NZ experiences of attic conversions

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afe66

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#218077 25-Jul-2017 09:23

As there are a number of house building questions, I thought I could add another.

I live in 1918 Villa with 10 foot (3m) ceiling height. The roof space is 120m2 and has great northern views.

Because of shape house, putting in formal stairs could be tricky. In UK there is an industry for supplying pull down hall stairs etc.

So has anyone done an attic conversion in NZ? Tips?

A.

nickb800

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#1828818 25-Jul-2017 09:30

- Are you saying that you want to lower the ceiling on the ground floor to gain height in the attic? I think that would be difficult as the roof trusses will be in the way and very difficult to move

- Pull down stairs are common but probably not acceptable for consenting a habitable space. If you want it to be a bedroom etc then proper stairs will be required

MikeAqua

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#1828863 25-Jul-2017 10:16

In NZ because we are in high hazard environment, there tend to be a lot of webs between the chords in roof trusses. There isn't often a lot of room to move around, even if there is lot of space. We also have a lot of lower pitched roofs as height restrictions are more widespread than snow.

For all those reasons, attic conversions don't seem to be very common.

I'm guessing your house has sufficient usable space?

Mike

jimbob79

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#1828909 25-Jul-2017 10:48

I have a pull down stairs for my Villa house (same problem 3M high studs). However the stairs unfold (see link below for example). However, I need to stand a chair just to unlock the latch. Also the hinges did not last long.

If you want to do a loft extension you do really need to break out of the roof line and extend up. Building code and council guild lines will determine the maximum size of the extension.

Here is a good example of a loft extension done right with a internal staircase.

https://www.instantstreetview.com/@-41.215839,174.895462,280.85h,-8.36p,1z

and

https://www.instantstreetview.com/@-41.21563,174.89506,128.88h,-0.23p,1z

Heavy Duty Wooden Attic Ladder

kryptonjohn

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#1829014 25-Jul-2017 12:00

All the pull down attic stairs I am used to come with a pole-hook used to pull down the stairs. Never needed to stand on anything?

jimbob79

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#1829021 25-Jul-2017 12:23

kryptonjohn:

All the pull down attic stairs I am used to come with a pole-hook used to pull down the stairs. Never needed to stand on anything?

It's the 3M Stud height that cause the problems, the poll is not long enough. It's only a 1M long. I guessing the expectation that the stud height is about 2.2~4M high.

kryptonjohn

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#1829033 25-Jul-2017 12:39

Ah I see... amazed they made an attic stair long enough to reach the ground... yet not a hook long enough to reach up to it!

New World

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afe66

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#1829173 25-Jul-2017 15:57

Thanks for points.
The space is huge, all day, all year round sun. Never be safe as bedroom but could pass as study, man cave

Going to get quote for gib lining the area and some north facing windows put in (plus one on south side as potential fire escape point as single story drop on one side vrs 2+ on north side).

Stairs might be an issue, so considering cost of getting an engineering company to create something.

Will continue to lurk..

A.

mattwnz

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#1829175 25-Jul-2017 16:00

You probably want to check with council on this, as well as the building code. I believe you may need proper stairs for a habitable space. I believe that those pulldown stair (which are available in NZ) are designed for storage spaces such as attics only, and not for a bedroom etc. It is also logical for health and safety, beucase in a fire, they would be difficult to escape down.

jimbob79

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#1829176 25-Jul-2017 16:00

jimbob79:

I have a pull down stairs for my Villa house (same problem 3M high studs). However the stairs unfold (see link below for example). However, I need to stand a chair just to unlock the latch. Also the hinges did not last long.

If you want to do a loft extension you do really need to break out of the roof line and extend up. Building code and council guild lines will determine the maximum size of the extension.

Here is a good example of a loft extension done right with a internal staircase.

https://www.instantstreetview.com/@-41.215839,174.895462,280.85h,-8.36p,1z

and

https://www.instantstreetview.com/@-41.21563,174.89506,128.88h,-0.23p,1z

Heavy Duty Wooden Attic Ladder

Previous URL links not working.