Knowledge hub10 questions
Kitchen, rear and side extensions, answered plainly.
Rear and side return extensions, and what each one adds to a home.
Kitchen, rear and side extensionsStraight answers
What people ask us about kitchen, rear and side extensions.
Is a side-return extension right for my house?
We test the gain in usable width against daylight, circulation and garden access. Extending to the boundary is not always the right answer for every home.
Next We compare a side-return option with a simpler internal layout.
Can I build a rear or double-storey extension?
The answer depends on planning context, property size, neighbour effects and structural feasibility.
We test a two-storey addition as one whole building. This includes how the new upstairs rooms connect.
Next We start with a measured option study and a planning review.
When should the kitchen be designed?
Early enough to coordinate structure, openings, ventilation, plumbing, electrical supplies and lighting. A kitchen chosen after those decisions can create avoidable changes.
Next We approve appliance positions and service needs before first fix.
Can I have a large rooflight or glass roof?
Glazing needs coordination for structure, heat gain, shading and maintenance. It also needs to keep the room below comfortable.
More glass does not always produce a better living space.
Next We review orientation and summer comfort, not just appearance.
Are sliding doors better than bifolding doors?
We compare the opening arrangement, frame proportions, clear opening and daily use. Structural support, threshold details and installation tolerances also affect the choice.
Next See full-size examples and agree the threshold detail before ordering.
Can I have a level threshold into the garden?
A near-level transition needs coordinated internal and external levels, drainage and waterproofing. We resolve this technically, not just from a drawing or a visual.
Next We agree the threshold section and external drainage design with you.
What if a public sewer runs beneath the proposed extension?
We check the sewer position and ownership before design proceeds. Thames Water advises agreement is often needed within three metres of a public sewer. The same applies within one metre of a public lateral drain. Planning permission does not provide that consent.
Next We arrange drainage checks and confirm the sewer approval route before construction.
Will an extension make the middle of the house dark?
It can, depending on depth, roof form and layout.
We test the existing rooms as well as the new space. Openings and circulation are used to spread useful light throughout.
Next We show you how daylight is considered across the whole ground floor.
Can an extension be built using modular or off-site construction?
We weigh construction routes against your site and brief. Access, transport, structural interfaces and design flexibility need checking first.
Next We compare the whole installed scope and programme, not just factory time.
What else changes when the ground floor is extended?
Heating, drainage, electrical capacity and finishes may all need work beyond the new footprint. We include making-good and connections to the existing house in the price.
Next We price the extension and the consequential existing-house work together.
Next step
Ready to talk about kitchen, rear and side extensions?
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