Extending a semi detatched when neighbour has too

neneromanova

General_query wrote: »

Sure, but I think you'd like to see this done to your neighbours house personally

Well their extention at least :rotfl:

What it's like currently:



EDIT: The wall in the garage (the thin one) is just the old back of the garage so is a single brick wall

Upstairs:



Downstairs:

southcoastrgi

it looks to me if you follow the fence (low brick wall) that they have already built their extension over your boundary, as the garages are staggered, looking at that pic I would say the wall is yours & their boundary stops at the wall, then look at their extension the outer wall goes past this, i would say that the external wall of their extension is supported on the right hand wall of your garage ?

neneromanova

notanewuser wrote: »

You won't get the money back with that idea.

Could the roof space be converted?

How much would you say it would cost to do? I hoped £40k - £50k.

notanewuser

neneromanova wrote: »

How much would you say it would cost to do? I hoped £40k - £50k.

Well, you are showing 2 substantial extensions downstairs plus moving existing walls, plumbing, drainage etc. can't see your upstairs plan (revised) but you're looking at a minimum of £1k per sq metre for building extensions.

At a rough guess you'll need £25-30k just for downstairs.

neneromanova

Here's another view of the garages:

anotherbaldrick

O.K. would not say impossible but I come back to what I said originally , Your solution revolves around how to support that right hand upper level wall and you need to talk to a builder about the ways and means, not just a builder , one who can consult a structural engineer, the Council will demand calculations with the design.

neneromanova

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

O.K. would not say impossible but I come back to what I said originally , Your solution revolves around how to support that right hand upper level wall and you need to talk to a builder about the ways and means, not just a builder , one who can consult a structural engineer, the Council will demand calculations with the design.

Its nice to know its not impossible luckily my parents are good friends with a builder so it should be cheaper than normal, its just pinning him down to quote it as he's busy quite a lot of the time. I understand what you mean about the upstairs structure though.

As for getting the money back, it wouldn't matter straight away as we're looking to extend to stay in the house until at least the little man goes to secondary school which is at least 11 years time as DD's current school is 5 mins walk round the corner and its a lovely area to live. We had seen this house: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/42346895 but to sell ours, pay stamp duty, and then move, you're looking at us finding £120k extra! I'm also hoping that putting the bigger kitchen onto the back of the house straight onto the garden and not at the front with a utility room will add quite a bit of money to the house.

anotherbaldrick

One option I would consider is building the upper section of the extension in "Lightweight Modern Method of Construction" ie; what is often used in "Eco Houses" (ours is ) a timber prefabricated wall with thick internal insulation and externally clad in cementatious weatherproof cladding with high tech sprayed finish. This would need far less support than masonry although local planning office would have to give approval for deviating from matching brickwork , could look quite good though and visually give a lift to the existing. Dare to be different.

sweaty_betty

We have done something similar-ish but without the neighbour having built up to the boundary.
It might be worth checking with both an architect and the local planning guidance - we were told we weren't allowed to build up to the boundary because the council didn't want to create a terracing effect (even if previous buildings which would be demolished were up to the boundary). This was a new rule and it was a bit frustrating as a number of neighbours had already built up to the boundary, but as they'd had their planning permission earlier, this had been allowed.

neneromanova

Thanks Sweaty Betty. That helps in knowing that might be acceptable if a gap is left.

What do you think my first port of call would be? I know its a weird on but I was thinking Estate Agent (to see if it would add as much money as I hope) then a builder, the Hubby's best friend who is an architect. Should I talk to the North Devon Council and see if they see any problems with it before I apply for planning permission, or will they just tell me to jog on and apply and if it fails it fails?

It's so difficult knowing what to do.