A glass extension in the kitchen can establish an ideal area for dining, cooking, and socializing, bathed in natural light and offering smooth access to your patio and garden.
Often viewed as a home’s core, the kitchen is a place where family and friends gather. Many prefer large kitchen diners for the ultimate in integrated cooking, dining, and social spaces where relaxation is key.
As a crucial room, your kitchen must be thoughtfully designed to suit your and your family’s lifestyle needs. Adding an extension is among the top ways to achieve your ideal kitchen diner.
Kitchen extensions vary in shape, style, and size, with glass extensions becoming a favorite for their modern feel over traditional brick or conservatory-style additions.
Known also as a glass box extension, this is a bespoke glazed structure supported by frames of aluminium, timber, or alu-clad. It features a glass roof, which can be sloped, vaulted, or flat, and may include bi-folding or oversized sliding doors, and various windows.
Constructed from high-quality materials for durability, glass extensions are designed for year-round enjoyment with optimal insulation. Options for heating, ventilation, shading, and lighting are available, plus extras like weather systems for enhanced comfort at a button’s touch. Options for soundproofing, sun protection, burglary resistance, and self-cleaning glazing are also available.
With superior thermal properties, glass extensions function like any room in your home, often used as kitchen or diners. Most expand into the garden with a glazed rear extension, though side extensions are also effective.
Glass extensions are cherished for their light, spacious feel due to their transparency, flooding homes with natural light and creating bright, airy living spaces that promote wellbeing.
They align well with the biophilic design trend, seeking harmony between architecture and nature, providing expansive garden views and beyond through oversized glazing and glass roofs.
Glass extensions enhance indoor space perception while integrating outdoor areas, effectively erasing visual barriers between indoors and out, making your living space feel unified.
Design-wise, they adapt to any home style, customized to your preferences, and available in various frame colors. The extensive glazing subtly integrates with your home or can make a bold statement. Whether contrasting with an older property or complementing a modern one, they add a stunning visual impact.
Their light and airy design minimally intrudes on the original building’s character and minimizes visual impact on neighbors and landscapes, making them especially suited for older or conservation-area homes.
A fully glassed structure is an excellent option for a kitchen extension. It merges indoor and outdoor environments, softening the boundaries between your home and garden, crafting the ideal setting for open-air meals and summer gatherings. With an open kitchen and dining area that extends to the garden through sliding or bi-folding doors, you can fully enjoy the warmer seasons and the additional space and freedom it provides.
In cooler months, when outdoor dining isn’t feasible, a glass extension maintains a sense of openness and connection to the outdoors, enhancing your experience while entertaining in your garden or on your patio.
The extensive use of glass in these extensions might raise concerns about your home’s security. Rest assured, the glass used meets British safety standards or their equivalents and complies with building regulations. It undergoes various tests to guarantee safety, quality, and security, including those for wind and snow loads. The doors are also security tested.
Discover more about glass security and safety in our article here.
Planning permission and building regulations for glass extensions
Glass extensions typically fall under Permitted Development rights, requiring no planning permission if they meet specific criteria related to size, scale, and placement.
However, it’s wise to consult your local planning authority before beginning any work, as Permitted Development rights might vary or not apply to listed buildings, new builds, or properties in conservation areas.
Your glass extension must also be approved by your local authority to meet building regulations, which ensure that homes are safe and healthy to live in. These regulations cover aspects like fire safety, structural integrity, and ventilation. Be aware of the limits on the ratio of glazed area to floor area, affecting the extension’s design and materials, although this can often be mitigated by using high-performance glazing or thermally broken glass extensions.
When planning your glass kitchen extension, remember that it requires foundations, typically designed by a structural engineer.
The cost of your glass extension will depend on the size of your space, the complexity of the design, and the materials used.
Generally, a glass kitchen extension is costlier than a brick extension or a traditional conservatory/orangery. If it’s used as a kitchen, consider the expenses for a larger kitchen and all necessary units and appliances.
Costs vary based on the space size, design complexity, and materials used. Larger glass panels may need specialized machinery for installation, and additional features like smart systems can increase the price.
Expect to pay from £3,000 per square meter for a glass extension, though prices can vary significantly due to the bespoke nature of each project.
Choosing a reputable designer, manufacturer, and installer who provides high-quality finishes is crucial for getting the best return on your investment, regardless of budget.
Effective June 15th, 2022, amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations in England aim to cut building carbon emissions by 30% to advance the government’s zero-carbon goal by 2030.
These changes enhance the thermal efficiency of windows and doors, with new U-value requirements set at 1.6 W/m2k for both new and existing buildings.
Glass extensions, known for their high insulation, thermal breaks, and use of sustainably sourced materials, meet these enhanced energy efficiency standards.
