📲
Adding Another Storey? Consider These Factors

Adding Another Storey? Consider These Factors

Adding Another Storey? Consider These Factors
(Shutterstock)

Want to upgrade your home and a new floor to the structure? There are a lot of factors that you will have to consider before planning to increase your living space vertically.

MakaaniQ lists things you should consider before adding a storey and ensure that the extension is fruitful:

The impact on the structure

Before you begin the whole process of construction a brand new floor, let your architect and builder/contractor inspect the ground and the existing structure to know whether or not the two can withstand a new structure on top. A new structure means more pressure and weight on the ground as well as on the existing structure.

Another factor is to know whether or not you could construct a staircase in the existing structure that could take you to the new floor.

Draft a design

Once the property is inspected and the structure is approved of withstanding a new floor, sit with your architect and contractor to figure the design of the property. Let the two share the possibilities in the design of the new floor. While they are at work you could know about:

  • Extended outside space
  • The ceiling height of the new floor
  • Ways to maximise flow of natural air and light, among others

Get involved in the process, raise questions and give suggestions.

The FSI

Before you add another floor know the permitted floor space index of your locality. Floor space index (FSI) is the ratio of the area of floor to the area of the plot on which a building stands. In some cities, FSI is known as floor area ratio (FAR). Hence, check on the permissible FSI and see whether or not you can add that floor you are planning.

For instance, if the permissible FSI is 3, the ratio of the area of floor to the area of the plot would be 3. This means that the floor area of a building built on a 1,000 sq ft land should not exceed 3,000 sq ft.

Stay in or move out?

This question would arise before the work on the new floor begins. It is advised that the dwellers move out of the property during the construction process. First, there could a chance of replacing the roof of the house with a new flooring. Second, the contractor will have to turn off the amenities at a given point to ease the construction process. Third, you don't want to deal with continuous dust and fumes during the process.

The basics

It's time to speak to the plumber and electrician. The job is to make the basic water and electricity connection seamless and in sync with the ones on the floor/s below. Adding a new floor is like building a house on a house, hence, the need to inspect whether or not the connection can be replicated is important.

The complete look

The new addition should not look out of place and to ensure that your architecture must give the new floor a look that is similar to the floor/s below. In fact, the exterior of the home should be painted to give it a single-entity look. This might require you to give a little makeover to the existing floor, too.

Also read: Broker's Corner: All You Need To Know About Vastu

Last Updated: Tue Sep 26 2017

Similar articles

@@Tue Feb 15 2022 16:49:29