The situation when the size of the house no longer satisfies the owners is not uncommon. You don’t want to move, sell your house and buy a new one with more rooms. What to do? Engage in remodeling or construction. Will tell you what options exist for increasing the area of your home.
First – second floor or attic
An option for owners of one-story houses who require an additional living room. The advantage is that there is no need to occupy a plot of land, it remains free from buildings, the garden and vegetable garden are not affected. However, if you plan to build a full second floor or attic, it is advisable to turn to professionals. It is required to carry out calculations of the increasing load on the walls, floors and foundations, dismantling the old roof, a new rafter system and a staircase that will take up space on the ground floor. The project is expensive, but you can almost double the area of the house.
Important! If the house has a high roof and a spacious attic, it can be insulated and turned into a living room. This is significantly cheaper than building an attic with dismantling the existing roof.
Second – glazing and insulation of the terrace
If the house has an open terrace, it can be turned into a living room by glazing and high-quality insulation. Plus – the base and canopy are already there; all that is required is panoramic glazing and roof insulation. If it is not possible to connect to the general heating system of the house or the owners do not want to spend money on communications, you can install electric convectors or build a stove or fireplace. Yes, the room will be a walk-through room, but it can be used as a living room with a beautiful view.
Third – extension
The portal Rmnt.ru has a detailed article about the features of an extension to the house , which will become a full-fledged living room. A foundation is required, but if the structure is framed and lightweight, it can be inexpensive, piled. In order not to dismantle the existing roof, a separate one is erected above the extension, but tightly adjacent to the house. You will have to occupy part of the land plot, do construction, provide heating for the new room, but you can significantly expand the house, provide space for parents who can no longer live separately, or adult children.
Fourth – garage refurbishment
Converting a garage into living space is a popular option. For a car, you can allocate parking on the site, build a carport, insulate the existing garage, replace the gates with panoramic windows, provide heating and use it as a guest room, living room or bedroom. It is easier to implement the project if the garage is adjacent to the house or is located in the basement – there are fewer problems with communications. The advantage is that the structure already exists; it only requires a thorough alteration, and not construction from scratch.
Fifth – basement conversion
An option if there is a full-fledged basement under the house, and not a cellar or underground . Converting an existing technical room into a residential one will not require expensive construction, but insulation, heating and finishing will not be cheap. The downside is that there are usually no windows in the basement, there may be increased dampness, and effective ventilation will be required. Otherwise, this is a good option for expanding the usable area of the house.
