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Advice before you build

Straight answers to the questions we are asked most: what extensions and loft conversions cost, when you need planning permission, how party walls work and how long the build really takes. Written for homeowners in Hemel Hempstead and across Hertfordshire.

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Guides10
TopicsCosts, Planning, Loft conversions
Written byOur own team
UpdatedSeptember 2026
All guides

Read this before you get quotes.

General guidance for homeowners in England. Every house is different, so we confirm the details for yours on a free site visit.

A new rear extension in Hertfordshire at second fix, with bi-fold doors fitted Costs

How much does a house extension cost in Hemel Hempstead?

Honest 2026 price ranges for single and double storey extensions in and around Hemel, what pushes the number up, and the costs that catch people out. 5 min read A vaulted loft conversion in Hertfordshire, plastered and ready for decoration Costs

How much does a loft conversion cost in Hertfordshire?

Price ranges for every common type of loft conversion in 2026, what changes the figure for your house, and the extras worth knowing about before you get quotes. 4 min read The rear of a Hertfordshire house opened up for a new single-storey extension Planning

Do I need planning permission for an extension?

What you can build under permitted development, when you need prior approval or a full application, and the homes in Dacorum where the usual rules do not apply. 5 min read A finished loft room in Hertfordshire with a long roof light in the slope Loft conversions

Which type of loft conversion suits your house?

How to tell whether your loft can be converted, and a plain comparison of the four main types: what each one involves, which houses it suits and what it gives you. 4 min read A garage in Hertfordshire stripped back and propped ready for conversion Garage conversions

Garage conversions: planning, building regulations and cost

Whether your garage is worth converting, when you need planning permission, what building regulations ask for, and what it typically costs in 2026. 4 min read New blockwork going up near a boundary on a Hertfordshire extension Planning

The Party Wall Act explained

When the Party Wall Act applies to an extension or loft conversion, which notice to serve and how early, and what happens if your neighbour does not agree. 4 min read Roof joists being set out on a new single-storey extension in Hertfordshire The build

How long does a house extension take?

A realistic timeline for a single-storey rear extension, from the first visit to handover, with what happens each week on site and what causes delays. 4 min read An open-plan kitchen after a wall was removed, with a large island and bi-fold doors Renovations

Removing a load-bearing wall: what it involves

How to tell whether a wall holds the house up, who needs to be involved, what happens on the day the steel goes in, and what open-plan living means for fire safety. 4 min read Arched openings built in traditional brick on a Hertfordshire rear extension Planning

Extending a home in a conservation area in Dacorum

What changes when your home is in a conservation area or the Chilterns National Landscape, what still counts as permitted development, and how to get a design approved. 4 min read Studwork and insulation going in during a Hertfordshire house renovation Advice

How to choose a builder in Hertfordshire

Twelve checks to make before you hire anyone for an extension, loft or renovation, how to compare quotes fairly, and the warning signs worth walking away from. 4 min read
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