August House
Type: Residential, Conversion of outbuilding, internal works & glazed link to house
Budget: Contract sum £130,000 plus VAT, but this increased to £195,000 plus VAT due to additional works found necessary
Size: 960 Square Feet plus internal alterations
District Council: Epping Forest
Service: Full Architectural Service & Project management
Project Team Architects: MP Chartered Architects, Martyn Pattie, Tom Wiffen
Structural Engineer & CDM Consultant: Sayeed Ali
Completion Date: January 2024
Project Brief
The project involved transforming an existing outbuilding into additional family accommodation, featuring a bedroom, living room, study, storage, and shower room. A glazed link was constructed to connect the outbuilding to the main house. Additionally, the client requested the renovation and upgrade of the utility and WC rooms.
Challenges
Initially, the project appeared straightforward, with the glass link being a bespoke, fully glazed and expensive component, essential for connecting the outbuilding to the main house. This removal of the existing WC and redirection of facilities was also a significant element to this project.
However, upon surveying the existing timber frame building, it became evident that it was poorly constructed, with crooked walls, lack of screed on the floor, and insufficient insulation.
These challenges resulted in what should have been a simple internal conversion was now a major upgrade, including raising the roof to correct the walls, adding insulation, creating new openings for glazing, installing underfloor heating, applying new internal finishes, and upgrading windows and the existing shower room. Although costly, the conversion significantly increased the usable space, providing the clients with a new wing for a study, bathrooms, small kitchen, bedroom and living space. The living space was particularly noteworthy, featuring a woodburning stove, a large TV screen, and two minimally framed glazed walls to maximize views of the garden and open countryside.
Solutions
The primary challenge was raising the roof and making the walls vertical. This was achieved by jacking up the roof and using metal ties to pull the walls together. Internally, walls were packed with battens and plasterboard, providing the opportunity to reinsulate the walls and ceiling voids.
We created a vaulted ceiling over the living space, adding insulation and enhancing the spaciousness and openness of the area. The absence of an existing screed complicated the installation of underfloor heating, which was resolved by using electric underfloor heating within a latex screed, topped with a synthetic Karndean floor covering for a clean finish. New glazing was added to the study and bedroom, along with a vertical slot window to light the corridor and provide an external view.
The external walls were reclad with Millboard, a high-quality imitation timber, providing a premium appearance that complemented the minimal framed glazing. This, along with the glazed link, resulted in a truly stunning addition to the house,
offering a modern contrast to the Victorian red brick of the main house while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic.
