Opening out extension

Utter Consternation

Hi, i'm looking into opening out this kitchen extension. You can see in the photo where the old window and double doors were. Is it possible to take down the wall and open out that space altogether?

What would i need to do to even start undertaking this work?

kitchen.jpg

Utter Consternation

This is the view from the other side.

TheSunIsShining

Get a structural engineer. There are surely RSJ beams there and I'd suggest you need someone who knows what they are doing to provide an engineering solution....

Utter Consternation

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123623152#Comment_123623152

Yeah, a structural engineer will be my next port of call after i hear from the experts on boards first. :D

muffler

I can only repeat the above advice … get a structural engineer. That should be your first port of call.

mickdw

You are basically going to need Engineer designed steel beam or beams carrying across both door and window opening. Depending on structure present and loads etc, you may also need a goalpost type arrangement to transfer loads directly to foundation.

A structural design is critical as is an experienced builder to do the work as wall overhead has to be supported during the break out stage prior to placing steel.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123623152#Comment_123623152

i'd say there there are no RSJ and just concrete lintel. It would need an RSJ.

TheSunIsShining

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123623336#Comment_123623336

Good point. Probably one over the old window opening and one over the door opening? Either way, as someone else said after me, advice to OP is talk to a structural engineer!

dodzy

Personally, I thik the separation works well. I like the idea of the original kitchen window serving as a 'connect' to the back room but still with a seperated kitchen/cooking space. I wager you'd be looking at big money for what would be ultimately very little gain. All you are doing, in effect, is removing anything south of the green line, for many thousands of € and possible goalposts might be the end result anyway.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123623379#Comment_123623379

agreed, it looks like it works well, opening it open will just give more space but less utilsiation.

if you want to spend money , id look at putting in another velux or bi folding doors at the end

geotrig

personally think you'd gain more by doing something like changing the kitchen or at least losing the L section (not sure what to call it ) or reducing it in size in general The L is eating into movable floor space more than that wall , as others think the separation works well

baxterooneydoody

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123623379#Comment_123623379

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123623445#Comment_123623445

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123623390#Comment_123623390

There you go op, answers to a question you never even asked

Utter Consternation

Thanks guys, the reason we would be opening out that space is to create a utility room in some of the space occupied by the kitchen, so in effect we would be adding in a few partition walls, and moving the kitchen down a bit and generally rearranging the space a bit.

I do like the phrase more space, less utilisation. That has given me some food for thought.

baxterooneydoody

While not a overly complicated job it does require either a very experienced builder with a lot of this type of work done or a structural engineer, with a structural engineer at least there's a set of plans to follow and a builder can do it step by step, I've a lot of this type of work done over the years and I'd advise get started with your engineer and maybe they can recommend a builder that will do it for you. It's a relatively simple job to the right man

dodzy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123623445#Comment_123623445

Yep, kitchen refit and new flooring throughout is where I'd be heading. Bifold as mentioned, or large slider, would be nice too.

geotrig

While not thinking of a adding utility room space as such I did wonder after posting was there a plan to shift the kitchen downwards as well.

Utter Consternation

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123623522#Comment_123623522

That's the plan, stick in a utility room and move the kitchen down a bit (hence the removal of the walls). Still have a living area and dining area too.

Grassy Knoll

are you looking to take out the internal piece (100% this is an RSJ job given the gap) but as others said engineer and competent builder. Are you also looking to open out the end of the room into the garden? If so, rinse and repeat.

Utter Consternation

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123623549#Comment_123623549

Yeah, looking to take out the centre piece.

loyatemu

assuming those are the exact openings for the original door and window, then I'd assume they didn't do anything structural to that wall when they built on the extension which is effectively a separate building. As other have said, you'll need to put in an RSJ which will be messy.

seems like a lot of disruption and expense for little gain.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123623353#Comment_123623353

The reason the original design was done that way was so that

A. No steel is required.
B. Cheaper as the rear wall is not required to be removed therefore no steel required.

To do what the OP now wants requires a goal post design. Punch a hole in the slab to expose the foundations. Bolt down a UC or PFC or similar to the engineers spec and attach to a UB under the rear wall of the house.

...Ghost...

This is similar to my extension, except I went with a flat roof. I really like the utility of the kitchen-extension, but I don't like that the kitchen is much darker, requiring artificial lighting for most of the year despite being south facing.

It's not entirely clear if the OP wants the whole wall removed as there is mention of partioning for utility room. If the middle section and the sides are left intact, this would surely be a much simpler and cheaper task with the RSJ sitting on the side walls (blue line in my expert drawing). Everything outside the red lines could stay in-situ. Just remove the white grid area. Save yourself thousands and gain the utility you are looking for.

Hontou

Pity to change it. It looks lovely as it is and appears to have a natural looking flow from kitchen to dining/living room. I'm actually looking to put a rectangular opening from my kitchen into the sitting room which will actually end up looking like like the op's as is.