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.
Homeowners in Barry usually consider a double-storey extension for one of a few reasons: something has worn out, the house no longer suits the way they live, or they are getting it ready to sell. We visit, agree a specification and put a fixed price in writing. Most jobs like this take 14–22 weeks on site, and we work across South Glamorgan, including Penarth, Cardiff and Llantwit Major.
- Guide price
- £55,000–£110,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 14–22 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- CF62 and CF63
- Planning rules
- Wales
- Local area
- The Vale of Glamorgan
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for a double-storey extension in Barry?
The table below shows guide prices for a double-storey extension in Barry. They are based on rates in Wales, which run about 8% below the national guide, giving an overall range of £55,000–£110,000. All figures include VAT and are firmed up after a free site survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Barry |
|---|---|---|
| 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’s included?
- Groundworks, foundations and below-ground drainage
- 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
- Windows, external doors, plastering and internal doors
Local housing and a double-storey extension
Cardiff has large areas of bay-fronted Victorian and Edwardian terraces in districts such as Roath, Canton and Cathays, plus interwar suburbs, post-war estates and modern flats around Cardiff Bay. Penarth has Victorian villas, Barry mixes terraces with newer estates, and Vale of Glamorgan villages are often built of local limestone.
Mild but wet, with coastal exposure along the Severn estuary and Bristol Channel affecting render, roofline and windows.
For a double-storey extension in Barry, this means checking things like wall construction, roof structure and existing services before we put a figure on paper.
Permissions for a double-storey extension in Barry
As Barry is in Wales, read the following with that system of planning and building control in mind. We check what applies to your house with the council before you receive a quote.
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.
How does the job run?
Free site survey
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
The quote arrives in writing, not over the phone. It covers the full scope, the finishes you've chosen, any exclusions and the payment schedule, with a fixed price tied to that specification.
Plan and prepare
Preparation matters as much as the build. We agree access, parking and working hours with you, order materials in good time, and confirm any permissions so the job isn't held up once it starts.
The work itself
The work is carried out to the agreed specification, with floors and furniture protected and the site kept tidy. At the end we clean up, walk through the finished job with you and hand over any certificates.
Working with SK Home Improvements
Common questions
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.
How much does a double-storey extension cost?
A typical double-storey extension of 30–40m² across both floors costs £55,000–£110,000, built to a plastered finish. As a rough guide, allow around £1,400–£2,600 per square metre plus fixed costs for groundworks, scaffolding and fees. The second storey usually costs less per square metre than the first, because foundations and roof are shared. Bathrooms upstairs and a complex roof add most. We confirm a fixed price after the survey.
How long will a double-storey extension take?
On a typical home, allow 14–22 weeks on site. Larger projects, older buildings and extra work found once things are opened up can extend that, while simpler jobs may be shorter. Your quote includes an estimate of time on site, and your point of contact keeps you updated on the programme as the work progresses.
Do I need planning permission in Barry?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Barry 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 the new upstairs room have its own bathroom?
A new upstairs room can usually have an en-suite, provided waste pipes can reach the soil stack or a new one can be installed. Running the waste pipe to the right falls is the main design question, and a pumped system is an option where gravity will not work. We plan bathroom positions at the design stage so pipes, ventilation and insulation are built in rather than added later.
Nearby towns
Live in Barry? Our coverage takes in the CF62 and CF63 postcode areas and reaches out to Penarth, Cardiff and Llantwit Major, so homes on the outskirts and in the next town along are included.