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.
Whatever prompted you to look into a double-storey extension, whether wear and tear, a growing family or plans to move, we can survey your Cardiff home and give you a price in writing. Homes in Wales typically come in at £55,000–£110,000, VAT included, for this kind of work. We also cover Penarth, Caerphilly and Barry, and the same steps apply wherever you are in South Glamorgan.
- Guide price
- £55,000–£110,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 14–22 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- CF10, CF11 and CF24
- Planning rules
- Wales
- Local area
- South Glamorgan
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for a double-storey extension in Cardiff?
The costs listed here are typical for a double-storey extension around Cardiff and include VAT. They reflect labour and material costs in Wales, about 8% below the national guide, giving a range of £55,000–£110,000. Exact pricing depends on your home, so we only fix it once a free site survey is done.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Cardiff |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Expect these to shape the final quote:
- Combined floor area across both storeys
- How the new roof joins the existing roof
- Bathrooms, en-suites and plumbing on the upper floor
- Scaffolding duration, access and the level of finishes
What’s included?
- 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
- Electrics, plumbing and heating by qualified trades, with certificates
- Windows, external doors, plastering and internal doors
- Building control inspections and completion certificate
Homes in South Glamorgan
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.
Terraces commonly suit loft conversions, side-return and rear extensions, and bay window renewal. Suburban semis take side extensions and driveways, and stone village homes need lime-based repairs.
That mix of housing shapes how we approach a double-storey extension in Cardiff: the age and construction of your home affect the materials, the method and, in the end, the price.
Do you need permission in Cardiff?
Homes in Cardiff come under the regulations for Wales, summarised below. We don't rely on general rules alone: we confirm the position for your address with the council before a quote goes out.
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
Free site survey
We arrange a free site survey on a date convenient to you. We measure up, look at the existing structure and access, and discuss your plans for a double-storey extension so the price reflects your home.
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.
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.
The work itself
During the work we protect the areas around it and tidy up at the end of each day. Once complete, we check the finish, remove our materials and hand over paperwork such as building control sign-off where it applies.
What you can expect from us
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
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.
What happens at the survey?
We visit your home at a time that suits you, look at the area involved, take measurements and check access, condition and any services that might be affected. We talk through what you want from a double-storey extension, explain the options and answer questions. There is no charge and no obligation; afterwards we send a written quote.
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.
Near Cardiff
Cardiff and its CF10, CF11 and CF24 postcodes are part of our coverage. Homeowners in Penarth, Caerphilly and Barry can also book a free survey with us and receive a written price for their job.