How an angled extension can completely transform your home

Posted on 25th July 2024

When it comes to extending your home, there are many alternatives to the traditional ‘box’ style. We look into why it’s worth trying a different angle…

After working in this industry for more than half a decade, it’s a fairly reasonable observation to make that many, if not most, homeowners and renovators have a kitchen extension on their wishlists. They are the perfect way to get that wow-factor kitchen-diner, providing not only much more space, but a complete lifestyle change at home.

If you are planning to extend your home, but want something a little more exciting than a flat-roof ‘box’ style – but not so crazy it will break the bank – then a pitched, or angled, roof is an excellent solution. Here’s why…

Angled extension with black sliding doors and open-plan kitchen-diner. — This wrap-around pitched extension by Delve Architects allows the house to use the full width of the plot, while also avoiding blocking the neighbours’ natural light.

Firstly, the high ceilings add drama and lots of opportunity for interesting glazing options. As Edward Ward, director of Studio Werc Architects, explains, “Pitched roof extensions can be a great way to add space to your home. The vaulted nature of the ceilings can give you the feeling of extra height and openness. It’s also a great way to maximise natural daylight through large angled skylights.”

Open-plan kitchen-diner with dark cabinetry, steel beams, central island, wooden dining table and benches. — This pitched glazed roof and angular steelwork from DPE Architecture demonstrates how using angles can create interesting features.

Planning your angled extension

Secondly, not only do they look impressive, they are also relatively easy to do through permitted development (a set of rights that allow certain types of building work to be done without planning permission). “This type of extension is seen favourably by planning departments because the height at the boundary is relatively low and so your impact on the neighbour’s daylight and outlook is reduced,” continues Ed.

Let us explain: generally, the maximum eaves height for a single-storey extension, if it’s within two metres of a boundary, should be no higher than three metres for it to be eligible under permitted development rights. While the maximum height you can have for a single-storey extension is four metres – which is where this pitch, or angle, comes in. Hence why you see so many of these extensions on terraced properties.

Angled extension with glass roof which floods the space with light. — The wall of glazing in this project, from Kitchens by Holloways, helps connect the indoors to the out, while providing plenty of natural light.

Wood kitchen design with central island, built-in cooking appliances, large extractor and steel-framed glazing. — Bespoke kitchen cabinetry made using reclaimed sustainable solid Victorian roof pine, from Chaunceys. Prices start from £62.10 per sq m.

Garden view of the angled kitchen extension. — Studio Werc designed a rear and side extension clad in black timber battens for a family home in Putney.

Choosing the right roof

Rules around planning can vary with each local authority, so it’s advisable to check with your own to see if this would be feasible. “The most common angled extension would be a duo pitch or gable roof, where you have two equal sides that are the same angle,” explains Douglas Evans, director at DPE Architecture.

“A variation of this is where you have unequal sides at different angles. A mono pitch roof is at a consistent angle. There’s also butterfly roofs, where there are two equal inverted pitches, while a hipped roof is where the pitches slope down to the external walls. Selecting the one that is correct for a project comes down to a number of factors, including site constraints, light and cost.”

House with pitched roof and expansive glazing. — 50° North Architects extended the ground floor of this detached property using permitted development rights. The pitched roof adds a sense of height and space to the new kitchen-diner. Photography: Darren Chung.

Open-plan kitchen-diner with green cabinetry and central island clad in marble. — A simple side extension, a well-placed roof light and wide new rear doors have completely transformed this space. Project by Vorbild.

Garden view of the pitched extension. — Design Squared Architects created a unique extension as part of a ground-floor rear extension. Contractors, Jeton and Saimir. Photography: Chris Snook.

Challenges

One of the challenges with angled extension roofs is that you are often left with differing ceiling types, with some areas of flat ceiling and some angled. “You can use these differences to your advantage, however, helping define each zone of your open-plan space,” suggests Ed. “For instance, the kitchen falls under the flat ceiling area and the dining under the side pitched skylights, with the seating area under the rear double pitched roof.”

View of the kitchen extension with a pitched roof and tall windows. — Most Architecture extended this house in a shape of a ‘prow’, i.e. kept the same three metres at the edges and extended the centre of the space further out into the garden. This maximised depth, while preventing any overshadowing of the neighbours’ windows. Photography: Emanuelis Stasaitis.

Cost

While pitched extensions do tend to be more durable than their flat-roof counterparts, thanks to being better at handling extreme weather, this does mean they tend to come with a higher price tag. Although, you’ll be able to keep costs down by planning wisely, as George Guest, co-founder of architect firm Studio Elephant, explains, “There is no reason why an angular form should be any more expensive than a standard box if the design is well-considered in the early stages.

“At our project in Latimer Road we made conscious decisions to minimise cost and maximise the visual appeal of the house through expressing steelwork and making a feature of the central steel column rather than having expensive cranked beams.”

Whatever your slant on these types of extension, I think we can all agree that they are well worth considering for your next project.