in improving their homes’ internal layout.

This may involve the removal of walls to provide a more attractive open-plan layout. Often, in the Bristol area, many houses have separate dining rooms which are rarely used as living space. By merging this dining room with the adjacent kitchen, an open, bright and airy space can  transform the ground floor living space.

We are able to draw upon a wealth of experience of designing home extensions, loft conversions, internal alterations and submitting planning permission and building regulation applications. We have a thorough understanding of the limitations and scope of the Planning rules and the detailed knowledge of the Building Regulations.