Important Things to Consider Before Adding a Mezzanine to Your Home

Chances are, if you work in the industrial sector, you have heard of a warehouse mezzanine. These help create more floor space when these facilities become too full.

However, what you may not realize is that you can also create a mezzanine at home. Put simply, a mezzanine is a type of partial floor. Some even describe it as a glorified balcony.

Today, many style-savvy homeowners consider this a trendy addition and the ideal option to add an extra room or extend an existing room. One of the most appealing factors about the mezzanine is that they can be unusual and quirky, as they are often found nestled beneath eaves or the roof, serving as a gallery for the floor below.

Some important things to keep in mind when thinking about the installation of a mezzanine for your home can be found here.

Plan the Mezzanine Carefully

The construction of a mezzanine in your home doesn’t impact the exterior. This means planning permission isn’t usually required. However, if the addition is going to change the slope of your home’s roof or require the addition of a dormer, planning approval is typically necessary.

Structural Alterations

Doing work on your home can be a significant undertaking. Not only for you but also your house. A mezzanine is going to add quite a bit of additional weight to the supporting walls of a house, and it’s going to require its own support system.

In some cases, this is going to require you to modify the current roof and the ceiling. Due to this factor, it’s a good idea to consult with an engineer and have them design the new mezzanine while providing information and calculations for building regulations to make sure everything meets the rules and recommendations from legal entities.

Building Regulations

It’s necessary to acquire building regulations approval to construct a new mezzanine. The primary issue that affects the overall design of the home is the additional fire risk.

When you add a mezzanine to your home, it may make it a three-story house. This means your stairwell is going to require fire doors for each room. In most cases, it’s best to design the mezzanine in a way that ensures your stairwell won’t have to be upgraded.

It’s also important to note that the mezzanine you create should be under 50 percent the size of the room below. It’s necessary to install a balustrade at the edge to prevent falls. A great way to make the most of this space is by adding a storage wall or bookcase to the design.

It’s OK to Be Creative

While the addition of a mezzanine to your home may sound like a lot of red tape, it’s important to comply with all legal requirements. Also, some of the best design options come from the biggest constraints and the smallest areas.

In addition to adding a mezzanine over your living room area or den, consider putting on in your home office, a bathroom, or other parts of the home that may not come to mind at first.

Hire a Contractor for Help 

If the construction of a mezzanine is in your home’s future, it is smart to hire a contractor to help with its installation. They can help ensure the results you want are achieved and that the mezzanine looks amazing when they are done. 

In most cases, this should not be treated as a do-it-yourself project, as there are quite a few things that can go wrong. Letting the professionals handle the installation is always going to be the best option. A mezzanine floor is a cost-effective solution for businesses needing extra room.

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