ᐅ Attic conversion in a 25-degree hip roof – a practical undertaking?
Created on: 24 Oct 2023 13:38
H
Hausgestalten
Hello forum,
We are considering purchasing a large bungalow with 200m² (2,150 sq ft) of living space. Despite the generous size, there are only three rooms, and we are missing two additional rooms (children’s bedrooms) for our family. We want to rule out dividing the space with drywall partitions because the floor plan (window distribution, hallway location) does not support this well. The bungalow is very well-maintained (and only 8 years old) and feels well-designed in its layout.
Now the question is to what extent this bungalow has potential for converting the attic. The building footprint measures 22m x 12.5m (72 ft x 41 ft).
Are there any self-builders here who have completed an attic conversion with a 25-degree roof pitch? Are dormer windows necessary, or would floor-to-ceiling skylights (such as Velux windows) also create a good room atmosphere? How much usable space could we realistically gain?
Another question relates to the costs of such a project. Would a budget of $50,000 be sufficient, or is that too low?
Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences.
We are considering purchasing a large bungalow with 200m² (2,150 sq ft) of living space. Despite the generous size, there are only three rooms, and we are missing two additional rooms (children’s bedrooms) for our family. We want to rule out dividing the space with drywall partitions because the floor plan (window distribution, hallway location) does not support this well. The bungalow is very well-maintained (and only 8 years old) and feels well-designed in its layout.
Now the question is to what extent this bungalow has potential for converting the attic. The building footprint measures 22m x 12.5m (72 ft x 41 ft).
Are there any self-builders here who have completed an attic conversion with a 25-degree roof pitch? Are dormer windows necessary, or would floor-to-ceiling skylights (such as Velux windows) also create a good room atmosphere? How much usable space could we realistically gain?
Another question relates to the costs of such a project. Would a budget of $50,000 be sufficient, or is that too low?
Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences.
H
Hausgestalten25 Oct 2023 11:01WilderSueden schrieb:
Good luck trying to get the furniture up there. This also applies to all the construction materials for the interior work.You could lift the construction materials onto the roof using a crane if the roof is already open due to the extension of the dormer, right? Or am I oversimplifying it?C
Costruttrice25 Oct 2023 11:13The idea of lifting building materials into the open roof space using a crane (how long is it supposed to stay open?) and installing dormer windows and a staircase is unrealistic given the stated budget.
I don’t see an issue with 200 m² (2,150 sq ft) of floor area. I would try, as long as it is structurally feasible, to remodel the current living space.
I have no idea if this is realistic due to structural concerns and wall construction. But just based on the layout and ignoring wall structure and lengths: Bedrooms 1 and 2 would become children’s rooms. The office would be converted into the master bedroom. For the oddly shaped kitchen, I would consider having it evaluated to see if and how it can be separated so that the part facing the living room is opened and integrated into that space. The section facing the current office would become a windowless office. It should be checked whether windows can be installed in that room later.
I don’t see an issue with 200 m² (2,150 sq ft) of floor area. I would try, as long as it is structurally feasible, to remodel the current living space.
I have no idea if this is realistic due to structural concerns and wall construction. But just based on the layout and ignoring wall structure and lengths: Bedrooms 1 and 2 would become children’s rooms. The office would be converted into the master bedroom. For the oddly shaped kitchen, I would consider having it evaluated to see if and how it can be separated so that the part facing the living room is opened and integrated into that space. The section facing the current office would become a windowless office. It should be checked whether windows can be installed in that room later.
Hausgestalten schrieb:
So, here it is again, presented more clearlyUnfortunately without measurements. But now it is clearly readable what I had already thought I could make out before: namely, that the utility room, which was previously complained about as needing to be created, already exists (???)Hausgestalten schrieb:
As someone with rather limited DIY skills, I guess you just lack the imagination here. Would a large dormer not help at all?The lack of DIY skill becomes really obvious inHausgestalten schrieb:
You could lift the building materials in through the roof with a crane if it’s open anyway because of the dormer extension? Or am I oversimplifying it?A 25° (77°F) temperature might be enough to get a day off from school due to heat, but building dormers for an attic conversion without a knee wall would drive you crazy. It still doesn’t seem clear to you, despite the drawings by @hanghaus2023 in post #3, that standing height (200cm (79 inches), not yet 230cm (90 inches)) is only available in the central nave (above the hallway, roughly extending to the closet niche or the swinging area of the doors of the north-facing rooms).But I don’t understand why you even want to continue this discussion here:
Costruttrice schrieb:
The idea of lifting building materials into an open roof with a crane (how long is it supposed to stay open?) and installing dormers and stairs has already been ruled out with the stated budget.https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
H
Hausgestalten25 Oct 2023 11:2811ant schrieb:
But I don’t understand why you even want to continue discussing this here: ...because 70k is our maximum desired amount. By selling rural land, we will have significantly more available, but we still don’t want to waste money unnecessarily if the final result on the new upper floor is modest.H
hanghaus202325 Oct 2023 11:31I can’t imagine that this can’t be planned without an attic conversion.
Let me quote myself.
In my opinion, that’s quite easily possible.
The forum members here will gladly show you that.
Perhaps even a budget of 50k might be enough.
However, it looks like neither the roof nor the ceiling above are insulated.
What type of heating system is installed?
What is the expected cost of the bungalow?
Let me quote myself.
hanghaus2023 schrieb:
With 200 m2 (2,150 sq ft), the floor plan should be adaptable.
In my opinion, that’s quite easily possible.
The forum members here will gladly show you that.
Perhaps even a budget of 50k might be enough.
However, it looks like neither the roof nor the ceiling above are insulated.
What type of heating system is installed?
What is the expected cost of the bungalow?
C
Costruttrice25 Oct 2023 11:40Hausgestalten schrieb:
...because 70k is our maximum desired amount. By selling agricultural land, we will have significantly more available, but we still don’t want to waste money unnecessarily if the final result in the new upper floor is disappointing. Do you really want an attic just to have an attic?
Even if the rooms end up being small compartments despite a lot of money, while the ground floor has three rooms around 18sqm (190 sq ft) each?
Other families live comfortably in less than 200sqm (2,150 sq ft) of space.
Ask yourselves seriously: Do you need a 28sqm (300 sq ft) kitchen next to a nearly 50sqm (540 sq ft) living room? Or might it make sense to rearrange that?
The staircase to the upper floor will have to go somewhere. That would come at the expense of at least one room on the ground floor, and it would still remain a “makeshift” solution, because this roof simply wasn’t designed for conversion into living space.
Therefore, I don’t understand your line of thinking.
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