skip to main content

Building a Home Renovating Design Dilemma

Bungalow remodel

2 months ago

last modified: 2 months ago

We are looking to purchase extended bungalow in South Wales, which requires full renovation and remodeling. We are hoping to do attic conversion as there is enough head height to accommodate at least 2 bedrooms. The bungalow was extended at some point but the layout needs improving and we need to find the best place to put stairs in. We may have to do this renovation in stages due to available finances, but I want to make sure we start from the right end of the stick. We are pretty hands on and will definitely do some work ourselves, however some parts would need to be done by the professionals. I am looking for an advice where to start, where we can save, shall I contact architect or structural engineer first. Shall we do the attic first and do Renovation downstairs ourselves to save money. Any advise much appreciated. photos and floorplan in the comments section.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

Anita Beynon
Original Author
2 months ago

Bungalow remodel · More Info

Bungalow remodel · More Info

Bungalow remodel · More Info

Bungalow remodel · More Info
rinked
2 months ago
How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you want/need? Enclosed kitchen or open layout? Work from home? Best views?

And yes, when purchasing, i'd certainly invite a structural engineer to map out loadbearing walls, roof joists* and footings. I'm dutch, so don't know the official name for such, a structural assessment?

(*For example, my home has its roof full of trusses, which would mean the roof would have to come off to allow a loft conversion.)
Related Discussions
POLL: Bungalow - love or loathe?
Q
Comments (85)
Yes that was one of the issues with our place. Narrow corridors, poorly lit. But by rearranging the access to key spaces, blocking some doors and creating a new double width doorway to the principle room, what was a narrow hallway is now integrated and useful. By converting the large loft, we now have a stairwell lit by two velux windows which also throw light into the heart of the building. Lastly the old underhouse garage is now a studio, glazed with full height blue-grey aluminium windows and a door. Our originally depressing, generic ittle bungalow on a sloping site has become a four bed live-work space on three levels that is beginning to feel more like our home
...See More
Remodelling this bungalow
Q
Comments (6)
Your bungalow is almost the same plan as mine - I am planning to extend the kitchen out across the garden approx 10m with rooms on the end. It won't be the full width of the kitchen - in order to allow a utility to be built between kitchen and bathroom with a door to outside (original kitchen door) I have kept the original living area (same place as yours) private - I have opened the kitchen into the extension to make a large open plan kitchen dining living area - vaulted ceiling and large sliding doors on to the garden Not sure if this idea works for you too.
...See More
Brick bungalow exterior dilemma!
Q
Comments (13)
Dear lord, this style is identical to mine, especially the humungous front window, that I am bricking up the bottom third and reducing the side by one pane width. I. Am replacing them with flush sash casement windows in painswick to go with my barn door garage. I intend to do a complete before and after on mine as I don't like the look of the 1960 era but it is all a matter of personal preference so go with your gut feeling and look at hundreds of options on this website. I lived in mine for 5 years before I got to work on it. I love your wood wall and parking, it has massive potential
...See More
Chalet Bungalow Re-model / configuration
Q
Comments (11)
Hey Lindsay, I've had a crack at re-configuring the space (no expert!) and definitely consult an architect and/or structural engineer to advice about taking down walls. An easy option for an extra bedroom is to convert the dining room / study to a bedroom, If that is a sink I spotted in the study, then it could make a great en-suite if it's in the budget and if you can run toilet waste. This would give a decent double room or if you have little ones two single beds with desk spaces and small walk-in wardrobe. The current bedroom is quite narrow, if possible, could you build out to the garage wall? That would give you some extra space for bedroom furniture. Maybe even separate the toilet and bathroom and create an ex-suite shower room (unless the bedroom upstairs is also using that bathroom!) If possible removing the corridor between the house and utility/garage makes the utility room feel more part of the house instead of an outbuilding and would allow for a better flow between the garage, utility, garden and kitchen. I would make the garage slightly smaller and the utility larger that way you can store items you use within the house but want out of site in the utility room (pet food, sporadically used / bulky kitchen appliances) and items like bikes, tools, seasonal decorations, sports gear in the garage keeping them separate. Square of the conservatory and convert to solid structure with a roof light, open up the kitchen and lounge walls and build out a doorway to the lounge from the hallway so the kitchen and lounge have separate entrances.
...See More
rinked
2 months ago
And from my own renovation experience, i'd suggest start with the bones (and windows + insulation!), so yes to a proper plan and attic, but no need to finish it straight away. Unless you want to live in the house while renovating, then a finished bedroom and a shower would be nice. Do you have young kid(s)?
Jonathan
2 months ago
I think the first thing is to get formal plans, costing and permission because you need a plan and a property with planning permission is worth more should you later sell.

Then you do the work that adds square footage because that increases the value should you sell or if you need a mortgage advance.

And it doesn’t matter if you don’t do all the work at once but I urge you to do all the dusty work first.
Jonathan
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
An architect will help you understand how much of the space upstairs is useable and possible extension possibilities. I think I would try to achieve something like this.
Anita Beynon
Original Author
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
@rinked we are looking to achieve min 3 bedrooms plus a bedroom /multifunctional room to accommodate guest. There will be 3 adults plus toddler living in it so 2 bathrooms is a must. I love a utility room to put washing machine, dryer.

There is a south facing garden overlooking onto the little forest/field - this is the view we want to make the most of. I am certainly up for open layout leaning towards scandi living.

We looked at w new build house near by with 4 bedrooms, north facing, overlooked garden. For around 50,000 more, hence we are tempted to buy a project.

The bungalow plot has definitely better ROI possibilities if we were ever to sell.
Anita Beynon
Original Author
2 months ago
Jonathan thank you for your input, I like the layout you have suggested.

Do I need to talk to the structural engineer first than the architect?

I

I
Jonathan
2 months ago
I think that you need a rough idea of cost in order to know if you can afford to buy the property and eventually renovate it. So you should probably talk to a builder who specialises in loft conversions or an architect.

In my opinion the purpose of a structural engineer is to give technical instructions about what steel will be needed and where in order to achieve the plan you want. Therefore you need them later.

You might also look at the permission for the previous extension in order to better understand what walls were previously outside walls. Search online for planning permission, public access and your town to find the local planning portal. You can then search for the address of this property. It is also interesting to see if neighbours have got permission for extensions as it helps inform you what is permitted locally.
rinked
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
Gave it a try as well :)

Ground floor: Entry, possibly enlarge wc, bathroom pushed into study to create storage space (coats, shoes, bags), added hallway towards side entry, largerst bedroom trimmed off for staircase, closet underneath. Closed off former lounge-hall door, new one opposite garden doors. Kitchen on the right, lounge on the left, dining in the middle with wider window. Two bedrooms. (Dotted lines is where i assume steels need to go in.)

First floor: Also two bedrooms. One at the right with new roof gable towards front exterior wall (extend bay window wall up), one under the slope with window added on the side, perhaps an extra rooflight. Landing towards existing 'loft room', which i turned into bathroom (since there's a slope i placed a tub in there). Laundry and storage in the usable eaves.
Anita Beynon thanked rinked
rinked
2 months ago
Existing walls in pink, for reference
rinked
2 months ago
A bit like this:

Sponsored

More Discussions

Proposed floor plan help please

60

Media wall bottom shelf.. logs? Ornaments?

9

Help…dilema I need some ideas

20

Help! frustrating kitchen with too many doors!

2

Help reconfiguring the downstairs of my house

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’.