First-floor extensions in Abertridwr
We plan and build first-floor extensions for homeowners in Abertridwr and nearby. Every project starts with a free visit and a design stage priced in writing before any work begins.
The basics for Abertridwr at a glance.
- Postcode districts
- CF83
- County / area
- Gwent, Wales
- Price region
- Wales
- Guide price
- £23,000–£33,500 (£1,660–£2,390 per m²)
- Approval route
- It may be permitted development if the ground floor goes no more than 4 m and the first floor no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall, with the first floor 10.5 m from the rear boundary.
- Nearest towns
- Caerphilly (2.6 miles), Bedwas (3 miles), Pontypridd (3.2 miles)
- Distance to Newport (Gwent)
- about 11.6 miles
- First visit
- Free, no obligation
About a first-floor extension
A first-floor extension is a new upstairs room built on top of an existing single-storey part of your house, such as a rear kitchen extension, a utility or a side annexe. It adds a bedroom, bathroom or study without enlarging the footprint. Whether it works depends mainly on whether the walls and foundations below can carry the extra load.
We cover postcode district CF83 in and around Abertridwr, along with neighbouring Caerphilly, Bedwas and Pontypridd.
What it costs in Abertridwr
For budgeting in Abertridwr, allow around £23,000–£33,500 for a first-floor extension with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²). That's based on £1,660–£2,390 per m² including VAT for Wales. These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.
| Spec | Per m² | 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,520–£2,200 per m² | £21,500–£31,000 |
| Standard | £1,660–£2,390 per m² | £23,000–£33,500 |
| Premium | £1,990–£2,870 per m² | £28,000–£40,000 |
Planning and building regulations in Abertridwr
In Wales, a first floor over a rear extension can be permitted development if it goes no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall and stays at least 10.5 m from the rear boundary, with the ground floor within 4 m. Over a side extension, the 10.5 m, 1 m set-back and 50% width tests apply. Otherwise a householder application costs £585.
Approval in Wales: Householder planning application: £585. Councils normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks.
Building regulations: Building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency).
Design points for Abertridwr homes
Escape and fire safety
A new first-floor bedroom needs an escape window with a clear opening of at least 0.33 m², at least 450 mm wide and 450 mm high, with the bottom no more than 1,100 mm above the floor, unless there is a protected route to the stairs.
Replacing the flat roof
The existing roof usually comes off and is replaced by a new first-floor structure. The room below is exposed for a short time, so we plan temporary weatherproofing and sequence the work to keep the kitchen or living room usable for as long as possible.
How we'd run your project
Understand the brief
At your home in Abertridwr we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Design and approvals
We draw the extension and check it against the rules for Wales, then apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness, whichever fits.
Structure and building control
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.
Build and hand over
We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.
Questions about first-floor extensions in Abertridwr
Which postcodes do you cover around Abertridwr?
We cover Abertridwr (CF83) and nearby places including Caerphilly, Bedwas and Pontypridd, plus the rest of Gwent. The first site visit is free.
Who handles building regulations for a project in Abertridwr?
We handle it as part of the project. What's needed in Wales: building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency). We prepare the drawings and the engineer's calculations, book the inspections and pass you the completion paperwork at the end.
How much does a first-floor extension cost in Abertridwr?
Our guide for Wales, which covers Abertridwr, is £1,660–£2,390 per m² including VAT. A typical project with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²) comes to about £23,000–£33,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.
Can I build on top of my existing single-storey extension?
Often yes, but only after the structure has been checked. Foundations, walls and lintels built for one storey may not carry two. We dig trial holes, look for the original building control approval and ask the structural engineer to confirm what can stay, what needs strengthening and what must be rebuilt.
What happens to the room below while the first floor is built?
The old roof is removed, so the room below is exposed for a short period. We fit temporary weather protection, plan the work so the roof comes off only when the new structure is ready, and agree with you which rooms will be out of use and for roughly how long.
Nearby
Close to Abertridwr? We work across the area, including:
Other extensions in Abertridwr
- Rear
- Side
- Wraparound
- Part two-storey
- Over a garage
- Semi-detached
- Detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
All two-storey extension services in Abertridwr · First-floor extensions across Gwent
Tell us about your house in Abertridwr and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.