Despite the growing popularity of self-building, by far the most common way of achieving a suitable home is by extending. There are no official figures for the number of house extensions undertaken each year, as many do not require planning permission, but it is estimated that there are in the region of 100-200,000 projects.
While many of these extensions are significant additions often to newly owned, run-down houses, the overwhelming majority are carried out by ordinary homeowners to ordinary homes — terraces, semis and modest detached houses. Consequently, moving out while work takes place is rarely an option and for most extenders, the aim is to get their improved spaces with the minimum fuss and in the quickest possible time.