Cost of Kitchen Extension: Determining Your Budget for Your Expanded Kitchen Space Planning
A kitchen extension can be a significant investment, but understanding the costs involved can help homeowners make informed decisions. Here's a comprehensive guide to the typical costs associated with a kitchen extension in the UK.
Key Cost Factors
The cost of a kitchen extension is influenced by several factors, including the size of the extension, choice of materials, design complexity, location (postcode), and whether it is single-storey or double-storey. Additional costs include labour, structural work, planning permission, building regulations applications, and associated professional fees (e.g., design and structural engineer fees). It is recommended to include a contingency fund of 10-15% to cover unexpected issues like structural problems, planning fees, or utility upgrades.
Average Cost Per Square Metre
For a single-storey kitchen extension, the average cost per square metre including VAT, design fees, structural engineer fees, and planning/Building Regulations fees typically ranges from around £2,200 to £3,300. This incorporates all fees and the usual hidden expenses as part of the total cost.
Typical Project Cost
Overall, the total cost of a kitchen extension often falls between £50,000 and £120,000 depending on size and specification. Another source notes a similar range for kitchen extensions at about £1,500 to £2,500 per square metre for the build, with an additional £200 to £1,000 per square metre for the new kitchen installation, potentially raising the overall cost. However, this may not fully include all fees like planning and structural engineer costs.
Breakdown of Costs
- Off-the-shelf items: These can save hundreds to thousands of pounds in a kitchen extension.
- New consumer unit: A new consumer unit may be required if the existing one doesn't meet the increased power requirements.
- Plumbing and drainage: These costs are approximately £3,500. Plumbing and drainage for a kitchen extension is usually carried out in two stages, with first fix plumbing involving the installation of pipework and second fix involving the connection of appliances.
- Electrics and lighting: These costs are approximately £3,500. A kitchen extension will require new sockets and lights, and a separate 32-amp circuit for the cooking facilities.
- Kitchen cabinets: These can range from £1,000 to £60,000 depending on personal taste and budget.
- Worktops: These can vary from £20-40/m2 for a basic laminate to £500/m2 for Corian.
- Kitchen appliances: These can cost anywhere from under £2,500 to more for smart kitchen ideas with the latest tech.
- Flooring: Flooring costs for a kitchen extension are approximately £1,500. Kitchen flooring can cost as low as £25/m2 for vinyl or laminate, but can cost over £100/m2 for higher-end choices like hardwood, stone, or polished concrete.
- Decorating: Decorating costs for a kitchen extension are approximately £2,000.
- Landscaping works/making good: These costs approximately £2,000 for a kitchen extension.
- Professional fees: These include planning permission applications, building regulation fees, and the services of professionals like a structural engineer, architect, or interior designer.
- Structural engineer fees: These can start from around £500 but will increase depending on the nature and size of the extension.
- Surveys and reports: These costs can vary widely depending on the specific home and location.
- Party Wall Agreement: Party Wall Agreement costs on average £1,500 and around £2,000 in London.
- Preliminaries: These include scaffolding, temporary fencing, cabins, materials store, and mobile toilet. They can cost approximately 9-11% of the build cost.
- Waste disposal: Waste disposal costs can range from £280-£400 for a skip in London and elsewhere.
- Site-specific costs: These may include costs for dealing with protected trees, building over public sewers, underpinning existing foundations, listed building consent, and redirection of utilities.
- Building Regs Approval fees: These will vary according to the local authority, the nature and size of the project, and the number of visits required. Fees will start from around £200.
- Certificates of lawful development: A certificate of lawful development costs 50% of the relevant planning application fee for the extension, so £129 in England.
- Bifold doors: Bifold doors cost approximately £3,500 for a kitchen extension.
- Doors and windows: The cost of doors and windows will be impacted by the amount and size of glazing, and the materials chosen.
- Advertising and selling old kitchen cabinets: Advertising and selling old kitchen cabinets can help recover some costs and save on disposal.
DIY and Cost Savings
DIY or self-management of parts of the kitchen extension can save as much as 30% on costs. However, it is essential to consider the complexity of the project and your own skills and experience before deciding to take on certain tasks yourself.
Conclusion
Including a contingency budget is advisable to manage surprises or scope changes during construction. By understanding the costs involved, homeowners can make informed decisions about their kitchen extension project and find ways to save where possible.
- Tools like a comprehensive guide can help homeowners understand the costs associated with a kitchen extension in the UK.
- Factors that influence the cost of a kitchen extension include its size, choice of materials, design complexity, location, and whether it is single- or double-storey.
- Additional costs may include labour, structural work, planning permission, building regulations applications, and associated professional fees.
- A contingency fund of 10-15% is recommended to cover unexpected issues like structural problems, planning fees, or utility upgrades.
- The average cost per square metre for a single-storey kitchen extension, including VAT, design fees, structural engineer fees, and planning/Building Regulations fees, typically ranges from £2,200 to £3,300.
- The overall cost of a kitchen extension often falls between £50,000 and £120,000, depending on size and specification.
- Off-the-shelf items can save hundreds to thousands of pounds in a kitchen extension.
- Plumbing and drainage costs are approximately £3,500, and these costs are usually carried out in two stages.
- Electrics and lighting costs are approximately £3,500, and a kitchen extension will require new sockets and lights, along with a separate 32-amp circuit for cooking facilities.
- Kitchen cabinet costs can range from £1,000 to £60,000, depending on personal taste and budget.
- Flooring costs for a kitchen extension are approximately £1,500, with higher-end choices like hardwood, stone, or polished concrete costing over £100/m2.
- Decorating costs for a kitchen extension are approximately £2,000, and landscaping works/making good costs around the same amount.
- Homeowners can find ways to save on costs by considering DIY or self-management of certain tasks, but it's essential to consider project complexity and skills/experience before making such decisions.
- Including a contingency budget in the planning process can help manage surprises or scope changes during construction, ensuring a more successful and cost-effective kitchen extension project.
