Extensoion on a slope - advice please?

[tatt]

Our house is built on a slope. I'd like to extend it but the difference in levels would make that tricky and would also involve complications with the drains, which might need to be moved or would mean relocating a bathroom. We have talked to one architect but he didn't seem to grasp the problems.

Anyone done this and can suggest whether its best to talk to structural engineer/ builder?

Haven't done this but have visited several houses (and lived in one) where it has been done. Will always be expensive because, if hill slopes up from house, you will need to excavate tonnes of material before you can extend; if it slopes down then you need to build a platform for the extension (and if the slope is very steep, then it can end up having unnecessary prominence over neighbouring homes).

Has anyone on your road done something similar that you can take an architect to see? I think I would prefer to use an architect in the first instance because it does sound complicated and light could be an issue if you are at the bottom of a slopeso the design will be crucial for it to be a success. I would just try to find another one if you didn't get any joy with the first.

Thanks. The ground slopes away from the house so light wouldn't be an issue. Had wondered about having some steps inside the house.

Really we should have demolished it and started again.

Right then, I am sort of going through this at the moment. We are end of terrace on a hill. We already have a step from our hall to kitchen and kitchen to utility. We want to knock through from our dining room into our garage.

Because of the slope, we would have to have a step from the dining room into the grage extension. When in the garage, the ground level outside on one side is higher than than the floor level inside so this means the area needs tanking out to prevent damp coming through. Also, you have to have a 6 inch step down from floor level to the outside. Our patio is level with the door frame where we would have patio doors so we would have to have drainage chnnels, I think called ACO channels/french drains, where they have the metal grills over.