Wasted space down side of house

7 years ago

I have some wasted space down the side of my house, it runs the length of my house and is just over 3 foot wide, I really want to utilise this space and was wondering what everyone's thoughts were, at the moment we just have some garden furniture stored down there and our wheelie bin. How wide would a galley style utility extension need to be at the minimum? I would really like it as a utility room but not sure how possible it would be?

i have attached a photo

Featured Answer

jonnyke

7 years ago

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Comments (9)

Daisy England
7 years ago
I'd say it's rather narrow to have as a utility if it's around 900mm wide because base units are 600mm deep and then you have to allow for plaster thickness etc.

Perhaps look at putting a roof over it. At least you'll be able to store things under and keep them dry.
Becky thanked Daisy England
Laura Thomas
7 years ago
We had a similar area on the side on our previous house. My husband built a sloped roof with guttering and put gates at both ends. As we didn't have a garage it was ideal for his motorbike and additional garden storage, and still allowed access to the garden.

If you really wanted to extend it would probably be better to make it part of the rooms it is next to, and have roof lights. I had considered extending our kitchen into the space as it would have made it large enough for it to be U shape rather than L or fit a small table, but the cost outweighed the benefits when it wasn't our forever home.
Becky thanked Laura Thomas
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PRO
JUMP Architects
7 years ago
Hi Becky,

It depends on your appetite / budget for alterations, the layout of the space and the relative position of the adjoining property. In the past we've created a significant difference to an existing end of terrace property by absorbing a space like this into the house - but it did involve some party wall negotiations with the neighbour and some structural work to achieve. Perhaps by adding this space into the house you could create the space for your utility room elsewhere?
Becky thanked JUMP Architects
Peter Butler
7 years ago
As a golfer... that would make a nice long putting green :-) but i agree with jonnyke about adding a roof and make it a long shed/storage area.
Becky thanked Peter Butler
Laura Thomas
7 years ago
Could extend rooms into space and site utilities elsewhere.
shkpimblett
7 years ago
Petal neck, of the two pictures you posted yesterday, the first one of the two looks amazing. I think with the roof over /long shed idea you may end up with a long, cold, damp dumping area.
Stephen Edwards
7 years ago
Before getting too carried away, would you be allowed to build right up to the boundary (I'm assuming the fence is a boundary with an adjacent house/landowner), Also do any services run down that gap (water, electricity, gas, sewer, etc.) as protecting or diverting them would add do the cost of any major structrure
PRO
JUMP Architects
7 years ago
Can you build on the boundary? almost certainly yes (and possibly astride the boundary too in certain circumstances) - but you are required to discuss your proposals with your neighbour in acordance with the Party Wall etc Act. See this guidance https://www.gov.uk/guidance/party-wall-etc-act-1996-guidance and seek professional advice.

Services etc, sure a cost on the project but not generally a major one in the context of an extension project like this.

Wasted space down side of house

jonnyke

Comments (9)

Daisy England

Laura Thomas

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