WWYD with the outhouse! Keep it or knock it down??

Doozergirl

Can I ask how much the house is worth? 

Wes121708

Bendy_House said:

Manholes can be moved. This could be easy or difficult, but they can be moved. Do you think it serves other properties? If so, that's more tricky, but still doable - I can't see why it cannot be moved over to the boundary to its right.

The large triple window currently facing out the back on the extension is the loo?!

Anyhoo, I can only reiterate what I said before about what - I think - I would want from this extension. How large is that garage? I would be looking to make that 'the' feature' of the house - kitchen, dining, relaxing area, with large bifolds, and a decked area outside at the same level as the floor inside. Cooking, eating, socialising, relaxing would all be at one with the garden and lovely outlook. That could be a stunning room, and not at a great cost - by far the biggest amount of work - founds, walls, roof structure - has already been done.

Your existing kitchen could become a dream bathroom and showerroom - again, it would be an amazing addition to the house. And again the actual room is there - it just needs fitting out. The wee bathroom becomes the access point to the new extension - it'll have the steps down to this, and there's even room for your boiler or storage.

Your existing flat-roofed extension is, how can I say this tactfully... I can't - it's very ugly indeed However, this can be transformed with cladding (anything - metal, timber, composite) and it - along with the new flat-roofed, connecting extension which could have sky lanterns - could be made into something very special indeed.

An Archi should be able to make your dreams come true. The potential here is huge.

It does have so much potential and that's one of the reasons why we bought it, to put out stamp on it just don't know whether it's worth a first or second class stamp! 
The manhole is for shared sewage so they will need access if required.

Wes121708

Doozergirl said:

Can I ask how much the house is worth? 

We bought it on June this year for 285,000. It's in a village on the outskirts of Bristol between Bath and Wells. It's on an A road so gets busy out the front which personally I don't mind as it's peaceful at the back. I don't really think it will be ever worth a lot of money and to be honest I think we paid too much but we really wanted it and didn't go over asking.

theoretica

I would probably make the garden room into somewhere I wanted to spend time - and the sort of time that would include enjoying the view.  The kitchen isn't a room I most want a good view from.

JGB1955

I think I would consider some sort of glass corridor to connect the two spaces - something like f79b8a858975bc772161345fd1d5c198d947759c.jpeg (1000×707) (miesarch.com)

Wes121708

JGB1955 said:

I think I would consider some sort of glass corridor to connect the two spaces - something like f79b8a858975bc772161345fd1d5c198d947759c.jpeg (1000×707) (miesarch.com)

I would love something like this I just don't think we will ever have the budget for something of this scale and I don't think we'll ever see our money back.
If we weren't going to move then maybe but I think we'll probably move in 10 years or so.

silvercar

How warm is it in winter? If you are only going to use it half the year it is less valuable. If it is a useful space you want to be able to get to it without getting wet.

theoretica

Wes121708 said:

JGB1955 said:

I think I would consider some sort of glass corridor to connect the two spaces - something like f79b8a858975bc772161345fd1d5c198d947759c.jpeg (1000×707) (miesarch.com)

I would love something like this I just don't think we will ever have the budget for something of this scale and I don't think we'll ever see our money back.
If we weren't going to move then maybe but I think we'll probably move in 10 years or so.

We had a perspex roof as a back porch/walkway in my childhood home - much cheaper.

getmore4less

The drive and access look wide enough for a car but not a big one with next doors single story at the side of their house.

Really needs a lower level build given the drop.

view from the other side of the garage

Section62

Wes121708 said:

I would love something like this I just don't think we will ever have the budget for something of this scale and I don't think we'll ever see our money back.

If we weren't going to move then maybe but I think we'll probably move in 10 years or so.

This is why Doozergirl's comment is the most pertinent on the thread so far....  there's lots of scope to do stuff grand designs style, but will you just be spending money for the sake of it with no hope of adding that value to the property?

I think the level difference between the main house and the 'garage' is too great for it to make sense incorporating one into the other.  It will always feel awkward and clumsy to have to go up and down a flight of stairs to access a key room in the house.

Personally I'd concentrate my money on redoing the extensions on the back of the house to give you more first floor living space and do away with the *cough* less attractive nature of the previous *cough* improvements.

The 'garage' is an interesting feature - it looks historic with what appears to be a hay loft. So possibly intended to house a trap and a pony rather than a car. I wouldn't have been surprised to learn it was an original part of the property - but looking at the rear view pictures it is the only house which has one.  Have the others demolished theirs previously, or is it that this house was unique?

My gut feel would be to leave it as is - possibly when funds allow to put more glass in the back (but not necessarily the expense of bifolds).  The quietness at the rear of the property, plus the wonderful view, would make it an ideal space for a home office or studio.  Improved with some sensitivity and subtlety it could be a really good selling point for the house with not a lot of financial outlay required to achieve that.  And if your future buyers just want a better view from the house they can make the decision to demolish it themselves.

As an aside, just be aware that soil vent pipe on the back of the house is probably an asbestos one. Whatever improvements you make (even just painting it) if it is asbestos make sure you (or your builders) do so following the correct procedures.