Closing My Alfresco to Make It a Rumpus Room

LCluelessguy101 on 22/01/2024 - 03:06

I live in canberra and want to close my alfresco. We hardly sit outside just because its either too hot or too cold. We now are looking to closing it and making it a rumpus room with sliding doors. We do not want brick walls in our new rumpus room, just cause itll make it obvious that this wasn’t an original living space and when we do sell it in the future it counts as living area.

We are trying to make it drywall giprock though it seems expensive with painter and giprocker to find and give contract. Have got people recommending just leave it brick though we just dont feel bricks will be cosy enough to spend all our time there especially with us seeing insects come out of holes in the bricks.

Would love some any recommendations on what we should do. Cheap cladding options that leave the space lighty and welcoming and feels cosy (not diy) and perhaps what you would do if you were in my position. Budget is the main issue though we know we do not want exposed brick walls in the new rumpus. The sliding door quotes already costing more than $10k double glazed.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • AustriaBargain on 22/01/2024 - 03:12
    +1

    I don't mind the brick. I moved into an extension that used to be a carport and am looking at the former brick exterior right now. Also have three former windows along the brick wall that have been boarded up on this end (and on the other side there's drywall which makes it look like there was never a window, which left one room windowless). Living in a shitty extension I can recommend that you seal all air gaps in case you ever want to install an AC. And if you have a flat roof like me then you will want an AC, so insulate the roof good. Also the flat roof here leaks so make the roof gooder.

    You do get used to the spiders. They used to bother me, but I just think of them as my spider bros now.

    • Cluelessguy101 on 22/01/2024 - 05:26

      Spider bros is crazy haha. But yes that is a very valid point to make sure everything is sealed up properly in preparation of adding a A/C, whenever in the near future!

  • lgacb08 on 22/01/2024 - 05:28
    +1

    What's the roof material of the area? If it's uninsulated then you'll need a review on double glazed glass because it will not make a difference in summer when the area will be toasting hot. Reg buyer will be able to tell if it's not the original living space when they look at the floor plan and roof layout.

    • AustriaBargain on 22/01/2024 - 05:35

      Absolutely. My roof is two thick sheets of steel separated by girders and it gets seriously hot in here. The whole house does, but the flat roof means it gets heat all the time. If gap between the sheets of steel were bigger and it were stuffed with insulation then maybe it would be easier to cool and heat.

    • Cluelessguy101 on 22/01/2024 - 12:27

      The roof is colourbond and it’s seamlessly attached to the house. And to a non construction person like me, i just think properly putting sliding doors with 0gaps and drywall for walls will definitely make it seamless that it is a living space. Obviously we will need new flooring as the tiles are currently outdoor tiles.

  • Lord Fart Bucket on 22/01/2024 - 07:46

    What's your alfresco like? Open on 1 side? 2 sides? 3 sides?
    If you're going to make it into living space, don't go cheap. I would look at sliding glass doors on all sides, so if you (or whomever you eventually sell the house to) decides to turn it into a somewhat alfresco area, they can.

    Other things to consider, insulation, aircon/heating, flooring (if tiled, i would just work with rugs).

    • Cluelessguy101 on 22/01/2024 - 12:24

      Yeah so my alfresco is rectangular 6m x 3m with two openings of roughly 285m and a pillar in between. Its currently tiled in outdoor tiles but we are now getting quotes for floating vinyl just like our bedrooms. In terms of cladding for walls in ideas?

  • SBOB on 22/01/2024 - 08:10
    +1

    Cheap cladding options that leave the space lighty and welcoming and feels cosy

    Hardie cladding panels (or equiv) come in plenty of variations and look decent. Can get external and internal ones. Can just be permanent installed on brick walls using adhesive.

    • Cluelessguy101 on 22/01/2024 - 12:28

      Wow, they seem amazing. Thank you so much for the idea!! What type of people can I contact for installing h these as-well as lets say skirtings

      • SBOB on 22/01/2024 - 13:14

        No idea sorry.
        Carpenter or potentially just a regular handyman I'd expect.

  • krisp on 22/01/2024 - 08:35
    +2

    Ziptrak PVC blinds

    • Cluelessguy101 on 22/01/2024 - 12:25

      Would that be properly insulated and give that cosy feeling?

  • MrFrugalSpend on 22/01/2024 - 09:15
    +2

    First thing is first… if you want to be able to sell this house, with this as a living area, it needs proper Building Approval.
    This will in part dictate what you can construct it with, how it should be insulated for things like wind ratings and Part J requirements of the National Construction Code and the likes.
    Honestly $10K is not expensive for this. Depending on the size, to do it properly, get the design signed off and BA, I would expect quite a bit more.
    However if you really are a 'Cluelessguy101', this will likely mean consulting a professional who can help you through this.

  • Cluelessguy101 on 22/01/2024 - 12:25

    Sure, will definitely start reaching out!!

  • tik tok on 22/01/2024 - 19:17

    just cause itll make it obvious that this wasn’t an original living space and when we do sell it in the future it counts as living area.

    Well done on owning a house in Canberra! IIRC 90% of dwellings in Canberra have some sort of illegal structure (without building approval) on the property and have no trouble selling. So, you might want to keep that in mind.

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