Kitchen Extensions — Maidenhead SL6
Side-Return Extension in Maidenhead — Edwardian Semi, Full Kitchen Transformation
Location
Maidenhead, SL6
Project Type
Kitchen Extensions
Duration
12 weeks on site
Scope
Side-return extension, structural steel frame, glazed roof, kitchen first fix
The Brief
An Edwardian semi-detached in Maidenhead, SL6 — built around 1908, two-storey with the characteristic narrow side return running alongside the rear ground floor. The side return was approximately 1.8m wide and 6m long — wasted as a damp pathway to the bins. The clients wanted to fill the side return with a glazed extension, connecting it to the kitchen, and install a new kitchen that would run the full length of the extended space.
Our Approach
The side-return extension fell within permitted development on the rear elevation. The glazed roof required careful consideration — a glazed or polycarbonate roof over the full return would have breached building regulation requirements for thermal performance unless compensated elsewhere in the dwelling's SAP calculation. We used a thermally-broken aluminium glazed roof system (Luminate 5-degree pitch) with low-E glass, which met the required U-value of 1.8 W/m²K for rooflights. No planning application was required.
The Build
The side return was excavated to 900mm, strip foundations poured and inspected. The external wall of the side return extension was a single-skin 102mm facing brick with 75mm Kingspan K8 rigid insulation boards internally and a moisture-resistant plasterboard finish. The glazed roof was carried on a steel frame — a 152x89 RHS along the ridge and two 152x89 RHS posts at the far corners. The existing ground floor rear wall of the Edwardian house was opened up with a wide structural opening — a 254x146 UC section RSJ on padstones carried the opening. A new thermally-broken steel window (Crittal-style, W20 system) was fitted to the garden-facing end wall, with a matching door unit. First-fix electrics: pendant positions above the island, under-cabinet lighting circuits, and double sockets to the kitchen run.
Materials & Specification
Facing brick: Ibstock Hereward Light to complement Edwardian yellow stock. Roof: Luminate 5-degree thermally-broken aluminium with Pilkington Activ Blue low-E glass. Window and door: Clement W20 steel system in RAL 9005. RSJ: 254x146 UC section. Internal insulation: Kingspan K8 75mm.
The Result
The side-return extension added 10.8 square metres of floor area, transforming what was a damp side passage into a light-filled galley extension running alongside the kitchen. The glazed roof floods the space with natural light throughout the day. The Crittal-style steel windows and door give the extension a period-appropriate aesthetic that suits the Edwardian property. The kitchen supplier fitted the new units along the full 8m run following handover.
Project Photos
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Photos from this project will be added shortly. View our project gallery for completed work examples.
Project FAQs
Are side-return extensions permitted development?
In most cases, yes. A side-return extension sits to the rear of the principal elevation and is typically within permitted development limits on a semi-detached property. We confirmed this at the initial site visit for this project.
Do glazed roofs meet building regulations?
They can. The key is achieving the required U-value — typically 1.8 W/m²K for rooflights. We specified a thermally-broken aluminium system with low-E glass, which met the thermal requirement and was confirmed by the SAP calculation.
How long did the project take?
12 weeks on site. The pre-build phase including structural engineering, building regs, and material lead times (the Crittal-style steel windows had a 6-week lead time) added 10 weeks before we broke ground.
Why Choose Berkshire Bespoke Builders
- ✓Owner-managed — Pind Sahota is on site and managing your job personally
- ✓32 years on the tools — time-served builder, 25 years fitting bespoke kitchens
- ✓Fully insured — public liability and employer's liability on every project
- ✓Fixed-price written quotes — itemised by material and labour, no hidden extras
- ✓Building regs managed — we submit applications and attend all inspection stages
- ✓Based in Berkshire — Binfield, Bracknell RG42. No travel surcharges or delays
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