Kitchen extension - architect's drawing

[MrsKipling16]

Hi,

I'm new to this kitchen extension malarkey and wondered if I'm being fussy regarding the architect's drawings, therefore thought I'd seek opinions from MN!

We're in the process of planning a 7m x 4m kitchen extension, with those being the internal measurements of the extension - my rationale for starting with the inside measurements was to aid kitchen design and avoid any "odd" spaces that needed fillers, where possible.

I mentioned this to the architect and asked if she would then add on the measurements for plasterboard, insulation, bricks, etc to draw the external footprint of the entire extension - she nodded.

We received the first draft of the drawings for feedback last week and the internal dimensions are shown as 6290 X 4303 (one side shorter than we imagined, and one side longer) and the external dimensions 6940 X 4343.

Everything else on the plan appears ok, and as requested. Assuming there are no technical or planning reasons why we can't have the internal measurements as requested, is it reasonable for me to request this in my feedback?

Just to add, I had mocked up a kitchen design on one of the squared paper templates provided by Wickes (including measurements and based on 7m x 4m) which the architect took a photo of, and in her e-mail with the drawings, she references that she thinks the drawings work well with my kitchen sketch?!

For those of you that have been through this before, it is important to get the internal measurements right at this stage and question the architect as part of my feedback , and if not, how did you ensure the aesethics in your finished kitchen?!

Happy to be told I'm being fussy if a few mm here and there really won't matter! Just want to set off on the right path from the beggining.

Hopeful bump for the afternoon/early evening crowd!

I'm guessing that she's used 4300 or thereabouts as it means you lose the rear wall of the house (which is usually 300) and going out 4000 - which can come within permitted development rather than you having to seek planning permission (3m for semis and 4m for detached). Could that be it?

Thanks namechange - it's not that unfortunately as we're submitting a planning application anyway (permitted development used for the new build estate apparently....)

Maybe she knows the dimensions the council are likely to accept?

Or maybe its the pitch of the roof (our builders changed the plans slightly as the angle of the roof needed to be a particular angle to get a velux in and given the position of the upstairs window the footprint of the extension changed slightly?)

Position of a drain / pipe?

Distance from boundary?

namechange , more good suggestions - thank you! I don't think it's drains/pipes or the boundary as the extension will be replacing an existing lean-to type structure of the same size.

Roof pitch could be a reason. I'm definitely going to ask & will phrase it appropriately! I'd rather check now than regret it later.

I would just ask her why those particular measurements.

When she says your kitchen design goes well, she probably meant on an overall layout level. Like position of sink to window.

Thanks ThreeFish , that's what I've done. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't being inappropriately obsessive over details that aren't relevant!

Like I say, we got on well, she seemed to understand what we were looking to do and everything else on the drawings is spot on so I didn't want to risk rocking the boat unnecessarily.

She's very busy, but has been really prompt in sending e-mails so I'm hopeful of a quick response tomorrow/Wednesday to clarify if it was just an oversight and can be changed or if indeed there is a technical reason for the revised measurements.

It's such a long process end-to-end, and even having read other threads on MN of people mid-build, I can't wait for the planning application to be submitted, and work to start! (Realistically though, it will be next spring as our builder is quite busy.)

She's probably going on brick /block sizes. But if you specifically asked for those internal dimensions I'd ask her why she changed it !
Re no gaps in kitchen - depending on door style - i.e. In frame doors in most situations could possibly go no gaps - but lay on doors often need a 25-50mm infill to allow doors to open fully to abutting wall. Even in new extensions - walls aren't always plumline straight ! So in my experience ( 32 years of kitchen and freelance concept planning ) I'd always advocate small infill to walls in kitchen designs !

you dont really want exact internal measurements inside if it leaves you without any tolerance with kitchen units.

Good points OnePlanOnHouzz and dilapidated , thank you both.

I had a reply just after lunchtime today saying "no problem, that's easy to change" so it looks like it may just have been a simple oversight that's easy to fix. (I did ask if there was a planning or technical reason she had used those measurements but she hasn't answered that question, just said that she'll revise the drawings which I'm happy with.)

I'll relax now about the odd mm given all the advice provided - I'm pretty sure the design could still work with a couple of small revisions based on above feedback - the new extension will create an open plan kitchen-diner and the kitchen is a u-shape with 2 out of the 3 lengths being able to tolerate any overhang from wonky walls!

Thanks again to the MN collective

Lots of units are 600 wide so how will you plan these into a 4000mm
wall? Dishwasher, cookers etc are 600. I would make sure you have a coherent design that isn't based on multiples of 500 mm.

bojorojo we're having a range cooker which is actually 1000 and plan to get the kitchen from DIY Kitchens as they have the biggest selection of cupboard dimensions we've ever seen! 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600, the list goes on - all the way up to 1200 so a wall length of 4000 is no issue at all.

Having started with the Wickes plan, I switched to DIY who are much cheaper as well as having more choice.

I've done this too!
Specified 2m internal extension, don't care what the outside measurement is so you're not alone!
I even had the builder get the plans out this am just to remind him!

Even with set standard base cabinets and a standard size range cooler you still need to make allowance for tolerance.
There will be end scribes and expansion gaps required.

I once worked on a house where the architect designed it without any tolerance and the install was near on impossible and resulted in bespoke cabinets for the kitchen to make it fit and work