I have been reading Fine Homebuilding only for the past year so I am a rookie at how this works. I have enjoyed several articles on bathroom renovation especially those that highlight making the room bigger with a bump-out. I am at the next stage as in how do you do that. Can I do this myself? Do you have details on the framing and construction?
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The way the forum works, is
picture yourself walking into a room full of knowledgeable builders and quasi-builders. all ready to offer free advice of all kinds...
but before we can give guiding advice, we need to know where you are at now
So describe a bit of what sort of experience you have had, what skills you have, and what sort of framing and house style and foundation you have now. Maybe how old the place is and what climate you live in.
Pictures help too.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
quasi.... I like. That might go on the side of my van. 7G, Quasi-Carpenter
No pictures as of yet. The bump-out I would like to build is on the upper floor of a split level home so it will be elevated from ground level. We live in Montana so the climate is varied from 100 degrees to -30 degrees.
As far as experience I would like to consider myself a dedicated do-it-yourselfer that has done roofing to flooring
For a bump out on the second floor of an existing, you would probably need posts to foundation piers, or an engineered soluytion such as structural corbels for support.I'm thinking you need a local design professional, or a darn good framing guy as suggested above to get you right structurally
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Supporting the bump-out is my concern too. I would like to extend the bathroom only to the end of the existing roof rafters (about 20"). If Ican do this I can rotate the tub/shower 90 degrees.
I have a window on the lower level which is half basement that I would like to remain unobstructed. Building support posts is an option but I would prefer to support the bump-out from the house structure itself.
The way to do that is with cantilevered floor joists, but this will require the services of an engineer. It can be done, but it exceeds the simple rules of thumb. You will end up extending the sistered joists or LVLs back into the existing quite some distance requiring you to get to that space from the ceiling below, or the flooring above, depending on your situation. If this is unfinished basement, that is probably where you will be handling it from.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I can get to this area from the basement ceiling. I suppose it's time to asses whether the cost of construction and engineering design will make this idea cost effective.
Thanks for the advice!
Can ou do this yourself? Depends on your skill set. Tell us what you can do or think you can do.
Lots of particulars to bumping out a wall in any room, and sometimes even moreso for a bathroom. Post some pics of what you have and maybe some pics that you've got for ideas of what you want to do and maybe someone can offer some help.
I work for a lot of do it yourselfers because my business promotes that. Find a guy like me who just builds the shell and go from there.
http://www.shelladditions.com
Edited 11/7/2008 7:58 pm ET by shellbuilder
"Do you have details on the framing and construction? "
Yes, yes I do. Vic
Our house has a tiny full bath for the master bathroom on the second floor that I've thought of bumping out. Since I would have to hold up the bumped out bathroom I was going to build a room under it as well.
Unless you have some reason not to I'd build a room under it as well. The room under the bump out would adjoin the garage. I could always use the storage adjacent to the garage. Most people can.