We are missing a bedroom and are considering extending, by converting an existing balcony. The idea is to enclose the balcony and create roof trusses so that we have a pointed roof. We would also like to widen the entire balcony by 1.5 m. The room would be approximately 5x4 m.
I have never done anything like this before. The biggest project I’ve done is building a guest cottage (from loose materials). I didn’t find that difficult, but both fun and easy to do.
My question: are we naive to think that we can complete this extension over one summer, my girlfriend and I? What I see as the biggest problem is connecting the new roof to the old one. At that angle, there must be quite a high risk of water damage?
I have never done anything like this before. The biggest project I’ve done is building a guest cottage (from loose materials). I didn’t find that difficult, but both fun and easy to do.
My question: are we naive to think that we can complete this extension over one summer, my girlfriend and I? What I see as the biggest problem is connecting the new roof to the old one. At that angle, there must be quite a high risk of water damage?
Doing the job over a summer, I see no problem with. What matters is that you do it right.
A tip could be to check with a carpenter if you can hire him/her for a few hours just to answer questions about how to do things in certain situations.
A tip could be to check with a carpenter if you can hire him/her for a few hours just to answer questions about how to do things in certain situations.
Thanks for the response!
Yes, it might be a good idea to talk to someone about this. There are quite a few question marks...
An alternative to extending would be to demolish a kattvind, but when I was up in the attic it looks like the kattvind supports the crosswise roof joists.
I can't get up, so I have to stand in the attic opening and look... but it looks like there are thick planks (kind of like 2"x8") that are nailed with two nails to the crosswise roof joist (a beam). If it was really load-bearing, I think the plank would be under the beam...??
How does this sound to you?
Yes, it might be a good idea to talk to someone about this. There are quite a few question marks...
An alternative to extending would be to demolish a kattvind, but when I was up in the attic it looks like the kattvind supports the crosswise roof joists.
I can't get up, so I have to stand in the attic opening and look... but it looks like there are thick planks (kind of like 2"x8") that are nailed with two nails to the crosswise roof joist (a beam). If it was really load-bearing, I think the plank would be under the beam...??
How does this sound to you?
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Those braces could very well be load-bearing. It's quite common to do so, and before nail plates became common, it was often done with a splice using a board on each side of the beam/rule instead.
The advantage of expanding an entire room is that you get standing height all the way out as well.
The advantage of expanding an entire room is that you get standing height all the way out as well.
It sounds like you're talking about the rafters' support legs. It seems to be quite common that they are constructed in that manner (two sturdy boards on either side of the rafter) and they are just as load-bearing, simply part of the rafter itself. It happens that people happily remove them, but it's not something you should do without checking with a structural engineer...chrille112 said:
Regarding the extension option, I think, even though I'm not an expert and can't say how you should do it, that it should be relatively straightforward. Because since there is already a "dormer" there, those rafters should already be cut and offset.
Okay, then we'll leave the kattvind as it is and think about the expansion.
What do you see as the biggest challenge with the expansion? Is it the connection with the roof?
What do you see as the biggest challenge with the expansion? Is it the connection with the roof?
Here's a closer picture.
Base? Do you mean for the widening of everything? For the balcony, one doesn't need to do much, right? Just remove the metal roof and build on it?
It seems like it would be easier to extend with the flat roof, but I don't know if it would look particularly nice....?
Posting a picture I found. It's somewhat the style we're going for. A
Base? Do you mean for the widening of everything? For the balcony, one doesn't need to do much, right? Just remove the metal roof and build on it?
It seems like it would be easier to extend with the flat roof, but I don't know if it would look particularly nice....?
Posting a picture I found. It's somewhat the style we're going for. A
Yes, even those 1.5 meters need their foundation, which should be connected to the existing one in the right way...
The roof connection, as mentioned, and in general the part of the new roof that "overlaps" the old one, I would hire help to get a construction drawing. It's probably routine for experienced builders and designers but not easy to figure out on our own for people like you and me.
Continuing out with the flat roof: But it slopes, so wouldn't it become a bit too low at the front edge? I also don't think it would look very nice. I would prefer a gable roof like on the yellow house.
The roof connection, as mentioned, and in general the part of the new roof that "overlaps" the old one, I would hire help to get a construction drawing. It's probably routine for experienced builders and designers but not easy to figure out on our own for people like you and me.
Continuing out with the flat roof: But it slopes, so wouldn't it become a bit too low at the front edge? I also don't think it would look very nice. I would prefer a gable roof like on the yellow house.
We would like to do the widening anyway, to get a wider hallway.
I was considering casting plinths, that's good, right?
I have read that you should have an expansion joint between different foundation types. What does that mean in practice? Now the house is on granite blocks, maybe that counts as the same foundation type?
I will contact a carpenter about the construction. If we were to do everything ourselves, do you think 100,000 is a reasonable estimate for what it might cost? It's about 23 sqm (including hallway on the ground floor), but quite a large roof area (metal roof).
I was considering casting plinths, that's good, right?
I have read that you should have an expansion joint between different foundation types. What does that mean in practice? Now the house is on granite blocks, maybe that counts as the same foundation type?
I will contact a carpenter about the construction. If we were to do everything ourselves, do you think 100,000 is a reasonable estimate for what it might cost? It's about 23 sqm (including hallway on the ground floor), but quite a large roof area (metal roof).