Help! Can this loft be converted to a 4th bedroom?

8 years ago

I am considering purchasing this home that has 3 bedrooms and a loft. I would want to convert the loft to a 4th bedroom - but does it look possible, or would the layout be too weird? The dimensions of the entire loft are 20x12. We just need a small bedroom though. I see a cold air return in the bottom corner, so not sure how that would play into things.

(First pic is view from the stairs...door to the left is another bedroom. Second pic is view from by the loft windows and pictures the master bedroom door and stairwell.)

Please advise!! Thank you!!

Featured Answer

Judy Mishkin

8 years ago

a floorplan will help, with all of the heating vents and returns... a new wall will require outlets on it. not sure of your market and how valuable a very small 4th bedroom would be. but what i've learned through a lot of houses its always cheaper to buy what you want than to buy what you almost want and then renovate. if you already owned this unit, perhaps adding a bedroom would be cheaper than moving. its unlikely its cheaper *in the end* than just buying a 4 bedroom unit.

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Comments (8)

User
8 years ago
You can not have a bedroom that is entered from another bedroom. So unless you can also move the entry of that bedroom to a common hallway, no, you can not make that into a bedroom. And there are other requirements for a legal bedroom as well that will invite expense other than “just” putting up a wall.
curlygirlie1189
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes I realize it would be more than just putting up a wall, and that some type of hallway would have to be formed. My question is -- would that be POSSIBLE? I'm having trouble envisioning the layout of the hallway/bedroom.
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mama goose_gw zn6OH
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
What's the distance between the window wall and the bedroom door? If it's 10' or more, you should have space for a cozy room for a child:
If not that much space available, you can still work with built in storage:
ETA another route for the cold air return. Red lines represent full size platform bed:

(This is just for ideas--I'm guessing at existing windows and doors.)
curlygirlie1189 thanked mama goose_gw zn6OH
curlygirlie1189
Original Author
8 years ago
Wow! Thank you for those plans!! I believe there is only 8 ft of space between window and door. These look like some good options. I really appreciate your help/time!!
mama goose_gw zn6OH
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
You're welcome. In that case, I put the door at the end of the short hall, so that a dressing area is created. The red square represents a longer dresser, or a desk, if only a twin bed is necessary. If you need a full size bed, the red box could be a shallow bookshelf, to provide more floor space along with storage.
jeffreyd9999
8 years ago
How serious are you? If the location and everything else is what you want, then it's time to do some leg work.

The loft looks like a builder option. How new is this house? Your real estate agent can tell you the builder (if they can't, FIRE them).

1) The builder may still have sale/model brochures/floor plans for the house options they have built in the past. Visit a new development from the same builder, they tend to recycle house plans and you may find answers there.

2) You may find plans filed with the city or county for permitting.

3) Walk the neighborhood and knock on doors of the houses that are the same model. Talk to the owners or put up a notice at the mailboxes asking for information.

4) Have your real estate agent pull old listings for this neighborhood. Figure out which ones are your model (zillow, google street view...), and with 4 bedrooms etc. Contact those owners. In Colorado, there is a real estate website with current and old listings. I was able to get a virtual tour of my house from two sales before mine. Nothing ever disappears from the web...

5) Is here a basement and would that be a better place to "build" a bedroom?
latifolia
8 years ago
There could be other issues. Does the room meet code for fire detectors/sprinklers? Do you have a septic system? How many bedrooms was it designed to handle? There may be a reason the builder didn’t make this a four bedroom. Agree that you would be better off just buying a four bedroom.