Attic living: Opening up a world of opportunity
THAT empty space sitting under your roof could offer a world of opportunities, writes Catherine Nikas-Boulos.
Lifestyle
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IN PROPERTY as in milk the cream always rises to the top. The penthouse is the ultimate prize in a high rise and the hilltop house with unobstructed views always a firm favourite with buyers.
So if you are looking for extra living space, it might pay to look up, not out.
When a small block means you are unable to build out and you don’t want the cost of ripping off the old roof and laying a new floor for a complete second-storey addition, a roof conversion could be the solution.
It’s a scenario familiar to residents of Sydney’s inner west suburbs in need of extra space. It’s cheaper than a second-storey addition, as the roof stays in place, and the standard roof pitch of Federation and Victorian properties common in these older suburbs means there is plenty of space to play with.
Marketing manager of Attic Living, Markella Pehlivanidis, says roof space gives the homeowner the option of staying put in their home.
Given the cost of moving, agent’s fees and stamp duty, she says if you really love where you live, it’s better to stay put.
“There are several options when it comes to the roof conversions,” Markella says. “You might need access to roof space for maintenance reasons so will need to add a retractable ladder.
“You might want to convert the attic into extra storage if your wardrobes are overfull and you want somewhere to put the Christmas tree and suitcases.
“The third option is premium. That involves converting the roof space into a proper habitable area with a structural floor and plasterboarding the walls.”
Attic Living’s building supervisor Josip Kasunic explains that people don’t need as much ceiling space as they might think.
Height matters
The Building Code of Australia stipulates a 2.2m head height in about 66 per cent of the ceiling area to proceed with a habitable roof conversion. If you have a permanent staircase installed you will need a head clearance of 2m all the way.
“Traditional Californian bungalows and inner city terraces usually comply because they have the high pitches. Homebuyers would choose to take this option because it’s cheaper working with the existing roof structure than demolishing the roof and starting a first-storey extension,” Jospit says.
Attic conversions can buy a significant amount of space, and even if you lose a room downstairs to accommodate a staircase, you would be able to build a new living space and an extra couple of bedrooms in the new roof space, he adds.
An engineer will assess the strength of a home’s foundations before proceeding with any structural work and usually use lightweight materials. Weatherboard homes can usually take the load if the footings are strengthened first.
“We’ve been doing a lot of homes in Tempe, Newtown, Marrickville and Potts Point. People are crammed for space and this is the easiest way to gain extra room,” Josip says.
and Roof Conversions.
LOOKING OUT
Manipulating the roof for aesthetic reasons or scooping a large chunk of the roof out to create a balcony is another popular choice.
Attic and Roof Conversions’ Patrick Houston says the roof offers many opportunities to create a winning space if you think outside the box
He says his job sometimes requires him to upstyle properties to make them more appealing to the real estate market. A recent job in Roseville involved the addition of turrets to make the home appear more prestigious, “We made a $2 million home appear like a $3 million home,” he says.
Other homebuyers simply want a view.
“In areas like Dee Why, Pittwater, Bondi and Manly we have been asked by owners to take the roof off almost completely. They say: ‘I would like a view of Icebergs, please take away part of my roof’, or in Manly, ‘It would be great to overlook the Esplanade’.”
APARTMENT LIVING
It’s not only freestanding properties that get a look in. Top floor apartments are also big business for Attic and Roof Conversions.
“It all comes down to what the market is doing. Top floor units used to be the cheapest because people didn’t want to have to walk up all those stairs, now they tend to be popular because you can negotiate with body corporate for the roof space above your unit.
“You can chop out part of your roof space and conjure up (extra living space). You may want a dormer roof over the top with french doors. ”
Patrick says house prices in Sydney have forced people re-think what is feasible. He agrees it often makes economic sense to stay where you are.
“Sydney real estate prices have gone up 30 per cent in the last 12 months. It’s a hell of a leap. Children will stay at home longer because they can’t afford to go out on their own and parents will need to find more space somewhere.”
Pictures marvellephotography.com.au
More Attic and Roof Conversions, atticandroofconversions.com.au; Attic Living (part
of the Attic Group) atticgroup.com.au; Colorbond, colorbond.com; Combined Roofing Solutions, roofingsolutions.com.au; VM Zinc, vmzinc.com.au
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