Fourth bedroom instead of basement?

[VickiR]

Originally Posted by m378

Tell my parents that they have to sleep on a sofa bed for a week - let me know how that goes

Especially for transplants (more out of town guests), it's really nice to have the extra bedroom.

If there is only 2 of you, what are you doing with the other 2 bedrooms?!! Why can't the parents sleep on the sofa bed in the bonus room? Are you willing to give up something else in your home that has the same value? Will you give up a 1 car garage so your parents can have a bedroom that they only use 1 week out of the year? If that is a yes, that is fine. As long as you make that decision based on that knowledge.

[m378]

there is only 2 of you, what are you doing with the other 2 bedrooms?!! Why can't the parents sleep on the sofa bed in the bonus room? Are you willing to give up something else in your home that has the same value? Will you give up a 1 car garage so your parents can have a bedroom that they only use 1 week out of the year? If that is a yes, that is fine. As long as you make that decision based on that knowledge.

Well you would assume that a young couple looking for four bedrooms is planning on having kids.

Spare bedroom also has closet space that can be used year round, and can also be used as an office if enough room.

I don't think anyone in the thread was looking to sacrifice something else for a fourth bedroom.

[VickiR]

Originally Posted by m378

Well you would assume that a young couple looking for four bedrooms is planning on having kids.

Spare bedroom also has closet space that can be used year round, and can also be used as an office if enough room.

I don't think anyone in the thread was looking to sacrifice something else for a fourth bedroom.

Good point. Buyers don't WANT to sacrifice for a 4th bedroom but there is a cost associated. And sometimes when you have a budget, you can't have it all!

[mlhm5]

Most of the time the bonus room over the garage is poorly insulated (ceiling and floor and windows) and not built as well (size and number of floor joists - over garage) as the regular part of the house. Sometimes the knee walls are less than 4 feet. It is not plumbed (maybe because of the exposure of the floor to outside. So IMO, the large room is only for storage unless improvements are made.

[VickiR]

Originally Posted by mlhm5

Most of the time the bonus room over the garage is poorly insulated (ceiling and floor and windows) and not built as well (size and number of floor joists - over garage) as the regular part of the house. Sometimes the knee walls are less than 4 feet. It is not plumbed (maybe because of the exposure of the floor to outside. So IMO, the large room is only for storage unless improvements are made.

My bonus room was built with the rest of my house. Building codes were used to build the entire home. Not sure of the accuracy of your statement.

[Grizzmeister]

One of my current neighbors used that spray-in foam product to insulate his upstairs. He claims that stuff is far superior to traditional fiberglass insulation. Anybody here have any long term experience with it?

[Stagemomma]

I'm stunned that y'all think a northerner expects a basement to be for storage. Basements are for Rec Rooms!

[wake74]

Originally Posted by mlhm5

Most of the time the bonus room over the garage is poorly insulated (ceiling and floor and windows) and not built as well (size and number of floor joists - over garage) as the regular part of the house.

I would be suprised if an architect purposely de-rated the live load of the floor in the bonus room over the garage verses the rest of the second floor. As far as building codes, the Energy Code doesn't stipulate a different roof insulation requirement based upon the purpose of the room to my knowledge, it should be consistent across the house. Obviously, some type of attic conversion, especially if completed by a DIY'er could be completed to any standard, or lack there-of.

I would concede that the HVAC system is often not designed, installed and balanced correctly for the space in a bonus room verses the other spaces on the second floor in the houses we have been in and owned.

[Sal_M]

Originally Posted by Stagemomma

I'm stunned that y'all think a northerner expects a basement to be for storage. Basements are for Rec Rooms!

Yup, that's where you find the bar and all the wood paneling. Weird 1/2 to 1/4 bathrooms are optional!

[adamwmcknight]

Originally Posted by Stagemomma

I'm stunned that y'all think a northerner expects a basement to be for storage. Basements are for Rec Rooms!

That was my understanding as well...but I am from SC, not further north.