skip to main content

Renovating Building a Home Design Dilemma

house extension roof ideas for u shaped house

5 years ago

Hi,

We are looking at having a two storey extension to fill the wasted space left in the middle of the u shaped house. Roughly 5x 5 metres.

This would provide a downstairs toilet, separate utility with storage and reception entrance so don’t just enter into the kitchen. Upstairs another bedroom.

The extension would fill the gap from the kitchen to the lounge shown in the photos and floor plan. However it would connect 3 separate roofs.

Is this possible? Any ideas?

Featured Answer

PRO

Ikonografik Design

5 years ago

Yes, triple roof an option with new roof joined into old with layboard on top technique to create new pitched valleys. Need to make sure tapered valley gutters are designed and built properly at junctions of roofs at low points. Refer to Lead Sheet Association guidelines for these. Potential problem with filling in the space will be daylight as parts of the floor plan / central bits will not get much daylight.

As the property is quite large anyway what benefit will the extension provide? Is lack of space a real concern? If not, but how you use the rooms, lack of flow, then this could be addressed by an interior remodel where rooms and walls are reconfigured and an extension is not required thus hopefully saving a shed load of money.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

Jonathan
5 years ago
Triple roof is an option
Jonathan
5 years ago
Possible layout
Related Discussions
Need help on flooring for Edwardian house with contemporary extension
Q
Comments (21)
Hi AR, Tiles/Wood effect tiles are an option however you'd be surprised where real wood flooring can go. All our engineered/solid wood flooring is suitable for any room excluding wet rooms. The advantage over tiles is that it can be easily repaired if scratched/damaged. Also in terms of heat, if used with underfloor heating it will hold the heat for longer periods of time as tiles tend to disperse heat faster. Wood is a better natural conductor of heat as opposed to stone/tile, hence why we use them with fireplaces/barbeques etc. (please only use engineered wood flooring with underfloor heating). Not only that but if you wished to change the colour of the floor in 20-30 years it is easily done by simply sanding and applying a stain/varnish. Our flooring has been used in restaurants/bars hotels, as well as residential properties, so do not rule it out as there are many designs/styles available from standard planks, to antique boards, chevrons, Versailles panels, herringbone etc. Just have a quick look through our projects to get an idea. PROJECTS We hope this helps broaden your options, and if you need any more info do let us know and we'll be glad to help.
...See More
Home layout dilema after plans approved for extension into barn
Q
Comments (28)
Hi Minnie, Thanks for this. You've had some serious thought into my predicament. There is a scale on the drawing but for you its approx 12m x 5.8 (external of the barn unit excluding 'link) but walls are quite thick. I do like your idea and think modern living, which i like tends to focus round a kitchen dining living space which doing what you say would achieve. I think I'm going to have to sketch up your ideas too and see which would practically be the better choice. We've probably spent most of our time obsessing over a really nice master, when actually you spend little time in it... well little time awake. so does it need to be so big. Id hoped to actually create a similar kitchen dining experience by removing the wall between the kitchen and living room to crate a bigger room. This would enable a small island and allow space for a dining table in the current front room and replacing the windows on the kitchen facing the garden with a more modern 'letterbox' picture postcard window to draw in the view. It was also my concern that creating this kitchen / dining in the barn would negate the need to use the original house as all family time would realistically be spend on the ground foor of the barn / bedrooms above. For what essentially is a compromise to what we had originally submitted to planning, i don't want to create anything that means the house becomes the subordinate or poorer relation to the new. It should flow and be part of the whole. I think if we went with the kitchen in barn (as awesome as it would be) wed just may as well not build the link and make a separate house minus your boot room of course. This would maximise our investment but I'm not a developer, Money is not the driver.
...See More
Ideas wanted for kitchen extension roof
Q
Comments (21)
OnePlan Can I please ask, the service you provide, if you are not architects, do you work WITH an architect or would i then need to speak to an architect as well? A bit confused as where I come from (Greece), it would be an architect that I would talk to initially, who would provide a couple of concepts as to what it would look like structurally, for me to decide. Once I chose the concept I like, the architect would draw the plans and either I or them would submit the planning application. They would then talk to a structural engineer to come and have a look at walls and decide what support will be needed and where). At the same time once I had the new floor plans in hand, I would take them to a kitchen company to decide on the new layout for units; their input would then influence building (e.g. where to have access points for gas/ electric). I don't have an endless budget to throw towards professional services, and I am baffled as to WHO can draw up plans for the builders to use: an architect or an interior designer?
...See More
Ideas/inspiration needed for opening up extension into main house
Q
Comments (3)
Hi there! I'm working on a new TV series of 'Sarah Beeny's Renovate Don't Relocate' in which Sarah Beeny helps people decide how to utilise the space in their homes and you seem perfect for it. If you're interested in applying, please do email me at chiomah@outlineproductions.co.uk
...See More
Chris Goodchild
5 years ago
Three ridges, I think would be the best option but for that to work you would need to mate the centre ridge to the roof in the same way as the other two ridges so you will need to strip some of the existing roof tiles to mate into the rafters and to incorporate the two gullies.
Tim Godley
Original Author
5 years ago
3 ridges sounds good.

