Hello,
we are currently working on renovating our kitchen. The plan is to replace the existing kitchen in about 2 years and also change the layout. We would like to have more natural light and a nice view of the front yard and garden. Our wish is therefore to add an extra window above the kitchen counter, specifically above the sink.
Has anyone had this done before or has experience with this? Could you advise us on how to proceed, what we need to check, and roughly how much it might cost? This would help us include it in our budget planning.
My idea is to go to an architect who can assist with structural issues, submitting applications to the building authority (building permit/planning permission), etc., and then have the work carried out.
How can I find out in advance whether a) it is structurally feasible and b) whether approval is required? Also, what factors would the approval depend on? The distance from the desired window to the property boundary is about 10 meters (33 feet), and the adjacent lot is undeveloped.
How complex is the process—just cut a hole, install the window, finish it nicely, and done?
For your information:
Our exterior wall consists of 30 cm (12 inches) Ytong blocks plus exterior plaster, and the window should be about 1.20 m (4 feet) wide, not floor-to-ceiling.
Directly below the proposed window are water and sewage lines, but this should not be a problem since the window is not floor-to-ceiling.
I appreciate your tips and experiences before I get too attached to the idea of this window and then find out it might not be so straightforward.
By the way, we are located in Lower Saxony.
we are currently working on renovating our kitchen. The plan is to replace the existing kitchen in about 2 years and also change the layout. We would like to have more natural light and a nice view of the front yard and garden. Our wish is therefore to add an extra window above the kitchen counter, specifically above the sink.
Has anyone had this done before or has experience with this? Could you advise us on how to proceed, what we need to check, and roughly how much it might cost? This would help us include it in our budget planning.
My idea is to go to an architect who can assist with structural issues, submitting applications to the building authority (building permit/planning permission), etc., and then have the work carried out.
How can I find out in advance whether a) it is structurally feasible and b) whether approval is required? Also, what factors would the approval depend on? The distance from the desired window to the property boundary is about 10 meters (33 feet), and the adjacent lot is undeveloped.
How complex is the process—just cut a hole, install the window, finish it nicely, and done?
For your information:
Our exterior wall consists of 30 cm (12 inches) Ytong blocks plus exterior plaster, and the window should be about 1.20 m (4 feet) wide, not floor-to-ceiling.
Directly below the proposed window are water and sewage lines, but this should not be a problem since the window is not floor-to-ceiling.
I appreciate your tips and experiences before I get too attached to the idea of this window and then find out it might not be so straightforward.
By the way, we are located in Lower Saxony.
H
hanghaus202322 May 2023 18:26Consider including a roller blind. A kitchen countertop that extends into the window area also looks quite nice. You probably want the sink under the window, right? Then be sure to check for potential interference with the faucet. If no tilt-and-turn function is needed, fixed glazing is significantly more cost-effective.
Jurassic135 schrieb:
We are currently working on the kitchen renovation. The plan is to replace the existing kitchen in about 2 years and to change the layout as well. We also want more natural light and a nice view of the front yard and garden. Our wish is therefore for an additional window above the kitchen counter, specifically above the sink. Jurassic135 schrieb:
The new window is virtually unseen, especially from the street, so it really shouldn’t be of concern to anyone. Then just go ahead. The location and what you mention are unlikely to have any impact externally.
I would suggest starting a kitchen discussion beforehand, here or in another forum that focuses specifically on kitchens. That way, you can implement both aspects in a cohesive way.
hanghaus2023 schrieb:
Consider including a roller blind. A kitchen countertop that extends into the window area also looks quite nice. You probably want the sink below the window? Then be sure to watch out for possible interference with the faucet. If no tilt/turn function is needed, fixed glazing is significantly more cost-effective.In this setup, I would consider choosing a window where only the lower third is fixed glazing, with two sashes above. This often provides the extra centimeters needed for the faucet, and you also gain the advantage of not having to clear everything away whenever you want to open the window.
Make sure to select the window height so that the countertop continues up to the window — we have this currently, and it is really very practical!
J
Jurassic13522 May 2023 20:07Winniefred schrieb:
I also don’t think you need building permission / a building permit just for a window, but I would contact the building authority in advance to check—that’s safer. Otherwise, just have the mason install the lintel. I assume the mason handles the structural calculations themselves, right? And then you’ll have to plaster it again. You’re not adding any extra insulation, just the Ytong blocks?
I’d roughly estimate the window at around 800€ (about $860), but it can of course be significantly more. You can install the window yourself. No idea what a tradesperson would charge for that. Inside, the connection to the plaster also needs to be redone. I would guess around 2500-3000€ (about $2700-3200) in total. It’s a lot of money and mess just for a bit more light.According to the work specification, it should only be Ytong with plaster, yes.
We would need to redo the wall inside anyway since the old tile backsplash has to be removed, so I would include that in the plan.
Unfortunately, our house has very few windows on the south side, which is really a shame. "A bit more light" would completely change the feel of the whole room in this case.
Currently, the short side of our L-shaped kitchen is partly under the only window, and the dining area is underneath the rest of the window. But that area feels really cramped. So the dining area should have more space there. Then the kitchen’s L shape would be completely without a window—that would be a real pity. If it’s possible at all, that would be more important to me than other “extra features” in the kitchen. 🙂
hanghaus2023 schrieb:
You might want to include a roller shutter in your plans. A kitchen countertop that extends into the window area can also look quite nice. You probably want the sink under the window? Then definitely watch out for possible interference with the faucet. If you don’t need tilt-and-turn functionality, fixed glazing is much cheaper.True, we have roller shutters everywhere, so that should be included there as well. I also really like the idea of integrating the countertop into the window area.
In fact, the window could only be placed where the water and drainage pipes are, and I don’t want to move those. There’s no basement underneath, which would make any plumbing work a huge mess, and I don’t want to touch the flooring either. I was thinking of a solution with a fixed lower pane.
ypg schrieb:
Just go ahead and do it. The location and what you mention shouldn’t have any significant external impact.
I would suggest starting a kitchen discussion here or on another forum specifically focused on kitchens before proceeding. That way you can implement both aspects smoothly together.I will definitely do that. 🙂
-LotteS- schrieb:
In this setup, I would consider a window where only the bottom third is fixed glazing, and the two upper sections open. That often gives you the crucial extra centimeters needed for the faucet, plus the advantage that you don’t have to clear everything off when you want to open the window.
Be sure to choose the window height so that the countertop extends right up to the window—we have that currently and it’s really very practical!Yes, that’s basically how I had envisioned it as well.
W
WilderSueden22 May 2023 21:37Also think about splashes. I really like having our window right above the sink. But the lower part of the window constantly gets splattered. Next time, I would probably build the wall higher, tile it, and then install a window without the lower section. It’s not as visually appealing (which is why we decided against it back then), but it would likely be more practical.
J
Jurassic13522 May 2023 21:57Thanks, good point, I’ll need to think that over again...
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