We were asked to submit a price for a kitchen/dining room extension to this property in Putney and assumed it would be a relatively simple job requiring a high standard of finish.
However, whilst the finish standard had to be high, the project was certainly not simple. With the house being in the middle of a terrace and without access to the rear all materials had to be brought through the house. This was further complicated by the fact that the works were at semi-basement level meaning that stairs always had to be negotiated.
The client was insistent that the whole of the existing rear wall to be removed and would not accept any intermediate columns. This therefore necessitated the installation of a large section steel 'goal post' structure to support the three upper floors, all of which had to be brought in handlable sections through the house.
On digging the new foundations, we discovered a well, which had to be cleaned out and concrete filled and all the underground drainage had to be re-routed to miss the new foundations
The superstructure is in traditional brickwork with a lead roof and a continuous roof light for the full width of the extension. The majority of the rear wall is a four-door aluminium framed sliding folding screen to give maximum ventilation on hot summer days.
Internally the works appear simple until one sees the curved walls, shelves, cupboards etc and the solid timber floor and high quality kitchen fittings.
Now completed, the client has a kitchen and dining room that, we are told, is the envy of their friends.
© 2004 Eldridge Bexley Ltd