The roof currently has 4 gable ends. 2 at the front with the u ends and then 2 across the back at either side as shown in the 3 photos.

For the 3 ridge roof with the extension would it mean completely changing the roof at the back of the house and gables?
Chris Goodchild
5 years ago
Looking at the pics of the space you want to fill, you will only need to strip back the tiles above the eaves on the two existing 'wing' roofs in order to build in new gullies, and then to strip the tiles between the two wings on the back roof so that the roofer can construct the new ridge line and mate it with that roof. there should be no need to strip the tiles before construction reaches the level where it is necessary to begin roof work.

Structure wise it just means joining on to the rafters that are already there and possibly adding a bit of extra support.

Though I must say it is easier to strip right up to the ridges from the point of view of relaying the tiles on the existing roofs, it's more work but you can do a better job.
Tim Godley
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks, really helpful. Think I know what doing, was just looking to see how and if could be done for now.

In terms of light, the rooms effected would only be the master ensuite with no window and the stairs and hall as all would be internal. The main bathroom window would need moving to end of one of the wing gables. I don’t mind these rooms having light effected. The kitchen has a large window already.

Yes it is a decent sized house with large rooms which could be reconfigured to utilise space more effectively but do love current layout and why fell in love with house. We really do use every room. With a growing family the main things really is downstairs layout with no downstairs toilet and don’t like walking straight into kitchen. Also the storage for such a big house isn’t great. The centre part in between the u is such wasted space and just a gravelled area. Extending upwards would give another bedroom. It isn’t totally needed to extend upwards as only for a family of 4 and already technically a 5 bedroom house. But only has 3 doubles, a single with no wardrobe space and a room used as a dressing room as would struggle to fit a single bed in. More space for guests and wardrobe space would be great and turn a home we love into the perfect home.

For the extension itself would just be one front wall with gable and then roof joining. Simple. I wish!!!!! Very expensive and maybe easier and cheaper to just move house but love the place and area. Will have to move forward with some quotes but no rush as not looking to start for a while.

I know it’s impossible to say how much without seeing it but what’s the guesses for the building work? Doncaster, Yorkshire 5 x 5 extension.
PRO
Ikonografik Design
5 years ago
I live and work in Sheffield and have completed projects in Doncaster. 5 x 5m = 25m2 x 2 floors = 50m2 x £2000/m2 = £100, 000 + VAT = £120, 000. Rate of £2000/m2 based on experience, but it could be slightly cheaper or slightly more expensive.
PRO
OnePlan
5 years ago
I wonder if it might just be easier to go up another floor ? Ie have the middle bit higher than the outer bit ? A good architect will be a good start point. As if that new third floor is a habitable space it will implement fire regs changes - but if it’s just used as an attic store it might not. Check with an architect ?!
Good luck !
Emily
5 years ago
Oneplan looked at pics and thought go up an extra floor where I looked at it and thought it would be nice as single ground floor extension albeit with extra height and maybe a glass roof and put the kitchen in it. Just putting that idea out there, sometimes I think the instinct is more space is better but sometimes I think less but more beautiful and enjoyable to live in space is worth sacrificing square footage??
PRO
i-architect
5 years ago
I agree with Emily, sometimes less space built with better quality can give you more of what you want. From your photos it looks like you might be in greenbelt, and if so then you might struggle to get planning approval. I'd check with your planning department at this early stage - just send them some sketches and do a pre-app enquiry, and see what they say. Then you'll have a heads up about how easier or difficult it will be to get through planning.
Tim Godley
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks. We had thought about just downstairs space with a glass roof too open up the light as it’s more downstairs space required with toilet/ wet room, storage, entrance space. Was just thinking about benefit of going upwards if doing the downstairs but then this complicates the roof and adds to cost significantly so might not be worth going up.

Sponsored

More Discussions

How can I make this wall look less bare?

15

How could be best layout our kitchen/diner/hallway?

12

Opinions and suggestions on Howdens Kitchen Design

12

loft conversion layout help

2

Kitchen diner garage access help

3

United Kingdom

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.