Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Creating outside space in a first floor flat - any ideas?
I think I'm wanting to do the impossible, but would like to create some kind of outside space by extending my first floor kitchen into a mini terrace. Does anyone know if this is possible, or even allowable? I can't afford to move somewhere with a garden but would love some outside space. Any ideas or suggestions would be much appreciated.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Finsbury Park Ranger on
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No one can stop you sitting on your flat roof from what I have read but it would be dangerous without railings etc and as soon as you try to do that you need planning permission.
Personally think we need to liberate the city's roof tops more and wish the process was more supportive of making more roof gardens a reality.
To be honest if was king for the day it probably would be my number one rule - no flat roof that is capable of being a green oasis may stay as an ugly ash-felt roof.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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As long as it can bear the load FPR. Might also result in a sudden and unexpected visit to your downstairs neighbour.
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Yes, you would have to build an extension that ideally is designed to have another level built on top at some stage in the future. Which I think ( but don't know for sure ) is a prerequisite for building control these days anyway for normal kitchen extensions.
The walls and the timber on top would have to be designed for the extra weight on top basically. A strong kitchen extension could hold as many people on the roof as you could fit up there.
It wouldn't however get the buy in from the neighbours, they will be your most difficult challenge probably, unless you intend on growing some plants and making it pretty but not hanging out there all day right next to their bedroom window.
So if you consider the zen vibe of your close proximity important, it would be very beneficial to have your neighbours blessings before your proceed.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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The trouble is you eventually end up with a sweaty fat man who sits out there in the sun with his hand between his legs whilst your children play in your garden below. And yes it IS much better if he stays inside and just looks out the window.
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Permalink Reply by Philip on
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Judging from your Photo John, I had always thought of you as on the slim side.........That ASBO still current eh?
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Ha ha ha.
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who's responsible for fixing the flat roof when it gets damaged by being used as a terrace when it is not designed for this purpose?
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In Germany they manage to construct rather fantastic add on balconies to old apartment buildings - this kind of thing...
http://www.haenge-balkon.de/de/referenzen/projekte/haengebalkon-alt...
I am sure it's possible but it might be cheaper to buy a garden flat in a cheaper area!
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Permalink Reply by VIX on
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Hi Rachel
We have an upstairs garden space that you are thinking of doing.
You are very welcome to pop round and take a look at ours. It was done before we bough our house and I think planning permission was needed. Its like another room in good weather and we have one end as an outside sofa area with a sail. We spent all day yesterday up there.
As far as we know our kitchen area was re built, as we have an old early victorian cottage so I think the roof was strenghtened to allow for a garden upstairs.
Im a designer and have done quite a few friends interior spaces and garden plans.
PM me
Best
Vicky
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Sounds like what you are thinking is to break out the kitchen window into a door which lets out onto a terrace. Not necessarily impossible. It is likely that you could build a very modest balcony, hanging from wall fixed supports. Maybe enough room for a table and two chairs. The issue would be what's below. If you do not own a share of the freehold, I think you may have to walk away from it. If you do, check the terms in your lease, which will still pertain, but you will need agreement from your fellow leaseholders to make any alterations which affect them.
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Permalink Reply by Laura on
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Rachel. I've thought about this quite a lot in the years I've been living in my first-floor ladder-house converted-flat. I have no outside space apart from a front garden filled with wheelie bins.
One of the ideas I came up with was - remove the window in the "back bedroom" . (This may be your kitchen, not sure about your layout). The room that overlooks the garden. Make the hole bigger, maybe from floor to ceiling. Have a huge foldable glass door put in the hole. When the sun is shining one can then at least open the door and sit in the sun. One would effectively still be in the first floor flat. This room already overlooks the downstairs garden.
No doubt someone will tell me this can't be done for structural/planning/aesthetic or even financial reasons. But it's quite a good plan in my opinion. I am not a fat man.
The other option is to convert the loft into a room and have big windows in the roof that can opened in the same way. Eg, they allow you to sit by a really big open window.
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