Have you outgrown your family home ? Do you need supererogatory blank for an office or an in - law suite ? Or are you but getting tired of the layout of your current place ? If any of this rings straight , it might be time for a renovation interference . In other words , you should consider making some alteration to your existingfloor plan .
Before you dive into an alteration of your home ’s exist level plan , it help to get in touch with your inner architect . Would your ideal dwelling have defined functional space or an loose layout ? Would it have sleek , modern lines , or a classical , romantic feel ?
Once you ’ve figure out who you are , you’re able to set about to plan an alteration to your existing home . The word " plan " is crucial since most change to an existing floor plan are not weekend DIY projects . These tend to be handsome jobs that require professional service and , in many causa , a skilled architect . And since sure alterations may not be allow orrequire a Trachinotus falcatus , it help to consult with the expert .
Not sure where to begin ? To get some ideas , take a tone at our tilt of 10 manner to interpolate your live trading floor plan . We ’ll start at the top .
10: Attic Additions
For homeowners who need additional livelihood space , the Ionic often offer the most in term of bang for your renovation buck . Since garret tend to launch the distance of a habitation , they offer enough space for multiple rooms , includinghome bureau , home theaters , bedchamber and john .
One downside to attic refurbishment is that they may be expensive . For representative , adding a bedroom and bathroom to an attic averages more than $ 50,000 [ source : Remodeling Magazine ] . The positive side is that there is also a eminent amount of payoff in terms of recouping those price in your household ’s resale value – - as much as 73 pct .
As with any home remodeling projects , there are some important points to consider before you get an attic overhaul . For newbie , you ’ll postulate to be sure your home is strong enough to support the add weightiness of additional way , which requires architectural expertise , according to Omar Garcia , Centennial State - laminitis ofSOGA Construction . extra considerations admit the initiation of stair for attic access , re - routing of mechanically skillful organization , and whether the loft has a high enough roof to accommodate the intended keep infinite .
An attic addition can potentially be a do - it - yourself labor if you ’re quite ready to hand , particularly if you ’ve hired an designer to draw in up the plans for the labor . Those with two leftover thumb should rent a professional builder , at least to help with the structural constituent . The last affair you require is to have your awesome new loft come crashing down into the down level of the sign of the zodiac .
9: Transform One Room into Two
There are many different architectural approaches to household these twenty-four hours . Some are design with many humble room , while others have fewer , larger rooms . In the latter slip , homeowners may want to carve out a functional nook within a larger way , perhaps for a greenhouse orhome office . You might also want to wrick one large bedroom into two pocket-sized ones for kid who are tired of deal a room .
The second option for transmute one room into two is by using a transferrable rampart . This is a nifty way to partition off a space at sealed times while allowing the flexibility to open up it up at others . transferable walls have been around a long time , but only late have tracks and materials become extremely operable and esthetically pleasing . These day , homeowners interested in movable walls have a smorgasbord of options to choose from , including glass or other transparent materials [ root : Garcia ] .
8: Make a Great Garage
Is your house feeling hamper or overcrowded ? Evict your auto and change state your garage into a spectacular political party room or Isle of Man cave ! Garages are a great way to sum up square footage to your live space with comparatively minor modification . And they ’re also normally spacious enough for plenty of layout options .
Before diving event into a service department renovation project , be sure to take what it will take to make the outer space habitable . Is your garage presently wire withelectricity ? If so , distance heaters may be all you require to keep warm in winter . Do you need a toilet in your garage get - away ? If so , adding a plumbing system will substantially increase the scope and cost of the labor .
If you need to keep your car ’s parking spot , consider build up a yoga space or art studio on top of the existing garage . In that case , you ’d commence by removing the roof and building a floor that can accommodate the added level . Just be sure you ’ve sealed the lower spirit level roof so that carbon monoxide and other gases do n’t riddle the distance . You might still want to admit fans and pile of windows in your above - service department abode just to be sure the tune is maintain clean . Once you ’ve framed out your new space , just supersede the roof and voilá … you have a fab new elbow room .
One potential problem with converting garages into aliveness spaces is zoning . Cities vary greatly in their tolerance of such renovations , so be certain to check with your local zoning billet .
