Kitchens - Open plans ''need professional advice''

30/01/2008

Homeowners planning to create a contemporary open-plan living space in their property should ensure they get professional advice before picking up a sledgehammer, an insurance expert has advised.

Knocking together the kitchen, dining room and possibly even the living room in an attempt to make the maximum use of space in a property has emerged as one of the most popular home improvement trends in recent times.

A study by Halifax found 2.9 million rooms have disappeared in the past five years as homeowners opted to go open plan and that a further 2.2 million could vanish during 2008.

David Rochester, head of underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, said those planning to knock down an internal wall as part of their open-plan design should consult a structural engineer before starting work.

"Any damage to a weight-bearing wall that results in ceiling collapse or other damage could invalidate a buildings insurance policy," he explained.

Phil Spencer, one of the stars of Channel 4's Location, Location, Location, recently wrote in his Sunday Times column that switching to open-plan living is an effective way to increase a property's value.