This classic roof shape can help blend your new kitchen extension with the rest of the house. Learn the ins and outs of pitched roof kitchen extensions with this architectural guide!
6 min read
If you need a bigger kitchen to entertain more guests or are just a lover of large spaces and, in particular, large kitchens, then pitched roof kitchen extensions might just be for you.
The roof type is an essential feature of your kitchen extension, and you have the option of choosing between a pitched roof or a flat roof. Your choice of a pitched roof kitchen extension or a flat roof kitchen extension will eventually depend on your aesthetic preferences, budget, as well as building regulations requirements.
While a flat roof kitchen extension may be cheaper, pitched roof kitchen extensions have their charm and are more durable.
In this blog post, we’ll be telling you all you need to know about pitched roof kitchen extensions and sharing with you some great ideas to inspire you.
Benefits of pitched roof kitchen extensions
Here are some reasons you should opt for a pitched roof kitchen extension:
Pitched roof kitchen extensions are very durable. Their physical attributes and the materials used to build them make them very resistant to extreme weather and easy to maintain. How they’re shaped doesn’t allow for water accumulation, so the chances of leaks is dramatically reduced.
Pitched roof kitchen extensions are more energy efficient. They allow you to add more insulation, keeping your house warm and helping you cut down on energy bills.
Pitched roof designs generally blend in better with the aesthetics and style of more traditional houses. As a result, planning departments tend to favour pitched roof extensions over flat roof extensions.
Ideas of pitched roof kitchen extensions
The most popular kitchen extension types are rear kitchen extensions, side kitchen extensions, and wraparound kitchen extensions. If you're looking to add a kitchen extension to your home, you should talk about your project to a Resi expert for guidance on the extension type that best fits your budget and preferences.
Here are some great pitched roof kitchen extension ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
Here is a pitched kitchen extension from North London. The owners wanted to get more natural light in their kitchen while creating a more comfortable dining area. However, because they wanted to keep their stunning garden intact, they opted for a subtle side extension to get space without the drawbacks. The glass ceiling helps light penetrate the entire household
In this 3D model of a pitched rear extension, our architects have envisioned the pitched roof giving space for playful ceiling shapes. A flat ceiling for the kitchen area, to allow for pendant lighting, and pitched skylights towards the dining room, increasing the amount of natural light in this London home.
This South London rear extension from 2015 shows that pitched doesn’t always have to equal a traditional aesthetic. We used the pitched roof to create a hanger style extension, with skylights dotted along the sloped ceiling. Combined with bi-fold doors and a slick modern interior, this is a stunning kitchen extension for any family to enjoy.
When designing this 2021 kitchen extension in Surrey, we wanted to have some fun with the pitched roof. As the owners were aiming for a Scandinavian style with their interior, we wanted to complement this with sweeping views of their surrounding green space. Therefore we added not only bi-fold doors, but also custom pitched glass up top. Learn more about this project.
This West London property put the final touches to this pitched kitchen extension in 2021. This rear extension not only allowed the Ealing homeowners to renovate their property, but also brought in plenty of sunshine too. The skylights alongside those impressive bi-fold doors mean this family will never be short of natural light when enjoying their meals. Learn more about this project here.
Do I need planning permission for a pitched roof kitchen extension?
Depending on your permitted development rights, you might not need a full planning application before adding a pitched roof kitchen extension to your home. You’ll only have to make sure your pitched roof kitchen extension meets the specific requirements set out in your permitted development rights. These requirements include the height of the extension, its building materials, the placement of eaves and ridges, plus more nitty gritty details.
These rules can be pretty complex and tend to vary with different parts of the UK (such as Scotland and Northern Ireland), and there are also some properties permitted development rights don’t cover. For example, flats, maisonettes, conservation centres and listed buildings do not fall under these rights. As a result, it's best you talk about your project to a Resi expert to ensure that your extension is compliant.
Although permitted development rights save you the stress of planning applications, you still need your extension to be signed off by your local authority to prove that it was legal when it was constructed.
How much does a pitched roof kitchen extension cost?
The cost of installing a kitchen extension is dependent on several factors. These factors include:
The size of the extension
The complexity of the design
The materials that will be used
The finishing
The area the house is situated
All things being equal, installing a pitched roof kitchen extension could cost anywhere between £40K to £200k - which illustrates how varied the price tags can be!
Besides planning permission, you must also ensure your project adheres to building regulations. Building regulations are a set of government devised standards all homes must follow to be considered habitable. These standards, which cover insulation, ventilation, structural integrity, fire safety, soundproofing, plus much more, ensure that your home is safe and your environment is healthy. You can learn more about what goes into a building regulations package here.
Contacting your plumber and electrician to check the existing pipework and electrical system is also a good idea. The electrician will confirm if you’ll need to rewire your home, while the plumber will ensure the piping system is effective.
Lastly, check your boiler. You need to confirm that this new addition to your home won’t overwork your system.
How long will it take to build?
Depending on the complexity of your project, a pitched roof kitchen extension could take about 8 to 16 weeks to construct.
Outside of construction, you must also factor in the time it will take to obtain planning permission, get your building regulations in order, and settle potential party wall matters.
Adding all these up, it could take up to 12 months to take your kitchen extension from start to finish.
How much value will a pitched roof kitchen extension bring to your home?
The value a kitchen extension will add to your home depends on its design and impact on the use of the home. Overall, you can expect a pitched roof kitchen extension that increases the working area and connects the kitchen area or the dining space to increase the value of your home by about 5 to 10%.
However, you should bear in mind that the property market fluctuates and value can never be guaranteed. If you’re looking to make a return on your investment, we recommend checking for ceiling prices in your area. This refers to the maximum amount a home can be sold for in particular locations.
And there you have it, a summary of all you need to know about constructing a pitch roof kitchen extension.
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