Is a small extension feasible?

[JasonTindallsTan]

We currently live in a 4 bed semi. It’s pretty spacious as has various extensions over the garage and to the kitchen. It also has a conservatory which is where DH currently has an office set up. Naturally at this time of year it’s pretty grim for him. Our kitchen/family room is a decent size with a sofa and an island but it’s a bit of an awkward L shape, with the conservatory on the other side of the back of the house the back forms a u shape (with the L of the kitchen family room forming the rest of the U with the conservatory.

We’re considering getting rid of the conservatory and instead building out from the existing kitchen to square off the kitchen from the longest part, probs adding approx 2x6m indoor floor space. Ish. There is a drain cover outside that is currently in the void of the U (probably why the last owners decided against what we’re thinking). Doing this would give us space to give DH an office area in a warmer bit of the house.

Anyone have an idea how feasible this is? Would it be ridiculously costly. Do we just move and try and find a house that gives us what we want (like hens teeth and big step up in mortgage for us)? Is the drain cover an issue?

Should say, we went to view a couple of new builds at the weekend to see if they could give us what we need but they all seemed so small in comparison to what we have.

A small extra bit of space on paper will make a world of difference. I have done similar and love it.

However, prices are really high at the moment. You won’t lose anything by getting a few quotes. A lot of costs to factor in with moving!

If all you want is office space have a look at the pods you can put in your garden! Much better value for money.

I would only pay for an extension if it was on main family areas and look for alternative for office space!

The back garden isn’t big enough to take a pod, it would dominate the outdoor space and leave very little other useable space (garden only about 8x5 at its longest/widest

I should say also, I would love a bit rectangular kitchen/family room as well. It would really. ‘Finish’ the house for me.

So this is going to sound daft, but can you get quotes without drawings etc being done first?

Yes 100%

Ok, thank you, it’s quite overwhelming when it’s not something you’ve done before so that’s really helpful to know!

There is a garden room company near us that can attach them to a house like an extension. Much cheaper than a traditonal
brick extension but still built to the same standards as a wood framed house.

Oh that’s interesting. I wonder how they compare to a conservatory. Because it’s the climate that’s the issue (although I would really like a nice rectangle kitchen/family space.

If the issue with the conservatory is the temperature, then look at getting the roof replaced with a ‘warm roof’. No experience of them myself but I’ve heard they make a massive difference and change it into a room that is usuable all year round.

Yeah that’s deffo an option to explore if the extension isn’t feasible/mad expensive. I’ve seen those and they look like a good cost effective way of dealing with the issue. I suppose if this is our forever home then it might be something we’d want to change in the future in any event.

The kitchen units etc needs updating now and the floor needs levelling so I think an extension is a now or never thing (or at least now or not for the next 15 years).