Changing Your Home’s Floor Plan? Read This First

Changing the floor plan can open many remodeling possibilities. More than just shifting walls, changes to the floor plan can help create a space that fits your lifestyle and preferences. In today’s post, the home renovation contractors at Owens Construction discuss some of the things you need to know before you change your home’s floor plan.

Why Should You Consider Changing Your Home’s Floor Plan?

Homeowners remodel their homes because they want to improve aesthetics and function. Perhaps the current layout is inconvenient, or some of the space isn’t being used. Maybe circumstances have changed, and the house needs to be adapted to them, like when adult children have moved out and the bedrooms need to be repurposed.

Changing the floor plan can help address these requirements. A room’s footprint can be reallocated with more space, or even merged with another room. The walls between the common areas can be knocked down to create an open floor plan.

Key Factors to Consider

Remodeling projects that involve changes to the floor plan are not as simple as knocking down walls; they have to be carefully planned with experienced remodeling companies because of factors such as:

• Load-bearing walls. These are walls that are part of interior structural support. If they must be taken down, your remodeler will need to make sure that there are alternate support systems in place. Removing them indiscriminately will result in a collapse.
• Privacy. If you are going for an open floor plan, some of the rooms will be more open. This is why common areas like the kitchen and the living room are included in open spaces, while bathrooms and bedrooms are not.
• Utilities. Repurposing or merging rooms may require changes to utilities like plumbing, electricity and air conditioning, which will impact the project cost and timeline.
• Accessibility. Doors and differences in elevation between areas usually hinder accessibility, and the floor plan can be changed to make your home more accessible.

Complex projects that involve changes to the floor plan should be left to the best home remodeling companies in the area. When you’re ready for your home remodel, give Owens Construction call at (614) 846-1149. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.