Any alternatives to a kitchen extension?

[Trytosmilefor2025]

We are in the south east and a kitchen extension to the house will simply not be worth it, but also we don't have the funds as already stretched to the max for the mortgage. Are there any cheaper alternatives that would allow more space for a proper dinning space off the kitchen? Anyone added a conservatory type building and was happy? Any thoughts will be much appreciated. As we have 3 teenage boys and it's a real squeeze around the small dinner table we have currently in the kitchen!

On what planet do people think the cost of a simple 1 story 1 room extension with the same development rules and of the same size is wildly more expensive than a proper brick conservatory with heating and lighting (which lets be honest is what OP is on about).

You can build porches, utility room, offices and basic single room extensions for the same price or often less depending on choices (a flat roof is cheaper than pitched etc...).

It's the exact same process but I'm only from a family that owns a company that build extensions and conservatories with 50 years experience, what would I know lol.

This looks really good but I absolutely wouldn’t do this if you are S facing at the back as will roast.

Also I agree with her about the crucial things that make this work - same flooring throughout with the kitchen, solid wall at the side, high roof. All add cost, her figure of £18.5k doesn’t include the flooring.

I presume the cost saving is because it is lighter and so wouldn’t need the very expensive foundations that a brick extension would (in OP’s case she seems to need particularly deep foundations)

Whats a 'proper brick conservatory'. People have the conservatory they want, personally I hate half walls, we have one full brick wall apart from windows at the top, the back of the house makes another wall and the rest is full glass because thats what I wanted. We have lighting and heating. It was about 11k, around 7 years ago. No way would we have got an extension for that and I wouldnt have wanted one anyway, the purpose for me was to have lots of glass. Nothing worse than those awful dwarf walls.

@soupyspoon do you mind sharing pics please? I am looking for inspirations! In my case a small 3*5m extension will cost 60k+ which is just not worth it if I can have a similar effect with a conservatory. Opening up the rooms is also possible as long as you can show that thermal efficiency. Obviously, I would have preferred an extension but I can't justify the costs...