Flat conversion - Heating and kitchens

Flat conversion - Heating and kitchens

Author
Discussion

RockyBalboa

Original Poster:

768 posts

162 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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Doing a first time flat conversion and the smaller flats are between 32 and 38 sq.m. (1 person decent sized bedroom, 1 bath, lounge/kitchen).

Gas/Elec?

Is it worth the capital outlay to install gas (everything is back to brick) and having gas central heating for such sized flats?

I know generally people prefer to have gas installed as electrical heating of old (storage heaters) are expensive. Is this still the case?

Are there any simple and efficient wall mounted thermostatic heaters these days?

How does one heat water for say doing the dishes if there is no gas boiler?

Kitchens

I will be requiring some small kitchens - does anyone have experience of pre-built compact kitchens such as Elfin or Tiny Kitchens?

RockyBalboa

Original Poster:

768 posts

162 months

Wednesday 2nd December 2015
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The flats will be long term lets.

Are there any electric alternatives to storage heaters?

RockyBalboa

Original Poster:

768 posts

162 months

Wednesday 2nd December 2015
quotequote all
I've planned for gas but when I'm now seeing the flat size/layout (32 sq.m over two floors - lounge/kitchen on the ground and shower/bed on the first floor), the boiler will take up a bit of room and really it would only need 2 radiators (1 down, 1 up) and perhaps a small towel rad in the shower room. Hence, I wondered if the £1.5k to £2k outlay is worth it in this instance.

RockyBalboa

Original Poster:

768 posts

162 months

Wednesday 2nd December 2015
quotequote all
guitarcarfanatic said:
Why not fit a communal boiler and get the individual flats to pay a set amount towards the gas? Then just set it on a suitable timer and let them use the rads to control their heat?

Might make things easier, cheaper and less faff! Just makes it harder to sell if that's an end goal.
I'd like to keep the flats self-contained just in case of a future sell-off.

At the moment, it just doesn't seem worth it to spend the outlay on such a small flat for a gas boiler for 2 radiators and a towel rail, hence, I'm thinking of saving that cost and fitting one electric panel heater in the lounge/kitchen, one in the bedroom and an electric towel rail in the shower room. The only other thing I have to then take care of is hot water for the kitchen and bathroom sink for which I was thinking of something like this:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/triton-t30i-bq3a3034i-ha...