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

Wes121708

getmore4less said:

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

Unfortunately you can't fit a car down the side of our house. You used to be able to go down down the side of our neighbours and drive across the back of their house but this was removed but we still have access but just a turning circle. This is not something we will ever use and we're both interested in putting a wall up between the houses.

Wes121708

@Section62 I think this is the most sensible thing to do. We'll eventually make it look pretty and use if for something other than a workshop/storage. 
 
A few other houses have garages but nothing this size and gave kept theirs as they can still drive down to them. 

I just can't envision what we're going to do with the space, massive slab of concrete,  between the two. Maybe raised decking?! And clad the back? 

It's going to cost a bit to get a bathroom upstairs and don't thinking we'll be able to fit on without a loft conversion or extension!

Section62

Wes121708 said:

@Section62 I think this is the most sensible thing to do. We'll eventually make it look pretty and use if for something other than a workshop/storage. 
 
A few other houses have garages but nothing this size and gave kept theirs as they can still drive down to them. 

I just can't envision what we're going to do with the space, massive slab of concrete,  between the two. Maybe raised decking?! And clad the back? 

It's going to cost a bit to get a bathroom upstairs and don't thinking we'll be able to fit on without a loft conversion or extension!

Longer-term I'd definitely terrace that sloping area in some way to make it a more useful space, and also to remove the hazard which sloping concrete of that kind presents in icy/snowy weather.

However, I'd leave that until you've got the house sorted out, as the building work you do on that will almost inevitably impact on the area currently occupied by the concrete, and there is no point making that area 'nice' if it ends up being dug up again to install drainage and/or new foundations.


I'd actually do the least possible until I'd built up a budget to do the house properly.  By that I mean largely removing the flat roof extension and lean-to part of the kitchen, then build as large a 'box' as the planners would allow me to get away with - two-storey mirroring the neighbour's rear extension, and a single-storey projection where your extension already is. (ideally two-storey all the way, but the planners will probably make you stop in line with the neighbour's 1st floor rear wall )

I'd then use the 1st floor extension as the main bedroom, and split the current main bed into a smaller bed and space for the bathroom. The ground floor extension is then wholly available as kitchen/diner space to be laid out as you wish - doors either to the rear or the side depending on preference/planning restrictions.

Something (very roughly) like this - although it would need more thought about the structural alterations, and the bathroom at the front is less than ideal from a drainage PoV.



If you did go for something like that the work would be very disruptive - hence I'd keep alterations to the outbuilding to a minimum before doing the house, as you may find it convenient to install a temporary kitchen/bathroom etc in there for the duration of the building works.

Wes121708

Section62 said:

Wes121708 said:

@Section62 I think this is the most sensible thing to do. We'll eventually make it look pretty and use if for something other than a workshop/storage. 
 
A few other houses have garages but nothing this size and gave kept theirs as they can still drive down to them. 

I just can't envision what we're going to do with the space, massive slab of concrete,  between the two. Maybe raised decking?! And clad the back? 

It's going to cost a bit to get a bathroom upstairs and don't thinking we'll be able to fit on without a loft conversion or extension!

Longer-term I'd definitely terrace that sloping area in some way to make it a more useful space, and also to remove the hazard which sloping concrete of that kind presents in icy/snowy weather.

However, I'd leave that until you've got the house sorted out, as the building work you do on that will almost inevitably impact on the area currently occupied by the concrete, and there is no point making that area 'nice' if it ends up being dug up again to install drainage and/or new foundations.


I'd actually do the least possible until I'd built up a budget to do the house properly.  By that I mean largely removing the flat roof extension and lean-to part of the kitchen, then build as large a 'box' as the planners would allow me to get away with - two-storey mirroring the neighbour's rear extension, and a single-storey projection where your extension already is. (ideally two-storey all the way, but the planners will probably make you stop in line with the neighbour's 1st floor rear wall )

I'd then use the 1st floor extension as the main bedroom, and split the current main bed into a smaller bed and space for the bathroom. The ground floor extension is then wholly available as kitchen/diner space to be laid out as you wish - doors either to the rear or the side depending on preference/planning restrictions.

Something (very roughly) like this - although it would need more thought about the structural alterations, and the bathroom at the front is less than ideal from a drainage PoV.



If you did go for something like that the work would be very disruptive - hence I'd keep alterations to the outbuilding to a minimum before doing the house, as you may find it convenient to install a temporary kitchen/bathroom etc in there for the duration of the building works.

It didn't occur to me to move out master to the back of the house, it'll be a bett view than the front albeit the outhouse being there. Thanks