A double-storey extension adds two floors of new space to your house in one build, typically a larger kitchen or living room downstairs with an extra bedroom, bathroom or en-suite above, sharing one set of foundations and one roof.
Anyone planning a double-storey extension in Carmarthen wants three things: a clear price, a realistic timetable and a tidy job. We publish a guide of £55,000–£110,000 including VAT for Wales up front, explain that work normally takes 14–22 weeks on site, and confirm both in writing after a free survey of your property.
- Guide price
- £55,000–£110,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 14–22 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- SA31
- Planning rules
- Wales
- Local area
- Carmarthenshire
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for a double-storey extension in Carmarthen?
Prices for a double-storey extension vary from house to house, but in Carmarthen most projects fall within £55,000–£110,000 including VAT. That reflects costs in Wales, about 8% below the national guide. Treat the table as a budgeting aid; the written figure follows a survey we carry out for free.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Carmarthen |
|---|---|---|
| Small (15–20m² total) | A compact rear or side extension adding a small room on each floor. | £37,000–£60,000 |
| Typical (30–40m² total) | A larger kitchen or living room below with a double bedroom or en-suite above. | £55,000–£110,000 |
| Large (50m² plus total) | Wide or deep extensions, often with a new bathroom, steelwork and high-spec glazing. | £92,000–£166,000 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Combined floor area across both storeys
- Bathrooms, en-suites and plumbing on the upper floor
- Foundation depth, ground conditions and drains to divert
- Scaffolding duration, access and the level of finishes
What do you get?
- Insulated cavity walls with brick or render to match the house
- First-floor joists, stud walls and new openings upstairs
- Roof structure tied into the existing roof, tiled to match
- Scaffolding for the full build, erected and inspected
- Electrics, plumbing and heating by qualified trades, with certificates
- Windows, external doors, plastering and internal doors
What are homes like around Carmarthen?
Dyfed covers Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. Stone cottages and farmhouses under slate roofs are common, often rendered or colour-washed, as in Tenby's brightly painted terraces. Llanelli has Victorian industrial terraces, Aberystwyth and Carmarthen have Georgian and Victorian centres, and bungalows and newer estates surround most towns.
Atlantic weather brings strong winds, driving rain and salt to the coast, so exposure ratings matter when specifying render and pointing.
Knowing the typical building types in Dyfed helps, but a survey of your own home in Carmarthen is what decides the right approach to a double-storey extension.
Planning and building rules in Carmarthen
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each handle planning a little differently. Carmarthen comes under Wales, covered below, and we raise any questions with the council before your quote is finalised.
In Wales, two-storey extensions are tightly limited under permitted development, including distance to the rear boundary, so most need planning permission.
Building Regulations approval is needed in Wales, and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies to work on or near shared walls.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
A visit to your home
Book a visit and we'll come to you. The survey covers measurements, the state of what's there now and any obvious constraints, so the price that follows is based on your actual home, not an average.
Your fixed price
After the survey we send a quote for a double-storey extension that fixes the price for the scope we've agreed. If you want to change materials or scope, we revise it in writing before anything is booked.
Booking the work
Before anyone starts, we confirm the programme in writing, check whether consents are required and arrange deliveries. If a skip or scaffolding on the road needs a permit, we apply for it.
Build and hand over
The job proceeds in the order set out in the programme, with dust and debris kept under control. Finally we tidy away, inspect the work together and pass the finished project over to you with its paperwork.
Why homeowners choose us
Questions about a double-storey extension in Carmarthen
How is the new roof joined to the existing house?
The new roof is usually tied into the existing roof so the two read as one. On a rear extension this often means a lower ridge or a hipped end, with valleys where the slopes meet. We strip back some existing tiles, fix new rafters and battens, and lay matching tiles or slates. Lead or proprietary flashings seal the junctions so water runs off properly.
Who do I deal with during the job?
One point of contact manages your project from survey to handover. They schedule the trades working under our contract, keep you updated on progress, and are the person to call with any question. You don't need to coordinate builders, electricians or decorators separately, because that is part of what we do.
Do I need planning permission in Carmarthen?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Carmarthen is in Wales, so Wales's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Can we live at home while it is built?
Most families stay at home during a double-storey extension. The new structure is built outside first, and we only break through into the existing rooms near the end, usually one floor at a time. Upstairs, this may mean a bedroom is out of use for a week or two. We fit dust screens, protect floors and stairs, and plan any time without water or power in advance.
Will the extension affect my neighbours?
A double-storey extension can affect neighbours' light, outlook and privacy, which is why planning departments look closely at height, depth and window positions. Side windows facing neighbours often need obscure glass. Work near a shared wall may also need party wall notices; the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies in England and Wales only. We talk through these points early so the design is realistic.
Nearby towns
We survey and quote throughout Carmarthen's SA31 postcodes and in surrounding places such as Llanelli, Ammanford and Gorseinon. The process and pricing approach are identical in each of them.