One of the best investments you can make in your home, a kitchen extension adds significant value not only to your property price but also to your everyday routine and the way you live. Most people will know to budget for the obvious costs such as the building work itself, the kitchen, appliances etc however there are sometimes hidden or unexpected expenses which don’t always feature in the first quote.
To help understand these extra costs and prepare for them in the first instance, we’re here to help!
Site Preparation and Access
Before the work starts, the team needs to be able to access the site safely and efficiently so this needs to be considered in the early stages and factored into the budget. For example, if there is no rear access at all or you only have a narrow driveway or side passage, this can have further costs such as specialist lifting equipment which will need hiring and more labour time for manual material handling. Understanding this is all part of the planning process so discuss this with your builder from the start.
Upgrading Your Utilities
The increase in kitchen size will mean more demand on your home’s existing services, such as electric, gas and water. From underfloor heating to extra fridges, boiling water taps or a larger lighting scheme, your home may not be designed or ready to support these changes and additions. Similarly, relocating sinks or adding utility rooms will require additional work to move or add to your plumbing and drainage work. Another major cost could be your boiler. If that is already working to the size of your current home, a larger open-plan space will require more energy to heat the space so you may need to update this too.
Additional Drainage Work
One of the biggest hidden costs can be the work needed to your garden before the foundations are laid. Drainage is something that can hugely affect overall budgets such as if your extension is going to sit over existing drainage. If so, these may need diverting which can be costly in both money and time. If you need to move a drain for example, you may need permission from the local water authority. Depending on the layout of your property, you may also need additional drainage, such as a soakaway, to manage a larger roof and additional rainwater to comply with building regulations. This means extra materials, extra labour costs and extra time.
Disruption to the Living Situation
When your everyday life is displaced and you must function without your regular kitchen for months, there can be additional costs involved which may not be considered. This can include reliance on faster meals or takeaways, eating out more often and having to potentially buy temporary small appliances (a microwave, air fryer, small fridge etc) to use as your intermittent kitchen. Most extensions will not disrupt the rest of the home, but some homeowners choose to stay elsewhere during the project, so this can add more cost. Inconvenience can be costly so it’s worth considering your set up before starting.
Unexpected Structural Costs
Even with careful planning and budgeting, occasionally some things will only reveal themselves once the work begins. Older homes for example can have outdated wiring, ageing pipework or inadequate foundations which don’t meet modern standards and will need replacing. The cost here is not only to have these issues rectified, but it may require a redesign of the overall space which can impact the finer details. Having some additional budget to cater to these discrepancies is worth thinking about.
Finishing Touches to the Interior
Once the building work is complete, it is still those finer details that make the kitchen feel truly complete – and this can often include a few final investments – so it is important to factor these into your final budget. Bi-fold glazed doors, statement lighting, flooring and furniture are just a few details which can impact the final cost if not planned and chosen carefully from the beginning. We also find it is common for homeowners to want to add things such as more storage or bespoke joinery once they’ve started using the extension, so it’s worth considering this as part of your budget too.
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When the extension architecture and kitchen are designed as one, it means we can avoid compromises and achieve the exact result you want, without any unnecessary surprises.
As we manage your project from start to finish, from initial drawings to the final detailing, we ensure we’re with you every step of the way to deliver your project on time and on budget.