7: Exposing a Ceiling
Taking down a ceiling is n’t technically a floor plan alteration , but it can certainly transform a elbow room , nominate it seem larger and promising . It ’s also a great way to make a mediocre sustenance room or master cortege magnificent without a circle of body of work . In fact , taking down a ceiling is probably one of the few jobs in this list that do n’t demand the help of a licensed pro . According to Mike Fowler ofFowler Architectsin Washington , D.C. , this you may do yourself since you do n’t need architectural plans to take down a ceiling .
tear down ceilingdrywallis reasonably slowly , though some homeowners may desire tohire a professionalto re - drywall a vaulted ceiling for a smooth polish . You might also choose toinstall fresh lighting fixture , which may require professional assistant to re - route electric argument .
If you make up one’s mind to leave your roof beams exposed , there are circle of ways to trickily incorporate them into the place . Options include traditional Sir Henry Joseph Wood - stained beams , beams that are painted the same colour as the way , or beam with extra design features , such as a modern kindling schema .
There are also a few important circumstance . For starters , you may not know what you ’ll find when you pluck down the dry wall that hide out the rafters and other structural supports that hold up the roof . These may great - looking architectural chemical element , or stained and pockmark former beams . The condition of these elements may ascertain whether you treat them with key or other material .
6: Create an Open Concept
In the old sidereal day , residential architecture loosely include several minuscule rooms rather than one big one , mainly for ease of heating and temperature reduction . These day the movement infloor plansis the open concept , in which one magnanimous space ( i.e. , a " heavy way " ) connects to smaller expanse of a home . Having an loose floor plan can add natural light , make a infinite feel bigger , and be great for think of . Each of these effects can also increase a home ’s resale value .
According to Tom Kavanagh , a realtor with theCapitol Realty Team , a lot of buyers prefer open construct floor plans , and homeowner who turn several smaller rooms into one expectant keen way generally do well in damage of resale value , especially if you may maintain the architectural character of the original place design .
" Having an open concept is great , but it may be valuable to retain some definition to your functional spaces , " state Kavanagh . " It help to work with a builder who will at least essay to keep original feature article of the dwelling house from a design perspective . "
Ageneral contractoris qualified to work with payload bear walls , installing beams to suffer upper floors where necessary . But some jobs require a morphologic engineer , especially when create a very large smashing elbow room from several small one [ source : Garcia ] . In some cases , a structural engine driver is needed for set what the anatomical structure want in term of support as well as the sizing and strong point of each irradiation that will be bearing weight . You also need to consider the red of walls for mechanical systems and ca-ca sure your heating and cooling system can accommodate the new layout .
5: Design a Deck
Interested in din al fresco ? There is perhaps no good way to conflate indoors with outdoors than to build a pack of cards off the side of a dwelling house . It ’s also a greatway to increase your home base ’s note value . bestow a deck is one of the top five ways to stretch remodeling dollars , with most householder recoup about 70 percent of the price of the deck in their resale economic value [ source : Remodeling Magazine ] .
Fowler notes that add up a deck is specially important for smaller homes with DoI that can seem strangle or dark , such as row homes and townhouses . Deck increase are also a large way to supply natural light to a domicile since they are generally connected to the house by deoxyephedrine doors .
" We do lots of decks that have enceinte French , sliding , or folding doors , " he says . " They can really brighten up a domicile . "
One of the most important considerations when build a deck is maintenance – most homeowners would prefer to keep this to a lower limit . To keep your deck structurally effectual and count good over the years , opt a higher end construction material such as Brazilian hardwood . You could also go with a wood alternative such as composite decking , which may last longer than wood [ source : Donaldson ] .
For homes in warm conditions field , having a deck of cards is essential in terms of your base ’s value . This is especially true if most of the home in your neighborhood provide an outdoor living space . If so , buyers in the domain will do to carry it .
4: Add a bathroom
One of the best and easiest way of life to increase the value of your home is to supply a lav .
" A lot of older home were built with only one bathroom despite having two floor and at least three bedrooms , " tell Kavanagh . " freshly constructed homes typically have at least two full baths upstairs and a powder room below , so having only one bathroom can limit the resale value of a home . "
One important condition when constructing a new bathroom or gunpowder elbow room is whether you may afford to give up the substantial footage . For many older homes , particularly in urban arena , you may necessitate to sacrifice closet space or a humble bedroom for an additional bathroom or powder room . These can be ruffianly choices , but 1 that are significant from a resale view since buyers have derive to expect multiple bathroom , particularly those who are making the switch from a newer home to an older one .
extra condition for summate a bathroom let in where to put it – - you ’ll save time and energy by choosing a location near existing plumbing lines . If you require to tear down wall in purchase order to make for plumbing from another side of the house , the price of the job break down up substantially [ source : Garcia ] . You should also see out if abuilding permitis required . householder who go around this necessary may confront fines or danger having a job that ’s not up tolocal building codes , which can be a trouble for resale purposes .
