Kitchen extension lower than rest of house

carrollga

Hi we are looking into building a kitchen dinning extension onto the back of our house. Currently when you go out the back door you have to go down four steps. We would like to retain this depth in the extension so that we can have higher ceilings. Would there be any implications plumbing wise in having a kitchen at a lower level to the rest of the house.

Thanks in advance

DOCARCH

Don't see why there should be any problems in what you are proposing, unless drainage might be at a higher level?

RKQ

Shouldn't be a problem - but you could lift the lid of your AJ or manhole just to check the depth.

Be careful with the overall height of the extension - there are strict height conditions on exempted extensions. So if floor level is already 4 feet in the difference and ceiling heights will be the same, will you still comply with exempted height restriction?

Poor Uncle Tom

carrollga wrote: »

Hi we are looking into building a kitchen dinning extension onto the back of our house. Currently when you go out the back door you have to go down four steps. We would like to retain this depth in the extension so that we can have higher ceilings. Would there be any implications plumbing wise in having a kitchen at a lower level to the rest of the house.

Thanks in advance

Plumbing wise, if your drains follow the contours of the site to the back there shouldn't be a problem. If your drains fall to the front you will have to check invert levels to get your answers.

RKQ wrote: »

Be careful with the overall height of the extension - there are strict height conditions on exempted extensions. So if floor level is already 4 feet in the difference and ceiling heights will be the same, will you still comply with exempted height restriction?

That's assuming carrollga is not going for planning permission.

An extension like that would benefit greatly from proper design, imo, and should not be compromised by trying to stay within the limits of exempted development.

Open A

The planning exemption height restrictions relate to the height of the existing house. This means dropping the floor level in the extension will give you higher ceilings within the rules.

Making your extension level with the garden will also give you a better connection to the garden.

I have worked on a similar project and will have photos taken in the coming weeks. Let me know if you'd like to see them.

Mellor

RKQ wrote: »

Shouldn't be a problem - but you could lift the lid of your AJ or manhole just to check the depth.

Be careful with the overall height of the extension - there are strict height conditions on exempted extensions. So if floor level is already 4 feet in the difference and ceiling heights will be the same, will you still comply with exempted height restriction?

Are you perhaps mixing it up with the shed exemptions, 3 or 4 metres depending on roof. An extension is limited to the height of the existing walls.