We have been living comfortably with our two children for years in a small 80sqm (860 sq ft) single-story house with a basement, no upper floor.
Surprise: I am now expecting twins.
We are very happy, but it will clearly become too tight for us.
How can we gain more living space?
The plot is very small, so extending horizontally will probably be difficult—actually, there is barely any room on any side.
We don’t find the idea of placing the children in the basement or sleeping there ourselves very appealing...
So the idea came up to add an additional floor. (A simple attic conversion is not an option because the roof is too low.)
According to the zoning plan (building permit / planning permission), it is possible.
We have absolutely no idea what to expect, what is possible (or impossible), or what costs we might face.
We have never dealt with anything like this before.
What experience do you have with adding an additional floor?
What costs can we expect for 80sqm (860 sq ft)?
Is a partial attic conversion possible? (An additional 30 or 40sqm (320 or 430 sq ft) would actually be enough for us.)
What is the first step, or who should we contact first?
How do you properly get informed?
What questions should be asked, and to whom?
Or are there other ideas for gaining living space?
So many questions ;-)
...
Nina
Surprise: I am now expecting twins.
We are very happy, but it will clearly become too tight for us.
How can we gain more living space?
The plot is very small, so extending horizontally will probably be difficult—actually, there is barely any room on any side.
We don’t find the idea of placing the children in the basement or sleeping there ourselves very appealing...
So the idea came up to add an additional floor. (A simple attic conversion is not an option because the roof is too low.)
According to the zoning plan (building permit / planning permission), it is possible.
We have absolutely no idea what to expect, what is possible (or impossible), or what costs we might face.
We have never dealt with anything like this before.
What experience do you have with adding an additional floor?
What costs can we expect for 80sqm (860 sq ft)?
Is a partial attic conversion possible? (An additional 30 or 40sqm (320 or 430 sq ft) would actually be enough for us.)
What is the first step, or who should we contact first?
How do you properly get informed?
What questions should be asked, and to whom?
Or are there other ideas for gaining living space?
So many questions ;-)
...
Nina
B
Bieber081513 Oct 2016 17:27Just a few things to consider:
- Access to the future upper floor (stairs)
- Supply of utilities (electricity, water, if desired)
- Floor structure (structural integrity, impact sound insulation)
In a partial interior finish, dormer windows can increase the usable space.
A good point of contact would be an architect.
Why don’t you share more about the house (year built, construction method, floor structure design, roof frame, staircase to the attic, floor plan) ;-).
- Access to the future upper floor (stairs)
- Supply of utilities (electricity, water, if desired)
- Floor structure (structural integrity, impact sound insulation)
In a partial interior finish, dormer windows can increase the usable space.
A good point of contact would be an architect.
Why don’t you share more about the house (year built, construction method, floor structure design, roof frame, staircase to the attic, floor plan) ;-).
First of all, congratulations! Twins are definitely quite a handful.
Could you describe your current room layout? How old are the older children? For example, is it possible that one of them might move out soon?
Would an extension be possible? Even adding just a few meters (feet) on each side can make a difference and allow for an additional room.
You will probably need to consult an architect.
Also, keep in mind that with twins, you might soon find it difficult to move around easily. My husband’s cousin is now at the end of her seventh month and looks just like I did at the end of my pregnancy.
Could you describe your current room layout? How old are the older children? For example, is it possible that one of them might move out soon?
Would an extension be possible? Even adding just a few meters (feet) on each side can make a difference and allow for an additional room.
You will probably need to consult an architect.
Also, keep in mind that with twins, you might soon find it difficult to move around easily. My husband’s cousin is now at the end of her seventh month and looks just like I did at the end of my pregnancy.
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