Extension types
Six extension types cover almost every Glasgow project. The right one is set by your plot, your property type and the problem you are trying to solve.
Written bySusan Fairweather, Extension Design Specialist
Typical 20 m² build
£40k – £60k · 12 weeks
Glasgow · Scotland
180+
Glasgow extensions delivered
Warrant & completion certificate included
The main types of house extension are single-storey rear, two-storey, side return, wrap-around, porch and detached garden room. Single-storey rear extensions suit most Glasgow semi-detached and detached homes, side returns suit terraces, and two-storey extensions suit households that need bedrooms as well as living space.
A single-storey rear extension projects from the back wall of the house at ground-floor level. It is the most common extension in Glasgow and usually creates an open-plan kitchen-dining space with direct access to the garden.
A two-storey extension adds matching floor area on the ground and first floors, typically living space below and a bedroom or bathroom above, on shared foundations.
A side return extension infills the narrow strip beside a rear projection, widening the ground floor across its full depth.
A wrap-around extension combines a rear extension and a side return into a single L-shaped footprint under one roof.
A porch or front infill encloses the entrance, adding storage and a thermal buffer at the front of the property.
A detached, fully insulated garden structure provides work or hobby space where extending the house is not practical.
At a glance
A quick filter before you commit to a design route.
| Property type | Usually best | Rarely works |
|---|---|---|
| Detached villa | Two-storey or wrap-around | Side return — no narrow return to fill |
| Semi-detached | Single-storey rear or two-storey side | Wrap-around on a shallow plot |
| Mid-terrace | Single-storey rear | Two-storey — daylight and access constraints |
| End-terrace | Wrap-around or side return | Front infill in a conservation area |
| Ground-floor tenement flat | Modest rear extension, subject to deeds | Anything above ground-floor level |
| Upper tenement flat | None — consider a dormer or internal remodel | All extension types |
A wrap-around extension delivers the largest footprint per pound on a semi-detached or end-terrace plot, because a single roof and one set of groundworks serve both the rear and the side return.
A side return extension fills the narrow strip of ground running alongside the rear projection of a terraced or semi-detached house. It widens the ground floor rather than lengthening it, which usually improves the kitchen far more than the same area added to the rear.
A conservatory is a glazed structure that is usually thermally separated from the house. It is not the same as an insulated extension and is not covered on this site — a full extension is habitable year-round and counts as heated floor area.
Tell us about your property and what you want to gain. We will talk you through the realistic cost, the planning route and the build sequence — no obligation.
