A house extension is one of the best things you can do for your home in Essex, but it is also one of the easiest to get wrong if you start in the wrong order. Most of the problems homeowners run into unexpected costs, delays, planning refusals, builder disputes- come from avoidable mistakes made before […]

When people talk about ‘architectural design’ for an extension, what they actually get is a measured survey of the property, a full set of existing and proposed drawings, and either a planning application or an assessment of your permitted development rights, with Kirkwood managing all of it on your behalf. What tends to catch people

Nobody expects you to have every detail sorted before you pick up the phone. Most people who get in touch with Kirkwood have a general sense of what they want, a loose budget, and a fair few questions still unanswered, and that’s a perfectly good place to be. Even so, there are a handful of

Searching for house extension companies in Essex throws up dozens of options within seconds. Nearly every one of them has a polished website and a wall of five-star reviews, which makes the whole exercise feel less useful than it should be. Reviews alone won’t tell you which of these companies will actually turn up when

House Extension Cost by Size: 3m x 3m to 6m x 4m Price Guide (Essex 2026) If you’re trying to work out your house extension cost by size, the first thing I need to know is how big the extension is. After that, I’ll ask a few more questions, such as whether you’re having a

House Extension Cost Per m2 in Essex: What You Actually Pay in 2026 If you’re planning an extension this year, the house extension cost per m2 in Essex is the most useful place to start your budgeting. For a standard single storey shell extension, our approved builders are currently pricing from around £2,250 per square

A design and build company is a single business that handles the design, planning permission, and construction of a home improvement project.

Design and Build Extensions in Brentwood, Chelmsford & Across Essex — Town-by-Town Guide Kirkwood provides design and build extensions and loft conversions across Essex — covering Brentwood, Chelmsford, Billericay, Basildon, Wickford, Rayleigh, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, and Hornchurch. Each of these towns has its own council, its own common house types, and its own local planning quirks.

Will a House Extension Add Value to My Property? (Essex Guide 2026) In most cases, yes, but how much depends heavily on the type. A single-storey rear extension typically recovers 50 to 70 per cent of its build cost in added value on its own; it rarely pays for itself in full, but it does

Does a Garage Conversion Add Value to a Property? (Essex Guide 2026) Yes, a garage conversion typically adds between 5 and 10 per cent to the value of a property, making it one of the most cost-effective home improvements available. In Essex, a converted garage costs £15,000 to £35,000 and can add £20,000 to £40,000