Rules about what constitutes a bedroom? (NC) (appraisal, property, legal)
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A skylight would only work if it had a permanently attached ladder to access it and a means to access the ground once on the roof.
Maximum sill height for windows is 44".
He is referring to a skylight for natural light not egress, in which case you would not need a ladder. And for egress you do not need access to the ground such as a fire escape or else all second story bedrooms in homes would be considered non-conforming.
I agree, the only firedoors that i've ever heard of that are required are for garages. Otherwise it may vary by region, but usually you need to have a window and a closet to be considered a room. Sounds like in OP's situation someone took a "bonus" room den/office and put in a tiny closet to justify having an extra bedroom.
I'm pretty sure that's how they planned it when the space was finished. It's added on space (finished on 2nd floor, I presume what used to be a walk up attic, with some tweaks, as the house has 2 staircases to the 2nd floor and the areas they lead to do not connect).
The first set of stairs (front of house) lead to 2 upstairs bedrooms and a bath.
The second set (back of house) leads to 2 rooms. One you walk straight into at the top of the stairs (more like a typical bonus room) and off the side of the bonus room, there's a double doorway (no doors) that leads to another room with a full bath (shower only) and a tiny, tiny closet. It's the size of a linen closet, minus the shelves one might find in a linen closet.
It's being described as a media room (that's how it's being used)/4th bedroom.
But, on MLS, it's listed as a 4br.
Anyone who wants to see the listing can PM me. There's an excellent couple of photos that illustrate the setup.
I just think there's something odd about listing it as a 4br.
If all the "bedrooms" were accessible by the same stairs and one just didn't have a door attached, and only the bonus was by the separate stairs, maybe.
If it was in it's current configuration, yet ALL the upstairs rooms were accessible by both sets of stairs? Maybe.
It kinda seems "off" to me.
I've seen houses listed as 4br, and in the notes they call the bonus a bonus/5th br, and it has a closet, window(s) and a door. I'm fine with that.
I just dunno.
I am sorta wondering now if the 3br homes nearby wouldn't support the asking price.
He is referring to a skylight for natural light not egress, in which case you would not need a ladder. And for egress you do not need access to the ground such as a fire escape or else all second story bedrooms in homes would be considered non-conforming.
As implied- If there is no window, and the only means of light is through a skylite- where is the second means of egress?
And no, you don't need egress such as a fire escape unless there is a door (on an exterior wall) and less than 36sq/ft. of open space (balcony).
As implied- If there is no window, and the only means of light is through a skylite- where is the second means of egress?
And no, you don't need egress such as a fire escape unless there is a door (on an exterior wall) and less than 36sq/ft. of open space (balcony).
No one said there was no window. I think your reading comprehension is a bit off.
I'm pretty sure that's how they planned it when the space was finished. It's added on space (finished on 2nd floor, I presume what used to be a walk up attic, with some tweaks, as the house has 2 staircases to the 2nd floor and the areas they lead to do not connect).
The first set of stairs (front of house) lead to 2 upstairs bedrooms and a bath.
The second set (back of house) leads to 2 rooms. One you walk straight into at the top of the stairs (more like a typical bonus room) and off the side of the bonus room, there's a double doorway (no doors) that leads to another room with a full bath (shower only) and a tiny, tiny closet. It's the size of a linen closet, minus the shelves one might find in a linen closet.
It's being described as a media room (that's how it's being used)/4th bedroom.
But, on MLS, it's listed as a 4br.
Anyone who wants to see the listing can PM me. There's an excellent couple of photos that illustrate the setup.
I just think there's something odd about listing it as a 4br.
If all the "bedrooms" were accessible by the same stairs and one just didn't have a door attached, and only the bonus was by the separate stairs, maybe.
If it was in it's current configuration, yet ALL the upstairs rooms were accessible by both sets of stairs? Maybe.
It kinda seems "off" to me.
I've seen houses listed as 4br, and in the notes they call the bonus a bonus/5th br, and it has a closet, window(s) and a door. I'm fine with that.
I just dunno.
I am sorta wondering now if the 3br homes nearby wouldn't support the asking price.
Go back a few posts and see where I noted that one of the main reasons for this is the septic system. The systems are designed per bedroom.
What and whose definition is very important! Taxing authority has one, Multiple Listing Service another, local and state codes another, sanitation systems another . . . buyer beware . . . I see homes listed frequently with a 'wrong' bedroom count.
It has to have a closet. They may taken the door off, or opened up the entry to the room. You can always put a door back on. To be sure, ask the agent who showed it to you.
That depends on when the house was built. Our house was built in the late 1800's and has no closets.
To answer the OP's question ... in order for a room to be considered a bedroom it must have egress .... access to the outside. Such as a window.
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