Flat roof help!

Jeepers_Creepers

It is - but with a garden-room type extension below - also with a 'flat' roof with a large sky lantern, and some dramatic use of colour and/or cladding to continue up and integrate that extension wall into the scheme - I dunno, charcoal 'weatherboarding' or similar - I think there's the potential to turn it around completely.

OP could start with Google images of 'ugly house to beautiful...'!

brianposter

Looks like a place where an investment in creeping plants would be very rewarding.

kzzhar0

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Yes, as it stands, that is an ugly extension :-) From the front, tho', it's a pretty house.

If your future extension would be added to the 'ugly' side, then there's all the opportunity in the world to integrate the ugly original extension in the new design and come up with something completely acceptable; as I said before, this could involve cladding in all sorts of materials and colours - it'll just take a half decent architect.

Meanwhile, you can bet that the current 'look' will put off many buyers, so make sure the house is priced accordingly. 

If the extension is around 20 years old and if it's still the original flat roof covering in place and if that material is mineral felt, then almost certainly it'll be approaching the end of its life - if it hasn't already done so. Big deal - just factor in a recovering - a few £k. If the felt is 'sound' but starting to show deterioration, then get it cleaned and FlexiTec'd - again a few £k at most, but it won't need touching again for a couple of decades. If the roof is clearly lacking insulation, then double the sum in order to have it done properly. (But don't get fixated on conforming to current standards unless you are obliged to - anything you add will make it great. Anything over say 100mm Celotex-type insulation gives virtually zero extra benefit, and that 100mm will already make it the best insulated ceiling in the house...)

In other words, don't let the flat roof put you off - just wait for the survey and factor the result in to your offer. 

What is it about this house that attracts you (I mean apart from its general attractiveness from most elevations, the nice corner plot, the bright sunny aspect, etc).  Is it good value for the space offered? It must have something that appeals when compared to others? Is it keenly priced?

I didn't think it would cause so much offence to everyone 😂 . It's a good job we aren't too bothered about the exterior look, and hopefully can be something that doesn't have to be too urgently but like you say, we'll wait for the survey to come back. 
We've been looking for a house in that area for a while, it's a good size, South facing garden, 5 minute walk to the beach and schools, shops around the corner, cafés, great transport links so for us it ticks a lot of boxes. We'll be decorating and yes the extension will be on that side but at ground level. If the overall 'look' is the main worry then that's put my mind at ease because it doesn't bother us at all for now. Fingers crossed for the survey eh 🤞

trex227

If I were buying this house I would be trying to convince a friend who has a drone to fly over the house so I could see what condition the roof is in! (I would probably ask the sellers permission so as to not get their backs up).

What is the price like compared to similar houses? Has the property been on the market for a long time? The look of the extension is very off putting and I would imagine has at least some effect on saleability. Although if its a long term home and you intend on eventually sorting the extension out its less of an issue.

kzzhar0

trex227 said:

If I were buying this house I would be trying to convince a friend who has a drone to fly over the house so I could see what condition the roof is in! (I would probably ask the sellers permission so as to not get their backs up).

What is the price like compared to similar houses? Has the property been on the market for a long time? The look of the extension is very off putting and I would imagine has at least some effect on saleability. Although if its a long term home and you intend on eventually sorting the extension out its less of an issue.

The property hasn't been on the market for long and properties in that area go very quickly and above asking price. We offered straight away as we knew location and house was for us as soon as we viewed it. We've been looking a while and know what the market is like around there. 
There was a property around the corner that probably required less work but was slightly smaller (different build) . It went on for 20k less, we offered more than asking but didn't get it and think it must've gone for maybe the same price as this one. For this one we just offered asking price. 
We viewed another house a couple of streets away that's on for 40k less (again, smaller build 1950s I think) but requires everything doing (electrics, gas and some windows need doing in it) it already has a few offers and will likely go well over asking. 
It's definitely a long term home, I don't know many people who just buy big investments for short term, it's a big purchase! Think we would sort it out eventually but don't really care what a house looks like from the outside. 

lincroft1710

kzzhar0 said:

lincroft1710 said:

If you are thinking of extending a house which already has a dodgy extension, wouldn't it be better to buy something already the size you are looking for? Extensions don't come cheap. 

Understand your point but that's not what my initial post is about.
Any house we move into we are going to want to do work to to put our stamp on it as it's a home we will be in for years to come. Thanks for your input though. 

Well there's plenty of work you could do to that extension which would put your stamp on the house and make it look attractive again.