Play Loft

Goals of Innovation: The house was built on a lot that in the past was a garden plot for a neighboring house. One of the contingencies of the sale was a height restriction for the house, so as not to block the views of the mountains. The height restriction removed the option of a two story home. By using attic trusses, the space usually lost to trusses, became a very short (4' ceiling height) room. The goal of adding the loft was to allow the main level space to remain clutter-free while also providing a kind of indoor tree fort for the kids during the winter months.

Description: Loft area uses four foot tall space in the attic for storage and play space. Built in cubbies & ladders provide access to the loft through the closet in the boys' bedroom.

Obstacles: The Loft has a low ceiling height and though the access opening is much more than most attic access panels, it was a bit hard to get sheet rock up and installed. Because it was a second level and open to below we were required to add a smoke detector.

Cost Information: The attic trusses cost a bit more than standard trussed because the bottom chord needs to bear floor load, about $20-$30 per truss. Labor & materials to sheath the floor, hang sheet rock & all of the work up there was a bit more difficult and therefore more costly.

Additional Benefits/Drawbacks: In the summer the space can provide a bit of stack ventilation with the help of a box fan pulling heat out the window. It also makes attic access more convenient not having to mess with ladders.