If you live in a Queenslander, you likely have stumps under your home. Similarly, if you have bought an old Queenslander to move to a new lot, you are probably thinking about adding new stumps, how you should raise your home and what to do with the space beneath your home.
A raised home offers protection from flooding, but if you don't live in an area susceptible to flooding, you can take advantage of the area beneath your raised home to build extra bedrooms, lounges or other living spaces. If you're thinking about adding a living space under a raised Queenslander, here are the steps you need to take.
1. Contact Designers
Before you can break ground on your project, you need a designer who can figure out if your idea is tenable. These professionals take into account the slope of the land, the size of your existing home and other factors to create a design for you. Essentially, you tell your designer what you want in terms of number of rooms or types of rooms, and your designer tries to make that happen on paper for you.
When hiring a designer, ask him or her to include changes in the design fee. That way if any major design changes are required before you start raising the house or building, those changes won't carry any additional charges.
2. Test Your Soil
Before you break ground, you need to have your soil tested. The type of soil under your home has a huge impact on how the house is going to be raised, how long the new stumps must be and where they are best located. In some cases, your designer may request that you have the soil test done before he or she begins designing your project.
3. Consult with an Electrician and a Plumber
If you want electricity and running water in this part of your home, you need to work with an electrician and a plumber. They can help you figure out the most efficient ways to replumb or rewire your home so that the area underneath has these amenities.
4. Work to Maintain the Character of the Home
Some homeowners are happy to have their Queenslander look a bit different in exchange for having more usable living areas, but if you want to retain the original Queenslander feel, you may need to get creative during the design process.
For instance, some homeowners recess the walls of the new living area under their home, and they paint the external walls a light colour. That creates the illusion that the Queenslander is still lifted.
5. Have Your Plans Inspected
Before breaking ground, you will need to have a local certifier or a building inspector sign off on your project. The inspector will look at the results of the soil test and your design as well as your current home. Once, they sign off, you can get started on your project.
6. Raise the Home and Start Building
When you hire someone like Brian's Restumping to raise or reraise your home, make sure that they understand that you plan to create a living space in the area underneath the home. That way, they will be able to take your designs into account as they work. Although Queenslanders traditionally have wood posts, you may want to replace those with stronger steel posts that are resistant to termite damage.
For more tips on how to artfully add a living space under your Queenslander, contact a home raising expert as well as a designer. You will love your extra space and added stability.
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