Are you considering moving your kitchen to the first floor, but not sure if it’s possible? Well, you can really do anything if you have the time, money and council approval, but is it worth it?
Often the biggest reason to move your kitchen upstairs is because you have a fabulous view and it’s wasted on the bedrooms. Another reason is if you want to create a dual occupancy dwelling where you can live upstairs, for example, and an elderly relative or tenant can live downstairs. If you are considering moving your kitchen upstairs, what factors should you need to consider and will the council give you permission?
Factors to Consider When Moving a Kitchen to The First Floor
There are a number of factors you need to consider when moving or installing a kitchen upstairs. These include access to water, power and gas, as well as waterproofing. You will also need to consider the structural integrity of the upper floor. A kitchen renovation company can advise on the feasibility of moving a kitchen up a story and provide greater detail on the below factors.
Water: If you already have a bathroom upstairs this might not be too complicated, but if not, then you need to get both hot and cold water up to the first floor. The complexity of this will depend on where the mains water enters the house, the location of your hot water system and where you want to locate the upstairs kitchen. The larger the distance between these two areas the more space it will require in the wall cavities. It may also increase the time it takes for hot water to flow through from when you turn on the tap.
Power: Think very carefully where you need to install new power outlets in your kitchen. Moving and retrofitting points can end up being expensive if you find that they don’t quite come out where you need them. Also, if you want a central electric stove on an island bench, bear in mind the power under the floor to reach the bench.
Gas: If you want a gas stove, the easiest location is on an external wall. This means that the gas pipes can run up the outside of the wall and straight into the kitchen. As with an electric stove, a central benchtop will require the gas lines to be fed through the floor, which makes the whole situation much more complicated.
Waterproofing: Whilst all kitchens need waterproofing around the sink and splashback areas, it’s even more important for kitchens on the first floor. That’s because a leak will only have one place to go – through the floor, down into the ceiling and room below.
Structural integrity: Adding large heavy items like fridges, freezers, stoves, ovens and stone benchtops can challenge the structural integrity of the upper floor. You might need to consider consulting a structural engineer to make sure that it’s a feasible project for your home, before starting the renovations. Archicentre can take care of custom home design recommendations to help start the process.
What About Council Permission?
If you are considering installing a kitchen upstairs to turn your home into a dual occupancy property and renting out one of the floors, you will most probably require council permission. Renting may involve firewalls, egress points, smoke detectors and a whole lot more essential features to keep your tenant safe. So, explore this option with your local council before making your final decision.
If you are only adding a kitchen to accommodate an elderly relative as part of your family (or to improve your view), then councils are usually far more lenient, but it’s still best to ask their advice before committing to any renovations.