3: Build a Basement Bonus Room
Whether you ’re look for an extra sleeping accommodation , place theater , or man cave , land up a basement is a great way to contribute much - involve square footage to your menage . Basements are also wonderful for guest rooms , workout areas , playrooms , orhome officesfor the increase number of Americans who work at least part - meter from home .
There are a several crucial things to consider before design a basement space , including any zoning or permit requisite as well as issues that arise when building below grade , such as air timbre and susceptibility to mold [ informant : Garcia ] . Safety is also an issue for basement – you need to be sure there are adequate safety valve routes in font of fervency . Water is probably the biggest potential enemy in a cellar . Before you build , verify your underground lair is dry . Any water seep in is bound to cause problem down the road .
Overall , basement renovations control a lot of clap for your refurbishment buck , even in a soft real demesne securities industry . According to Kavanagh , this is particularly true if the cellar re - do let in an additional bedroom , home office , or the potential for rental income from a ego - contained flat .
" Having a basement apartment that could potentially be lease out tot a portion of time value to a home , " he says . " In some market and look on the size of it and finishes of the quad , basement apartment can off - set a respectable portion of the homeowner ’s monthlymortgage . "
2: Lateral Expansion
Building laterally onto a plate is a common way to alter a floor programme and gain additional living space . Examples let in expanding a living room or kitchen or adding a solarium or other entirely unexampled infinite to an existing floor programme .
harmonise to Mike Fowler of Fowler Architects , lateral increase are very coarse and can be a good alternative to building an additional level inhistoric districtsor in region where building up is not an selection . Two important considerations are having the lot space to hold the addition and maintaining concord between rooms .
" You have to think the system of windows , furniture placement , and the flow from room to elbow room , " tell Fowler . " You require the addition to complement the existing infinite , not overpower it . "
The serious thing about building an addition onto an survive property is that it ’s relatively light to construct and it adds substantial note value to a home in terms of resale . Lateral add-on also offer flexibility . You are limited only by your imaginativeness . Well , that and your local zoning commission .
1: Add an Additional Floor
Do you demand a lot of novel blank space in your home , but do n’t want to move ? Consider go up in the humanity . Up a floor , that is . What ’s nifty about adding an additional floor to your existing home is that there are multitudinous opening for what to do with the contribute space , including extra bedchamber for your develop family or the headmaster suite of your dreams .
Once you ’ve decided to go vertical with your floor plan alteration , there are a number of crucial considerations to take into account . For starters , you ask to know if your beams will convey the additional load of an added floor and whether the foundation of your home is strong enough to hold the extra weight [ source : Garcia ] . Also , you may need to consult an designer and a morphologic engineer about whether the interior wall will want to impart some of the extra weight and , if so , if they will call for to be reinforced . finally , you may need anew roofto go with the extra level , though in some cases the old roof can be recycle .
Additional consideration with a perpendicular addition admit building the floor to withstand high winds inhurricaneregions and seismic activity inearthquakezones . Finally , there may be zoning issues that would prevent the addition of an upper level . Every city is dissimilar in this respect , so be certain to mark off with your local zoning office .
" The addition of an upper horizontal surface is a nifty option when you do n’t have the ability to expand laterally , " says Omar Garcia of SOGA Construction . " More importantly , it ’s a blank canvas in terms of design the space exactly how you want it , and that ’s exceedingly appealing for many homeowner . "
Alter Floor Plan FAQ
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In this clause , I was surprised by the strong opinions people have about the layout of a menage . Sure , we all last in them , but I was n’t educate for the level of point the average someone has about the merit of kitchens that open to the dining space versus schematic dining rooms . I was also surprised by the grandness many people place on maintaining the original architectural features of their home , as if the builder of an historical locality might roll over in his grave if we deviate from his innovation vision . merrily , after working on the piece , I too had come to know my internal architect , and there may be a vaulted ceiling in my future .
