Planning a Kitchen Extension? Everything You Should Know

There’s a good chance you’ve thought about adding an extension if your kitchen is small, poorly designed, or lacks natural light. If done correctly, your space can be completely transformed, making your kitchen your favourite area in the house. It’s essential that you comprehend the entire procedure if you’re considering extending your kitchen because they are also incredibly expensive.

How much does expanding a kitchen cost?

The overall expenses of the project will depend on its size and scope, but you must have an approximate amount in mind before you start talking to architects and contractors.

Extensions typically cost between £1,260 and £1,680 per square meter; a single storey addition might raise the value of your property by up to 10%.

It’s important to consider all of your alternatives before making a decision since while some individuals will use their savings to pay for their kitchen extensions, other payment options include getting a loan or re-mortgaging your home.

Choosing an architect

Hiring an architect won’t be required if you’re only extending your kitchen a few feet because a contractor should be able to design it for you.

If your concept is more complicated, an architect can genuinely assist in making your dream kitchen a reality.

While planning your kitchen extension, you and the architect should take the following into account:

• Home Ventilation: If you feel that your existing ventilation system might use some assistance in getting rid of odours, grease, and smoke, you might want to include some extra ventilation techniques into your extension.
• Natural light: How can you make your kitchen even brighter? This may involve anything as simple as installing some skylights or as bold as building a complete glass addition with heated glass to keep your kitchen warm all year.

Get planning permission before the kitchen extension

You should get in touch with your local planning authority to find out if you need approval once you have the kitchen extension design drafted and a proposed size and structure in place.

Many extensions are referred to as “permitted developments,” which means they don’t require authorisation; nevertheless, you’ll need to double-check this before beginning the work.

Keep in mind that if you do need planning clearance, it could take up to 8 weeks to receive a response or up to 13 weeks if your proposal is exceptionally complicated.

Consider using the same (or comparable) materials as the rest of the construction of your home to ensure it looks harmonious. Many local authorities will mention in their requirements that the extension must be appealing and blend in with the rest of the building.

Choose a contractor

Once you have approval, finding a contractor will be the next stage in designing a kitchen extension.

Choose a reputable contractor with accreditations; you may locate local contractors who have all been assessed and follow a Code of Conduct on the Federation of Master Builders website.

Contact a few contractors to get quotations and learn more about the various types of extensions they’ve performed. They will probably be able to give you a few examples.

Even though it may seem absurd, you should ensure you feel at ease around them because kitchen extensions can take months to construct, and you will likely see contractors in your home almost daily.

Before you sign anything, make sure to agree on a payment schedule. Most contractors will require a down payment up front, with the remaining balance due after your kitchen extension is completed.

It’s also important to find out what kind of maintenance is provided. It’s not unusual for little concerns to come up after the extension is finished or for minor difficulties to appear along the way. To offer you peace of mind, ask the contractor if they can include a clause in the contract stating that they will check on the extension one and three months after it is finished.

You’ll be one step closer to making your kitchen extension ideas a reality after you’ve signed the contract and the construction can start! Your kitchen may become a room you’ll like cooking and entertaining in with the latest additions.

Use our free online kitchen planner for ideas, or schedule an appointment to visit your My Beautiful Kitchen showroom for more information on giving your kitchen the makeover it deserves.