House Extension in Faversham — Step by Step from Idea to Handover
Commissioning a house extension in Faversham for the first time can feel opaque — a lot of homeowners tell us they signed with a builder because that builder was the only one who explained clearly what was going to happen. This page is that explanation, week by week, from first phone call to handover snag-list.
Every Faversham project we run follows the same 8 stages. Duration varies, but the sequence doesn't — and every stage has a clear "this is what you (the client) do" line so decisions land in time and don't stall the programme.
Build phase alone is 12–22 weeks. Add roughly 12–20 weeks of pre-build to that number — planning, drawings and material lead-times run in parallel where possible.
Stage 1 — First contact and site visit (Week 0)
You call, WhatsApp or email a brief description of what you want. We book a free 30-minute site visit within a week — usually earlier. On the visit we walk the space, take rough measurements, and give you an indicative cost band and buildability opinion. No design fee, no obligation.
Stage 2 — Written itemised quote (Weeks 1–2)
Within 5 working days of the site visit you get a written itemised quote to the Faversham address — priced against real ME13 logistics from our Biddenden yard 24 miles (~50-minute drive) away. It's fixed-price (not "from £X"), split across trade lines, VAT-inclusive, with a 10% held-back contingency.
- • Detailed spec sheet: make, model, finish for every fitting
- • Payment schedule tied to stage milestones
- • Public liability + employer's insurance certificates attached
- • Programme (Gantt) with lock-by dates for each decision
Stage 3 — Contract, drawings and planning (Weeks 2–14)
Once you accept the quote we sign a JCT Minor Works Contract, take a 10% deposit, and kick off drawings. Planning submission to Swale Borough Council follows, with 8-week determination. You approve every drawing before it goes out.
Stage 4 — Material ordering (Weeks 10–14)
Long-lead items — bespoke joinery, glazing, kitchen carcases, heritage tiles — get ordered as soon as planning is signed off. On Faversham projects that means we're never waiting on materials when we start on site.
Stage 5 — Build phase (Weeks 15–15+22)
12–22 weeks on site. Weekly site meeting every Friday with a written progress note. You have real-time WhatsApp access to the project manager. Every variation goes through change control in writing before work proceeds.
- • Weeks 1–5: Strip-out, structural, foundations
- • Weeks 6–17: First fix M&E, weathertight
- • Weeks 18–21: Second fix, joinery, finishes
- • Final week: Snagging + Building Control final sign-off
Stage 6 — Snagging and sign-off (Final week)
Two rounds of snagging — one at practical completion (you walk the job and list anything), one at retention release 4 weeks later. Building Control inspects and issues final certificate. Electrical and gas certs handed over.
Stage 7 — Handover and documentation
Handover pack includes: Building Control certificate, planning approval, party wall award (if used), electrical / gas certificates, appliance manuals and warranties, workmanship warranty document, contact card for warranty claims. Everything ready to slot into your Faversham conveyancing pack if you ever sell.
Stage 8 — 5-year workmanship warranty support
Any workmanship issue in the first 5 years — we come back and put it right at no cost. Response typically same-week for non-critical, same-day for anything affecting weather-tightness or safety.
Start your house extension in Faversham — book the free site visit
30-minute visit, indicative cost band and buildability opinion, no obligation. Written itemised quote within 5 working days after that.
Faversham design FAQs
How long is the full end-to-end process for a house extension in Faversham?
22–35 weeks typically, from first site visit to handover. Planning is the biggest variable.
What do I actually have to do as the client?
Sign the contract, pay stage invoices, approve drawings, make finishes decisions by the lock-by dates in the Gantt, and walk the two snagging rounds. That's it. Everything else — planning, ordering, trade coordination, Building Control — is on us.
Can we live in the house during a Faversham house extension?
For most single-storey extensions yes, once the shell is closed. Some clients move out for 4–6 weeks around the tie-in phase.
What happens if I want to change something mid-build?
Written change control. You describe the change; we cost it; you approve in writing; then it happens. Never verbally, never mid-flow. This is how we prevent the "£X ended up as £X + 30%" scenario Faversham homeowners tell us about.
Related guides
Nearby areas we also cover
In short
Eight stages, 22–35 weeks end-to-end. Every Faversham house extension we run follows the same sequence, so nothing about your project should ever be a surprise.