Hello everyone,
yesterday we viewed an L-shaped bungalow for sale with 108 m² (1163 sq ft) of living space, built by Town & Country in 2019. The location, neighborhood, plot, outdoor area, kitchen, etc. are all suitable.
The only downside is the missing room and the lack of a permanent staircase. Our idea is to convert the attic. We would like to use the attic as a bedroom.
It has a hip roof with a 24-degree (24°) pitch. We want to approach a carpentry company to discuss options for the conversion. Currently, there is an attic ladder located in the hallway in front of the kitchen door.
Is an attic conversion realistic? What would be the rough costs if we assume a basic standard, including electrical work, 2 roof windows, etc.?
Where would you place the permanent staircase? We considered closing the kitchen door (access to the kitchen through the living room) and placing the staircase there, but it would be very tight in terms of width. Alternatively, a spiral staircase in the utility room, but that space is also quite small.
yesterday we viewed an L-shaped bungalow for sale with 108 m² (1163 sq ft) of living space, built by Town & Country in 2019. The location, neighborhood, plot, outdoor area, kitchen, etc. are all suitable.
The only downside is the missing room and the lack of a permanent staircase. Our idea is to convert the attic. We would like to use the attic as a bedroom.
It has a hip roof with a 24-degree (24°) pitch. We want to approach a carpentry company to discuss options for the conversion. Currently, there is an attic ladder located in the hallway in front of the kitchen door.
Is an attic conversion realistic? What would be the rough costs if we assume a basic standard, including electrical work, 2 roof windows, etc.?
Where would you place the permanent staircase? We considered closing the kitchen door (access to the kitchen through the living room) and placing the staircase there, but it would be very tight in terms of width. Alternatively, a spiral staircase in the utility room, but that space is also quite small.
N
nordanney11 Jul 2024 11:23For a space-saving staircase, you need about 1 square meter (11 square feet) of space.
I would ideally place such a staircase, like the one in the photo, in the living room next to the fireplace. If you install it in the utility room, you might already be close to the edge of the house, making it difficult to exit the staircase at the top due to the sloping roof.
Keep in mind a building permit / planning permission if you want to create a proper living space.
I would ideally place such a staircase, like the one in the photo, in the living room next to the fireplace. If you install it in the utility room, you might already be close to the edge of the house, making it difficult to exit the staircase at the top due to the sloping roof.
Keep in mind a building permit / planning permission if you want to create a proper living space.
N
nordanney11 Jul 2024 15:21Perhaps two additional points that might help you with your decision.
1. Modifying the roof structure to create additional living space (structure, insulation, walls, electrical, heating, windows, etc.) is, to put it mildly, financially unattractive.
2. I have already mentioned the issue of building permits / planning permission. How exactly is living space intended to be created up there in order to obtain approval? The keyword here is "second means of escape."
It seems to me that searching for a more suitable property might be the better option.
1. Modifying the roof structure to create additional living space (structure, insulation, walls, electrical, heating, windows, etc.) is, to put it mildly, financially unattractive.
2. I have already mentioned the issue of building permits / planning permission. How exactly is living space intended to be created up there in order to obtain approval? The keyword here is "second means of escape."
It seems to me that searching for a more suitable property might be the better option.
nordanney schrieb:
Maybe two additional points that could help you with your decision.
1. Modifying the roof structure to expand it (structure, insulation, walls, electrical, heating, windows, etc.) is, to put it mildly, financially unattractive for us.
2. I already mentioned the building permit topic. How exactly is living space supposed to be created up there in order to even achieve approval? Keyword: "second means of escape"?
It seems to me that looking for a more suitable property is the better option. Hello Nordanney,
thank you for your reply. Regarding the building permit: I spoke with the municipal building authority and the county building regulation office. Both independently confirmed to me that no building permit is required. Both referred to §60 paragraph 2 point 2
(2) The following are also exempt from approval procedures:
the change of use of rooms in the attic of a residential building with only one dwelling into living space belonging to that dwelling.
Both mentioned over the phone that the situation would be different, for example, if a dormer is installed. However, relevant building regulations must be considered, such as the necessity of a second means of escape in the form of roof windows with dimensions of 0.90 x 1.20 m (35 x 47 inches).
Yes, NDS has always been somewhat more advanced....
However, exempt from approval does not mean exempt from legal requirements. This means you still have to comply with other conditions (clear height 2.20 m (7 ft 3 in), lighting, etc.).
You won’t be able to do much with the rafters; the braces will have to remain. For the floor, you will likely need to install additional joists (if they are not already there), since a spacing of 95 cm (37 inches) is simply too wide. The question is also what dimensions the bottom chord has and what load the roof truss manufacturer has already accounted for (often 1.5 kN). So, at best, you could place a heavy bookshelf in the area of the load-bearing central wall.
The roof truss is designed as a dry storage attic, nothing more.
Would an extension be possible?
However, exempt from approval does not mean exempt from legal requirements. This means you still have to comply with other conditions (clear height 2.20 m (7 ft 3 in), lighting, etc.).
You won’t be able to do much with the rafters; the braces will have to remain. For the floor, you will likely need to install additional joists (if they are not already there), since a spacing of 95 cm (37 inches) is simply too wide. The question is also what dimensions the bottom chord has and what load the roof truss manufacturer has already accounted for (often 1.5 kN). So, at best, you could place a heavy bookshelf in the area of the load-bearing central wall.
The roof truss is designed as a dry storage attic, nothing more.
Would an extension be possible?
M
MachsSelbst12 Jul 2024 22:37Forget it. Insulating the entire roof, installing heating, electrical work, windows, reinforcing the attic, cladding everything... That will cost more than buying a house that already offers the space you need. And one of those space-saving staircases. How are you supposed to carry more than a single book upstairs properly?