Has anyone done an extension REDUCTION?

smollions

Hello,

We viewed this property today and the place is great but they've built such a long rear one storey extension it makes the garden tiny! Basically a courtyard now. Has anyone ever done an extension reduction before? We don't actually need such a long kitchen in the rear, which is what they've done and we'd actually like to open up the garden more and in the future build another storey on top of the existing extension. Anyone got a clue how much a reduction would cost?

fezster

You should instruct an architect. Much will depend on the type of roof. If it is a pitched roof, then the entire roof may need changing to change the pitch, once the extension is shortened. If it's a flat roof, that will need to be redone also.

I'd personally walk away from a property on which you'd have to reduce the size because you'd probably be lowering it's value by having to spend a sizeable amount of money. Unless you are getting it at a substantial discount in the first place.

Cisco001

You probably reduce value of the house. Why bother?

FreeBear

Unless the walls and foundations are up to the task, you wouldn't be able to add a second story on to the existing structure.

You *might* get away with a lightweight timber construction and/or some piling & steel supports. But I suspect you'd end up having to demolish most of the extension before building upwards.

Head_The_Ball

Katie Price, aka Jordan

smollions

FreeBear wrote: »

Unless the walls and foundations are up to the task, you wouldn't be able to add a second story on to the existing structure.

You *might* get away with a lightweight timber construction and/or some piling & steel supports. But I suspect you'd end up having to demolish most of the extension before building upwards.

I believe many of the homes down the road have done 2 storey builds so the foundations may be okay. It's just that we ideally want to buy a place that we can stay in for a long enough time and that was one of our options to free up some garden space and extend up. We wouldn't cut the length by much to be fair but enough to give more breathing space. Tough decisions!

smollions

Head_The_Ball wrote: »

Katie Price, aka Jordan

hahahahahaha!

smollions

Cisco001 wrote: »

You probably reduce value of the house. Why bother?

we're not looking at a huge reductions, and luckily the area is very sought after so prices won't drop but only rise even with a change in the length of the kitchen area. It's just what is feasible cost wise and if it is even doable.

glasgowdan

The foundations will have been laid for the 1storey build. The neighbours' extensions are irrelevant.

Your plan sounds very, VERY expensive and wasted money at that.

Davesnave

At the very least, you have to dig a couple of trial pits until you expose the existing foundations fully in order to know whether your plan to go up is feasible. Then you will need the written opinion of a structural engineer to confirm..

Other people's extensions are irrelevant. Without the above, you can go nowhere with this legally.

rosie383

I agree with Dave. When the foundations for our extension were being dug, we discovered that next door's foundation for their extension was literally 1 brick deep. Total bodge job.