Kitchen Extensions – tips for extending the most social room
People decide to put an extension on their kitchen for a variety of reasons: bigger family, need for more social space or to get some ‘outdoor’ space that isn’t actually outside. Whatever your motivation, a kitchen extension is a great way to add value to your property and is definitely cheaper than moving house all together. Read on to get advice about your kitchen extension.
Making improvements to your home can give you fresh perspective as well as give you more space and add value to your property. The kitchen is a very popular room to extend, as it is one of the most social rooms in the home. It is important that you do the appropriate homework before you jump into building your extension, as there is likely to be rules and restrictions in your area that you have to be aware of.
Local Estate Agent
Speak to your local estate agents before you start on your renovations. They will be able to help you with restrictions in your area (such as ceiling value) and inform about popular extensions in your area. They can also advise you about ‘clever’ extensions for your area. A huge kitchen extension in an area popular with young professionals might not give you a good return on your investment in the future.
Architect
If you are willing to spend money on extending your kitchen then it is worth spending a little extra money on an architect. They will design the space for you and tailor it to your needs and specifications. They will also help increase the value of your property because the extension will be well designed. An additional perk is your architect can deal with all the certification you need to build your extension so you won’t have to worry about it.
Finding an Architect
It is really important that you find an architect that gels with you and your home. A good place to start is online as many architects have profiles that you can view their portfolio. Make sure to look at their most recent projects and get references from each potential architect.
The Brief
It is important for you to sit down and tell your architect why you want your kitchen extension. What is the function of this extra space? Who will use it? Think about examples you have seen and liked. A good place to get inspiration is on Pinterest. It is important to get to every little detail down to the light switches as everything will affect your budget. You also need to be specific about a time scale. A kitchen extension could mean that you may not be able to use your kitchen for a period of time during the construction. You need to be detailed in how much time is acceptable to be ‘disconnected’, as it were, from your kitchen.
Budget
It is best to be upfront with your budget from the start so your architect can deliver what is within your set amount. There are many factors that will affect your budget listed below:
- Cost per sq ft of development.
- Fixtures and fittings.
- Architect, engineer and builders fees.
- Government VAT.
- Building control and planning costs.
- 10% contingency fund for unforeseen circumstances.
Kitchen Extensions
Kitchen extensions are very popular especially now that cooking is such a favourite pastime for the nation. There are rules that you have to follow and always check with a local estate agents to get all the facts for your area.
- You can extend your kitchen by 50 cubic metres providing it is not above 4m high or 10% of the existing floor space with no planning permission.
- Consider removing internal walls to open up space in your home instead of building an extension.
- Be aware of the rules relating to glass as their may be restriction on how much glass you can use.
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