ᐅ Adding an Additional Floor – Structural Integrity in Question
Created on: 19 Jan 2016 19:57
L
Lucky7
Hello everyone,
my partner and I are currently considering what our future living situation should look like.
We came up with the idea that adding an additional floor to my parents’ house could be an affordable way to create enough living space. We then inquired at the building authority to see if this would be possible. According to them, a full additional story is not allowed, but raising the knee wall is an option.
The house was originally designed as a bungalow but had to be built with a pitched roof due to building regulations.
We would now like to have an architect or construction company check whether adding a floor is technically feasible and whether it would be within a budget we can afford. What kind of costs should we expect for such a cost estimate?
Since we are complete beginners and have not yet looked into this in detail, we would really appreciate any advice.
Best regards,
Lili
my partner and I are currently considering what our future living situation should look like.
We came up with the idea that adding an additional floor to my parents’ house could be an affordable way to create enough living space. We then inquired at the building authority to see if this would be possible. According to them, a full additional story is not allowed, but raising the knee wall is an option.
The house was originally designed as a bungalow but had to be built with a pitched roof due to building regulations.
We would now like to have an architect or construction company check whether adding a floor is technically feasible and whether it would be within a budget we can afford. What kind of costs should we expect for such a cost estimate?
Since we are complete beginners and have not yet looked into this in detail, we would really appreciate any advice.
Best regards,
Lili
B
Bauexperte20 Jan 2016 10:29Hello,
Yes, the 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) rule is the key. Everything below this height is only partially or not at all included in the living area calculation; however, this does not change the footprint. It can still be cleverly used—for example, as storage space.
Are your parents aware that they cannot stay in the house during the renovation work, regardless of whether reinforcing measures are required or not?
Yes, or take the existing documents to a contractor experienced in building renovations. In my opinion, it is also not a bad idea—if the extension proceeds—to have an independent expert oversee the project. My first recommendation would always be to gather as reliable information as possible on the expected construction costs. For now, everything is still theoretical; the initial expenditure toward planning certainty should be manageable.
And don’t forget to consult a tax advisor or notary to clarify each party’s share in financing and ownership. Everything works well as long as the couple gets along; even better if binding agreements for difficult times are made during good times.
Regards, Bauexperte
Lucky7 schrieb:
The living area is 140 sqm (1,507 sq ft) and the house is partially basemented. So the extension should not actually exceed 105 sqm (1,130 sq ft), but as far as I know, floor areas under sloping ceilings are not fully counted towards the living area, right?
Yes, the 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) rule is the key. Everything below this height is only partially or not at all included in the living area calculation; however, this does not change the footprint. It can still be cleverly used—for example, as storage space.
Lucky7 schrieb:
Building plans with static calculations are still available. My father doubts that an extension is possible without additional reinforcements.
Are your parents aware that they cannot stay in the house during the renovation work, regardless of whether reinforcing measures are required or not?
Lucky7 schrieb:
The next steps would be, if I understand correctly, to coordinate the financing with parents and the bank, and then go to a structural engineer or architect (pay attention to how consulting fees are handled) with a concrete budget.
Yes, or take the existing documents to a contractor experienced in building renovations. In my opinion, it is also not a bad idea—if the extension proceeds—to have an independent expert oversee the project. My first recommendation would always be to gather as reliable information as possible on the expected construction costs. For now, everything is still theoretical; the initial expenditure toward planning certainty should be manageable.
And don’t forget to consult a tax advisor or notary to clarify each party’s share in financing and ownership. Everything works well as long as the couple gets along; even better if binding agreements for difficult times are made during good times.
Regards, Bauexperte
I believe a solution satisfactory to all parties can be found regarding the financing. After now 10 years of living together without being married, a wedding is planned in the near future, especially as family planning is starting (multi-generational living is also a plus here).
Fortunately, an acquaintance rents out a house about 100 meters (330 feet) away on a temporary basis, where my parents could move in and out on short notice. We could practically carry furniture and other items directly from one house to the other.
The main factor will be how costly any potential structural modifications might be.
My "in-laws" mentioned today that there might also be funding available if we combine the project with energy efficiency improvements (e.g., a new roof). I have no idea what options are possible here. This would need to be clarified by the architect or structural engineer.
Fortunately, an acquaintance rents out a house about 100 meters (330 feet) away on a temporary basis, where my parents could move in and out on short notice. We could practically carry furniture and other items directly from one house to the other.
The main factor will be how costly any potential structural modifications might be.
My "in-laws" mentioned today that there might also be funding available if we combine the project with energy efficiency improvements (e.g., a new roof). I have no idea what options are possible here. This would need to be clarified by the architect or structural engineer.
Lucky7 schrieb:
I believe that a financing solution satisfactory to all parties can be found. Also, after almost 10 years of living together without marriage, a wedding is planned in the near future, as the family planning is slowly starting.
The main factor is how costly any potential structural remodeling might be.
Hello Lucky7!
After nearly 2 years, it would be interesting to hear how this construction project has progressed and whether the building dreams have come true.Similar topics