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Opinion on sunken living room runderwo@mail.win.org 04-13-2007
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Posted by runderwo@mail.win.org on April 13, 2007, 1:27 pm


My house is 3br on a slab with a big kitchen/dining area where the
dining area opens to a sunken great room. The great room has a
fireplace and is very 70's (decoration ceiling beams, popcorn ceiling,
painted-over wood panelling, etc). The carpet is bad. The great room
is sunken 10 inches. We are considering raising the sunken floor to
be level with the dining room and installing a hardwood floor. There
are no windows and only an old patio door which could be easily raised
when it is replaced due to its location.

Has anyone else done this? Is it worth it to update the look, or is
this kind of thing still marketable? I am getting mixed opinions all
around. Some people like them and others think it's a dated look and
would be a sticking point for those who would have elderly visitors.

I think the ceiling height will still be ok, especially after the
beams are removed.

Instead of raising the floor, we could just do other things to update
the look like removing the panelling and installing the hardwood floor
on the slab as it is.

Just a slow burn process on figuring out what direction to go with it.


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Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on April 13, 2007, 1:35 pm



> The great room
> is sunken 10 inches. We are considering raising the sunken floor to
> be level with the dining room and installing a hardwood floor. There
> are no windows and only an old patio door which could be easily raised
> when it is replaced due to its location.
>
> Has anyone else done this? Is it worth it to update the look, or is
> this kind of thing still marketable?

My biggest concern is the 10" of lost headroom. Beams aside, what is the
clearance now? If it is in line with the rest of hte ceilings on that
level, it will be OK, but if it is going to be short, it may look strange,
feel claustrophobic, and perhaps not meet code. Check that before you take
the next step. Otherwise, updating is a good idea.



Posted by on April 13, 2007, 3:51 pm


>
>
> > The great room
> > is sunken 10 inches. We are considering raising the sunken floor to
> > be level with the dining room and installing a hardwood floor. There
> > are no windows and only an old patio door which could be easily raised
> > when it is replaced due to its location.
>
> > Has anyone else done this? Is it worth it to update the look, or is
> > this kind of thing still marketable?
>
> My biggest concern is the 10" of lost headroom. Beams aside, what is the
> clearance now? If it is in line with the rest of hte ceilings on that
> level, it will be OK, but if it is going to be short, it may look strange,
> feel claustrophobic, and perhaps not meet code. Check that before you take
> the next step. Otherwise, updating is a good idea.

While they may not be as popular as they once were, I still see sunken
great rooms in some new
construction. Unless you personally don't like it, I wouldn't be
spending money to
change it on theories as to what other people may or may not like.
Plus, what's popular is
constantly changing. By the time you're ready to sell, things could
change.


Posted by hallerb@aol.com on April 13, 2007, 3:56 pm


On Apr 13, 3:51=EF=BF=BDpm, trad...@optonline.net wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > > =A0The great room
> > > is sunken 10 inches. =A0We are considering raising the sunken floor to
> > > be level with the dining room and installing a hardwood floor. There
> > > are no windows and only an old patio door which could be easily raised
> > > when it is replaced due to its location.
>
> > > Has anyone else done this? =A0Is it worth it to update the look, or is
> > > this kind of thing still marketable?
>
> > My biggest concern is the 10" of lost headroom. =A0Beams aside, what is=
the
> > clearance now? =A0If it is in line with the rest of hte ceilings on that
> > level, it will be OK, but if it is going to be short, it may look stran=
ge,
> > feel claustrophobic, and perhaps not meet code. =A0Check that before yo=
u take
> > the next step. =A0Otherwise, updating is a good idea.
>
> While they may not be as popular as they once were, I still see sunken
> great rooms in some new
> construction. =A0 Unless you personally don't like it, I wouldn't be
> spending money to
> change it on theories as to what other people may or may not like.
> Plus, what's popular is
> constantly changing. =A0By the time you're ready to sell, things could
> change.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

what about the fireplace?:(

if you or yours are older being rid of the step will be a big positive.


Posted by Charles Schuler on April 13, 2007, 4:42 pm



> My house is 3br on a slab with a big kitchen/dining area where the
> dining area opens to a sunken great room. The great room has a
> fireplace and is very 70's (decoration ceiling beams, popcorn ceiling,
> painted-over wood panelling, etc). The carpet is bad. The great room
> is sunken 10 inches. We are considering raising the sunken floor to
> be level with the dining room and installing a hardwood floor. There
> are no windows and only an old patio door which could be easily raised
> when it is replaced due to its location.
>
> Has anyone else done this? Is it worth it to update the look, or is
> this kind of thing still marketable?

I snipped the rest because the issue of marketability is what I will
address. Home improvement costs can sometimes be recaptured. The best
choices are:

1/ Repairs of unsightly wear and damage.
2/ Painting
3/ Carpeting
4/ Landscaping

The above list, when judiciously applied, will often generate a positive
effect: more increase in the selling price than the total cost of the
improvements.

Other improvements tend to be negative: less increase in the selling price
than the total cost of the improvements.



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