CR Smith, Scotland’s leading home improvements company, is seeing growing interest from customers looking to extend their homes, with enquiry levels for sunrooms and orangeries up 22% over last year.
Having had lockdown to reappraise priorities and adapt to new lifestyles, demand for extra living space is rising sharply, with the company’s design team currently working with customers on over 100 new bespoke projects ranging in size from 16 sq m to 60 sq m, and for both new build and traditional period homes.
While some customers are interested simply in an extra room, many are also looking more imaginatively at how to create new open plan living spaces by adding to existing rooms. Home working is now a consideration, but a key driver behind the demand is the desire for more quality space to enjoy time with family and friends.
Design trends are also changing with more than half of customers now requesting solid roofs rather than glass, although the desire for natural light remains paramount. CR Smith’s design team has upgraded the traditional conservatory to incorporate not only brick-built piers but also an internal part-solid ceiling allowing for modern features such as mood lighting and integrated Sonos sound systems.
CR Smith also offers fully bespoke single storey extensions incorporating a steel superstructure to allow for a fully vaulted traditional tiled roof while still maximising glazing. This ensures every design makes the most of the space and natural light.
The Fife-based company, which operates its own state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, has also extended its free in-house architectural design service, saving the customer 3-7% of the construction cost by removing the need for an independent architect. With its new digital first design process combined with an innovative 3D drawing facility, initial quotations for projects can be provided entirely online, while customers can receive as many designs as it takes to get things right without it eating into their budget for the actual construction.
Gerard Eadie CBE, Executive Chairman of CR Smith said:
“After months of restrictions on travel, spending more time at home has reignited many people’s dreams for not only extending their house but also using this additional space to reconfigure how they get the most out of their homes. It’s also been a time to re-evaluate our homes and consider the value we place in them. Adding extra room does all these things.
He added:
“Our focus over the summer has been to re-look at our products and our design services for our customers. As a result, we have designed new sunrooms to blend light and space and have introduced an enhanced customer experience by creating a new digital-first sales process that combines the virtual with the physical. This new model puts customers in full control of the process to get their design right and includes a virtual consultation and free 3D design visuals all in advance of a home visit, with all social distancing protocols in place.”
