The rear kitchen extension is the single most common terrace house project in Malaysia, and the one most often built without approval. A wet and dry kitchen extension is what most Malaysian owners are really building. Done properly a wet and dry kitchen extension needs the right approval and waterproofing. Done properly it adds real usable area and resale value. Done badly it becomes a leaking, illegal box that blocks your own drainage.

A wet and dry kitchen extension: why almost everyone builds one

Malaysian cooking is hot, oily and humid. Separating a wet kitchen for heavy cooking from a dry kitchen for prep and light use keeps grease out of your living area and keeps your interior cabinets alive. The extension also reclaims the rear yard that most 20x70 lots waste.

What the build actually involves

• New ground slab with proper compaction and damp proofing, not a screed poured onto loose soil
• Roof with adequate fall, gutters and downpipes discharging to the existing drain
• Ventilation sized for a wok burner, which means more than a domestic hood
• Relocated or extended plumbing, with the trap and gully accessible for cleaning
• A dedicated electrical sub-circuit, since kettles, ovens and induction units on one old circuit will trip

The approval question

Extensions to a terrace house are generally regulated by your local authority — DBKL in Kuala Lumpur, MBPJ, MPAJ, MBSA and so on, each with its own submission requirements and setback rules. Many owners build first and discover the problem only when they sell, refinance or when a neighbour complains. Unapproved structures can hold up a bank valuation.

The practical route is to check your local authority's guidelines for the permitted rear extension depth before you design anything, and to engage a submitting person where plans are required.

The three mistakes we are called in to fix

Extending over the existing rear drain so it can never be cleared. Building the roof flat with no fall, so it ponds and leaks within two monsoon seasons. Cantilevering the new slab off the existing house without a proper connection, which cracks the junction within a year.

Costs vary widely with depth, roof type and whether piling is needed on soft ground. Any figure quoted without a site visit is a guess.

Talk to CRITANS — Free Preliminary Consultation

CRITANS Building Services is a CIDB-registered general contractor (0120231107-SL127438) based in Ampang, Selangor, serving Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley. We handle residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, industrial and educational projects end to end.

Send us your floor plan, photos or a rough idea and we will come back with a realistic scope and budget. Consultation is completely free.

WhatsApp us now: +6016-610 4189

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