how to determione the Size of loft?

[Shannonbeth]

So I was sitting here and thinking and I started to wonder. Lets say you have a main floor Sq ft of 1600...is the loft also going to be 1600 or can you make it different sizes?

[BoFuller]

I'm doing a 3/4 loft, so for 1600 ft that would be 1200.
You can also do a half loft for 800 or you can do a complete 2nd floor for an additional 1600.
You can do anything you want, but those are the easiest.

[Shannonbeth]

That makes sense, Thank you Bo.

[JeffandSara]

Hi, Shannonbeth--

Our third-floor loft space is basically two-thirds the floor size of our main floor, because we have three floor girders from north-to-south, and the loft spans two. As Bo says, you can design the loft in lots of different configurations, depending on what you're looking for, how much square footage you need, where your stairs will go, etc.

Remember when calculating your actual/official square footage, however, that usable square footage in a loft isn't the same as on another floor, unless you have a partial log wall to raise the slope of the roof. My understanding is that, although you CAN often find uses for the shorter parts of sloped-roof area, the actual "useable" square footage is only counted from where the ceiling is a certain height (which may vary in different jurisdictions) from the floor on that level of your home.

Sara :)

[Shannonbeth]

I am tryin to figure out how much sq ft I would need for 3 bedrooms and a full bathroom if possible up in the loft.

[rreidnauer]

Non-master bedrooms? I'd say 100~120 sq-ft each. Full bath, you can squeeze one into 50 sq-ft, and add another 8 if you want a towel closet. Then figure for whatever you need for hallways.

[ny_log_home_dreamer]

Where I live the code requires a minimum size for any partioned room to be at least 70 sq ft and no smaller than 7' for any horizontal measurement within each room, i.e. I couldn't partion a room to be 5' x 14' even though that meets the 70 sq ft requirement, because one of the horizontal measurement is not at least 7'. Like someone said all jurisdictions are different. I like Rod's idea. Our current master bedroom is 12 x 11, not big for a master bedroom, but I would rather have the space for a great room or open shared living space where the family spends most of its time togther when inside. I love an open floor plan! Our current non-LBHA log home is 1254 and the builder managed to sqeeze in 3 bedroom and 2 fullbaths (1 bath containing a closet for the washer and dryer). We are on a slab and have a vaulted ceiling, so the house is super effecient. With some creativity and some know how I sure you will come up with a good design for your loft!! :D

[LogLover]

Shannonbeth - where oh where are you??????? :confused: ;) ;)

[panderson03]

she tends to bop in and out approx every 9 mos or so. don't worry. I bet she'll be back :) Hey LogLover, you signing up for the November class? we just finished chinking the garage and hope to be completely finished with that by the end of this building season so we can focus all of our attention on the cabin. we're sure going to need help next year (and the year after !!) :)

[LogLover]

Hey there!
Nope - LV and myself shall never ever meet again. Some call it Sin City of course. I call it Scum.
Maybe the location shall change someday and I will be there in a flash, #1 at the door even.:D

It needs to happen sooner rather than later though - I have the land, cleared an area I will place my home on and hope to have power in yet this fall maybe?
Working on a smaller yet permanent cabin that can be used for other uses in future. Or added to and maybe become the final solution at that. The dream remains a BnP log home if someday I can make the class. If not I guess that it was not meant to be ........

So you been one busy bee it sounds like. Are you now living there FT or commuting while building? No rain this year so that was positive for building. So miserably hot it was hard to stay motivitated, at least for me. I suspect we are not living that far apart up there? Be happy to drop in and toss up some mud next year. By then I will be on board via a class or have passed on it to get to my goal of year round up north accomplished. One way or the other the dream shall be moving ahead at warp speed.

Thanks for heads up on Shannon. I check in when I can here hoping to see a new class setup and to peek at what everyone is up to.
Happy Trails to all!

[LogLover]

she tends to bop in and out approx every 9 mos or so. don't worry. I bet she'll be back :) Hey LogLover, you signing up for the November class? we just finished chinking the garage and hope to be completely finished with that by the end of this building season so we can focus all of our attention on the cabin. we're sure going to need help next year (and the year after !!) :)

I just saw your updated blog entries - looking mighty nice. And moving along mighty fast ..... looking great :):cool:

[panderson03]

thanks:) feels great to see this one coming together!

[Zetmandu]

Not trying to hijack this thread but my question does have some relation to it.
With the 2 story stock 30x30 plan, when someone is talking about the "loft" does that mean an area above the 2nd floor? I guess what Im trying to figure out is if there is actually some area above the 2nd floor that can be used as storage or something, or when someone says loft, is that actually the 2nd story.

[BoFuller]

The answer is yes.
Depending on how high you go, you could have a loft above the second floor or it could be the second floor. I'm tending towards the loft above the 2nd floor but it depends on if I have enough logs. My little brother says I probably don't.

[loghousenut]

I don't know what the correct daffynition is but I always thought of a loft as being a space, defined by a railing, that is mostly, or partly, open to the cathedral ceiling. To me it also has something to do with intrusion of the rafters into the space meaning that it is directly below the roof. I think it could be a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th level loft.

I'm betting that most of the world would disagree with my assessment.

[Zetmandu]

Well Im planning to have 16ft walls walls and 6/12 pitch. Based on that is it possible I would have a loft above the 2nd floor. Im hoping/planning the 2nd floor, while it wont cove but half the 1st floor will not have any angled roof concerns as I'm going to have a bathroom up there and for my code requirements I need a min of 6'8" over any fixture.