Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Feb 02, 2007 1:18 pm Hi, I'm newly registered but have been lurking around for a while finding lots of terrific information! I have a few questions maybe someone can help me with. I am a complete dummy about renovating so please go easy on me!
We are planning to build some rooms (bedroom, second bathroom) under our 1970s small hardiplank home. It's on a flat block and has a concrete slab under. The posts are steel apart from 3 brick stumps at the front. The height under the house from concrete to bottom of the supporting beams is only 137cm, so would be less than this when finished, just a bit short of legal height (bummer!) . So my questions are, firstly, is there any way to get around the legal ceiling height issue other than raising the house? I don't know exactly what I'm asking here, lol. I think I had visioned some vague notion of a waffle type ceiling... which would probably look gross even if possible? Also, does it really matter (eg. to home buyers, resale value) if the rooms aren't legal height, assuming that we will be wanting to sell in about 5 years time? I know that's probably a dumb unanswerable question, but we're just after some different opinions and new points of view that perhaps we haven't thought of. pros and cons Our neighbours have all built under without raising, but they're not ever planning to sell. I suppose we really don't want to put ourselves in the position of building it all in and then regretting we didn't raise the house at some point later on. Would it cost less to raise the house because it's on a flat block? Would anyone know an approximate cost given that the block is flat, there is already a slab and only raising by perhaps about 10cm (and does cost increase with height raised?)? Sorry so many questions, thanks in advance! Re: Should we raise the house? 2Feb 02, 2007 2:11 pm Your best bet is to ask your local shire. don't go by what the the neighbours have done, it could be illegal and have to be removed.
In regards to you're 5th paragraph if you were a potential buyer ask yourself this question; Would you? Re: Should we raise the house? 3Feb 03, 2007 6:33 pm Thanks Rod, yes I am pretty sure at least one of our neighbours did their buiding in all legal with approval etc. I'll ask them though to make sure, and double check with council.
If I were buying another house, I would certainly be happier if the house had been raised, all legal heights etc. But so long as it was in my price range, lol. I might be happy enough if it were just developed under nicely not legal height if it meant I was saving a lot of money, if that makes sense. We just don't want to spend a lot on raising for not so much gain, our house is small/modest and in a modest area although there is a housing estate opening nearby which is said to be increasing the value of our homes here. So I'm not sure if it would be worth it in the long run to raise it, or not. I have no real idea of how this affects prices though. TY again ok thanks - yes was wondering if that should have been listed as Option Three! 2 7741 i had the my concreters concrete right up to the fence. I have pits all along my path, so the water tends to drain away from the house and into the pits. There's only one… 7 12759 i imagine you also have another contract with an architect? and yeah, whatever other's said about special conditions and appendices 16 16000 |