Kitchen Extension Guide

Kitchen is the core of your home as a whole. Have you ever noticed that it is the only room where everyone meets?

Kitchens are no longer only a place where we are preparing food; they are now the focus of home and relaxation. That is why, for most homeowners, extending the kitchen is at the top of the improvement list.

Transform your house, creating a multi-functional and spacious design by adding a kitchen extension. 

What is with a budget?

Depending on where you are living in the UK, for an extension, you should allow around £1,000–£2,000/m2. But, the price of your extension will all come down to several factors, including size, specification and location.

Building a two-storey extension will not cost much more per square metre. You are just adding walls and floor joists — a roof and foundations are required whether your extension is single or two storeys.

Finally, remember to factor in extra costs such as you'll then have your kitchen units' cost,  Building Regs and planning fees, the installation cost, Party Wall Agreements, insurance, etc. 

Do I Need Planning Permission?

If you are adding a kitchen extension to create multi-functional space may need Planning Permission for your kitchen extension. 

If your property is in a conservation area or is listed, the amount of work you can do under Permitted Development Rights is usually decreased.

 For PD single-storey extension should:

-Maximum height of four metres

-They must not extend beyond the house's original rear wall by more than six meters if it is an attached house(semi-detached) or eight meters for a detached house.

If you add a side extension, it must be single-story, not wider than half the original house's width.

Then you will need Planning Permission, although of whether you are adding an extension or knocking through a wall. 

Building Regulations 

Your project will need Building Regulations approval to secure that the minimum design and construction standards are achieved. These cover all subjects, such as fire and other safety forms, insulation, drainage, power and access.

 If you are adding a kitchen extension, Building Control will need to be notified.

How Long Will a Kitchen Extension Take?

Project time depends mostly on whether you will be extending the property, the type of interior fit-out, and specifications you choose. A single-storey kitchen extension will take 12 weeks on average; however, if you are specifying underfloor heating, this will add to the time.

What Type of Kitchen Extension Should I Add?

For a terraced or semi-detached house with a kitchen to the rear, adding a small rear extension for an open-plan leading out to the garden could be the best solution.

If you have limited garden area, then a small side-return kitchen extension could provide you with valuable extra space.

Where budget and outside space allow, consider a large rear kitchen extension spanning the house's width, including an open-plan kitchen, dining and living room.

Design

If you want to create a multi-functional kitchen extension, such as an open plan. Create distinct and separate zones for cooking, dining and relaxing, but ensure a connection with a neutral shade throughout.  A well-placed island between the work station units and the dining table is a perfect split between the separate spaces and a place where you can stock pots and pans and install a hob and second sink.  Using colours or materials can help the room to work as one.
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Having a nicely considered kitchen design that works for you and your lifestyle is essential when planning your extension.
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Do you want for an island, lots of cabinets for storage or large worktops? Or are there some special appliances that are a must-have?

Your designer can show you different ideas to design the multi-functional space. Still, there is usually one way to quickly become evident to your designer once you tell them what you would like in the area.  

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Maximise a light

Lighting is a crucial kitchen extension element to create a social and relaxing ambience. Kitchen extension will displace some of the daylight that would typically reach your original rooms, so think supplementing it.

Larger kitchens take extra space and have a higher need for a sound lighting system. The independent parts of the kitchen extension should be lit differently, which is best considered in advance. When you start thinking about a project, you should think where sunlight falls throughout the day and how glazing you choose can maximise natural light.

If you choose to add the rear extension, consider bi-fold doors open to the garden. The full-height glazing will provide plenty of sunlight as well as giving views of the outside. Bear on the mind that full-height glass doors reduce the amount of wall space available for storage. 

Installing the skylight closer to the back of the extension will help the natural light flow into the original room's now darkened spaces.

If your extension is a side-return or need more privacy, then opting for clerestory windows is a right solution. 

Plumbing, electrics and heating

Very little thought is usually devoted to assessing whether existing heating and power systems will cope with the house's new part. Our advice is that before you expand your home, do a quick check on them first.

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Electrical: Your electrician will need to check the existing system to determine if reconnection is required. Then, before the worktops are installed, they need to make another electrical repair - such as socket connections.

Plumber: The plumber needs to check that the existing pipelines are in good condition. To the water supply must connect appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. You will need to provide warm and cold water, as well as a pump for waste from the sink outside.

Heating: Underfloor heating is a trendy choice as radiators can take up valuable space; this needs to be confirmed before installing the kitchen floor.

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