ᐅ House Planning – Considering the Possibility of a Third Child
Created on: 23 Sep 2015 11:23
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Tego12
Hello!
Since we will be building in the near future and are currently considering the general framework to approach an architect/designer, the following question has come up for us:
We need an additional room (besides the standard ones – master bedroom, child 1, child 2, living area) for a possible third child (which is rather unlikely, but it’s hard to completely rule it out). If no third child arrives, this room would be used as a guest room/office. The size should be roughly 10-12 sqm (107-129 sq ft), since the chance of a third child is quite low.
Now, there seem to be three main options (house around 140-150 sqm (1,507-1,615 sq ft), pitched roof up to 45 degrees, no basement):
1) Room on the ground floor -> reduces the large open living/dining/kitchen area (there also needs to be space for a utility room and a small shower bathroom)
2) Room on the upper floor -> reduces the overall size of the bedrooms and children’s rooms (so far, I haven’t seen a really good floor plan here, especially since a house with a pitched roof up to 45 degrees effectively offers less space on the upper floor than on the ground floor)
3) Expandable attic -> at first, apart from possible additional costs (which I cannot estimate yet), I don’t see any major issues, except that a second staircase is needed, which also takes up space.
My question: Which option would you generally prefer? What are the advantages and disadvantages? The room is not immediately needed; an attic could also be converted a few years later.
Thanks and regards
Since we will be building in the near future and are currently considering the general framework to approach an architect/designer, the following question has come up for us:
We need an additional room (besides the standard ones – master bedroom, child 1, child 2, living area) for a possible third child (which is rather unlikely, but it’s hard to completely rule it out). If no third child arrives, this room would be used as a guest room/office. The size should be roughly 10-12 sqm (107-129 sq ft), since the chance of a third child is quite low.
Now, there seem to be three main options (house around 140-150 sqm (1,507-1,615 sq ft), pitched roof up to 45 degrees, no basement):
1) Room on the ground floor -> reduces the large open living/dining/kitchen area (there also needs to be space for a utility room and a small shower bathroom)
2) Room on the upper floor -> reduces the overall size of the bedrooms and children’s rooms (so far, I haven’t seen a really good floor plan here, especially since a house with a pitched roof up to 45 degrees effectively offers less space on the upper floor than on the ground floor)
3) Expandable attic -> at first, apart from possible additional costs (which I cannot estimate yet), I don’t see any major issues, except that a second staircase is needed, which also takes up space.
My question: Which option would you generally prefer? What are the advantages and disadvantages? The room is not immediately needed; an attic could also be converted a few years later.
Thanks and regards
Underfloor heating would be possible if you use a dry screed. However, the floor buildup then reduces the ceiling height, which can be critical in attic spaces where every centimeter (inch) may count. Therefore, we decided to go with standard radiators, despite having an air-to-water heat pump.
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Bauexperte25 Sep 2015 14:06Tego12 schrieb:
@Bauexperte: What should I roughly budget for the preparations of a convertible attic? Additional staircase, extra utility lines, reinforced flooring... That must add up to quite a bit. Can anyone give a rough estimate?Manu has already given you the correct information twice; thanks, Manu! However, I would estimate around 15,000 euros (TEUR 15) for your desired size, including the continuation of the original staircase run.Additionally: You can expect that for preparation work involving extending the staircase run, insulation of the roof slopes and stairwell, installation of a living space door, windows sized for emergency exits, extension and capping of all utility lines above the finished ceiling level, as well as full-surface paneling for a house of your size, the cost will be approximately €7,500–8,000.
If you decide to fully finish the attic from the start and want to install underfloor heating in this area, you can do so using a dry screed system over a wooden beam ceiling above the ground floor or over a concrete slab above the ground floor.
Best regards, Bauexperte
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