Anyone done a kitchen extension?

[Verily1]

Hi,

I’m looking to do a kitchen extension to make a small (no space for table) square kitchen into a big dining kitchen preferably with a utility room and couch/ seating area. Basically a big open plan family kitchen/dining living room.

Where do I start?

Neighbours have done similar so I’m assuming planning permission won’t be an issue.

Do I get an architect to do a plan first? Does that then get sent to the planning department? How long do they take?

How much will something like this cost? How long might it take?

Any particular pitfalls to avoid?

How do you choose a builder?

The kitchen units are quite new and nice so I’d want to keep them and the existing appliances as well as the existing back door.

Tia

You need an architect first - then structural plans, a builder won't even talk to you without these as they need these to quote.

Our experience was different to the previous posters...! We just got a lot of recommendations for local builders and contacted them and told them what we wanted to do and they sorted it all. We didn’t even have an architect as such, the builder just sorted it all and applied for planning permission etc, council came out and inspected it. The only thing we did need to get someone in for was a test for a load bearing beam. Then we had electricians in for lights etc. It’s a very large extension, we extended into half the garden and have lots of room now. We don’t regret it but the mess and disruption during having it done was horrendous! We had everything from the kitchen in our living room and lived on everything microwave style for about 3 months!!

We had our existing kitchen gutted and the window and two doors moved and knocked through into the garage for a new utility room.

Ask around locally for a really good builder, ask to see their work and to speak to their customers. They will make it happen for you in terms of planning, building regs, all the necessary professionals. Ours had some excellent ideas about what would and wouldn't work and I knew from his previous clients he had a good 'eye' for detail.

Try to be as sure as you can be about what you want. Collect brochures and haunt showrooms so you can say, with conviction, 'these kitchen units are staying, lighting like this picture, I love tiles/I loathe tiles, I want to spend silly money on this fancy remote-controlled tap or don't even think about showing me one, it's beyond daft'

Prepare to have your life and your home ruined for weeks but know that it will all be OK in the end. Good luck!

Ask neighbours who they used maybe ? Architect for build plans structural engineer for beams between old and new areas. Concept planner to design the kitchen and builder to price it all up and do the job.

We got an architect first who drew up plans and submitted them to the council. We did ours under permitted development which was really straightforward and agreed in 6 weeks. Did some research on builders and got a few round for quotes. They were able to quite based on our plans. Ended up with a fab 6x6m extension and reconfigured old house to create utility and shower room in old kitchen.

Thanks!

As your neighbours have done similar before you it’s best you keep up with them.