To extend or not extend

[furstivetreats]

Just bought a house with a separate kitchen and dining room. If we knocked them together we would have a room approx 22 x 10'5. We're toying with extending to make the room roughly square. We like big spacious rooms and are concerned that the kitchen diner wouldn't have that feel, but equally concerned that we're being ridiculous and just struggling to envisage the space with the wall in place.

I'm also very aware that builders are booked up and costs are high, but we would be doing some work to the house anyway, including knocking through to make the kitchen diner, they are definitely not staying as separate rooms. This would necessitate new flooring, kitchen, we would put in french doors probably, block up the back door etc, so either way we will be having work done.

I'm just rambling I guess but does anyone have any input? Anyone have a kitchen diner of those rough dimensions who can share some pics to help me visualise the space we'd be getting?

We did exactly as you suggest initially - knocked the 2 rooms together and ended up with a room more or less those dimensions with an extra little bit of kitchen. It was fine and gave us the single space that we wanted. We had a small island, dining table and chairs and a small sofa and TV at one end. I wouldn't say it was particularly spacious but did the job.

A few years later (when we could afford it), we extended and now have a bigger room and its completely different. If you can afford it, I would extend, do it all in one go. It cost us more doing it in stages, had to live with renovations twice etc.

We are in exactly the same position OP! We've got someone coming out to quote for an extension tomorrow, but we are mindful of current inflated building costs as you say. Part of us says we should knock through the kitchen diner just to make it a bit nicer, but then I also don't feel we can justify spending any money on new kitchen stuff when we know that we're hoping to extend and get a full refit in the nearish future. It's a tough one!

Ha another one in same position, only been in a week and sick of pacing backwards and forwards trying to work out what to do for the best and we can’t crack on with rest of house until we know what we are doing as so many interdependencies . Would be perfectly adequate space just knocking all the separate rooms together and cheaper and quicker but would be much more wow if we extend. If it wasn’t for all the delays and ridiculous prices at moment it would be a no brainer but feels like worse possible time in recent history to be contemplating any major building work ! Having a nightmare even managing to have initial conversations with anyone. Sorry that was no help but just wanted to share your dilemma.

Ps just had a look at floor plan of our previous house where we knocked dining and kitchen together (30’s semi) and that was 23” long by 12” wide. We couldn’t go any further back really as didn’t have the garden space. I would say it was far better than it what it was when we bought the house however on reflection we always yearned for a bit more width as felt a little tight as a dining and second family space which is what we ideally wanted so with that in mind I would say extend. 😊

We’ve done the same and it’s such a cost effective way of adding space. We have a dining table to the side (instead of an island) and a sofa to one end. Cost us just 9K (instead of £50+K for an extension) but that’s because we saved on the cost of a new kitchen by reusing what we have. We do have a separate living room for the boys who are in their teens and I think the space is more than adequate!

Go on a kitchen planner website and plan both out for what you are looking for.

Doesn’t sound like much space for the cost.

Thanks all, I'm glad I'm not the only one with the dilemma!

We did a small extension in a previous house and it absolutely transformed the space, so I'm not too bothered about the size of the extension (and we could go bigger if we wanted). Like a PP said, it's impossible to even talk to anyone at the moment. I completely understand builders are booked up solid, I'd just love to have someone round to give me a ballpark and I'd be happy to pay them for the time in visiting and working out the estimate but even that seems impossible.

Definitely do it. It will be repaid in saleability and value when it comes to move on, and be much more liveable and enjoyable in the meantime.

@furstivetreats that's annoying that you can't even get anyone out to quote. If it helps at all... The company who came to us today were free. They have no availability until October (but with it being estimated as a 12 week build we'd rather wait until the new year than risk a building site at Christmas). For 2.8 x 6.1 extension including bifold doors, vaulted ceiling and velux + picture windows we've been quoted approx £35k. That also includes external rendering and internal removal of walls, 2 x RSJs, plastering, electrics, plumbing and laying new floor throughout (we have to supply the flooring though). Interestingly the builder today and two family members who are in the trade don't think prices will reduce a significant amount any time soon and are likely to return to pre-Brexit prices. This is making us think that we may go for it in 7 months or so after all as we don't really want to tolerate our current set up for much longer than that if it's not going to change much cost-wise to build an extension.

Just bought a house ...
Don't they say you should live in a house for a bit, to get the feel of it, before doing anything major. Chill your beans.

[quote mummabubs]@furstivetreats that's annoying that you can't even get anyone out to quote. If it helps at all... The company who came to us today were free. They have no availability until October (but with it being estimated as a 12 week build we'd rather wait until the new year than risk a building site at Christmas). For 2.8 x 6.1 extension including bifold doors, vaulted ceiling and velux + picture windows we've been quoted approx £35k. That also includes external rendering and internal removal of walls, 2 x RSJs, plastering, electrics, plumbing and laying new floor throughout (we have to supply the flooring though). Interestingly the builder today and two family members who are in the trade don't think prices will reduce a significant amount any time soon and are likely to return to pre-Brexit prices. This is making us think that we may go for it in 7 months or so after all as we don't really want to tolerate our current set up for much longer than that if it's not going to change much cost-wise to build an extension. [/quote]
Thanks @mummabubs that's really helpful. Roughly were are you in the country?

@senua they do, you're right. The one builder I've managed to get hold of is booking work for spring next year though so we've got plenty of time to get a feel. Work will have to be done, regardless of what it is, so we need to get a builder booked in and can fine tune things a bit closer to the time.

@furstivetreats We're near Cardiff, we do have increased prices here compared to the rest of Wales, although not to the extent that London does by comparison. My last post should have read prices are unlikely to decrease significantly, not likely! 🤦🏻‍♀️