Lowering Ceilings

jamielittlechild2019

Hello, I've bought a house and Im wanting to build an extra bedroom in the loft and adding a dormer. The loft space is too small & I would have to lower the ceiling and floor in the first floor bedroom, which will result in having a bedroom height of 217cm. It would also cause the dining room underneath to have a lower ceiling at 220cm. I know these aren't too bad heights but I'd be able to touch the ceiling in both rooms. I'm worried it'll put potential buyers off if I ever decide to sell. My question is are there any ways to take extra space for e.g. narrowing the space between floor boards? The issue is the roof cannot be raised due to restrictions and I don't want to take space from ground level by digging up the floor.

Doozergirl

I think it will upset buyers. It doesn't take much. Is it just the two rooms?  

We've lowered ceilings several
times before but mainly only in houses where the ceiling height was higher than average. 

I have designed it in Central
London but it was in the outrigger extension and the rooms were very small - bathrooms, utility, snug/office area.

jamielittlechild2019

Hi @Doozergirl it'll be the two rooms and then a kitchen extension coming off the dining room, which will be pretty much the same height as the proposed dining room height. I'm meeting the architect again tomorrow to discuss my concerns as these are the only solutions he has come up with. I'm more inclined to have a smaller loft bedroom and keeping the other rooms the original height. He said we could have a loft room with restricted headroom at about 190cm originally without disturbing the size of the other rooms. Do you think this would be a better idea?

Doozergirl

I think it's okay to have a lower ceiling in the loft as long as it meets regs.  

It's hard to day without knowing the house but if it's happening, those rooms need to be acceptably and deliberately cosy, not a main thoroughfare etc.  
 

I certainly wouldn't be building new extensions with restricted head heights - there is a natural break at the original exterior wall that allows you to go up to a normal level, or higher.   

jamielittlechild2019

Thanks @Doozergirl that all makes sense and puts my mind at rest. I think having a loft room that's smaller and all other rooms the same original height is the best way forward. I'll be having a good chat with him tomorrow about this.

fenwick458

190cm, 217cm and even 220cm is too low in my opinion and If I was looking round the house to buy it would turn around and walk right back out again, probably after hitting my head.
have you discussed with a builder the cost for lowering the first and second floors in a house, it almost amounts to rebuilding it..
I'd say if you can get planning it'd be cheaper to just take the roof off, put 2 more courses of blocks on and then put the roof back on

Money_Grabber13579

190cm for a bedroom seems very low, would it actually be useable? If we assume an average person is 6ft, that’s about 180cm so you’ve got 10cm about head height and presumably that would be in the peak, with the rest being lower. How do you get dressed and undressed? For example, you’d have to sit down to put on and take off a jumper…

FaceHead

I agree that they aren't really acceptable heights, except if it's for a specific snug area, not most of a house. 

I also think the concerns about the cost of this project are very valid. I would be wanting a builder involved or a good cost estimate before running up architects costs. 

If this house can't be turned into what you want without almost a rebuild, you should consider moving. 

jamielittlechild2019

Thanks @fenwick458 I will revisit the raising of the roof. The architect said that it is highly unlikely that we'll get planning permission but on more investigation last night on Google Maps I noticed that another house on the street has raised theirs slightly. I am going to knock on their door and ask them about their experience with the council, and what they did.

jamielittlechild2019

Thanks @FaceHead I have a meeting with a builder tomorrow so hopefully get a better idea regarding costs.

jamielittlechild2019

Thanks @Money_Grabber13579 I agree it is too low. Personally, I would struggle getting dressed/undressed so would potential buyers if I ever come to sell.