Turning A Florida Room Into An Addition? Consider These 3 Things
If your home has a Florida room that doesn't get much use these days, you may be looking into a way to convert it into a finished additional room for your home. While using the room's existing foundation and structure makes for a great starting point for an addition, be aware that there can be some issues with trying to do this home renovation project. Keep these 3 things in mind to avoid potential problems.
HVAC Considerations
Chances are that your existing HVAC system is not big enough to cover the additional square footage of the additional room. This can make using a forced air furnace and air conditioner a problem for your new addition. Even if you have the BTUs that will cover the space, the logistics of getting ductwork into the room for exhaust and return vents can be problematic. If you do get the ductwork into the room, the flow of air may not be as strong as you would like.
Consider adding a separate heating and cooling system for your addition. A through-the-wall air conditioning unit can be a great way to cool off the space in the summer, since you can turn on the unit when you're using the room in the evening and on the weekends. For heating, baseboard heat or radiant heat will do a great job at keeping you warm in the winter.
Plumbing Considerations
Adding a bathroom to your new addition? You will want to put in some extra effort to make sure that the pipes are well insulated. With the majority of the walls of the addition being exterior walls, there is a high likelihood that the pipes that you run could freeze on a very cold winter day. At the very least, make sure that you have access to these pipes. Running pipes under the floor could cause a disaster if they burst with no way to access them.
Internet Considerations
You may have Wi-Fi in your home and just assume that you'll be able to access it from your new addition. Unfortunately, the room will be using the existing exterior bricks of your home for the main wall separating you and your router, and that can diminish your Wi-Fi signal. Plan to use a Wi-Fi signal booster, or install Ethernet ports in the room for Internet access.
For more tips about converting your Florida room into an addition, speak to a service such as Bohnstedt Construction.
