Home >> Do-It-Yourself >> Create More Space in the Home

Create More Space in the Home

If a home does not function well, there are three choices. Two of thesearc thoroughly defeatist and may also be impractical: learn to live with it, ormove to a more suitable house. The third is much more positive; alter it so that it gives the extra living space andzthe additional features needed.The average home is basically a box, within which internal partitions create individual rooms, doors allow movement and windows let in lightand air. Various services are includedwithin the structure - heating,plumbing, wiring and so on. All thesefeatures can he altered, within reason,to make them work better.

When planning alterations, thereare two considerations which shouldconstantly be borne in mind: are thechanges feasible and ate they legal!It is essential to check with the localplanning (coning) and buildingcontrol bodies to find out whetherthe work requires official approval.

Where to improve

Alterations to the use of space in thehome are of two kinds. The first isintended to create an entirely newlivint space..1.he second is to alter thepresent layout of the interior and tochange or improve the services. I loreare some of the possibilities.

In the attic, unused space beneatha pitched root could well becomevaluable extra living space. Remember, though, that providingaccess to the new rooms will meanlosing some space on the floor below.

In the existing upstairs rooms, re-arranging internal walls could createan extra bedroom or bathroom, whileproviding plumbing facilities inbedrooms could ease the pressure onthe existing bathrooms.

Downstairs, removing dividing walls to create walk to create large through rooms orpartitioning large rooms to create twosmaller ones, moving doorways toimprove traffic flow, or altering thekitchen layout could all be considered.It might even he possible to turn anintegral garage into extra living space.

Converting an Attic

A full-scale conversion into one ormore habitable rooms that is, bedrooms and the like lather than justHay or hobby space is one of thebiggest and most complex indoorhome improvement projects. It involves altering the rvvt structure tosnake space for the rooms.

You can strengthen the existing attic will provide access from the floor below,installing roof windows and extending existing services to the new moats. Professional advice isneeded here, and it is advisable tohand over the main structural alterations to a builder or specialistconversion firm. This still leaves plenty id for ,do-it-yourself finishing and faring of the new rooms.

In many older homes, the space beneath apitched (sloping) roof can be used toprovide valuable extra Wing space, oftenwith spectacular results. Reorganization can bringdramatic improvements to the way the house works.

Creating a through room

Creating a through room meansremoving an existing dividing wall, andmay also require the repositioning ofexisting doorways and the formation ofnew windows. 11 the existing wall isloadbearing, a steel beans will have tohe installed to carry the load, andlintels will also be needed over newwindows and over new doors in otherloadbearing walls. It may be necessaryto reroute existing plumbing andelectrical services that cross the wallthat is to be removed. Once the newopening has been formed, there will beextensive Tephistering, to he done, andthe floors in the two rooms will have tobe linked smoothly. The original colourschemes of the two rooms will alsoprobably be different, which may entailcomplete redecoration.

Partitioning an existing room

Subdividing an existing room into twosmaller ones means building a newwall, possibly adding a door or windowto one of the new rooms, and perhaps altering, or extending existing,plumbing, heating and electricalservices to serve the separate rooms.

The new dividing wall will generallybe built as a timber-framed partitionwall faced with plasterboard (gypsumboard), but a solid block•ork wallcould be built on suitable fbundations,which may well need to be inserted.

Creating a new door opening

If the new opening is to be made in aloadbearing wall, a lintel must be usedto bridge the opening. However, if thewall is a non-loadbearing partition, simple alterations to the wall framingare all that will be needed. The jobwill also involve some replasteringwork, snaking alterations to skirtings(baseboards) and floor surfaces, thefitting of architraves (trims) aroundthe opening, and possibly alterationsto existing plumbing, heating andelectrical services if pipes or cablescrux; the area where the new door willhe installed.

Altering the kitchen layout

The amount of work depends on howextensive the rearrangement. will be.At the very least there will be new baseand wall units (cabinets) and countertops, and these will probably involvesome work on wall and floor surfaces.If repositioning sinks, cookers (stoves),dishwashers. and the like, them willhave to be alterations to plumbing andelectrical services.