Estimation to convert balcony into 3rd bedroom

[Nate1308]

Hi, I'm looking for a rough guide on if a conversion of my balcony is feasible and what it may cost if any of you could help me please. Never done a building project so I'm pretty clueless! I live on a street of 5 houses which alternate's a 2 bedroom house with balcony followed by a 3 bedroom house, the layouts of the houses are exactly the same except for the balcony/3rd bedroom... and im looking at creating more living space by converting the balcony area on my house into a 3rd bedroom. It's only a small area, box room bedroom kind of size but perfect for what i need. 

 

I've attached some renderings of the house from when i purchased it, and quickly mocked up two ideas using paint to give an idea of what I'd like. In the pictures my house is on the right and what I'd like to change it to is on the left. The first idea is to simply turn it into a standard room with wide horizontal windows, and the second is to have a room with sliding doors that open out onto a small walk-out balcony. Hopefully the pictures make sense!

 

In terms of size the floor area is 2.4m x 4m, and the height is 4m to the roof apex and 2.5m from the floor to the guttering level (where I think the ceiling level would have to be. I assume it would be a matter of extending the existing balcony walls up to match the house level and then extend the roof to cover the new room, though im sure its not that simple in practice. 

 

Cheers

 

[Bozza]

It certainly looks technically feasible assuming your house is built the same as the houses that have the third bedroom already.

 

It’s really difficult for anyone here to provide you with an accurate idea of cost and your best best is to get a local builder around to give you an idea, based upon local market costs.

 

What is the difference in market value between the 2 bed version and the 3 bed version?  Though value may not be your primary motivation it may help you decide the best way forward.  If for example the 3bed is worth £100k more it’s a no brainer, but I doubt that’s the case.

 

Your idea involves trusses and extra roof for just one extra small room so might not be financially viable as you’re building a lot of empty roof space and minimum usable sqm..  How much are you wanting to spend, if you’re thinking it may cost £10k it’s definitely not going to be that -  my guess maybes £30-£40k ish.  But don’t take that as gospel just my guess.  trades cost can vary considerably around the country.  That’s without that additional new balcony,  that additional new balcony retrofitted would be very expensive IMHO.

 

You might find its cheaper to move.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 4 by Bozza

[Nate1308]

Thank you Bozza! I'd estimate my house to be around 190k and the 3 bedroom house next door to be worth around 25-40k more based off what other older houses in the street have sold for recently. It's hard to judge as our 5 houses are only 8 years old and have not been resold, but are a lot newer and a different style to the older houses in the same street, and generally have larger living spaces than the older ones so id expect them to be valued the same or slightly higher. 

 

I think if we could do the conversion and make it cost neutral of the value it would add to the house then it's worth considering, as there arent a lot of great options in the area in terms of location to move to, and we would really need to make the jump to a 4 bed to make it worth moving, which would cost quite a bit more, especially if we tried to stay in a better area. 

 

The balcony idea would be my preference just becasue we have really nice views, but if it would be very expensive to retrofit then I may have to park that idea and go with the simpler windowed option!

[Bozza]

Ok so as long as you don’t lose money that’s the most important thing.    If getting quotes maybes consider having a vaulted or partially vaulted ceiling. 
 

one thing to consider through is this.  Your street consists of alternatives of both house types.  If you made yours a 3 bed and had windows different to the other 3 beds would the street look odd?  The reason I ask is that in my former council area they wouldn’t allow dormer extensions that didn’t match the adjacent semi detached house and thus create an imbalance whereby one side of the semi had a dormer and the other didn’t.  Perhaps have that conversation with you local planners.    This could be a particular issue for the extra bolt on small balcony and differing windows.  If they allow the extension but you are restricted to keeping the windows the same then if you have a vaulted ceiling you could have roof windows.

 

your idea ought to be straightforward structurally, but tricky in some areas.  Eg tying the new into the old.  entirely possible but anything a bit tricky = more money.

 

Don’t forget the costs aren’t just the work.  Add in planning costs, the disruption, the mess.  If this is a break even situation, and in the future you think you’ll need to move to a 4 bed house, eg family, and you can cope with what you have just now, it may be worth saving your money towards that bigger house.  If you can assess that you’ll add a lot of value to your house -v- extension cost then that’s a wise thing to do.  As you’ll add value and be able to enjoy the extra space.   Eg if the work cost £30k and it adds £40k immediately, and you’re there another 5 years it’s a no brainer.

 

the key is to get local estimates / quote and speak to an estate agent re valuation and local market.   and speak to your planner.  All that’s costs nothing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Nate1308]

Brilliant, thanks for that... it's given me a few other things to consider and be able to ask when getting the quotes and valuations done. 

 

I hadn't considered there may be restrictions on what can be done to keep the street looking similar to be honest. I don't think it would look crazy different to the house next door, however our houses already look vastly different to the other properties in the same street which are red brick style and built around 20 years prior. Ours were essentially 5 add-on houses to an existing street of 50, built on what used to be an unused carpark, and when I bought the house I assumed they would try to blend them into the existing area but they went for very different styles. 

[Hughgo12]

One of the obstacles will be creating access to the balcony room, you will probably need an internal corridor in the existing bedroom

[Nate1308]

Hi Hugh, the current balcony is already accessible off my main landing area which would become the entrance into the bedroom and then new balcony area. The 3rd picture is from the landing area looking out onto the existing balcony. The current balcony isnt connected to an existing bedroom, they are both on the opposite side of the house.