Kitchen Extension in Binfield — Open-Plan Kitchen, Dining & Family Room
A 1990s semi-detached property in Binfield, RG42 — close to our base. The existing kitchen was a closed room at the back of the house, separated from a small dining room. The client wanted all three spaces combined: kitchen, dining, and a family seating area, in one continuous open-plan room with garden access. We built a single storey rear extension with bifold doors and a large overhead rooflight, with the internal walls removed to connect all three spaces. Twelve weeks on site.
Project Summary
- Location
- Binfield, RG42
- Property type
- Semi-detached, 1990s
- Service
- Kitchen Extension
- Extension type
- Single storey rear
- Build duration
- 12 weeks on site
- Roof type
- Flat GRP with large rooflight
- Glazing
- Bifold doors, rear elevation
- Structural steelwork
- RSJ for kitchen opening
- Building regulations
- Approved
Build Documentation
From Groundworks to Completion
Stage 1
Groundworks
Concrete strip foundations at 700mm depth. Ground conditions typical for Binfield — clay-based soil, no complications. Services diverted around the new footprint. Garden reinstatement with new turf after completion.
Stage 2
Structure & Roof
Cavity walls to plate height. Flat roof timber joists at 400mm centres. 140mm PIR insulation between rafters and 50mm above. OSB deck. GRP membrane applied. Bifold door lintel and frame set into the rear wall before brickwork above.
Stage 3 — Completed
Internal Alterations
Second RSJ beam installed to remove the internal wall between existing kitchen and dining room. Temporary propping required for 2 days while padstones were cast and beam lowered in. Plasterboard, skim, floor screed, and first-fix services before handover.
The Brief
A young family who'd outgrown their existing kitchen layout. Separate kitchen, separate dining room, small conservatory. The client's vision: replace the conservatory and extend beyond it to create a single, light-filled kitchen-dining-family room that works for morning coffee, school homework, and evening cooking all at once.
What We Built
Single storey rear extension approximately 3.5m × 5m. Cavity brick and block outer walls. Flat GRP roof with a 1200mm × 900mm fixed rooflight positioned centrally over the dining zone. Full-width bifold doors (4-panel) across the rear elevation. RSJ beam spanning the structural opening between old and new. Internal load-bearing wall between original kitchen and dining room also removed (separate RSJ). All building regs submitted and approved by Bracknell Forest Building Control.
Why Berkshire Bespoke Builders
- ✓Owner-managed — Pindi on site, personally
- ✓32 years experience — time-served builder
- ✓Fixed-price quotes — itemised, written, no extras
- ✓Building regs managed — submissions + inspections
- ✓Based in Berkshire — Binfield, RG42
FAQ
Kitchen Extensions Questions Answered
Is Binfield within permitted development for extensions?
Yes. The property is not in a conservation area and there are no Article 4 directions applying. The rear projection of 3.5m is within the 6m Neighbour Consultation Scheme limit for semi-detached properties, and we obtained Prior Approval. Full planning permission was not required.
Why remove two walls rather than one?
The client wanted genuine open-plan space, not three separate rooms. Removing the wall between the existing kitchen and dining room (in addition to building the extension) was the only way to achieve it. This added a second RSJ to the project but the result was exactly what the brief called for.
What is the difference between a flat roof and a pitched roof on an extension?
Flat roofs are lower profile — they keep the extension height down, reducing the visual bulk from the garden and neighbour sight lines. They also allow rooflights at a lower height than pitched roofs. GRP flat roofs carry a 25-year product guarantee and are maintenance-free.
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